>>THIS WEEK, gun control takes center stage in the General assembly.

We will tell you what is on the table.

And the campaign to replace the mayor of Providence kicks into gear.

>> "A Lively Experiment" It generously underwritten by -- >> For over 30 years, "A Lively Experiment" Has brought insight and analysis to the issues that face Rhode Islanders.

JOINING US WITH THE ANALYSIS, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL ARLENE VIOLET.

THE BOSTON GLOBE'S ED FITZPATRICK.

AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE NICK GORHAM.

WELCOME, EVERYONE.

I'M JIM HUMMEL.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR WE CAN WITH US.

IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE SOME GROUPS WANTING TO TESTIFY AND PROPOSE LEGISLATION IN RHODE ISLAND HAD BEEN ABLE TO DO SO IN PERSON.

WITH COVID RESTRICTIONS RELAXING, SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF GUN CONTROL THIS WEEK FLOCKING TO THE STATEHOUSE ON SUCCESSIVE NIGHTS, TO ARGUE THEIR POINTS.

ARLENE, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.

EVERYBODY IS UP THERE EVERY YEAR.

THE ARGUMENTS NEVER SEEM TO CHANGE.

BUT THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE WHETHT CONTINUES.

>> AS LONG AS MASS SLAYINGS CONTINUE, IT WILL MOVE PEOPLE INCREMENTALLY, BUT I DON'T GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO HAVE THE GUTS TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.

I KNOW SPORTSPEOPLE AND HUNTERS, I AM MYSELF A PERSON WHO LOVES HUNTING, I WOULD SAY THE REAL IRONY OF THIS COUNTRY IS PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT WANT THOSE KINDS OF GUNS SO THEY CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST POLITICIANS.

[LAUGHTER] AS MUCH AS WE ALSO THINK ABOUT THAT, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, TIME HAS SHOWN US THAT THE PEOPLE WE REALLY OUGHT TO WORRY ABOUT OUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, WHO ARE USING THESE GUNS AND DOING THESE KINDS OF PROTESTS.

SO FOR THE 36TH YEAR OF MY LIFE THAT I'VE BEEN PROPOSING THIS, AGAIN I WANT TO MAKE THE PITCH THAT WE NEED SMART TECHNOLOGY IN GUNS, WE HAVE PHONES THAT PEOPLE CAN'T ACCESS UNLESS YOU HAVE A CODE.

THINK OF PRINT TECHNOLOGY THAT ONLY ALLOWS A PERSON SHOOTING THE GUN TO PULL THE TRIGGER IS OUT THERE.

IT WOULD COST $2.27 TO ADD IT IN GENERAL TO GUNS.

THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD FIRE THE GUN IS THE OWNER.

KIDS WOULD STOP SHOOTING EACH OTHER.

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T ACTIVATE THE TRIGGER.

IT WOULD HAVE PEOPLE NOT STEAL GUNS.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE TRIGGER.

IT'S NOT THEIR FINGERPRINT.

SOMETHING THAT SIMPLE WHAT CLEAR UP -- WOULD CLEAR OF ALL THESE PROBLEMS THAT LEGISLATURES CONTINUED TO DEBATE.

PLEASE ENFORCE THE 21,000 PLUS LAWS THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS.

JIM: I THINK THE MOTIVATION FOR REGULATING THE CLIPS THAT HAVE MORE THAN 10 ROUNDS IN THEM, I THINK OF THESE MASS SHOOTINGS, I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A POINT ON THAT.

BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS, IT IS REALLY DISARMING THE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE.

EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE HORRIBLE INCIDENTS INVOLVES SOMEONE WHO IS SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL. AND I THINK THE SOLUTION LIES IN FINDING A WAY TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.

BUT LEST WE FORGET, THE RHODE ISLAND CONSTITUTION IS UNCONDITIONAL, WHEREAS THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION IS, ON THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, UNCONDITIONAL MEANING THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND HAVE MORE RIGHTS TO OWN A GUN THAN UNDER THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION, THE STATE CONSTITUTION SAYS, THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED, SHALL NOT BE TAMPERED WITH, THAT IS IT.

