>> THESE WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE HAS TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN OVER THE PAST WEEK.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE RIPPLE EFFECT IT IS HAVING HERE.

AND $3000 RETENTION BONUSES FOR JUDGES WITH LIFETIME APPOINTMENTS ARE RAISING EYEBROWS.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> I AM JOHN HAYES AND WHITE JUNIOR.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED ANALYSIS TO POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE GREAT PROGRAM FOR ROBOT IN -- FOR RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JOINING US ON THE PANEL, BILL LYNCH, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEMOCRATIC PARTY, ATTORNEY AND LEGAL ANALYST LOU BOEHNER, AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE DURING COSTA.

WELCOME TO LIVELY EXPERIMENT.

I'M JIM HUMMEL.

IT FEELS LIKE A MONTHS WORTH OF NEWS HAS HAPPENED SINCE LAST WEEK AND WHILE WE HAVE OUR USUAL HOST OF LOCAL ISSUES, WE WILL BEGIN WITH WHAT HAS CONSUMED THE NEW CYCLE OVER THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE, HOW THIS WILL SHAPE FOREIGN POLICY INTO A LARGE EXTENT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGENDA IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS.

LOU, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN, MAYBE THE STATE OF THE UNION AND BACK OFF FROM THERE.

I THOUGHT THE FIRST 10 TO 15 MINUTES WAS SPOT ON AND IT IS THE FIRST REAL UNITY WE HAVE SEEN IN THE CHAMBER FOR A LONG TIME.

LOU: YEAH.

UNFORTUNATELY HE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, AS HE ALWAYS DOES NOW.

I THINK IT TOOK AWAY FROM WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH.

I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON NOW.

I THINK HIS POLICIES, ESPECIALLY CLOSING DOWN THE KEY -- KEYSTONE PIPELINE, WE WERE ENERGY INDEPENDENT AND PUTTING OUT 830,000 BARRELS A DAY.

WE ARE NOW BUYING 650,000 BARRELS PER DAY FROM RUSSIA.

SO WE ARE FINANCING PUTIN'S GENOCIDE OF THE UKRAINIAN.

THAT IS WHERE I AM.

THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH MEANS NOTHING BASED ON WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

SO WHETHER IT WAS A GREAT SPEECH OR WAS NOT A GREAT SPEECH, IT IS CLOUDED AS A RESULT OF HIS POLICY ISSUES AND YESTERDAY, WAS IT YESTERDAY?

PELOSI CAME OUT AND SAID WE SHOULD NOT BE BUYING ANYMORE OIL AND GAS FROM RUSSIA.

JIM: SO WHERE'S IT GOING TO COME FROM?

LOU: WE'VE GOT TO START PUMPING IT AGAIN, OPEN UP OUR PIPELINES, LET'S START TRACKING ON FEDERAL LAND AND BECOME ENERGY INDEPENDENT.

WE WERE UNTIL A YEAR AGO WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE.

JIM: WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE A DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE TO THAT NOW?

[LAUGHTER] >> I THOUGHT THIS WAS ONLY A HALF-HOUR PROGRAM.

JIM: WE MAY HAVE TO GO LONGER.

>> WHEN YOU ARE PRESIDENT, NO MATTER WHAT PARTY YOU'RE FROM, YOU HAVE TO DO WITH THE CARDS DEALT AND THINGS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS WITH RESPECT RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE, AND I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF ADDRESSING THAT WITH PROGRESSIVE PENALTIES THAT ARE CONTINUING TO RAMP UP AS WE GO FORWARD.

I THINK HIS RESPONSE TO THAT SO FAR HAS BEEN EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD BE, MEASURED AND WELL THOUGHT OUT.

I THINK HE IS DOING WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO WHEN HE RAN FOR OFFICE, GIVE SOME -- OFFICE, IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN, REACH OUT, GET THE BEST ADVICE FROM THE BEST PEOPLE AND MAKE DECISIONS BEST FOR EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY GOING FORWARD.

AND HE IS DOING THAT.

THE ONE I HAVE OF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AS TO HOW HE IS DOING ON THE DOMESTIC ISSUES THAT WE CONFRONT AND FACE , AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING WE ARE GOING THROUGH A PANDEMIC, WHICH AGAIN IS CERTAINLY NOBODY'S FAULT OF EITHER PARTY BUT CERTAINLY HAS PRESENTED IMMENSE CHALLENGES THAT NOBODY IN MY LIFETIME EVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONFRONT.

