[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY -- >> WE WILL TALK ABOUT SHIPS THAT WELL PROTECT OUR NATION THROUGH 2080.

THE SUBMARINES CONTRACTED TODAY WILL CARRY US OVER THE NEXT GENERATION IN WAR.

>> THE UNITED STATES NAVY WANTS IT'S A SHIP ELTING SPREE TO -- I TS SHIPBUILDING SPREE TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE.

>> WE WANT TRY TO WAKE UP AND THINK " TODAY IS NOT THE DAY I WANT TO START SOMETHING WITH THE U.S.

NAVY."

>> THIS DRUG HAS SUCCESSFULLY TREATED RHEUMATOID FOR DECADES.

>> DOZENS OF STUDIES HAVE EXAMINED THE EFFICACY OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.

HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE -- EVERY HIGH-QUALITY STUDY HAS FAILED TO FIND A BENEFIT FOR HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE FOR COVID-19.

>> THE SENATOR WHO HELD THE HEARING WAS USING IT TO SPREAD MISINFORMATION ABOUT IT.

IT WAS AN EVENT IS SET UP WITH BLOGGERS, A LOT OF RIGHT WING SOCIAL MEDIA FOLKS, WHO THEN WENT AFTER ME PERSONALLY AND BEGAN TO ATTACK ME, THREATEN ME.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> FROM THE U.S.

NAVAL WAR COLLEGE TO HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSES, THE COAST OF NEW ENGLAND HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR ITS MARITIME HISTORY AND STRATEGIC DEFENSE.

>> SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE SILICON VALLEY OF UNDERSEA WARFARE, THAT STATEMENT BY CHUCK HAGEL REMAINS A POINT OF PRIDE FOR THE REGION'S DEFENSE INDUSTRY AND IT STILL HOLDS TRUE TODAY.

THE NAVY'S NEXT GENERATION OF SUBMARINES IS BEING BUILT HERE IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

THOUSANDS OF WORKERS ARE NEEDED TO CONSTRUCT THE FLEET.

FOR THE NAVY, BUILDING UP ITS BATTLE FORCE IS A PRESSING ISSUE AS IT FACES INCREASED ATTENTION AT SEA, BUT THE NAVY IS JUDICIOUS ABOUT DISCUSSING THE WORK.

AFTER ALL, LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KNOW AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE FRIENDLY.

>> THE UNITED STATES NAVY IS KNOWN AS THE SILENT SERVICE.

SUBMARINERS ARE DEPLOYED AROUND THE WORLD ON CLASSIFIED MISSIONS UNDERSEA IS, READY TO -- MISSIONS UNDERSEA.

>> YOU WANT TO BE MIKE TYSON.

IF THE PERSON IS THERE TO CAUSE TROUBLE, YOU ARE NOT THE ONE THEY ARE GOING TO CAUSE TROUBLE WITH.

>> CAPTAIN CHAD HENNINGS IS THE HEAD OFFICER OF THE NEWPORT DIVISION.

>> THEY ARE TERRIBLE WEAPONS.

NO ONE WANTS TO USE THEM.

OUR PRESENCE OUT THERE HAS MAINTAINED THAT PIECE SINCE WORLD WAR II -- PEACE SINCE WORLD WAR II.

>> CAPTAIN HENNINGS ESTIMATES HE HAS SPENT SIX TO EIGHT YEARS UNDERWATER.

THEY ARE DEVELOPING THE TECHNOLOGY USED INSIDE OF THE NAVY'S UNDERWATER VESSELS.

RON BEEN IS THE CENTER -- RON VEEN' IS THE CENTER'S TECHNICAL DIRECTOR.

>> THERE ARE 3500 CIVILIANS.

WE DO NOT WEAR THE UNIFORM, BUT WE HELP TO DEFEND THE NATION.

>> DEFENDING THE UNITED STATES AT SEA IS NO SMALL ENDEAVOR.

71% OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE IS COVERED IN WATER.

THE NAVY IS EXPANDING ITS FLEET TO MAINTAIN WHAT IT CALLS U.S. MARITIME SUPERIORITY.

IT IS BIG BUSINESS FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WHERE CONSTRUCTION IS WELL UNDERWAY AT THE NAVY'S PRIMARY SUBMARINE BUILDER.

SEAN DAVIES HEADS UP OPERATION AT ONE FACILITY.

>> THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY.