YOU CAN'T BLAME THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR BEING VERY RELUCTANT.

I GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THAT.

IT IS A TOUGH CALL, AND I AGREE WITH ARLENE, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

>> I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.

THIS IS THE WEEK WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE HOURS AND HOURS OF TESTIMONY ON GUN BILLS.

UNTIL RECENTLY, THE TWO LEADERS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAD AN A FROM THE NRA RATING.

HE HAS GONE NOW.

THERE'S A CHANGE.

BUT THE HEAD OF THE SENATE, THEY STILL HAVE AN A. I DON'T SEE ANY OF THE MORE FAR-REACHING BILLS, THE MAGAZINES, THE ASSAULT WEAPONS PASSING, BUT I DO THINK YOU WILL SEE SOME BILLS PASSED THIS YEAR, THIS BULL ABOUT SAFE STORAGE OF GUNS -- BILL ABOUT SAFE STORAGE OF GUNS, LAST YEAR WE SAW THE GHOST GUN BILL PASSED.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE SOME AND PARENTAL CHANGE, BUT NTIL THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE LEADERSHIP, I DON'T THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE DRAMATIC CHANGE.

JIM: HOW DOES WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, IT IS ALMOST LIKE THE DRUNK DRIVING GETTING INTO YOUR CAR, HOW DOES THAT SQUARE WITH THE RHODE ISLAND CONSTITUTION?

>> WHEN I WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, I INTERPRETED IT JUST AS YOU HAVE COME UP BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS IN FACT WHAT IT SAYS, UNLESS THERE WAS A COMPELLING REASON, I DID GIVE GUN PERMITS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE PEOPLE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, STRONGLY UNDER RHODE ISLAND LAW TO HAVE IT, SO THERE WERE FEW PERMITS I DENIED.

I'M SORRY I LEFT WHEN YOU SAID -- LAUGHED WHEN YOU SAID WHEN THE SPEAKER HAS A D-WE HAVE A CHANCE, I NEVER THOUGHT THE LOWER THE GRADE, THE BETTER THE CHANCE.

[LAUGHTER] IT'S RATHER UNUSUAL.

>> THIS IS THE WAY IT USUALLY GOES, THEY HOLD THE BILLS, AND THEN AT SOME POINT WHEN THE SAUSAGE IS ALL MADE AT THE END OF THE SESSION, THAT IS WHEN WE EXPECT TO SEE IT?

>> YEAH.

ONE THING THAT WAS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR IS I THINK THE MAGAZINE BILL AND THE ASSAULT WEAPON BILL HAD HEARINGS LAST YEAR.

SO WE ARE NOT HOLDING YOU HEARINGS THIS YEAR.

THOSE COULD COME TO THE FLOOR LAST -- TO THE FLOOR BASED ON LAST YEAR'S HEARING.

JIM: A LOT OF YOU REMEMBER FROM THE PANDEMIC, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE REQUIRED -- REQUIREMENTS WERE EASED A LITTLE BIT, TWO SIGNATURES ON A MAIL BALLOT, THEY STARTED EARLY VOTING, WHICH I THINK IS AN EXPANSION OF EMERGENCY VOTING, AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

OMAR B., NATHAN B., FORGIVE ME, ALSO WANTS TO HAVE OUR STATE REPRESENTED -- OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT IS PRACTICAL.

OTHER PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT WATERFRONT.

>> DEFINITELY WORRIED -- ABOUT VOTER FRAUD.

>> DEFINITELY WORRIED.

I THINK THERE SO MUCH SKEPTICISM AFTER THE LAST ELECTION ABOUT ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

HERE AGAIN, THE RHODE ISLAND CONSTITUTION SAYS THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO HAVING THE ELECTION ON THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IS ABSENTEE BALLOTS, THAT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN VOTE OUTSIDE OF THE ELECTION, THE WAY I READ THE CONSTITUTION.