SO TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES AND STILL BE ABLE TO WRITE THE SHIP AND MOVE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, I THINK HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.

JIM: NOW WE WILL GO TO THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE.

DOREEN: I RESPECT YOU MUCH BUT WITH GAS PRICES AT ALMOST FOUR DOLLARS PER GALLON, MILK I PAID 599 FOR A GALLON THE OTHER DAY AND THAT IS NOT MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I DID WATCH SOME OF THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION BUT WHEN HE SAID I STAND WITH THE IRANIANS INSTEAD OF THE UKRAINIANS, THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR ME.

I CHANGED THE CHANNEL.

HE DID NOTHING TO UNIFY THE COUNTRY, HE IS TALKING -- YOU HAVE THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT, THE NOT SO PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS, WHERE THEY ARE GETTING BRAVO, WE STAND WITH UKRAINE.

THESE ARE THE SAME PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS THAT ARE PUTTING GUN LEGISLATION IN THE STATEHOUSE TO TAKE OUR GUNS AWAY, BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE NO ONE EVER NEEDS AN AAR, WHY WOULD YOU NEED AN AR?

SO THEY ARE A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES, PLOTTING WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE THAT WE ARE GIVING THEM FIREARMS.

THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ONE OF THE LEGISLATION FROM STOPPING US FROM BUYING AND AR-15.

I FIND IT HYPOCRITICAL.

THE BILLS ARE ONLINE AND IT IS THE SAME CAST OF CHARACTERS THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING EVERY YEAR, BUT AS FAR AS BIDEN, I DON'T SEE ANY UNIFICATION RIGHT NOW.

JIM: THE LARGER ISSUE -- NOW WE ARE TAPING ON A FRIDAY MORNING.

ON THURSDAY, THERE WAS A ISSUE WITH THE MISSILE HITTING A NUCLEAR PLANT IN UKRAINE.

I GUESS I WONDER WHAT THE FLIPSIDE IS.

NATO HAS NEVER BEEN MORE UNIFIED.

I THINK THAT IS NOT THE UNIFICATION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUT NATO HAS NEVER BEEN MORE UNIFIED.

I WONDER FOR ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT SAY WE NEED TO DO MORE, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO DO MORE?

BILL: I UNDERSTAND THERE ISN'T A HECK OF A LOT MORE WE CAN DO.

JIM: ASIDE FROM GOING IN.

>> UKRAINIANS WANT TO SHUT OFF THE AIR SPACE AND MAKE IT A NO-FLY ZONE BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THEY ARE GETTING DESTROYED BY RUSSIAN JET FIGHTERS.

AND YEAH, I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN DO BECAUSE THAT WOULD INSTIGATE WORLD WAR III.

DO I THINK THE NATO ALLIES WOULD DESTROY RUSSIA IN A HEARTBEAT?

SURE, BUT WHAT DOES THAT DO A CHINA AND WHERE DO THEY JOIN IN?

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT BELARUS OR HIS DOÑA, BUT IT COULD BE A MESS.

WHAT BOTHERED ME THE MOST IS WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE THANKS AND -- THE SANCTIONS PRESIDENT BIDEN IMPOSE, HE SAID LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN 30 DAYS.

WHEN HE CLETS -- SAID LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN 30 DAYS, UKRAINIANS DON'T HAVE 30 DAYS, AT MOST ANOTHER WEEK.

>> WE COULD DO WHAT LINDSEY GRAHAM SAYS WE COULD DO, SOMEONE TO ASSASSINATE PUTIN.

JIM: WHAT HE SAID WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THINKING, IT IS JUST AS A SITTING U.S.

SENATOR THAT IS PROBABLY NOT THAT BEST THING TO DO.

WHO WOULD THINK TED CRUZ WOULD BE THE VOICE OF REASON?

WHAT YOU THINK FOR THE NEXT WEEK AND MONTH?

IT IS SO TOUGH BECAUSE THIS WAS A SOCIAL MEDIA WAR NOW.

WE HAVE NEVER SEEN WAR UNFOLD IN REAL TIME AND JUST THE CIVILIAN DEATHS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, IT TUGS AT YOUR HEARTSTRINGS.

>> IT IS GUT WRENCHING.

NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSIVE FAR HAS BEEN MEASURED AND IS PROGRESSIVELY RAMPING UP AND I THINK THAT WAS THE PROPER THING TO DO INSTEAD OF JUMPING IN.