WE HAVE BEEN IN GROWTH OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND OUR EMPLOYEES SEE A TON OF WORK ON THE HORIZON.

>> THE EXCITEMENT ABOUT WORKING ON VARIOUS PROJECTS IS PALPABLE.

>> EVERYONE THINKS ABOUT SHALL BUILDING AS JUST BEING WELDERS, ELECTRICIANS, AND WE NEED MANY OF THOSE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THOUSANDS OF ENGINEERS, DESIGNERS,, FIREFIGHTERS, DOCTORS, NURSES AND WE ARE GROWING EVERYWHERE.

>> THE GOVERNMENT HAS AWARDED CONTRACTS TO BUILD SUBMARINES INCLUDING THE VIRGINIA CLASS, A SUBMARINE DESIGNED TO HUNT DOWN OTHER MILITARY SHIPS.

>> THEY CAN MAP IN TRANSIT MINEFIELDS COVERTLY AND CLANDESTINELY IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES SO THE ADVERSARY DOES NOT KNOW WHEN SEALS ARE COMING ONTO THEIR BEACH.

>> TO REPLACE THE AGING OHIO CLASS SUBS, ELECTRIC BOAT BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON THE COLUMBIA CLASS BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINE.

ELECTRIC BOAT PLANS TO BUILD 12 OF THEM FOR THE NAVY.

>> THE BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINE PROVIDES A SHORT STRATEGIC RESPONSE FOR ANYONE THAT WOULD THREATEN THE UNITED STATES WITH WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

>> BUILDING ALL OF THESE SUBMARINES WILL REQUIRE ELECTRIC BOAT TO HIRE MORE EMPLOYEES THAN IT HAS HAD IN DECADES.

IN THE 1970'S, THE COMPANY HAD 2600 EMPLOYEES.

THAT IS CHANGING THANKS TO CONTRACTS WITH THE NAVY.

>> WE ARE IN THAT GROWTH MODE AGAIN AT 17,005 HUNDRED PEOPLE AND CONTINUING TO CLIMB UNTIL WE HAVE ENOUGH -- 17,500 PEOPLE AND CONTINUING TO CLIMB UNTIL WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE.

>> THEY HIRED PEOPLE LAST YEAR TO WORK HERE AT THIS FACILITY.

THIS YEAR THE COMPANY PLANS TO HIRE ANOTHER 1500 PEOPLE TO WORK AT THIS SITE.

>WIT MORE PEOPLE COMES THE NEED FOR MORE SPACE.

THIS TIME LAPSE VIDEO SHOWS SOME OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE AT QUONSET POINT.

>> THEY ARE INVESTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO EXPAND AND MODERNIZE ELECTRICAL FACILITIES OVER THE NEXT DECADE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE SPACE AND FACILITIES WE NEED TO FULFILL THAT WORK.

>> THE WORK BOILS DOWN TO SEA POWER.

THE NAVY WANTS TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO RUSSIA AND THE COUNTRY WITH THE LARGEST NAVY IN THE WORLD, CHINA.

>THERE HAS TO BE A GREAT SENSE F URGENCY AS YOU SIT HERE SAYING WE NEED TO RAMP UP.

>> THE CHINESE NAVY IS WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT.

IT GIVES ME THE MOTIVATION TO DO OUR JOBS THE BEST WE CAN BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING BIGGER.

PLATFORM WISE THEY ARE BIGGER THAN OUR NAVY AND GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.

>> ACCORDING TO A 2020 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REPORTS CHINA HAS ABOUT A FORCE OF 350 SHIPS ACCORDING TO THE U.S., WHICH HAD 293 SHIPS IN EARLY 2020.

>DOES THE U.S. IS STIL HAVE THE BEST NAVY IN THE WORLD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> EVEN THOUGH CHINA HAS A BIGGER FLEET THAN WE DO?

>> THE U.S. HAS THE ADVANTAGE NOW IN THE UNDERSEA.

WE ARE SEEING THREATS COMING IN FROM OTHER NATIONS AND REALIZING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THE ART OF UNDERSEA WARFARE.

>> IT IS NOT JUST CHINA?

>> IT IS NOT JUST CHINA.

RUSSIA HAS A CAPABLE PLATFORM.

WE HAVE A WEST COAST AND EAST COAST CHALLENGES.

>> THOSE CHALLENGES ARE DRIVING GROWTH AT THE NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE CENTER.

HE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1987.

>> I WAS HERE WHEN RUSSIA WENT OUT OF BUSINESS IN THE EARLY 90'S.

