JIM: THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT."

ALLAN FUNG MAKES IT OFFICIAL AS A CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS.

AND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD AFFECT HOW WE VOTE THIS FALL TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARD PASSAGE.

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

JOHN: HI.

I'M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM, AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

♪ JIM: JOINING US ON THE PANEL.

BOB WALSH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION RHODE ISLAND.

IAN DONNIS, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR PUBLIX RADIO.

AND FORMER -- FOUR THE PUBLIC'S RADIO.

AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE DOREEN COSTA.

I'M JIM HUMMEL.

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

ALLAN FUNG KICKED OFF HIS CAMPAIGN THIS WEEK, BECOMING THE FIRST SERIOUS CANDIDATE IN MORE THAN A GENERATION THE RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD TO COMPETE FOR A SEAT IN CONGRESS.

WHILE HE ANSWERED A HOST OF QUESTIONS, HE DEFINITELY DODGED SOME OTHERS ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NATIONALLY.

IAN, YOU WERE THERE.

WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT ABOUT THAT INTERACTION?

IAN: AS YOU SAY, FUNG IS ONE OF THE BEST CHANCES FOR REPUBLICANS TO WIN A SEAT IN A LONG TIME.

THIS WILL BE A COMPETITIVE RACE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE A MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE PRIMARY.

WE CANNOT RULE OUT DAVID SIEGEL.

HE GOT AN ENDORSEMENT FROM ELIZABETH WARREN AND HE HAS A SIGNIFICANT CAPACITY TO RAISE MONEY.

WAS STRUCK BY FUNG'S SPEECH.

IT WAS OPTIMISTIC, IT WAS VERY CRITICAL OF DEMOCRATS, NOT SURPRISINGLY, ON ISSUES LIKE HIGHER GAS PRICES AND INFLATION.

THERE WAS SOME KIND OF NOSTALGIA IN THE TRUMP STYLE, LONGING FOR BYGONE DAYS WHEN -- I THINK HE LAID IT ON A LITTLE.

JIM: THE TIP O'NEILL/RONALD REAGAN ERA, RIGHT?

IAN: TIMING IS A CRUCIAL QUALITY, SO THEY CAN CAMPAIGN AGAINST THINGS LIKE INFLATION AND THE HIGHER GAS PRICES THAT CONCERN A LOT OF AMERICANS.

BUT THIS WILL BE, I EXPECT, A COMPETITIVE GENERAL ELECTION RACE IS THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IS DETERMINED AND FUNG FACES A PRIMARY, ALTHOUGH MUCH LESS OF A BATTLE WITH FORMER REPRESENTATIVE BOB LANCIA.

JIM: YOU WERE THERE TOO?

DOREEN: I WAS.

WHEN I WAS LEAVING I SAID TO MY HUSBAND, I DON'T KNOW WHO HIS SPEECHWRITER WAS, BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST SPEECHES I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG TIME.

AND IT IS NOT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SUPPORT MAYOR FUNG.

BUT THE SPEECH WAS INCREDIBLE.

IT WAS SPOT ON.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.

I KNOW WE WERE JUST TALKING IN THE GREEN ROOM, IT IS BAD FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RIGHT NOW.

I WENT TO WORK YESTERDAY MORNING, GAS WAS $4.09 A GALLON, I CAME HOME, IT WAS $4.19.

THAT IS ALL YOU KEEP SAYING, A GALLON OF MILK, $5.89 A GALLON.

THIS IS ALL UNDER HIS WATCH, THIS IS ALL UNDER THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RIGHT NOW AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF SEATS FLIPPED, ESPECIALLY IN THE STATEHOUSE, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF NEW NAMES AND THEY ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY.

JIM: WHETHER IT IS BIDEN'S FAULT OR NOT, PRESIDENTS GET BLAMED.

HE WEARS IT BECAUSE HE IS IN THE PRESIDENT'S SEAT.

BOB: I WAS NOT AT THE ALLAN FUNG RALLY.

JIM: NEITHER WAS I.

BOB: LET ME START OFF BY CONGRATULATING A REPUBLICAN, BECAUSE DOREEN JUST GOT MARRIED LAST WEEK.

[LAUGHTER] DOREEN: THANK YOU.

BOB: THEN IT ENDS THERE.

THE COMMENTARY IS CORRECT.

ALLAN FUNG IS A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN THE SECOND DISTRICT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT ALAN POSTED AGAINST GINA RAIMONDO IN THE SECOND DISTRICT OUTSIDE OF PROVIDENCE, HE CAME CLOSE.