THE SAME PEOPLE CRITICIZING THE PRESIDENT, IF WE HAD GONE FROM A TO Z RIGHT AWAY WOULD BE SAYING WHY DIDN'T WE BUILD THIS UP AND RAMP UP TO PROGRESSIVE PENALTIES?

I THINK HE HAS DONE THAT, HE HAS UNITED THE WORLD WITH THE EXCEPTION OF POSSIBLY OF CHINA WITH RESPECT TO THE RESPONSE AND PEOPLE THAT WAS -- PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT TAKES -- AND WE HAVE SAID THIS IN THE PROGRAM -- SOMETIMES IT TAKES A CRISIS OR SOMETHING CRITICAL TO WAKE PEOPLE UP AND GET PEOPLE MOVING.

THAT IS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CHINA I THING IS WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.

>> ASKING MYSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHAT IS PUTIN THINKING?

THE WHOLE WORLD IS AGAINST HIM NOW.

CHINA IS KEEPING THEIR MOUTH SHUT.

THEY HAVE NOT DONE A VOTE FOR EITHER UP OR DOWN, THEY ABSTAINED ON THE U.N. BO.

BUT WHAT IS HE THINKING -- VOTE.

BUT WHAT IS HE THINKING?

JIM: THE PICTURE THAT TELLS IT IS PUTIN IS HERE AND THE 400 FOOT TABLE AND THAT IS LIKE A METAPHOR FOR WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW.

DOREEN: RIGHT.

HE CONTROLS THE MEDIA OUT THERE, SO THE CITIZENS THERE ARE NOT SEEING WHAT WE ARE SEEING AND HE IS MAKING EVERYTHING LOOK PEACHY OUT THERE, SO IT IS A BIG PROBLEM AND I DO NOT SEE IT GETTING BETTER SOON.

JIM:JIM: I SAW A STORY ABOUT SOME 22-YEAR-OLD UKRAINIAN HACKING INTO RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION.

THEY SHOULD HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE CABINET THAT IS 22 AND HACKING INTO COMPUTERS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, BILL?

DOREEN: I AGREE WITH THAT.

BILL: I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS CHANGING THE DYNAMICS.

YOU ARE RIGHT, HE CAN SHUT OFF THE LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS, BUT IN THIS DAY AND AGE, IT HAS BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LIMIT THE INFLUX OF -- BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA -- OF NEWS.

I THINK PEOPLE IN RUSSIA ARE STARTING TO CATCH ON.

WHAT THEY DO ABOUT IT IS ANYONE'S GUESS.

HE HAS AN IRON GRIP ON THE MILITARY AND WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE BORDERS OF RUSSIA ITSELF.

THE PRESSURE IS BECOMING IMMENSE.

ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE ARE SEEING IS PEOPLE HAVE BECOME MULTIMILLIONAIRES, THANKS TO PUTIN.

THEY ARE NOW STARTING TO GET A LITTLE PANIC HEAVY.

SUDDENLY IT IS NOT SUCH A GOOD IDEA WHEN YOU START SHUTTING OFF THEIR MONEY.

THE INTERIOR PRESSURE I THINK IS GROWING.

IT IS CERTAINLY NOT HAPPENING AS FAST AS PEOPLE IN UKRAINE WOULD LIKE IT TO, BUT I AM REMAINING SOMEWHAT HOPEFUL.

I HOPE THIS STARTS TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

DOREEN: WE ALL DO.

JIM: LET'S SHIFT BACK TO LOCAL.

WE HAVE A HOST OF ISSUES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THRILLED DOREEN.

SHE TEXTED ME ON THURSDAY NIGHT SAYING DID YOU SEE THE GOVERNOR EXTENDED THE EMERGENCY ORDER TO APRIL 1?

[LAUGHTER] I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND THE RACE WHERE IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD YOU GUYS ON FOR A WHILE.

THIS REALLY SEEMS TO BE -- THE WHOLE WORLD IS GOING IN THE DIRECTION, EVEN THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE THAT IS TAKING MASKS OFF.

WHAT YOU THINK OF THAT?

DOREEN: HE HAS THE APPROVAL TO DO IT BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HE WOULD CONTINUE THIS.

EVERY SINGLE DAY AROUND 1:30 2:00 I GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE, GET THE COVID NUMBERS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS.

