Rhode Island Politics

A water drop and ripples

Ready to rethink your centralized government philosophy, Steve?

By Justin Katz | February 11, 2022 |

I have to chuckle when I see a progressive like Steve Ahlquist pen an article with a headline like, “A corrupt process from the core, Rhode Island redistricting wraps up.” I mean, a corrupt redistricting process is about as surprising as a hangover after a long night of drinking without water breaks, and progressives are…

A water drop and ripples

The courts aren’t the right place for deciding JCLS controversies.

By Justin Katz | February 10, 2022 |

Don’t get me wrong.  RI House Minority Leader Blake Filippi is right to be pursuing his lawsuit against the Joint Committee of Legislative Services, which is undoubtedly a central hub of our legislature’s corruption.  But the judiciary isn’t where these disputes should have to be resolved.  Think about it: Filippi, the top Republican in the…

Colors in a bubble

Masks and truckers present a study in how the bubble of the Capitol forms.

By Justin Katz | February 10, 2022 |

I suspect they’re wildly overrepresented in the items that Twitter pushes onto my screen, but Rhode Island progressives are really something to behold in their reaction to Democrat Governor Dan McKee’s belated and overly hesitant removal of statewide mask mandates. As I suggested earlier, for many of the recognizable personalities, their rhetoric is probably wholly…

Microphone in front of a curtain

Beware what follows Bob.

By Justin Katz | February 9, 2022 |

Bob Walsh, who has been the executive director of the National Education Association of Rhode Island as long as many of us have been paying attention, or even been present in the state, has announced his impending retirement. Some on the conservative side are understandably happy to hear the news, but I’d caution a bit…

A man with a full face medical mask

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Old Disguises Wearing Thin

By Justin Katz | February 7, 2022 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz talk about the ways in which people are beginning to see through Rhode Island insiders.

Doctors, Police, and a Trump Impersonator

By John Loughlin | February 6, 2022 |

John Loughlin and his guests discuss cancer, policing, suing the state over vaccine mandates, and what President Trump would think about Rhode Island news and media.

Paul Rianna at a protest

An Introduction to Independent Candidate for Governor Paul Rianna

By Justin Katz | February 2, 2022 |

Paul Rianna is seeking to build on his experience organizing protests as he campaigns for Rhode Island government’s top executive position.

A water drop and ripples

You may vote for Michelle McGaw, but she doesn’t represent you.

By Justin Katz | February 2, 2022 |

Democrat Representative Michelle McGaw (House district 71) expressed a telling thought in response to her Republican colleague, Brian Newberry, when he noted that 400 people had signed up to testify on  “the proposed extension of the Governor’s emergency powers”: Have you determined how many of those have credentials in public health, infectious disease or epidemiology?…

Mismatched shoes

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Mismatches

By Justin Katz | January 31, 2022 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss politics in RI, especially mismatches in high-profile races.

A water drop and ripples

Rep. Corvese seems to dismiss the whole point of primaries.

By Justin Katz | January 26, 2022 |

His legislation would essentially make every general election a two-stage affair, with the primary being more like what we think of as the general and the general becoming something more like a runoff. The idea of primaries is to help voters organized into parties find the best candidate within the scope of their party’s definition. …