ADDING PROVIDENCE IN, THE DEMOCRATS DID FINE, THEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUBSET OF JOE TRUELOVE VOTE THIS IS GOING TO BE A COMPETITIVE RACE IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT IN THE COUNTRY.

I WILL SAIS SOMETHING -- SOMETHING CAP DEMENTED -- COMPLIMENTARY OF ANOTHER REPUBLICAN.

HE IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF RECRUITING REPUBLICANS TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN THE SECOND DISTRICT TO TRY AND RUN UP THE TOTAL.

IN THE SAME WAY MACK BROWN'S CO-OP IS TRYING TO TAKE A TEAM APPROACH TO THE PRIMARY, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE FIGURED OUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO BE COMPETITIVE.

THAT SAID, I THINK MY TEAM IS GOING TO PREVAIL, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL RACE.

JIM: YOU HAVE RUN FOR CONGRESS -- PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT -- MANY YEARS AGO.

YOU HAVE ADVISED A LOT OF CAMPAIGNS.

I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY.

HE TALKS ABOUT THE FIRST VOTE IS GOING TO BE FOR KEVIN MCCARTHY, PRESUMABLY FOR SPEAKER.

SO HE CAN PUSH AN EXTREME AGENDA THAT WOULD HURT RHODE ISLANDERS BY PRIVATIZING SOCIAL SECURITY, CUTTING MEDICARE, AND APPEALING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT MAYOR FUNG'S PLATFORM PUTS THEM IN LOCKSTEP WITH EXTREME NATIONAL REPUBLICANS HAVE SHOWN THEY WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO DO DONALD TRUMP'S BIDDING.

IS THAT A WINNING STRATEGY?

BOB: YES, BECAUSE BOTH CAMPAIGNS ARE RUNNING STRATEGIES THEY BELIEVE ARE WINNING, BECAUSE BOTH THE FUNG CAMPAIGN AND THE MAGAZINE CAMPAIGN ON THE DEMOCRATS SIDE HAVE THE FINANCES TO TEST EVERY MESSAGE THAT IS OUT THERE AND RUN IT.

YOU HAVE HEARD THIS MESSAGE BEFORE.

THIS WAS THE SUCCESSFUL MESSAGE THE SHELDON WHITEHOUSE USED TO DEFEAT WHEN JP WAS A VERY POPULAR, MODERATE REPUBLICAN.

BUT FIRST VOTE IS THE WORST FOE.

IT IS THE DERIVATIVE OF WHAT WE WERE TOLD GROWING UP.

HE WILL BE JUDGED BY THE COMPANY YOU KEEP.

-- YOU WILL BE JUDGED BY THE COMPANY YOU KEEP.

WHAT THE MAGAZINE IS TRYING TO DO IS REMIND THE INDEPENDENT SWING VOTERS.

THE INDEPENDENTS DECIDE THESE ELECTIONS.

IN RHODE ISLAND THE OVERALL NATIONAL REPUBLICAN MESSAGE RELATED TO TRUMP, AS KEVIN MCCARTHY IS RELATED TO TRUMP, STILL DOES NOT PLAY.

>> HOW MUCH OF THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE RACE, THE NATIONAL?

DOREEN: I DON'T THINK IT IS.

BELOW ARE ABSOLUTELY FED UP.

SCOTUS SETH MAGAZINER.

WE HAVE HIM PHOTOS WALKING IN A BLM MARCH IN PROVIDENCE.

WE HAVE THE ACTUAL FOOTAGE OF THIS.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO -- I MEAN, YOU CAN SMILE, I CAN SEND YOU THE PICTURE.

BUT IS THAT THE PLATFORM YOU WANT TO RUN ON?

IS DEFUNDING THE POLICE AT THIS POINT, WHEN EVERYTHING IS SKYROCKETED -- WHEN MURDER AND ROBBERIES AND GRAB AND GO IS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY?

ONCE YOU ARE UP IN WASHINGTON, YES, YOU ARE REPRESENTING RHODE ISLAND, BUT THAT VOTE AFFECTS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

JIM: MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT DONALD TRUMP OR KEVIN MCCARTHY.

MAYOR FUNG WAS ASKED ABOUT SUPPORTING MCCARTHY AFTER HIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND HE GAVE A NOD TO ED, BUT KIND OF PUT IT OFF, LIKE, HE SAID THIS WILL BE RESOLVED LATER.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS ARE REALLY COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT.