WEDNESDAY I THINK WE HAD 158 OR 150 NINE CASES IN THE ENTIRE STATE -- 159 CASES IN THE ENTIRE STATE AND LOWER THAN THAT LAST WEEK.

WEIRD AL BETWEEN 1.5% AND 2%.

WITH 159 CASES IN THE STATE, WHY ARE WE STILL IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE DROPPED DRAMATICALLY, THE NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED.

EVERY STATISTIC, AND NOT JUST RHODE ISLAND, IT IS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

LOU: AND WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE FULLY VACCINATED STATE IN THE COUNTRY PER CAPITA.

DOREEN: SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE GOVERNOR WILL CONTINUALLY DO THIS.

IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND.

LOOK AT US HERE.

WE DO NOT HAVE MASKS.

I AM ONLY TWO FEET AWAY FROM BILL.

WE ARE FINE.

I'M OK.

I THINK WE WILL ALL BE OK. JIM: COVID IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

[LAUGHTER] LOU: THE ONE THING I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR IS HAVING GOVERNOR MCKEE -- I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT.

THIS PANDEMIC HAS HAD SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS MOVING PRAGMATICALLY.

I THINK HE, AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO HIM, IT'S ANXIOUS TO MOVE OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC SITUATION BUT WANTS TO DO SO IN A SAFE, ORGANIZED FASHION.

ONE OF THE REASONS FRANKLY THAT YOU SEE SOME PEOPLE IN OTHER STATES KEEPING SOME OF THESE EMERGENCY ORDERS IN PLACE IS BECAUSE IT KEEPS FEDERAL MONEY FLOWING INTO THE STATE THAT WE WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE.

JIM: I HAVE HEARD THAT ARGUMENT.

WE HAVE WHAT WE ARE SITTING ON AND NOT SPENDING.

MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED?

BILL: I WILL TAKE AS MUCH AS WE CAN GET.

JIM: BUT TO THE COST OF PEOPLE SAYING LET'S GET BACK AND LET'S GET BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS AND ALL OF THAT.

I HAVE HEARD THE MONEY ARGUMENT BUT I DO NOT GET THAT.

BILL: I THINK WE ARE GETTING THE AND DOREEN IS RIGHT, WE ARE SITTING HERE ENDED THIS PROGRAM VIRTUALLY FOR OVER A YEAR.

I AM A PRACTICING ATTORNEY, BACK IN COURT NOW.

I WAS NOT DOING IT FOR OVER A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF, SO RESTAURANTS ARE BACK OPEN.

PROGRESS IS BEING MADE.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE STATEHOUSE IS MOVING FORWARD CORRECTLY, BUT NOT RUSHING INTO IT.

I THINK EVERYBODY GOT A LITTLE HESITANT WITH OMICRON, WHEN WE SORT OF FELT LIKE WE MADE THESE STEPS.

JIM: THE GOVERNOR ADMITTED THAT THAT THEY WERE RAMPING DOWN.

DOREEN: BUT WHERE'S THE END GAME?

NOBODY TELLS US WHAT THE NUMBER HAS TO BE BEFORE WE END.

JIM: THE METRICS YOU MEAN.

DOREEN: THE METRICS STILL SAY WE HAVE A HIGH TRANSMISSION RATE.

JIM: I'VE NEVER GOTTEN THAT, THE HIGH TRANSMISSION RATE.

DOREEN: WHERE'S THE END?

BILL: I THINK PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED.

I KNOW EVERYBODY IS ANXIOUS TO PUT THIS BEHIND US AND MOVE FORWARD, BUT I THINK, AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION SO -- OPINION ON HOW QUICKLY WE SHOULD DO THAT.

I THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO THEIR, BUT ANOTHER FEW WEEKS IS NOT GOING TO KILL ANYBODY.

LOU: I JUST DON'T BUY THE FACT THAT WE ARE STILL IN THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

I THINK THAT IS JUST A CONTROL ISSUE AND I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE.

I WENT TO THE CIVIC CENTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND THERE WERE 12,600 -- 300 OVERCAPACITY.

WHY ARE WE STILL IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY?

WE ARE NOT IS MY POINT.

BILL: THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE, WHEN YOU SAY WE ARE IN THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, WHEN YOU WALK TO THE SAME DUMP AND ASK 1000 PEOPLE ARE WE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY OR NOT, MOST PEOPLE I DON'T THINK WOULD KNOW AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS FROM A LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT AND THE GOVERNOR CAN DO CERTAIN THINGS.