IT'S FRAUGHT WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FRAUD.

NO WITNESSES, NO NOTARY, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND MAIL BOATS, THAT IS WHAT THIS SUSPICION IS -- VOTES, THAT IS WHAT THIS SUSPICION IS.

JIM: BUT THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY PROOF OF WIDESPREAD THAT WOULD AFFECT AN ELECTION.

>> THAT'S BECAUSE THE CONTROLS HAD BEEN IN PLACE, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO RETAIN PICTURE IDENTIFICATION.

>> WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT, TOO.

VOTER ID.

>> YES, RETAIN THAT.

EARLY VOTING WOULD BE ALL RIGHT WITH ME.

BUT IT WOULD HAVE THIS CONSTITUTIONAL ELEMENT THAT NICK REFERRED TO.

HAD TO RESEARCH ABOUT GUNS BECAUSE I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PERMITTING THEM, BUT I DEFINITELY -- BUT DEFINITELY, KEEP PICTURE ID.

>> ADVOCATES FOR THE LEGISLATION SAY THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT FRAUD.

BUT WE JUST PROVED DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT WE CAN HAVE EARLY VOTING.

YOU CAN USE MAIL BALLOTS AND NOT HAVE FRAUD.

THERE WASN'T ANY EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD FRAUD.

>> PEOPLE GOT CONFUSED BECAUSE THEY SAID, THEY MAILED TO ME AND MY SISTER AN MY COUSIN A MAIL BALLOT -- NO, THEY MAILED THE APPLICATION FOR THE MAIL BALLOT.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH EARLY VOTING, NICK?

OTHER STATES ARE DOING THIS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY,.

.

WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS?

-- A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS?

IF YOU ARE VOTING EARLY, YOU KNOW.

BUT DON'T YOU THINK OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, MOST PEOPLE HAD THEIR MINDS MADE UP WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION >> -- WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION?

>> MAYBE, BUT THE RHODE ISLAND CONSTITUTION SAYS EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ELECTED THE TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY, THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THAT IS ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION ONE, THE ONLY EXCEPTION THAT IS FOR ABSENTEE AND THEY CALLED IT SHUT AND VOTING IN THE CONSTITUTION.

HOW DO YOU HAVE AN ELECTION BEFORE THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY, WHEN THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT ON?

>> BY THE WAY, MOST POLLING SHOWS THAT AT LEAST 10% OF PEOPLE ARE NOT DECIDED AND THEY ONLY DECIDE IN THE LAST WEEK OR THE LAST TWO DAYS.

SO THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF PEOPLE BEING NOT NECESSARILY KNOWING WHO THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR.

THEY MAY HAVE VERY STRONG FEELINGS TOWARD, FOR EXAMPLE, IN A PRESIDENTIAL RACE, WHO THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR, BUT THEY HAVEN'T STUDIED DOWN THE BALLOT.

IT IS A WAY TO MEASURE THING.

>> FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, IF THIS PASSES, DO YOU THINK -- SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO BRING A LAWSUIT, RIGHT?

EVEN THOUGH THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THIS, WE BELIEVE IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

IS THAT THE PATH THAT IT WOULD TAKE?

>> THAT IS CERTAINLY ONE PATH.

THEY HAVE ALL THESE LAWYERS UP AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THEY NEED A NICK GORHAM TO CHECK THE CONSTITUTION.

>> IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOLLOWS THE CONSTITUTION.

I KNOW THAT'S A SHOCKER.

[LAUGHTER] THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S ARGUMENT DURING TESTIMONY THIS WEEK WAS THAT WITH THE TWO SIGNATURES THAT HAVE BEEN USED FOR MAIL BALLOTS IN THE PAST, THE BOARD F ELECTIONS WAS NOT CHECKING THOSE BUT THEY DO CHECK THE SIGNATURE YOU USE WHEN YOU SIGN IN, SO THAT IS THE CHECK THAT IS IN PLACE.

>> TO BE CONTINUED, AS MANY THINGS UP AT THE STATEHOUSE.