DOREEN: I WILL TALK ABOUT IT ANYTIME.

JIM: DOREEN MIGHT BE AN EXCEPTION.

THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO EVERY RULE, BUT JESSICA DE LA CRUZ, WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING SHE WAS MAKING IT SOUND AS IF REPORTERS AND DEMOCRATS ARE ELEVATING DONALD TRUMP TO SOME STATURE HE DOES NOT ENJOY.

HE IS THE HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR MANY REPUBLICANS.

HE IS OUT THERE, HE IS ENDORSING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

HE IS VERY ACTIVE.

HE IS NOT SOME FIGMENT OF THE IMAGINATION OF PEOPLE OTHER THAN REPUBLICANS.

SO THIS IS THE FLIPSIDE OF HOW FUNGI AND OTHER REPUBLICANS ARE CAMPAIGNING ON GAS AND INFLATION, AND THESE THEMES ARE CLEAR EVEN THOUGH THE FIELD, PARTICULARLY THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

DOREEN: I DON'T KNOW.

I WILL TALK ABOUT TRUMP ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, BUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF TRUMP IS THE NOMINEE, LET'S JUST SAY DESANTIS IS THE NOMINEE, I'M SUPPORTING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.

I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS AT THIS POINT.

JIM: AND THAT IS A LONG WAY OFF.

DOREEN: EXACTLY, BUT THE THING IS, I WAS TALKING ON THE WAY HERE AND I SAID, I WONDER HOW LONG IT IS GOING TO TAKE THE PANEL TO MENTION DONALD TRUMP'S NAME?

WE WERE TALKING 10 MINUTES IN, A UNITS.

YOU GUYS JUST MENTIONED IT.

BUT DONALD TRUMP RIGHT NOW IS NOT DESTROYING AND RUNNING THE COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON ARE.

WHEN BARACK OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT HE STAYED, I TOOK THIS OVER FROM GEORGE BUSH.

WHEN TRUMP WAS PRESIDENT, I TOOK THIS OVER FROM BARACK OBAMA.

YOU ARE PRESIDENT, STOP BLAMING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

THAT IS ONE THING I NEVER BELIEVED IN, AND I DON'T TO THIS DAY.

JOE BIDEN IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND EVERYTHING FALLS ON HIS LAP.

BOB: THERE IS ALSO POSITIVE NEWS ABOUT THE ECONOMY IN ADDITION TO THE BAD NEWS ABOUT INFLATION.

YOU KNOW, UNEMPLOYMENT IS WAY DOWN, EVEN THOUGH THE GDP QUARTER WAS NEGATIVE.

DOREEN: 1.4.

BOB: MOST ECONOMISTS REMAIN ROBUST ABOUT THE FUTURE OUTLOOK.

THE ECONOMIC INFORMATION IS MIXED.

IT IS NOT ALL BAD, IT IS NOT ALL GOOD, BUT WE WILL LEAVE IT TO THE CANDIDATES.

IAN: I THINK IT IS GOING TO HANG AROUND THE DEMOCRATS' NECK.

THE GAS PRICES, INFLATION, AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER BECAUSE OF THE LOCKDOWNS IN CHINA.

THAT IS GOING TO BE A RIPPLE EFFECT OVER THE SUMMER.

FINAL WORD BEFORE WE MOVED TO STATE POLITICS?

>> I ENCOURAGE REPUBLICANS TO TALK ABOUT ALLAN FUNG AND DONALD TRUMP IN THE SAME SENTENCE.

[LAUGHTER] DOREEN: AND DEFUND THE POLICE.

THEY HAVE IT.

JIM: NOT A GREAT WEEK FOR GOVERNOR MCKEE.

HE HAS HAD SOME ISSUES THAT JUST LATE YESTERDAY WE HEARD HE IS DROPPING OUT OF A DEBATE HE HAD COMMITTED TO TWICE, NOW SAYING HE'S NOT GOING TO DO IT UNTIL EVERYBODY SIGNS THEIR PAPERS IN JUNE.

THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE DMV ADMINISTRATOR.

NOT RISING -- FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE STORY, HE OWNS A BUILDING WITH HIS WIFE WHERE THEY FOUND THERE WAS PROSTITUTION GOING ON, AND MASSAGE PARLOR.

SO PETER RUNNER ISSUES A REPORT THAT SAYS WE CANNOT CHARGE HIM, BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD LOOK.

AS THESE THINGS BEGIN TO PILE UP FOR THE GOVERNOR, HOW SERIOUS IS THIS FOR HIM?