I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYBODY, TO ME THAT I CAN THINK OF AND SAY WE ARE STILL IN THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

IT'S CHANGING MY LIFE.

LOU: IT IS ALL STRICKLER POLITICS AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE EVERYONE RUNNING AGAINST MCKEEVER GOVERNOR, THEY STILL THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MASK MANDATES.

SO IT IS ALL POLITICS.

JIM:JIM: I HEARD ON THE RADIO COMING IN THIS MORNING THE HOUSE PASSED A RESOLUTION -- I'M SORRY, THE U.S. SENATE PASSED A RESOLUTION TO DISBAND THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, TO END.

THE HOUSE IS HESITANT.

THIS PLAYS INTO THE CRITICS ON THE RIGHT TO SAY IT IS A CONTROL ISSUE, THE DEMOCRATS WON CONTROL, AND THEY WANT -- WHATEVER THE THEORY IS -- UP TO ELECTION DAY.

WOULDN'T HELP FROM A NATIONAL STANDPOINT TO SAY WE ARE DONE, IN YOUR MIND?

LOU: IT WOULD HELP WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO CLEARLY BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE, BUT THERE IS ALSO PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM WOULD SAY WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING THAT YET.

IT CUTS BOTH WAYS.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THERE IS A POLITICAL PART OF THIS WHOLE SCENARIO.

EVERYTHING WE DO IS SOMEHOW AFFECTED AND RHODE ISLAND, AS MUCH AS ANYWHERE, WE ARE ENTERING AN ELECTION YEAR SO ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE GOING TO GET ABATED AT NAUSEA HIM, BUT LEARLY THERE IS STILL POLITICS TO IT.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY OTHERWISE I THINK.

DOREEN: I AGREE 100% AND THIS IS POLITICAL.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS NO MASKS IN SCHOOLS, OPTIONAL.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT BARRINGTON AFTER BUT THEY ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH.

THEY ARE STARTING TO EASE UP RESTRICTIONS, WHY?

BECAUSE IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR.

DO YOU THINK IF THEY KEPT US IN MASKS, KEPT THE RESTAURANT HALFWAY CLOSED, HAD ALL OF THESE THINGS THEY HAD TO DO AS FAR AS PUTTING THE PLEXIGLAS UP AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER EVER WON ANYTHING IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

GRANTED YOU CAN TALK TO DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS AND IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE ISLE YOU ARE ON.

THE DEMOCRAT PARTY IS IN MAJOR TROUBLE THIS YEAR.

YOU KNOW IT, I KNOW IT -- JIM: YOU MAY NATIONALLY?

DOREEN: NATIONALLY.

.

JIM: YOU DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE A SWEEP LOCALLY?

DOREEN: I SAY THE SAME EVERY YEAR AND IT NEVER HAPPENS BUT I'M AN OPTIMIST.

JIM: SOMEONE MIGHT SAY -- SOME MIGHT SAY THAT IS INSANITY.

DOREEN: I JUST BELIEVE IN WHAT I BELIEVE IN, MY REPUBLICAN VALUES.

I WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR DAN MCKEE OR NELLY RK A. JIM: YOU DON'T HAVE A CANDIDATE TO VOTE FOR THE.

DOREEN: WE MIGHT.

SHE REACHED OUT TO ME AND I CALLED HER BACK.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS I CAME TODAY AS I THOUGHT DOREEN WOULD ANNOUNCE SHE IS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

DOREEN: YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> ALL THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS CAME OUT ON PRETTY MUCH THE SAME DAY AND SAID WE WILL DROP ALL OF THESE MANDATES AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR MASKS ANYMORE.

IT WASN'T FOLLOWING THE SIGNS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

IT WAS FOLLOWING THE POLITICAL SCIENCE BECAUSE THE POLLS CAME THROUGH AND THEY SAW THEIR NUMBERS AND WE ARE GETTING MUCH CLOSER TO THE MIDTERM.

IT WAS THE POLITICAL SIGNS AND THAT IS NOT MY TERM.

I BORROWED IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE BUT THAT IS WHAT IT WAS.

DOREEN: WHAT FRIGHTENS ME REALLY QUICK IS YOU ARE RIGHT, IT IS POLITICAL.