AS A RESULT THERE WAS A BIG REDUCTION IN SPENDING IN THE UNDERSEA DOMAIN.

>> BUT THE TIDE IS CHANGING.

MOLLY DONAHUE MAGEE WANTS TO ENSURE THAT THE UNITED STATES RETAINS ITS UNDERSEA'S ADVANTAGE.

>> THE DEFENSE CLUSTER HAS BEEN GROWING STRONG.

WE NEVER SHUT DOWN AND WE CONTINUE TO PRODUCE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

>> DONAHUE MCGEE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND DEFENSE INDUSTRY ALLIANCE.

THE ORGANIZATION IS HELPING THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY BUILD ITS LABOR FORCE.

>> OUR CHARGES MAKE SURE WE HAVE TRAINED EMPLOYEES TODAY, BUT BUILD THE PIPELINE OF EMPLOYEES FOR TOMORROW BECAUSE THEIR DEMAND IS GOING WELL THROUGH THE 2030'S.

WE NEED THIS WORKFORCE.

>> DONAHUE MCGEE AND THE STAFF HAVE PAIRED HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS WITH INTERNSHIPS, INCLUDING FAITH LEONARD.

SHE IS STUDYING OCEAN ENGINEERING AND ECONOMICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, AND PLANS TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY.

>> I LOVE RND.

I STARTED TAKING SUMMER CLASSES.

THE SONAR AND ACOUSTIC STUFF IS INTERESTING TO ME.

WITH DEFENSE THERE ARE ALWAYS JOBS.

I WILL ALWAYS BE EMPLOYABLE.

>> YOU ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT FINDING A JOB WHEN YOU GRADUATE?

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> LEONARD WANTS TO SEE MORE WOMEN JOIN HER.

>> MY THOUGHT PROCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN " IF I CAN DO SOMETHING THE BOYS ARE DOING THAT IS AWESOME."

WITH THEIR NOT BEING A LOT OF ONE IN WOMEN -- LOT OF WOMEN I WANT TO ENCOURAGE GIRLS YOUNGER THAN ME.

>> IT GOES BACK TO REACHING OUT TO MIDDLE SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOLS AND SHOWING THEM THE TECHNOLOGY.

IT IS ONE THING TO SAY " LEARN MATH," BUT TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO WITH IT THAT WILL SPARK MY INTEREST, THAT WILL MAKE ME SAY THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.

ELECTRIC BOAT IS COUNTING >>.

-- >> ELECTRIC BOAT IS COUNTING ON THAT.

>> TODAY PART OF MY TEAM IS FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE REACH INTO THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE THE LONG-TERM VIEW, WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH 2040.

THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN BORN >> MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENS AT ELECTRIC BOAT IS CLASSIFIED.

EMPLOYEES HAVE A SECURITY CLEARANCE AND ALL ARE REQUIRED TO BE U.S. CITIZENS.

>> IF YOU WANT TO WORK ON U.S. NAVY SUBMARINES, WE HAVE A POST FOR YOU.

IF YOU ARE INEXPERIENCED PERSON, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE -- AN EXPERIENCED PERSON, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

WE WILL HIRE YOU AS AN EMPLOYEE THEN SEND YOU TO SCHOOL TO LEARN THOSE SKILLS BEFORE YOU SETBACK -- SET FOOT BACK ON THE FLOOR.

>> THE INDUSTRY KEEPS EVOLVING.

20 YEARS FROM NOW WHAT ARE -- DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE INDUSTRY LOOKING LIKE?

>> IT WILL BE STRONG.

THE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

THERE WILL BE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

WE WILL STILL BE BUILDING SUBMARINES.

>> WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE EXTENSIVE GROWTH IN THE AIR DOMAIN WITH PREDATOR AND GLOBAL HAWK, BUT WE ARE SEEING INCREASED GROWTH IN THE UNDERSEA DOMAIN AS WELL.

>> THE NAVY SAYS THE WORK IT IS GOOD -- DOING NOW HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT.

>> WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN ADVANTAGE IN THE UNDERSEA DOMAIN.

ARE ADVANTAGE HAS SHRUNK.

>> WE WANT CHINA -- OUR ADVANTAGE HAS SHRUNK.

>> WE WANT CHINA TO WAKE UP AND SAY " TODAY IS NOT THE DAY I WANT TO MESS WITH THE U.S." ♪ >> UP NEXT, HE IS THE.