IAN: I WOULD SAY THE SERIOUS PART OF THE STORY HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN YET.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT BODY, WHO IS DOING A SUPERB JOB AT DMV -- YOU CAN GET IN AND OUT OF THERE IN 15 MINUTES.

DISAPPOINTMENT THING IS WORKING WONDERFULLY AND I GIVE HIM HUGE CREDIT.

IF I WAS ON THE SHOW THREE WEEKS AGO I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT BECAUSE I JUST HAD TO NAVIGATE THE DMV.

HE OWNED A PIECE OF PROPERTY WHERE AN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY WAS GOING ON.

HE WAS NOT INVOLVED, THE REAL STORY IS EVEN A RONA CALLED HIM AND SAID, IS NOT GOING TO BE A PROSECUTION, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER.

THAT WAS AN INTERESTING APPROACH.

JIM: SHORT OF A GRAND JURY?

IAN: RIGHT.

AND BECAUSE THEY ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING, THE GOVERNOR'S ROLE IN THE CONTRACT, WHEN THAT INVESTIGATION IS CONCLUDED, WHAT WILL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAY ABOUT THE PROCESS?

THAT IS THE REAL STORY IN THAT ARTICLE.

BOB: I HAD HIM ON AS A GUEST AND I ASKED HIM ABOUT THAT, WILL YOU PUBLICIZE THE RESULTS IF THERE IS NO CHARGE AS A RESULT OF THE ILO INVESTIGATION?

HE SAID IT, IF THERE IS PUBLICITY ABOUT CASE, TO CLEAR THE AIR AND MAKE EVIDENT WHAT THE FINDINGS ARE, EVEN IF THERE IS NO CRIMINAL CHARGE.

TO YOUR QUESTION, JIM, I THINK MCKEE'S RIVALS GOING TO HAVE AMMUNITION TO USE AGAINST HIM.

JIM: AND ALREADY ARE.

BOB: IT IS STRIKING THAT MCKEE'S CAMPAIGN TEAM THINKS IT IS MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEM TO TAKE A PASS ON THIS DEBATE STAGE LAST WEEK WHETHER THEN -- RATHER THAN MIXING IT UP.

JIM: YOU DON'T GET MUCH MORE NEUTRAL THAN THAT, RIGHT?

BOB: IT IS GOING TO BE MODERATED BY STEPH MACHADO FROM CHANNEL 12.

I'M SURE SHE WILL DO A GREAT JOB.

THIS IS AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES.

THIS IS BEEN A WEIRD CAMPAIGN SEASON, WHERE WE ARE ALMOST FOUR MONTHS AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY AND THINGS HAVE NOT HEATED UP MUCH.

BUT PEOPLE DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES.

DOREEN: I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, AS WELL AS ASHLEY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES AND THIS IS THE ONE GREAT THING ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, BLOG.

JIM: WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON ASHLEY KAYLA'S?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HER AS A CANDIDATE?

DOREEN: SHE IS COMING IN SWINGING.

LIKE, LITERALLY.

NO PUN INTENDED.

SHE IS EVERYWHERE.

SHE IS DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT.

SHE HAS, FOR THE MOST PART, SELF-FUNDING.

I AM FOLLOWING HER ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHE COULD BE IN BARRINGTON ONE MINUTE THEN WESLEY THE NEXT MINUTE, THEN PORTSMOUTH, AND NEWPORT SHE IS CAMPAIGNING.

WHOEVER IS RUNNING HER CAMPAIGN, I THINK THEY ARE BRILLIANT.

>> SHE IS UP ON TV NOW, AND IF YOU HAD TOLD US TWO MONTHS AGO SHE WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST CANDIDATE ON TV I THINK WE WOULD HAVE SCRATCHED OUR HEADS.

SHE RECOGNIZES SHE IS NEW TO RHODE ISLAND, SHE HAS TO BUILD HER NAME RECOGNITION, GET HER NAME OUT THERE.

I AGREE HER CAMPAIGN IS SHOWING A DEFT TOUCH ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THEY ARE USING SOME HUMOR TO TWEAK THE KEY, AND SHE IS RAISING HER PROFILE.

DOREEN: AND THAT IS WHAT SHE NEEDS TO DO.

BECAUSE I KNOW HER BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT.

SHE NEEDS TO APPEAL TO BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

JIM: THE SECOND TIME I LOOKED AT THE ADS, IT IS INTERESTING, NO WAY DO YOU SEE THAT SHE IS A REPUBLICAN.