YOU HAVE NELLIE GORBEA, RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, WHO ONCE TO KEEP MASKS ON CHILDREN, GOING BACK TO FLATTENING THE CURVE AND SHE SAID THAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

AND SHE SAID SHE WANTS TO FOLLOW THE METRICS.

WHEN YOU ASK HER WHAT METRICS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT METRICS.

SO IF YOU VOTE FOR THESE PEOPLE AND SOMEONE HAS A SNIFFLE OR COLD AND IS ONE OF TWO CASES OF COVID, THE STATE WILL BE IN SHUTDOWN AGAIN.

I DON'T CARE WHO IS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

JIM: YOU GOT A LOT OF CANDIDATES AND I KNOW YOU ARE SWITZERLAND HERE, BUT YOU HAVE NAVIGATED THIS BEFORE AS THE PARTY CHAIRMAN WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE JOCKEYING.

THE GOVERNOR HAVE TO PUT THE PANDEMIC SOMEWHAT BEHIND HIM AND RUN ON -- WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST COUPLE WEEKS ON THE SHOW -- ON HIS PLATFORM.

HOW DO THE OTHER CANDIDATES BREAKTHROUGH?

THE INCUMBENT ALWAYS HAS US FOLLOWING HIM AROUND AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WHAT IS THE PATH FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATES TO NIBBLE AWAY AT THE GOVERNOR?

BILL: IT'S HARD.

THAT IS ONE THE THINGS -- ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN GOVERNOR MCKEE BECAME THE GOVERNOR.

IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE BUT EACH OF THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING BELIEVE AND HAVE THEIR OWN STRENGTHS AND THINGS THEY WILL FOCUS ON AND THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING SO FAR AND LET THE PEOPLE INITIALLY IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHO THEY THINK IS THE BEST STAND AND.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, -- STAND IN.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NOT A LEGITIMATE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN NOVEMBER SO MOST OF THE FOCUS WILL BE ON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

WHEN YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS YOU DONE -- YOU HAVE DONE AND THE THING SO FAR, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR STRENGTHS AND THEIR IDEAS ABOUT HOW THEY CAN DO BETTER.

MY HOPE ALWAYS IS IT DOES NOT BECOME A NASTY DIVISIVE SORT OF PRIMARY WITH PERSONAL ANIMUS AS SO MUCH OF POLITICS HAS BECOME BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS DESTRUCTIVE.

I ALWAYS FOUND A VERY DESTRUCTIVE BECAUSE I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT A NOVEMBER ELECTION BECAUSE I HAD -- JIM: WHAT DO YOU DO IF THE PRIMARY ASH AFTER THE PRIMARY?

BILL: I HAD WERE UP UP -- WHAT DO YOU DO AFTER THE PRIMARY?

BILL: THERE WERE REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENTS THAT I HAD TO -- ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE NOTICED AND YOU HAVE NOT HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS OR SO, THE EROSION OF RESPECT WITHIN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM.

IT HAS BEEN SO PERSONAL, EVERYTHING IS IN ATTACKS, NEGATIVITY, AND I THINK OVER TIME THAT HAS AFFECTED HOW PEOPLE SEE ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

JIM: AND IT PROBABLY KEPT SOME ON THE BENCH.

BILL: ABSOLUTELY.

JIM: COLIN POWELL WENT THERE IT ALL THOSE YEARS AGO WHEN DECIDING NOT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

BILL: I TALK TO PEOPLE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND RHODE ISLAND, EVEN IF THEY DO NOT WANT TO RUN FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE, THEY WOULD BE GREAT AT THE STATEHOUSE AND EVEN SOME CITY/TOWN COUNCILS.

THE RESPONSE I GET IS, WHAT, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO THAT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT?

JIM: ONE THING DOREEN AND I TALKED ABOUT OFF-CAMERA, THE $3000 BONUSES, CONTROVERSIAL A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN GOVERNOR MCKEE ANNOUNCED THEM AS VACCINE BONUSES.

NOW THEY HAVE SHIFTED TO I THINK IT IS CLEAR FOR STATE WORKERS, UNION AND NON-UNION.

IF YOU GIVE ONE, THERE IS ANY EQUITY ISSUE.

I THINK THE ISSUE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE IS THE JUDICIARY WITH LIFETIME TENURE.

DOREEN: I THINK THE GOVERNMENT ARE -- GOVERNOR MADE AHUGE MISSTEP GIVING APPOINTEES, THE JUDGES, THEY ARE THERE FOR THE LIFE.