COME BACK, WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENS ON THE LAST NIGHT AND THERE ARE 400 BILLS TO GO THROUGH.

ED, ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, ALL OF YOU KNEW ASHLEY K. IS NOW THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, SHE'S GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO GET ON PEOPLE'S RADAR.

>> SHE JUST MOVED TO RHODE ISLAND LAST YEAR.

BUT THE FIELD IS CLEAR.

THE BLAKE FLIPPY, DAVID -- THEY DECIDED NOT TO DO IT.

I THINK SHE WILL BRING SOME MONEY TO BEAR IN THE RACE, SELF-FUNDED TO AN EXTENT, SHE IS GETTING OUT THERE NOW.

WE WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT HER.

BUT HER TIME IS SHORT, SHE'S NOT WELL KNOWN IN THIS STATE.

>> I THINK SHE WILL BRING MONEY TO THE AIR.

I THINK SHE MADE SOME STUMBLES WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS AT SHE WOULD EMULATE -- THAT SHE WOULD EMULATE, LIKE RON DESANTIS, WHO I THINK IS A DISASTER IN FLORIDA.

>> I JUST GOT FLIPPED ON THE VOTING RIGHTS DOWN THERE.

THE FEDERAL STUFF.

>> YEAH.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD ALLUDE TO OTHER GOVERNORS, HOW GREAT THEY ARE, THAT PLACE TO YOUR REPUBLICAN BASE CERTAINLY.

THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR HER NO MATTER WHAT.

THE ISSUE IS OTHER PEOPLE.

SHE SCARED ME WHEN SHE TALKS SO HIGH ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THE SENTENCES.

-- HOW WONDERFUL DESANTIS IS.

>> THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE WHO RAN, WHO DID SOME THINGS THAT ARE SOMEWHAT LIKE INTO ASHLEY K., HE ALSO HAD WHAT IS THE MOST HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE -- IN OTHER WORDS, HISTORY PROVES IT TO BE TRUE.

[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING VOICES] >> THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

>> IT IS THE STAGGERING EFFECT.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO DESTROY THEMSELVES ALL SUMMER.

THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY TO RUN ALL KINDS OF ROTTEN, NEGATIVE ADS.

AND MCKEE, FOLKS, GORBEYA, MACK BROWN ARE GOING TO SLAUGHTER EACH OTHER ALL SUMMER WITH THEIR HEADS.

ONE OF THEM WILL STAGGER ACROSS THE FINISH LINE IN SEPTEMBER.

.

ASHLEY WILL BE FRESH AND READY TO GO.

SHE WON'T HAVE SPENT ANY MONEY EXCEPT TO BRING HER NAME RECOGNITION OF.

-- UP.

SO IT COULD BE A GOOD RACE.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE?

I WILL TAKE YOU AT YOUR POINT, HE WAS FROM RHODE ISLAND AND WENT TO BROWN UNIVERSITY, PLAYED FOOTBALL THERE.

>> WAS A BUSINESSMAN AT COOKSON.

HE WAS KNOWN.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A BLOODY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

THERE WILL BE SOME DAMAGE INFLICTED.

>> WHAT ABOUT HOW THE DEMOCRAT IS SHAPING UP?

HE TAKES HIS MONEY AND HIS WHATEVER NAME RECOGNITION HE HAS OVER THERE.

WHAT ABOUT THE FIVE -- THE MOST RECENT OBVIOUSLY IS HELENA?

>> SHE JUMPED IN AND BROUGHT $1 MILLION TO SAY HELLO, THAT WILL HELP IN THE FALL.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS -- WAS WELL-POSITIONED.

THE PANDEMIC WAS EASING UP.

HE'S GOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT HIS DISPOSAL.

THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD BEAT HIM IS HIMSELF.

HE'S MADE SOME STUMBLES ALONG FBI INVESTIGATION, THE LATEST HEADLINE.

NEVER HELPS YOU IN AN ELECTION.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT GIVES A SHOT I THINK TO THE OTHER FOLKS POSSIBLY.