>> I WOULD NOT HAVE REVISED -- HAVE ADVISED A PUBLIC AND CANDIDATE TO BE ON THE AIR THIS SOON, BUT WHAT THE HECK?

>> BUT SHE HAS NO NAME RECOGNITION.

>> SHE IS ATTACKING THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR, WHO MIGHT NOT BE THE NOMINEE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND DOING THE WORK THAT -- YOU KNOW, SHE IS SAVING THE FOLKS WHO ARE THE REAL POTENTIAL CHALLENGERS.

JIM: IF YOU WERE HER CAMPAIGN RIGHT -- MANAGER, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE RECOMMENDED?

>> I WOULD NOT HAVE SPENT TV MONEY.

I MIGHT HAVE DONE SOME MORE SOCIAL MEDIA STUFF TO INCREASE HER RECOGNITION, BUT IT IS TOO SOON.

IT IS WASTED MONEY.

THIS IS WHAT MATT BROWN DID WHEN HE RAN FOR SENATE.

HE HAD AN EARLY FLURRY OF ADVERTISING, HE GOT A LITTLE BUMP, THEN FADED DOWN TO NOTHING AND HE WAS GONE.

IF SHE -- IF SHE IS GOING TO SPEND $20 MILLION AND STAY ON THE AIR THE ENTIRE TIME, WHY NOT?

SPEND THE MONEY.

JIM: I'M NOT SURE THAT IS THE BUDGET FOR A NEW CANDIDATE, PARTICULARLY ONE A NEWCOMER, I THINK IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO MAKE EFFORTS TO RAISE HER NAME RECOGNITION.

I THINK THAT IS POLITICS 101.

>> WHAT IS HER PATH THEN?

WE HAVE TALKED ON PANELS, LET THE DEMOCRATS BEAT THEMSELVES UP.

BOB WOULD SAY DON'T GET UP THIS EARLY.

I AGREE SHE NEEDS NAME RECOGNITION, AND YOU GET INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS WERE NOBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION.

MAYBE YOU DO A FLURRY NOW, BACK OFF, THINK HIM IN IN THE FALL.

WHAT IS HER PATH?

WE HAVE HAD REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS, ALTHOUGH ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN FROM RHODE ISLAND.

DOREEN: I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO BE WHETHER IT BE A FOOD TRUCK, LOCAL BEACHES, SHE'S GOING TO BE OUT THERE.

SHE IS NOT STOPPING.

SHE LITERALLY SAID YESTERDAY, I WILL SLEEP ON NOVEMBER 9.

UNTIL THEN WE ARE NOT STOPPING.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

SHE IS GOING TO KEEP GOING AND THE RATE SHE IS GOING NOW, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KNOW WHO SHE IS AT THE POLLS.

SO, IT IS RHODE ISLAND.

DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT DON'T UNDERESTIMATE HER.

JIM: SPEAKING OF VOTING, MAJOR VOTING BILL HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT WOULD CHANGE THE WAY YOU VOTE IN THE FALL.

IT WILL CODIFY SOME OF THE CHANGES WE HAD DURING THE PANDEMIC -- EARLY VOTING, THE WAY YOU HANDLED THEIR -- MAIL BALLOTS, AND ALL OF THAT.

THIS SEEMS TO BE GOING THROUGH THE SENATE.

YOUR THOUGHTS IN GENERAL AND THE CHANCES THIS IS GOING TO GO THROUGH?

I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE ROADBLOCKS ARE GOING TO BE TO PASS IT.

BOB: MY SENSE IS THIS IS LIKELY TO GO THROUGH.

IT SEEMED TO WORK WELL AND IT SEEMED TELLING THAT THE OPPONENTS OF THIS HAD TO REACH BACK TO BUDDY CIANCI IN THE 1980'S DEFINED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THEIR ARGUMENT.

YES, WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE VOTE, BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD IN RHODE ISLAND.

THERE WERE THREE ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF PEOPLE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE IN FRAUD IN THE ELECTION.

THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING PROSECUTED UNDER A FELONY PROSECUTION.

THAT WOULD SEEM LIKE A STRONG DISINCENTIVE FOR ANYONE TO ENGAGE IN THAT BEHAVIOR.

SO THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE BETWEEN INTEGRITY AND MAKING IT EASIER TO VOTE, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE IT IS GOING TO GO.

IAN: THE HISTORY OF VOTING IN AMERICA IS BRIEFLY, WE ARE A DEMOCRACY, BUT WE STARTED OFF LETTING RICH, WHITE PROPERTY OWNERS VOTE.