WITH OR WITHOUT THE $3000 BONUS YOU CAN CALL IT RETENTION OR WHAT YOU WANT, IT IS A BONUS.

IT IS A VOTE.

JIM: THE GOVERNOR PAVED THE WAY FOR THAT BUT THE JUDICIARY CONTROLS ITS OWN BUDGET.

DOREEN: STILL HAD TO APPROVE IT -- THE JIHAD TO APPROVE IT.

IT STILL HAD TO BE APPROVED.

THIS IS THE WAY THE DEMOCRATS AND GOVERNOR MCKEE CAN BUY VOTES.

I THINK IT WILL BE -- I'M A POLITICAL JUNKIE AND I WATCH AND READ EVERYTHING.

I THINK THIS WILL BE A HEATED PRIMARY.

I DO NOT THINK IT IS A GIVEN THAT GOVERNOR MCKEE WILL GET REELECTED.

BUT THIS WILL HELP THEM WITH THE VOTES.

LOU: THAT'S BECAUSE THE SECOND $1500 PAYMENT IS JUST BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

IN THE WORDS OF THE FORMER SPEAKER, GORDON FOX, YOU CAN CALL IT A VACCINE BONUS, A RETENTION BONUS, BUT IT IS STILL A BIG.

JIM: YOU HAVE PEOPLE MAKING $200,000 AND IT IS ALL MOST LIKE THEY DID AT THE LEGISLATURE YEARS AGO, PEOPLE RECEIVING HEALTH BENEFITS AND THEY SAID I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THOSE.

EVERY JUDGE CAN MAKE HIS OR HER DECISION BUT I THINK PUBLICLY IT IS NOT A GREAT THING.

DOREEN: IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.

BILL: THE ISSUE HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN, THE MESSAGE HAS BEEN BAD.

JIM: GARBLED.

BILL: YES.

I HAVE SAID THAT ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AT THE RISK OF SOMETIMES SOUNDING LIKE I AGREE WITH LOU ON SOMETHING WHICH IS FRIGHTENING.

[LAUGHTER] I THINK IT IS MORE THE MESSAGE, AND I THINK FIRST OF ALL THE GOVERNOR DID NOT APPROVE OR HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE JUDICIARY DID.

CHIEF JUSTICE SO TELL, WHO IS A FORMER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER, IS NOT ONLY A BRILLIANT JUDGE BUT ONE OF THE MOST HONORABLE, HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE I'VE EVER BEEN AROUND IN MY CAREER AS A LAWYER.

HE DOES A GREAT JOB BOTH WHEN HE WAS ON THE FAMILY COURT AND NOW ON THE SUPREME COURT.

I THINK WHAT ALL THEY DID WAS SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT THIS AND SAY THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE THIS FOR UNION EMPLOYEES AND ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN IN STATE GOVERNMENT, AND WE ARE AROUND THE COURTS ALL THE TIME, YOU HAVE THIS TREMENDOUS INTERACTION OF UNION AND NONUNION EMPLOYEES, BUT YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

I THINK THE ISSUE WAS HOW DO WE EQUALIZE THIS.

BASICALLY I THINK THEY SAID LET'S MAKE IT FEAR ACROSS THE BOARD, AND ISSUE A PROCLAMATION THAT EVERYBODY GETS TREATED THE SAME WAY.

THAT INCLUDED THE JUDGES BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THAT CATEGORY.

I DO NOT THINK IT WAS MEANT TO BE A RETENTION BONUS.

JIM: DO YOU THINK HE IS MORTIFIED BY THE -- I AGREE WITH YOU ON PULSE ADELE -- I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR NOT AS LONG AS YOU ABOUT 35 YEARS, GOING BACK TO HIS DAYS IN THE LEGISLATURE, DO YOU THINK HE IS MORTIFIED BY THIS COVERAGE MAKING HIM THINK THEY ARE AT THE TROUGH?

BILL: I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THEM BUT I THINK THEY WOULD DO IT DIFFERENTLY AND PROBABLY ADDRESS IT DIFFERENTLY.

HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20, SO IT HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD LOOK, BUT I THINK IT IS, IN MANY WAYS, MUCH TO DO ABOUT VERY LITTLE.

JIM: WE HAVE TO DO KUDOS BECAUSE WE ARE HEADED INTO THE HOMESTRETCH.

LOU: YOU KNOW I'VE NEVER DONE A KUDO.