-- THE DOCTOR THE FRONT OF THE PANDEMIC.

HE IS ONE OF THE LEADING VOICES ON WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW AS THE COVID-19 CRISIS UNFOLDS.

TONIGHT THE DOCTOR IS IN AND WE MEET THE MAN BEHIND THAT IS MEDICAL OPINION -- BEHIND THE MEDICAL OPINIONS.

>> CAN WE SAY WE REACHED A TURNING POINT?

>> I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC.

IT IS A BIG HILL TO CLIMB, BUT I THINK WE WILL GET THERE.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.

>>DR.

ASHISH HAS BEEN ON CALL THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

HIS WORK IS BASED HERE IN PROVIDENCE AS DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT BROWN UNIVERSITY WHERE HIS EXPERT OPINION HAS EVEN BEEN SOUGHT BY ELMO'S DAD FROM SESAME STREET.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SHARE THE SCREEN WITH A MUPPET?

>> IT WAS FUN.

FOR ME IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE, TO REACH KIDS AND PARENTS.

IT IS ONE THING TO TALK TO POLICYMAKERS.

KIDS HAVE REALLY SUFFERED IMMENSELY DURING THIS PANDEMIC IN WAYS WE DON'T TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.

KIDS NEED SOCIAL INTERACTION.

THEY DO NOT LARGELY KNOW WHY THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN SUCH A DRAMATIC WAY.

THE ABILITY TO REACH THAT AND HELP THEM GET A SENSE THAT NORMAL IS COMING BACK AND THEY CAN SEE THEIR LOVED ONES AGAIN, I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY.

>> THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A MEDIA MESSENGER FOR THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY BEGAN WHEN HE NOTICED A LAG IN CRITICAL INFORMATION EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

HE THOUGHT THE RESPONSE WAS TO SLOW FROM THE CDC AND GOVERNMENT FIND TESTS -- SCIENTISTS.

>> I REALLY THOUGHT " THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CDC.

THERE ARE PEOPLE CLEARLY WORKING ON THIS."

WHEN I FAIL TO SEE ACTION DAY AFTER DAY, I HAD THIS ANNOYING FEELING OF " THINGS ARE GOING TO GET MUCH WORSE."

IT TOOK A WHILE TO REALIZE THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO RISE UP AND DO THE THINGS WE NEEDED TO DO.

WHEN YOU SEE A CATASTROPHE, A STORM COMING, THE FIRST THOUGHT IS " IT CANNOT POSSIBLY BE THAT BAD."

HE TRIED TO FILL >>, -- >> HE TRIED TO FILL THE INFORMATION GAP.

>> I'M SITTING HERE WITH TWO SHOTS OF MODERNA, FEELING GOOD, AND MY GUESS IS I WILL NEED A BOOSTER.

>> HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS BEDSIDE MANNER.

ONE CLUE TO HIS VAST COMMUNICATION SKILLS MAY LIE IN HIS YOUTH.

HIS IS AN IMMIGRANT'S STORY AND UNIQUELY AMERICAN ONE -- A UNIQUELY AMERICAN ONE.

>> I WAS BORN IN INDIA.

I CAME TO CANADA.

I LEARNED ENGLISH IN CANADA.

I WAS IN CANADA FROM NINE TO 14.

I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THAT IS WHERE HE CONSIDERED A MEDIA CAREER.

>> I WAS EDITOR OF MY HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER.

I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT GOING INTO JOURNALISM.

WHAT A GREAT PROFESSION TO GET A CHANCE TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> HE ULTIMATELY CHOSE TO MAJOR IN ECONOMICS AND STUDIED PREMED.

HE CAME TO GRIPS WITH AN INTERNET GAIN CONFLICT OVER HIS DUAL IDENTITY -- AN INTERNAL CONFLICT OVER HIS DUAL IDENTITY.

>> I HAD BEEN LIVING -- I HAD THESE HUGE IDENTITY ISSUES.

I FELT VERY AMERICAN, BUT I ALSO FELT VERY INDIAN.

THAT WAS A STRUGGLE I HAD THROUGH MUCH OF HIGH SCHOOL AND IMMIGRANT STRUGGLE -- A VERY CLASSIC IMMIGRANT STRUGGLE.

>> IT WAS RABBI MICHAEL PALEY WHO MENTORED HIM.