THEN WE LET EVERYBODY VOTE.

SO, FROM THE SOUTH, WHERE FOLKS GOT NERVOUS AND PUT IN THINGS LIKE POLL TAX AND LONG VOTING LINES MORE RECENTLY IN TRYING TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM VOTING, THE WHOLE POINT OF THE PROCESS IS IT SHOULD BE EASY TO VOTE IN AS MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AS FOLKS CAN ACCESS THE POLLS.

I AM ONE OF THE ONES WHO THINKS WE SHOULD HAVE A NATIONAL HOLIDAY SO EVERYBODY CAN VOTE OR DO IT ON A WEEKEND.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

THESE ARE WAYS TO MAKE VOTING EASIER.

AS IAN POINTED OUT, THE THREE CASES OF VOTER FRAUD WERE -- THEORETICALLY -- I'M GUESSING IF THE VOTER FRAUD WAS BASED ON THEY OWN A HOME HERE AND OWN A HOME IN THE OTHER STATE, THEY ARE PROBABLY RICH WHITE GUYS LIKE WE STARTED OUT WITH.

AND HOPEFULLY IT WAS AN INNOCENT MISTAKE.

AND THEY ARE ALL MY IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECORD, OVER 70 YEARS OLD, SO I DON'T THINK THERE IS A SEPTUAGENARIAN VOTER FRAUD RING THAT SHOULD ALLOW US TO TRY AND DENY ACCESS TO THE POLLS TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

JIM: I JUST GOT THREE I ROSE FROM THE RAIN.

BOB: MY GOAL WAS FOUR.

JIM: DO YOU SEE HER OUT OF YOUR PERIPHERAL VISION?

BOB: DONALD TRUMP WOULD TELL YOU THE.

HIT ME BACK.

DOREEN: WHATEVER, BOB.

HERE IS MY THING.

YOU WANT TO THE -- TO GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE NEVER NOT MISSED AN ELECTION.

I'M SURE I WILL BE FACT CHECKED, BUT I HAVEN'T.

I WANT TO SHOW MY ID AND I WANT TO CAST MY VOTE.

RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE THE MAIL BALLOTS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE NOTARIZED, NOBODY HAS TO WATCH YOU SIGN AT.

JIM: BUT THAT SIGNATURE IS CHECKED AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

DOREEN: IT IS NOT, BECAUSE THE CHAIRWOMAN AND I WENT AFTER THE LAST ELECTION TO GET SOME SAMPLE BALLOTS.

SQUIGGLY LINES, BROADCAST.

SMILEY FACE, VOTE CAST.

WE SAW THAT WITH OUR OWN EYES.

HOW DOES THAT MATCH ANYBODY'S SIGNATURE?

THEY SHOULD BE NOTARIZED.

JIM: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT EARLY VOTING?

DOREEN: I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

AS LONG AS YOU ARE GOING -- IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NORTH KEYS TOWN HALL, THEY HAVE THE BOOTS IN THERE, YOU SHOW YOUR ID, AND YOU VOTE.

IF YOU WANT TO VOTE EARLY, THE BALLOT HAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE CITY OR TOWN HALL AND NOTARIZED AND YOU CAN VOTE.

I'M SORRY, ELECTION IS NOT A FREE-FOR-ALL WHERE YOU CAN FIND ANY NAME.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THAT?

BOB: WHEN THEY WENT BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME, TO THE BUDDY CIANCI FRAUD.

JIM: HAD NOT HEARD LANE GRIFFIN'S NAME IN A YEAR.

BOB: HE WAS A NOTARY, AND HE WOULD PICK UP SOMEONE'S BALLOT AND NOTARIZE IT AND BRING IT IN.

NOTARIZATION DOES NOTHING.

ALL PROPERLY NOTARIZED AND WITNESSED.

DOREEN: I JUST THINK YOU NEED A WITNESS.

IAN: BY A LARGE AMERICAN ELECTIONS WORK VERY WELL.

THERE HAS BEEN THIS MYTH POPULARIZED BY SOMEONE WHO SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS -- [LAUGHTER] THAT ELECTIONS ARE PROBLEMATIC AND THE LAST ELECTION WAS STOLEN, BUT THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

JIM: IN OTHER STATES I REALIZE IT IS KIND OF AN EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS HERE.