IT WAS ABOUT OUR ENERGY POLICY AND THE FACT WE ARE STILL FUNDING RUSSIA BY 650,000 BARRELS OF GAS.

BILL: I WONDER -- WONDERED WHOSE ELECTRIC CAR WAS OUT THERE.

[LAUGHTER] LOU: BUT MY OUTRAGE GOES TO PETER AND RONA.

WE SETTLED ON A $45 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH PURDUE PHARMA AND THE SACKLER FAMILY.

IT WAS NORONA THAT REJECTED $20 MILLION SO NOW IT IS UP TO $45 MILLION AND SOMETHING HE WANTED FURTHER WAS THE FACT THE SACKLER'S BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.

THEY WERE NOW -- WILL NOW BE ISSUING A LETTER OF REGRET AND THEY SAY THE SACKLER FAMILY NAME CAN BE REMOVED FROM ALL SCHOLARSHIPS AND INSTITUTIONS.

JIM: THAT IS A GOOD ONE.

DOREEN: I HAVE ANY OUTRAGE.

AS WE WERE TALKING LAST NIGHT, I WENT TO THE PROVIDENCE COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP LAST SATURDAY AND YOU COULD NOT WALK ON THE SIDEWALKS.

THEY WERE FULL OF SNOW.

WE HAD TO JUMP OVER SNOWBANKS.

KNOWING THERE WAS GOING TO BE 13,000 PEOPLE AT THE DUNK LAST NIGHT AND PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND SPENDING MONEY AND STAYING AT OUR HOTELS, YOU WOULD THINK THE MAYOR WOULD'VE CLEANED UP THE CITY A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT WAS A MESS JIM: WHERE THEY ALL WALKING THE STREET?

DOREEN: YES, FOR THE MOST PART.

JIM: YOU WOULD THINK THE ONE THING HE COULD DO IS MAYBE NOT GET THE WHOLE CITY PLOWED AND I UNDERSTAND IT WAS RAIN FREEZING BUT THAT IS THE ONE AREA OR HE COULD HAVE.

BILL: I WILL SKIP MY OUTRAGE WHICH WOULD BE DONALD TRUMP SPEAKING IN GLOWING WAYS ABOUT PUTIN AND THIS WHOLE ISSUE IN UKRAINE.

JIM: SEEMS LIKE YOU JUST SET IT.

BILL: I WILL GO TO A KUDO INSTEAD.

[LAUGHTER] IT WILL BE MY MAN ED HOOLY TALKING ABOUT PROVIDENCE COLLEGE.

HERE IS A GUY THAT IS ABSOLUTELY A LEGEND IN RHODE ISLAND AS HE SHOULD BE AND IT IS JUST AMAZING WE HAVE HAD SOMEBODY COME UP FROM THE RANKS LIKE HIM AND BE ABLE TO REACH THE HEIGHTS YOU HAVE -- HEIGHTS HE HAS GOTTEN TO.

IT'S GREAT FOR NOT ONLY PROVIDENCE COLLEGE BUT FOR THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

HE HAS DONE IT THE RIGHT WAY.

HE IS A GOOD FRIENDOF MINE, AND SHOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE HIM AND I THINK WE DESERVE TO GIVE HIM A PAT ON THE BACK FOR AN INCREDIBLE SEASON HE HAS PUT TOGETHER.

I THINK IT HAS GIVEN EVERYBODY THAT I FIND A LITTLE BOOST OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE FANS BACK AT THE DUNK.

THEY HAVE HAD ONE OF THE BEST SEASONS THEY HAVE EVER HAD.

LOU: THESE ARE PROVIDENT'S -- SHE'S A PROVIDENCE KID.

JIM: THEY HAVE A PICTURE OF HIM IN THE CENTRAL PLAIN.

BILL: I HAVE KNOWN ED SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

HE IS A BETTER COACH THAN A PLAYER.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: CAN YOU TELL THAT TO HIS FACE?

[LAUGHTER] DOREEN: IT WAS GREAT GETTING THE TROPHY AND BEING A PART OF IT.

JIM: THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU LOU, BILL, AND DOREEN.

IT ALWAYS GOES BY QUICKLY WITH YOU GUYS.

WE HOPE YOU COME BACK NEXT WEEK AS A LIVELY SPARE MAN CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYBODY.

[CAPTIONING PREFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] [CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY THE KWAK I'M JOHN HAYES AND WHITE JUNIOR.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS ON POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.