MUNOZ IS IN THE RACE.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING PRIMARY.

>> I SEE YOU NODDING YOUR HEAD VIGOROUSLY THAT THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN BEAT HIM IS IN -- IS HIMSELF.

>> THIS RACE IS TO SEE IF MCKEE CAN MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

HE'S GOT PROBLEMS OBVIOUSLY.

PEOPLE DON'T COTTON THAT YOU GIVE MONEY TO SOMEONE WHO WAS THE HIGHER BIDDER -- BECAUSE OF THE CONNECTION TO YOU.

MORE IS COMING OUT NOW ABOUT HIS BROTHER AND SOME OF THE SHENANIGANS, WHERE THE BROTHER BUILT SUBSTANDARD PLACES THAT ARE NOW PROBLEMATIC, BUT DURING THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION, HE WAS NOT CHECKED BY THE PERMITS -- WHEN HE WAS MAYOR, THAT'S CORRECT.

NOW OF COURSE HIS BROTHER IS GETTING IN TROUBLE FOR THE BUILDING, FOR WORKING WITHOUT PERMITS.

THAT MAKES PEOPLE WONDER, HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?

THAT WHETS THE APPETITE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM OR IT'S BEEN A PERENNIAL PROBLEM.

SO I'M LOOKING TO SEE WHETHER MCKEE CAN MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> WE HAVE A POTPOURRI OF THINGS TO LOOK AT.

YOU JUST HOLD OUR NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, MARLENE.

THANKS FOR THAT.

NICK?

>> I'M LISTENING TO ARLENE AND E D, JUST IMAGINING THE NEGATIVE ADS, WE ARE GOING TO BE FABULOUSLY DESTRUCTIVE -- THEY ARE GOING TO BE FABULOUSLY DESTRUCTIVE.

[LAUGHTER] I STILL REMEMBER 1990, WITH POLARITY AND SOMEONE, THAT TO ME WAS A HIGH WATERMARK OF NEGATIVE ADS BY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SUMMER AS WELL.

>> NOT ANTHONY SOLOMON AND JOE WALSH?

THAT RACE?

>> THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

THAT IS HOW ED GOT IN, HOW DON GOT IN BECAUSE OF THE WHITE HOUSE -- THEY DESTROY EACH OTHER -- IT REALLY IS SOMETHING TO RECKON WITH.

>> YOU HAD AN INTERESTING ARTICLE, WE TALKED ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2.

THERE WERE EIGHT AND NOW THERE ARE SEVEN -- YOUNGMAN, WHO PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY NEVER GOING TO HEAR ABOUT AGAIN, MICHAEL NEARY, ONE OF THE DOWN BALLOT CANDIDATES -- WHAT A BIZARRE STORY.

>> A GUY THAT DID NOT HAVE NAME RECOGNITION, NOW HE DOES.

[LAUGHTER] >> FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.

>> IT'S NOT THE WAY HE WANT -- YOU WANT TO DO IT.

HE WAS GOING TO MOVE BACK.

>> JUST LIKE JEFF MAGAZINE WAS GOING TO MOVE TO CD2.

>> SO, HE WAS OUT IN COLUMBUS, HE HAD JUST COME BACK FROM RHODE ISLAND.

AND THIS COUPLE, THE POLANDS, THEY WERE BACK FROM SEEING THEIR SON IN FLORIDA AND THEY SEE THIS SILVER CROWD BEHIND THEM ACCORDING TO A POLICE REPORT, -- CAR BEHIND THEM ACCORDING TO A POLICE REPORT, AND I FOLLOWED THEM FOR AROUND 70 MILES COME OUT ONE SIDE IT WAS ALONGSIDE THEM, BEHIND THEM, FLASHING LIGHTS BEHIND THEM -- THEY WERE TERRIFIED.

CANDY POLAND SAID SHE COULDN'T EVEN TALK TO THE POLICE, SHE WAS SO SHAKEN BY WHAT HAPPENED, SHE THOUGHT THEIR LIVES WERE IN DANGER.