>> HE TALKED ABOUT GROWING UP AS A JEWISH KID IN BROOKLYN AND HIS OWN IDENTITY STRUGGLES.

IT WAS A QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN THING.

HERE IS AN INDIAN-AMERICAN KIDS STRUGGLING WITH THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE AND HERE IS A RABBI HELPING THIS INDIAN-AMERICAN HELPING HIM THINK ABOUT HIS IDENTITY.

I HAVE LOVED THAT AS AN ANALOGY OF HOW AMERICANS COME TOGETHER WITH SIMILAR -- DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS BUT SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.

>> HE CAME TO BROWN IN SEPTEMBER 2020.

HIS NEWFOUND FAME FOLLOWED HIM.

>> PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ME ON THE STREETS, GROCERY STORES.

THAT IS DIFFERENT.

I HAVE AN EXPERIENCE THAT BEFORE, BUT I DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT IT.

>> NOT EVERYONE IS SO FRIENDLY THOUGH.

HE DISCOVERED SOMETIMES BEING A PUBLIC FIGURE CAN HAVE A DRAMATIC DOWNSIDE WHEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO DO NOT AGREE.

FOR HIM IT HAPPENED LAST NOVEMBER.

>> OUR FINAL WITNESSE IS DR. ASHISH.

>> HE TESTIFIED AT A HEARING.

THE TOPIC?

HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.

>> THIS IS A DRUG THAT HAS BEEN EFFECTIVELY USED TO PREVENT MALARIA AND TREAT RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS FOR DECADES.

>> DOZENS OF STUDIES HAVE EXAMINED THE EFFICACY OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS EVERY HIGH-QUALITY STUDY HAS FAILED TO FOUND ANY BENEFIT FOR HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE FOR COVID-19.

>> SUPPORTERS OF THE USE OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE GOT ANGRY AND PERSONAL.

>> BY THAT TIME THERE WAS VERY CLEAR EVIDENCE HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE WAS NOT -- BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE SENATOR WHO HELD A HEARING WAS REALLY TRYING TO USE IT AS A WAY TO SPREAD DISINFORMATION ABOUT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.

IT WAS AN EVENT SET UP WITH BLOGGERS, A LOT OF RIGHT WING SOCIAL MEDIA FOLKS WHO THEN WENT AFTER ME PERSONALLY AND BEGAN TO ATTACK ME, THREATEN ME THREATEN ME.

>> -- ATTACK ME, THREATEN ME.

>> DID YOU GET DEATH THREATS?

>> I GOT DEATH THREATS.

PEOPLE SAID " HE IS A MURDERER FOR DENYING HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE IS USEFUL, AND HE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE."

>> WERE THERE RACIAL OVERTONES?

>> THERE WERE RACIAL OVERTONES.

OVER THE WHOLE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE HAVE MADE THIS RACIAL.

PEOPLE TELLING ME I SHOULD GO BACK TO WHERE I COME FROM, I DON'T UNDERSTAND AMERICA.

>> THE RACIST RAGE DIRECTED AT HIM DID NOT DETER HIM FROM WHAT HE BELIEVES IS HIS MORAL OBLIGATION TO DISPENSE SOLID INFORMATION EVEN AS THE PANDEMIC WAS POLITICIZED AND POLARIZING.

>> WE HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN BUBBLES, OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN INFORMATION ECOSYSTEMS.

WHEN IT COMES TO MEDIA, I AM VERY OPEN TO TALKING TO ANY MEDIA PLATFORM THAT WILL HAVE ME, BUT I GET TO SAY WHAT I THINK IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

I'M ON MSNBC, CNN, NEWSMAX, FOX, AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR IT.

>> IT TOOK AN EPIC VIRUS FOR US TO WAKE UP AND LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE.

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME IS WE HAVE DEEP INEQUITIES.

THE HOSPITALS THAT CARE FOR MINORITY AND POOR PATIENTS ARE LESS WELL-FUNDED.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, IT DISPROPORTIONATELY HIT MINORITIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THEY ENDED UP IN THOSE HOSPITALS AND THOSE HOSPITALS COULD NOT KEEP UP.

>> HE SAYS WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN A PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE THAT CAN RESPOND SWIFTLY TO VIRUS OUTBREAKS.

HE STILL PRACTICES MONEY -- MEDICINE IN PROVIDENCE.

>> I JUST LOVE IT.

THERE IS NOTHING AS SATISFYING AS TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS.

IT IS THE THING I FIND MOST MEANINGFUL.

