Justin Katz

A water drop and ripples

Lack of General Assembly competition shows the progressive-union-Democrat axis has things locked up.

By Justin Katz | August 22, 2024 |

Further to yesterday’s post on Johnston politics, don’t forget this corresponding news about the state legislature: In 2022, just 20 percent of Rhode Island’s 113 General Assembly seats went uncontested in a primary and/or the general election. But this year, 52 percent of those Assembly seats will go uncontested thanks to a sharp drop in…

A water drop and ripples

How are Providence school results not the biggest, most-ongoing story in Rhode Island?

By Justin Katz | August 22, 2024 |

I mean, look at this: The scores were abysmal to start; the goals were obviously fictitious when considered in the absence of a practical plan; and the final results are offensively bad.  If these results aren’t causing outrage, it’s because nobody in the Democrat establishment or news media wants to address the underlying problems, which…

A water drop and ripples

A Warwick Schools moving contract provides a lesson in RI’s multiple layers of corruption.

By Justin Katz | August 21, 2024 |

On its surface, the controversy looks obvious.  I mean, the guy winning the no-bid contract had a relative in the relevant office of the school department: Astro of New England, a different moving company, first raised issues with the bidding process after Astro owner Chuck Lamendola said he noticed Jada had been awarded work in…

Man with a knife sneaks up behind a Republican girl

Broader factors may be making Johnston politics Republican-free.

By Justin Katz | August 21, 2024 |

I suggest the title of this post acknowledging I don’t know a whole lot about Johnston’s unique political scene.  Locally, things can be very specific to the individuals involved and their disputes, but I have been a keen observer of factors that make it more difficult for Republicans to work through those disputes. Apparently, Johnston…

A water drop and ripples

Government subsidies are not “momentum.”

By Justin Katz | August 20, 2024 |

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee tweets yet another area in which Democrats manipulate language to insinuate ideology: A grant from a government agency to another government agency is not “momentum.”  Momentum suggests that the entity or project is moving on its own.  Government subsidies are pushes… force.  Democrats’ language is (deliberately) manipulative and always to…

A water drop and ripples

Democrats think their supporters have a right to your money.

By Justin Katz | August 20, 2024 |

One can absolutely make the case that generous time-off policies have their benefits for employers and do right by employees, but we allow Democrats like Magaziner to throw around terms like “fundamental human right” far too easily: You cannot have “an absolute human right” to be given things by other people, no matter how nice…

A water drop and ripples

Electric Boat has financial incentive to go Queer.

By Justin Katz | August 19, 2024 |

Well, look, Electric Boat relies hugely on government funding in Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.: Radicals in the Democrat Party will hold a lack of such policies against Electric Boat, while even the most conservative Republicans who can possibly gain decisive power in government won’t hold it against them very strongly.  Barring discrimination lawsuits in…

Two boys walk through a surreal circus

Politics This Week: In Search of Themes

By Justin Katz | August 19, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz decipher the themes of state and national politics.

A water drop and ripples

Faced with the feeling of political chaos, there are two basic frames.

By Justin Katz | August 19, 2024 |

Perusing Twitter or X (which I may henceforth call “TwiX”) often leaves me feeling panic at the state of our world and the hopelessness of recovering humanity’s footing. No doubt, this is at least partially the way it feels to have your attention manipulated, but stepping back, even that reality is just another contributor to…

Depicting Aaron Regunberg's fantasy of Harris and Walz as cop-parents at the door

Politics This Week: Progressive Parent Figures

By Justin Katz | August 14, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz review the political talk of the week in Rhode Island and nationally.