IN OTHER STATES THEY HAVE BEEN DOING MAIL BALLOTS -- IT HAS BEEN ALL MAIL BALLOTS IN WASHINGTON FOR YEARS.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

WANT TO KEEP THE DOUBLE SIGNATURE NOTARY, IS THAT YOUR ISSUE?

DOREEN: I WOULD LIKE AT LEAST SOMEBODY TO SUPERVISE AND MATCH THE SIGNATURES, BECAUSE THEY DON'T ALL MATCH AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

JIM: BUT THE OTHER CHANGES, ARE YOU OK WITH THAT?

DOREEN: AS LONG AS EVERYTHING IS ON THE UP AND UP I'M OK WITH THAT.

BUT HERE IS WHEN I'M NOT OK WITH.

NELLIE GORBEA IS IN CHARGE OF THE SELECTION, AND SHE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

JIM: THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS IN CHARGE.

DOREEN: THE SECRETARY SAYS, I DID KNOCK ON DOORS OF DEAD PEOPLE.

UNFORTUNATELY I WENT UP TO A DOOR -- NO, BOB, IT WAS SAD.

THE WIFE ANSWERED THE DOOR AND I ASKED FOR THE HUSBAND BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT A RESIDENT -- REGISTERED VOTER, AND SHE CRIED AT THAT DOOR -- MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN DEAD FOR 3.5 YEARS.

JIM: WAS IT ON THE LIST?

DOREEN: IT WAS ON THE LIST.

HE WAS STILL THERE.

BOB: THAT IS A SAD AND IT IS ALWAYS SAD WHEN YOU HAVE TO COMFORT SOMEONE.

DOREEN: BOB, IT IS NOT THE POINT.

NALLY DID NOT DO HER JOB IN CLEANING UP THE VOTER ROLLS.

IF SHE DID THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ON THERE.

IAN: I HAVE DONE STORIES ON THIS.

THE OTHER THING ABOUT CLEANING UP THE ROLLS FOUR TIMES A YEAR, THERE ARE LAWS THAT SAY, YOU CANNOT JUST PUMP -- RIGHT, YOU CANNOT BUMP THEM OFF.

BOB: OBVIOUSLY WHEN SOMEONE PASSES AWAY AND THE NOTIFICATION GETS TO WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PURGE THAT NAME FROM THE VOTER ROLLS.

JIM: LET'S DO OUTRAGES OR KUDOS.

BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TWITTER.

BOB, WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

BOB: I AM OUTRAGED.

USUALLY I DO A KUDOS.

YESTERDAY'S PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, LENDER -- LINDA BOURQUE HAD AN ARTICLE WHERE THE HEADLINE WAS, "SUPPOSE REQUESTED TO RECRUIT SELECTIVELY FOR SUMMER SCHOOL."

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

IN THIS EMAIL THAT WENT OUT TOOK PRINCIPALS IN PROVIDENCE SAME, AVOID CHOOSING STUDENTS WITH ATTENDANCE ISSUES, AVOID BEHAVIOR ISSUES, AVOID STUDENTS -- JIM: WHO ELSE IS GOING TO SUMMER SCHOOL?

BOB: THEN TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, LATER THAT DAY ANOTHER ARTICLE THAT ONE UP ONLINE, RHODE ISLAND STUDENTS WILL NEED THREE TO FIVE YEARS OF ACCELERATED LEARNING TO RECOVER FROM COVID.

GUESS WHICH STUDENTS NEED THE MOST ATTENTION?

ONES WITH ATTENDANCE ISSUES, THE ONES WITH BEHAVIOR ISSUES COME UP THE ONES WHO ARE STRUGGLING ACADEMICALLY.

THE CULTURE THAT HAS BEEN VISITED UPON FROM THE MANAGEMENT SIDE -- AND I HAVE TO ADD RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN THIS -- IN PROVIDENCE AND ALSO THE CITY SAYING, OUR TEST SCORES WILL GO UP IF THE ONLY KIDS TAKING THE TESTS CAN PASS THE TEST, YES, YOUR TEST SCORES WILL GO UP, BUT YOU ARE NOT IN THE EDUCATION BUSINESS ANYMORE.

THIS HAS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY.

THE CULTURE THEY ARE VISITING UPON PROVIDENCE IS UNFAIR TO THE TEACHERS, PARENTS, THE KIDS, AND IT HAS TO STOP.

JIM: THREE SHOWS OF OUTRAGE.

IAN: A REPORTER AT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES THAT AN INVESTIGATION ON HOW THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THERE WAS ATTEMPTING TO COVER UP A CASE INVOLVING ABUSE OF AN INMATE.

IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MADE NOISE ABOUT BRINGING CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THIS REPORTER, WHO WAS COMPLETELY WITHIN HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

THAT WAS OUTRAGEOUS, AND AFTER PUBLICITY THE SHERIFF BACKED AWAY, BUT IT SHOWS THE VALUE OF JOURNALISM AND REPORTING.

DON'T TAKE IT FOR ME, TAKE IT FROM ONE OF THE STATE'S TOP REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS.

STEVE FROST, WHO ONCE DURING A FORM STAGED BY MY RADIO STATION, SAID REPORTERS IN RHODE ISLAND HAVE DONE MORE TO ROOT OUT CORRUPTION AND WRONGDOING THEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE.

BOB: AMEN.

DOREEN: I HAVE AN OUTRAGE OF THE NORTH KINGSTON SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

WE HAD A TEACHER COME FORWARD AND A COMPLAINT OF A TEENAGE GIRL BEING STALKED BY ONE OF HER TEACHERS.

IT IS TIME FOR THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT AT NORTH KINGSTOWN TO WAKE UP, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE -- WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MANY MORE COMING OUT AND IT IS GOING TO COST THE TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY.

IAN: IT IS REALLY SAD, BECAUSE THEY ARE ENTRUSTED WITH PROTECTING THEM.

JIM: WE HAVE ABOUT 2.5 MINUTES LEFT.

A LOT OF HANDWRINGING OVER ELON MUSK TAKING OVER TWITTER.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN THE GREEN ROOM.

ONLY 11% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ARE ON TWITTER.

THERE IS A BOOMERANG EFFECT, BECAUSE CERTAINLY WHEN THE MEN WHO WILL NOT BE NAMED WAS IN OFFICE THERE WAS A LOT OF REPORTING ON WHAT HE WOULD TWEET.

INITIAL THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?

BOB: I'M A BIG FAN OF TWITTER.

JIM: YOU ARE?

BOB: I HAVE TWEETED MORE THAN 100,000 TIMES SINCE 2009.

JIM: DO WE NEED AN INTERVENTION?

BOB: MY WIFE THINGS I DO.

TWO PEOPLE ON TWITTER CAN HAVE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.

YOU CAN GET GREAT INFORMATION OR GO DOWN A RABBIT HOLE INTO A LOT OF DISINFORMATION.

IT IS A TOOL AND IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU USE IT.

YES, THERE IS A LOT OF REFLEXIVE, PARTISAN POSTURING.

PEOPLE JUST PUT CANDIDATE A CANDIDATE BE IS A CREEK WITH NO EVIDENCE, BUT YOU CAN ALSO FIND GOOD REPORTING.

HOPEFULLY TWITTER WILL REMAIN A SOURCE WHERE THERE CAN BE SOME GOOD INFORMATION OUT THERE.

JIM: YOU HAVE BEEN ON, OFF, BACK IN AGAIN?

DOREEN: I DROP IN AND OUT.

I LIKE TO READ THE STORIES AND I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE A D OR R, YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT.

IF YOU WANT TO BEAT ME UP, I DON'T CARE.

IF I WANT TO GO AFTER CNN FOR THEIR LOW RATINGS AND STREAMING SERVICE THAT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, I CAN DO THAT.

I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT WITHOUT BEING ATTACKED.

AND I DON'T CARE.

JIM: I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU IN A RING WITH ASHLEY KAYLA'S.

IT WOULD BE A PBS FUNDRAISER.

BOB: I WOULD LIVE-TWEETED THAT.

JIM: YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.

IAN: I DO NOT THINK ELON MUSK IS GOING TO BUY TWITTER.

THERE IS YOUR BOLD PREDICTION.

I WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED IF THE DEAL DID NOT GET COLD -- CLOSE.

BECAUSE TESLA LIES SIGNIFICANTLY ON CHINA TO SUPPLY RESOURCES FOR THEIR VEHICLES AND CHINA HATES TWITTER, AND WHY FOR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO US, MUST UP A $44 BILLION THING -- OR A $1 TRILLION THING WITH A $44 BILLION ACQUISITION?

I USE TWITTER, I LEARNED A LOT.

IF I DON'T LIKE YOU, I WILL BLOCK YOU.

IF IT DOESN'T WORK, WE WILL DO SOMETHING ELSE.

JIM: THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

BOB AND DOREEN AND IAN, GREAT DISCUSSION.

COME BACK HERE NEXT WEEK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

♪ >> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

JOHN: HI.

I'M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.