MICHAEL MARY GOT ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH MENACING.

>> DID HE KNOW THIS COUPLE?

>> THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT CAR OR DID ANOTHER DRIVER -- >> EVEN MORE BIZARRE.

LET'S GO TO THE OTHER CANDIDATES.

IF YOU WANT TO START ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, ALAN F. HAS NAME RECOGNITION, BUT JESSICA DELACRUZ IS GOING TO MOUNT A FORMIDABLE CAMPAIGN.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AS EASY FOR ALAN AS PEOPLE THINK.

I THINK A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW FACE.

AND JESSICA DELACRUZ MAKES A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION.

I REALLY LIKE HER.

I LIKE ALAN, TOO.

BUT I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS EASY AS SOME PEOPLE THINK.

HE WILL BE ABLE TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY, BU THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY HAS A TURNOUT -- IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL FOR HIM.

THE BIG PROBLEM MIGHT BE FOR DELACRUZ AND LANCIA, THAT THEY WILL CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT.

>> SO SHE IS OBVIOUSLY THE FURTHER RIGHT, SHE PLAYS WELL TO THE BASE, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO COME BACK, IN GENERAL, YOU HAVE TO MODERATE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT INTANGIBLES THAT WIN RACES.

IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT SO-CALLED QUIZ THAT CATHERINE GREG GAVE THEM PLAYS OUT -- IRONICALLY, SETH MAGAZINE, TO HIS CREDIT -- >> THE QUIZ WAS ON RHODE ISLAND.

>> CAN YOU NAME THE VILLAGES, EVERYTHING IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT -- SO FOX AND MAGAZINER, LANCIER, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE, THEY FLUNKED.

>> IF YOU GO TO WIKIPEDIA >> [OVERLAPPING VOICES] >> I'M THINKING CATHERINE GREG WOULD BE SUCH A RUDE -- [LAUGHTER] SUCH A RUE.

[LAUGHTER] >> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING RACE.

MAGAZINER HAS THE UPPER HAND ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE HERE.

IT SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING IF I AM FROM GREEN, RHODE ISLAND, I WILL SAY, YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I LIVE HERE, DIDN'T DOES THIS -- YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I EXIST AS A VILLAGE.

THERE ARE INTANGIBLES, WHEN THE REPUBLICANS THAT I KNOW WHERE THEY WERE.

[OVERLAPPING VOICES] >> THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER CAN OF WORMS.

>> I THINK THE SENATOR WILL GET SOME SUPPORT IN PARTS OF THE DISTRICT.

BUT THE BIGGEST CHUNKS OF THAT DISTRICT ARE IN CRANSTON AND WARWICK.

I THINK THE FORMER MAYOR HAS A BIG FOOTPRINT THERE.

>> YOU WONDER HOW MUCH THE MONEY DOES FOR SETH MAGAZINER.

I THINK HE GEARED HIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN TO RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL HE CAME OUT WITH WAS, WE NEED TO STOP THE DASTARDLY REPUBLICANS FROM TAKING OVER THE HOUSE.

THAT MAY PLAY WELL IN RHODE ISLAND.

IN CERTAIN PARTS, THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS NO MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN IT USED TO BE -- WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO TO POSITION HIMSELF AS A CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE?

BECAUSE I HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET.

>> HE'S GOT NAME RECOGNITION, HAVING BEEN TREASURER.

HE'S GIVING A LOT OF REPORTS ABOUT HOW HE HAS SAVED MONEY, MADE MONEY FOR THE PENSION, ETC.

BUT AS A CANDIDATE, I THINK THAT IS HIS LINE.

IT IS REALLY GOING TO BE -- WE DON'T NEED TO TURN OVER CONTROL TO THE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS BECAUSE LOOK WHAT THEY DID DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK THAT IS A SELLABLE ISSUE.

IT IS A HARD ONE BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE DISTRICT IS MORE CONSERVATIVE.