IT KEEPS ME GROUNDED.

IT IS ONE THING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SHOULD BE DOING, BUT THERE IS NOTHING LIKE BEING ON THE FRONT LINES TO REMIND YOU THAT THOSE IDEAS HAVE TO BE PUT INTO PRACTICE.

IT KEEPS ME GROUNDED, HUMBLE, AND FORCES ME TO THINK MORE CLEARLY ABOUT WHAT I AM SUGGESTING.

>> HE CONTINUES TO BE IN DEMAND ONNATIONAL NEWS' BROADCAST -- NATIONAL NEWS' BROADCASTS.

HAVING A FAMILY HELPS HIM STAY GROUNDED.

HIS NINE-YEAR-OLD SON HELPS HIM >> HE SAID TO ME " I DON'T KNOW WHY ANY TV STATION WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.

YOU ARE SO BORING."

>> AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE DOCTOR WAS AVERAGING A DOZEN TV INTERVIEWS A DAY.

HE NOW HAS OVER 200,000 FOLLOWERS ON TWITTER AND HIS BLOG IS CALLED " AN OUNCE OF EVIDENCE."

>> FINALLY WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE BEAVER TAIL LIGHTHOUSE.

IN 1712,.

THER WAS A BEACON OF LIGHT EMANATING FROM THE SPOT GUIDING SHIPS.

A WOODEN TOWER WAS BUILT AND THE STRUCTURE BECAME THE THIRD LIGHTHOUSE IN THE 13 COLONIES.

IN OUR CONTINUING SERIES, A WINDOW ON RHODE ISLAND, LINDA WARNER TAKES US ON A TOUR.

♪ >> ABOVE ALL, THE SHIP'S SAFETY IN GETTING TO WHERE THEY HAD TO GO.

IT WAS LIKE A FLAME YOU LOOKED AT AND COULD MAKE YOUR WAY WITH.

>> HERE AT BEAVER TAIL, THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL OF THREE LIGHTHOUSES.

THE ORIGINAL ONE IN 1749 WAS A WOODEN STRUCTURE.

IT WAS BURNED DOWN AND REPLACED BY THE ONE IN BROOKLYN.

THAT ONE STOOD FOR 108 YEARS.

THIS ONE WAS BUILT IN 1956.

>> THESE LENSES BURNED WHALE OIL AT ONE TIME.

THEY BURNED VERY BRIGHT, DIRTY, WHICH MEANS LOT OF CLEANING THE LENSES.

A MAN FROM NEWPORT EXPERIMENTED BURNING COAL IN A LITTLE BUILDING OUTSIDE, PRODUCING A GAS, WHICH THEY COULD PIPE UP INTO THE TOWER, WHICH MADE IT EASY.

THE PROLEM WAS, THE WHALE OIL INDUSTRY DID NOT WANT TO LOSE THE BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY HAD THE BUSINESS WITH EVERY LIGHTHOUSE IN THE COUNTRY, SO THEY LOBBIED CONGRESS TO PASS A LAW THAT ALL THE LIGHTHOUSES HAD TO BURN WHALE OIL.

THEY BURNED WHALE OIL UNTIL APPROXIMATELY THE 1880'S WHEN IT WAS REPLACED WITH KEROSENE AND THEN LATER ON ELECTRICITY.

>> LIGHTHOUSES WERE THE GUYS ON AMERICA'S HIGHWAY, WHICH WAS THE SEA ROUTE.

ROADS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

RAILROADS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TRAVEL BY SHIPS WAS THE NAME OF THE GAME DURING THE ENTIRE 1800S AND BEFORE.

>> THEY SAY -- FULL SAY " WHY DO -- PEOPLE SAY " WHY DO THEY BOTHER TO KEEP THE LIGHTHOUSES GOING?"

IT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SMALLER VESSELS WHO MAY NOT HAVE ALL THE THINGS THEY HAVE TODAY NAVIGATION, AND MAYBE THEIR BOAT ISN'T BIG ENOUGH TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF THING.

THEY ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND WHEN IT IS FOGGY HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO NOT NEGATE -- NAVIGATE.

>> OUR THANKS TO LINDA WARNER.

LAST MONTH THE U.S. GENERAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION ISSUED A NOTICE THAT THE BEAVER TAIL LIGHTHOUSE WAS AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO LOCAL GROUPS, INCLUDING NONPROFITS AND EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT GROUPS.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

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