Providence

Fail box checked

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Awash in Failure

By Justin Katz | November 21, 2022 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz review varied ways in which Rhode Island’s establishment is failing the state.

A businessman stands on a broken bridge

Politics this Week with John DePetro: Disconnects as a Sign of Dysfunction

By Justin Katz | October 12, 2022 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss the dysfunction of Rhode Island politics.

Abuse during the Chinese Cultural Revolution

Look for the signs of misdirection in Providence schools’ denunciation rallies.

By Justin Katz | October 5, 2022 |

The student protest against Providence teacher Ramona Bessinger ought to be a teachable moment.  Thus far, not a single credible accusation against her relates to anything she’s done in the classroom or involving particular students.  The students are incensed by her personal social media activities. Linda Borg’s article on the matter is telling. The tone…

The mob tackles Jeann Lugo

Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements is shameless in executing injustice against Jeann Lugo.

By Justin Katz | July 1, 2022 |

From the beginning, the likelihood that Providence police officer Jeann Lugo would receive a fair hearing was vanishingly small.  His political views conflict with those of the ruling class in Rhode Island, and he therefore does not enjoy basic rules of justice and due process. How egregiously brazen this injustice can be is shocking, nonetheless. …

Pickpocketing in Oliver Twist

Providence’s pension obligation bond shows how civics know-how can be worse than useless to an ignorant population.

By Justin Katz | June 9, 2022 |

A handful of very active people who don’t understand how a policy works can do a great deal of damage, which is an outcome we should be discouraging rather than encouraging.

A water drop and ripples

Psst! Progressives in Providence don’t trust Wall Street or the mechanics of investment to help with their pension problem.

By Justin Katz | June 7, 2022 |

They just know that imposing a bond is a more-sure way of saddling taxpayers with the payoff to their labor union allies.  (Actually, most don’t know much on either front.  They just go along because they’ve bought into the baseline propaganda that progressives are always on the side of goodness.)

Firedancer in a ring of fire

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Setting RI on Fire (and not)

By Justin Katz | March 21, 2022 |

John and Justin discuss high-profile political races, threats to RI freedoms, and the possibility of arson.

Tiles with abuse words

The Providence teachers union goes full DARVO.

By Justin Katz | March 15, 2022 |

The amazing thing about Sarah Doiron’s report on the staged protest of the state Department of Education by teachers union members  is that it doesn’t say why the state took control of their schools.  The audacity is nothing short of shocking: More than 100 teachers marched the streets of Providence Monday afternoon to demand the state…

A water drop and ripples

The Superman building is going to prove that corruption is a waiting game.

By Justin Katz | February 4, 2022 |

Often, public corruption is simply a matter of special interests waiting out public attention.  Voters don’t want to subsidize a non-viable bit of real estate in Providence?  Just wait them out.  They’ll forget or some money will come along: It’s been nine years since Bank of America moved out of the 26-story skyscraper known as…

A girl peaks out from under bedcovers

Politics This Week with John DePetro: The Woke and the Awakening

By Justin Katz | January 10, 2022 |

John and Justin talk about who is woke, awake, asleep, and awakening in Rhode Island politics.