In Depth

Fed of St. Louis M3 chart of money supply

The United States: That Kid Who Had to Learn About Debt the Hard Way

By Justin Katz | May 28, 2021 |

Relatively little on-paper economic pain from COVID-19 makes it feel as if we’re getting away with something, but the bill will arrive at some point.

A hoodie on a beaten school bus

National Report Card and Real RI Promise: Worse State Does, More Money It Takes

By Justin Katz | May 27, 2021 |

Continuing Rhode Island’s approach to addressing its education catastrophe will only buy more time for special interests to avoid the pressure for change.

A foot massage

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Playing Footsie in a Parasitic Legislature

By Justin Katz | May 24, 2021 |

For this week’s conversation, John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss the complete lack of will to fix education for Rhode Island kids or reduce abuse for Rhode Island taxpayers.

Race-baiting cartoon by Revenue for RI

A Disjointed, Dishonest Pitch to Raise RI’s Income Tax

By Monique Chartier | May 23, 2021 |

A special interest coalition advocates for “Revenue for Rhode Island” via a slick mailer with quite the set up and pitch.

RI State House over caution tape

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Progressives Without Answers

By Justin Katz | May 19, 2021 |

For this week’s conversation, John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss Rhode Island progressives’ inability to come up with solutions for problems that their policies have created.

Scene of the shooting

Majority of People Injured in Thursday’s Gang Shooting Were Known to Police

By Justin Katz | May 18, 2021 |

When a bunch of gang members already on the authorities’ radar engage in perhaps the largest mass shooting in Providence history with illegal guns two months after city police announce the end of their gang-member database, perhaps more gun control isn’t the missing ingredient.

Death curves for vaccinated and unvaccinated Isaelis.

Be careful with Andrew Bostom’s advice on COVID-19 vaccines.

By Justin Katz | May 17, 2021 |

The decision to vaccinate can be scary, but that’s not a reason to accept somebody’s analysis just because it makes it easier to decide against it.

Image of COVID as planet Earth

Getting the Vaccine to Be a Revolutionary

By Justin Katz | May 14, 2021 |

Everything about the COVID response and vaccination pressure has been wrong, but that doesn’t mean being vaccinated isn’t the least risky option, including for those who feel the urgency to stop the erosions of our rights.

Chart of children in poverty by race and marriage

Childhood poverty is (almost) all about marriage.

By Justin Katz | May 12, 2021 |

Why do advocates downplay the true face of child poverty in Rhode Island and its most-obvious cause?

BLM protest on Federal Hill

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Not All Rhode Islanders Are Equal

By Justin Katz | May 10, 2021 |

The weekly conversation about politics between John DePetro and Justin Katz finds a common theme of some Rhode Islanders’ mattering more than others.