BUT I THINK THAT IS WHERE HE IS GOING TO WED HIMSELF, AS, DON'T SURRENDER CONTROL, AND I'M THE STRONGEST HANDED IT HERE -- THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE HERE.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFERENT ELECTION, I SUSPECT.

MAYBE NOT IN RHODE ISLAND.

BUT PEOPLE ARE MAD AS HELL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY.

THE IMMIGRATION, THE GAS PRICES.

>> THERE WERE TWO YEARS AGO.

IT'S THE FLIP BACK AND FORTH.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF INTANGIBES OUT THERE.

IN THIS ELECTION.

JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT IN RHODE ISLAND, IT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH TO JUST CARRY YOU IN THIS TIME.

>> BEFORE WE GET TO OUTRAGES AND KUDOS, THE PROVIDENCE MAYOR'S RACE, ALL THE MEDIA BANDWIDTH IS GOING TO THE GOVERNOR AND MICHAEL NEARY BLOWING IT ALL UP IN THE CONGRESSIONAL -- AS WE GET TO WHERE THE DEBATES, I WILL GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE ADVISOR FOR THE RICK COLLEGE NEWSPAPER AND THE NEWS EDITOR THERE, THEY HELD THE FIRST FORUM EVER, FOR ALL FOUR CANDIDATES, MICHAEL SOLOMON DIDN'T PARTICIPATE BECAUSE HIS FATHER DIED RECENTLY -- BUT I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK, THE MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE IS SO IMPORTANT.

YOU WONDER HOW MUCH ATTENTION THAT'S GOING TO GET WITH EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON.

>> YEAH.

YOU'VE GOT A GREAT CD2 RACE, FASCINATING GOVERNOR'S RACE, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING PROVIDENCE RACE -- FOUR CANDIDATES WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

IT'S GOING TO BE, JUST THIS WEEK, BRETT SMILEY, HE'S BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE, HE CALLED IT A LUNCH EVENT -- LUNCH EVENT -- LAUNCH EVENT, THEN YOU'VE GOT CUEVO, LAFORTUNE, MICHAEL SOLOMON, IT'S GOING TO BE A FASCINATING RACE.

>> NO ONE IS GOING TO WATCH THAT RESPITE WITH THE NASTINESS OF THE GOVERNORS RACE IS THE THING THAT'S GOING TO ATTRACT -- IT IS A TRAIN WRECK.

IT'S WHY PEOPLE SLOW DOWN WHEN THERE'S AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WATCH IT TO SEE HOW MORE NASTY THEY ARE GOING TO BE WHEN THEY DEBATE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ENERGY LEFT OVER.

>> I KNOW BRETT SMILEY IS CHANNELING HIS INNER BODY CIANCI.

-- BODY CIANCI.

HE'S LIKE THE HANDS ON MAYOR.

LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT THE GREAT IDEAS -- I THINK THAT IS A GOOD SALE, HOW IT WORKS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

BUT BACK TO BASICS MAYOR.

>> I'M SORRY THAT THERE ARE NO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES EMERGING.

I JUST THINK THE STATE IS SO MUCH BETTER SERVED IN HAVING AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, WHEN EVERYBODY VOTES, INSTEAD OF IN SEPTEMBER WHEN ONLY DEMOCRATS VOTE.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR PARTY, NICK?

COME ON.

>> IT IS SAD.

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IS AS DEMOCRAT AS IT'S EVER BEEN, IN MY MEMORY.

AND IT IS SAD, IT REALLY IS.

THE STATE HAS CHANGED.

THAT'S PART OF IT.

BUT LOOK, MAYBE SOMETHING -- MAYBE LIGHTNING WILL STRIKE FOR REPUBLICANS THIS YEAR.

[LAUGHTER] YOU HAVE TO HAVE HOPE, IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN.

>> DO YOU HAVE HOPE?

