Cortney Nicolato became president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island in 2018. It was a homecoming for the Pawtucket native and URI grad who had worked in the nonprofit sector in Texas for the previous 13 years. Nicolato took the helm of one of Rhode Island’s top nonprofits in the run-up to the pandemic. She helped introduce 401Gives, now Rhode Island’s largest philanthropic effort, which this year raised more than $3.7 million for almost 600 different organizations. Nicolato has also emerged as a leading advocate for confronting the state’s housing crisis. But what will it take to build a ..read more

Stewart is one of a number of progressive lawmakers who have joined the legislature over the last decade, moving the General Assembly a bit more to the left. But Rhode Island still faces familiar challenges in building a stronger economy and improving public schools. What will it take to make more progress? And do progressive lawmakers have the vision to make it happen? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in-depth with State Representative Jennifer Stewart. TRANSCRIPT This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Donnis: You won election in 2022 running on the idea that state law ..read more

Ken Block was surprised to get a phone call from an unfamiliar number one day after the 2020 election. It was a lawyer for Donald Trump’s campaign, and he wanted to know if Block would search for evidence of fraud in the election. Block ran as a third party candidate for governor in 2010 and as a Republican in 2014. But he’s also an expert in database technologies and data analytics — and that’s why the Trump campaign reached out to him. Block details his findings in a new book. So why has Trump not backed away from his lie about a stolen election? How can Americans move ahead when so many pe ..read more

The military career of Middletown native Michael Flynn hit a high point when he was named as Donald Trump’s national security adviser in 2016. But Flynn resigned after being in the role for just a few weeks, and he’s better known now as a leader of Christian nationalist movement. The Christian right embraces Trump, and according to Politico, an influential think tank plans to infuse Christian nationalist ideas in the White House if Trump wins in November. What does this mean for democracy? Is the U.S. moving closer to a theocracy? And how did a high-ranking former military official become a c ..read more

The global scene is marked by violence and uncertainty, with wars in Israel and Ukraine. Closer to home, many Americans are dissatisfied with their choices amid a likely showdown between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Congress remains sharply divided, and paralysis prevails on issues like immigration. Many Americans feel jittery about the economy, even with a soaring stock market and low unemployment. Can politicians make a positive difference on the issues that matter most? Is there a path for less suffering in Gaza and a more robust defense of Ukraine? And is 81-year ..read more

Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti faced four hours of questions during a legislative Oversight hearing earlier this week. But after it was over, some key questions remained unanswered — including how the westbound Washington Bridge passed an inspection last summer and is now considered so damaged that it may need to be replaced. More insight into what happened is expected when additional engineering information becomes available within the next few weeks. So for right now, did the Oversight hearing really accomplish anything? Is Alviti the right person to lead th ..read more

Conservative activists and academics in some states are attacking efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Here in Rhode Island, the Providence City Council and General Assembly reflect the makeup of the state much more so than they did 15 years ago. And the two largest police departments here, Providence police and the State Police, are led by men of color. So how is Rhode Island doing when it comes to issues of race and justice? Is the state immune from the backlash seen in some other places? And how is the outlook for progress? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in depth wit ..read more

Ian Donnis: Welcome back to The Public’s Radio.  Sue Cienki: Thank you for having me.  Ian Donnis: We’re going to talk about Donald Trump, the presidential race and the outlook for Rhode Island Republicans. But I want to start with some news from this week. The Rhode Island ethics commission dismissed a complaint filed by your successor as state GOP chairman, Joe Powers against Governor Dan McKee. This was the second recent time when the commission had dismissed a complaint filed by Powers against a powerful Rhode Island politician. Does this show that Chairman Powers needs to rethi ..read more

So how can the state make crucial investments in healthcare, education and housing with less money? And what does the state need to do to be more economically competitive? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in depth with president and CEO of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, Michael DiBiase. TRANSCRIPT: Ian Donnis: Governor McKee used his State of the State address this week to offer an optimistic message about Rhode Island’s future. Of course, the Republican leader in the Rhode Island’s House, Michael Chippendale, painted things in more somber tones, underscoring a number of s ..read more

Whether the decision blocking Trump from the ballot stands will be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, as part of a high-stakes election year. Why does Schneider think courts, and not voters, should decide this issue? What does she make of how the Republican Party has dramatically changed since she served as a GOP lawmaker during the Reagan era? And how about the struggles of Republicans here in Rhode Island, where the party holds just 14 of 113 legislative seats and is locked out of state and federal offices? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in depth with former Rhode Island Congresswom ..read more