>> THE REPUBLICANS ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO TAKE OVER CONGRESS, I FEEL, ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, BUT IN RHODE ISLAND, THE SHENANIGANS OF THE REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY SCARE ME -- AND I COME FROM A REPUBLICAN FAMILY ALL MY LIFE, I WAS A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, BUT THE JOSH HAWLEYS, THE JUDGE AND THE TREATMENT THAT THEY DID, THE DOG WHISTLING THAT THEY DID DURING THAT -- THEY SCARE ME.

>> LET'S GO WITH THAT RIGHT NOW, WITH OUTRAGES.

>> THAT'S MY OUTRAGE.

PARTICULARLY JOSH HAWLEY, THE FORMER ATTORNEY -- ANYONE WHO'S BEEN IN THAT POSITION KNOWS THAT THE GUIDELINES, WHICH BY THE WAY HAVE BEEN STRUCK DOWN IN THE BOOKER CASE BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

>> THIS IS SUPREME COURT NOMINEE CATANIA BROWN JACKSON -- KETANJI BROWN JACKSON.

>> FOR HIM TO RAISE THOSE STUPID ISSUES IS APPALLING TO ME, HIS PARTICULAR CONDUCT.

THOSE GUIDELINES ON CHILD BORN CAME UP DURING THE TIME THAT THEY -- THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY COMPUTERS, SO IF OU HAD 530 PICTURES, YOU HAD TO GET THEM THROUGH THE MAIL, SO THAT SHOWED THAT YOU WERE BAD THAT HE WOULD DO THAT.

NOW 500 PICTURES A DAY -- I DOWNLOADED ON THE COMPUTERS, THOSE GUIDELINES DON'T WORK ANYMORE.

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.

AS DID THE BIPARTISAN PANEL THAT SUCH CHANGE GUIDELINES.

I THOUGHT THE CONDUCT WAS APPALLING BY THE GOP, THEY MADE ME CRINGE AND THEY EMBARRASSED ME AS A REPUBLICAN.

>> HAVE A KUDOS OF THAT IS OK. -- I HAVE A KUDOS OF THAT IS OK.

THIS IS A HARD YEAR FOR THE URI FANS, FOR BASKETBALL.

KUDOS TO THE PRESIDENT FOR BRINGING THE CHANGE THAT WE NEED TO THE URI BASKETBALL PROGRAM.

A STAR QUALITY COACH.

HE ACTUALLY APPROPRIATED THE MONEY TO DO IT.

THE PROGRAM I THINK IS GOING TO DO VERY WELL, IN THE FUTURE, WITH THIS PRESIDENT.

>> SOMEBODY THOUGHT OF SHOT -- SHOULD'VE THOUGHT OF THAT AS A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN, THE CHANGE WE NEED.

WE HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, MR. FITZPATRICK.

>> OVER IN UKRAINE, JOURNALISTS ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON, SO I WANT TO GIVE THEM ENORMOUS KUDOS FOR THAT, BUT IT'S AN OUTRAGE WHAT IS HAPPENING, FIVE JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN KILLED COVERING THAT.

WE JUST HAD THE UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAY, TRUTH IS A TARGET.

WE SHOULD REALIZE HOW PRECARIOUS THE FREE PRESS IS, NOT TAKE IT FOR GRANTED HERE, NOT USE PHRASES LIKE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE AND FAKE NEWS -- AND REALLY CHERISH THAT.

>> I'VE HEARD SOMETIMES THE BOMBS GOING OFF IN THE BACKGROUND, DO THESE GUYS KNOW HOW CLOSE -- I'M SURE THEY'LL HAVE INTELLIGENCE OR WHATEVER, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT STREET BUM IS GOING TO HIT AS YOU ARE DOING YOUR LIFE SHOT.

>> YEAH, YOU HEAR THEM IN THE BACKGROUND.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND SPENDING YOUR TIME WITH US.

NIC, ARLENE, SO NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK AFTER SOME MONTHS, AND ED, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FOLKS, COME BACK NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HAVE EVERYTHING COVERED FROM THE STATEHOUSE AND ALL OVER THE STATE, COME BACK AND JOIN US AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

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

VISIT NCICAP.ORG]