Welcome back to my Friday column. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. 

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1. STORY OF THE WEEK: Seventeen years ago, during the Great Recession, URI economist Leonard Lardaro espoused a view that Rhode Island had passed the point where it could solve its own problems. In the years since, the state has made some progress, treaded water in other ways and convulsed through extended mega-failures (38 Studios and the Washington Bridge, for example) that erode trust in government. That helps explain why voters are cranky in the run-up to the statewide election year of 2026, posing a heightened test for candidates as they try to win enough votes. A recent poll by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University underscored the sour feelings. It found that 94% of Rhode Island Democrats believe the country is facing a constitutional crisis, and approval ratings for Rhode Island elected officials were less than robust. On the other hand, 83% of Republicans felt they personally benefited from President Trump’s policies, underscoring “deep divisions between the Democratic and Republican party – not only on top issues but on major questions around the health of our democracy,” according to the Pell Center’s Katie Sonder. Poll respondents were also highly skeptical about the cost and estimated timeline for completing the new westbound Washington Bridge, even though both have been revised over time. Curiously, the economy was not a driving issue in the Pell Center poll. But economic anxiety remains a widespread concern for young Americans nationwide, ensuring that it will remain part of our politics for years to come. 

2. THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR: Will RI Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz emerge as the Republican hope for governor next year? The North Smithfield Republican told WPRI’s Kim Kalunian this week that “all options are on the table” regarding a possible run for higher office next week. That’s a switch from when de la Cruz told me flatly in February, “I’m not going to run for governor.” So what changed? A string of polls have indicated a poor standing for Democratic Gov. Dan McKee (though he got a bump via Morning Consult this week). And Ashley Kalus, the GOP challenger to McKee in 2022, hasn’t shown much indication of gearing up for a rematch.

3. LEGACY CONTRIBUTIONS: The declining health and death of Dominick Ruggerio at age 76 on April 21 didn’t stop the flow of campaign contributions from his campaign account to supporters of the Rhode Island Senate leadership and other favored lawmakers. State campaign finance records indicate the following contributions from Ruggerio’s campaign fund: $500 to Sen. Melissa Murray (D-Woonosocket) on April 1; $300 each on April 1 to Sen. Todd Patalano (D-Cranston), Sen. Peter Appollonio Jr. (D-Warwick), and state Rep. Jackie Baginski (D-Cranston); $300 to Sen. Andrew Dimitri (D-Johnston) on April 7; $500 to Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Charlestown) on April 7; $300 to state Rep. Anthony DeSimone (D-Providence) on April 8; $500 to Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Middletown) on May 8; $500 to Sen. Robert Britto (D-East Providence) on May 8; $500 to Ruggerio’s successor as Senate president, Val Lawson of East Providence, on June 4; and $2,000 to Stefano Famiglietti, who won the Democratic primary earlier this month to succeed Ruggerio in Senate District 4. State law allows the treasurer of a campaign account to make these kinds of contributions, although John Marion of Common Cause said Rhode Island — unlike some jurisdictions — does not require the money to be spent down after an officeholder’s death. As of June 30, there was more than $130,000 still in Ruggerio’s campaign account and about $19,000 in the RI Senate Leadership PAC. Nancy Lavin reported back in May that Ruggerio’s campaign treasurer, brother-in-law Jim Aceto, said a family decision had not been made at that time about how to use the campaign funds.

4. ACROSS THE ROTUNDA: House Speaker Joe Shekarchi made the media rounds after the recess of the legislative session, guesting on the various interview shows, including Political Roundtable. His latest chat was with my colleague Jim Hummel, who offers this dispatch: “Speaker Shekarchi and I had a — shall I say — lively discussion about this year’s General Assembly session, with the dust still settling after the final gavel came down three weeks ago. We did the interview in the room where House Finance meets, and I pressed him about the long-term ramifications for a budget that has grown significantly under his watch and whether the continued growth is sustainable. I also asked if he regretted not conducting more early legislative oversight on the Washington Bridge (beyond one joint, and largely uneventful hearing in early 2024) before a lawsuit by the state against bridge contractors put the clamp on any public officials talking about why the bridge failed. And the speaker reiterated why he opposes the creation of an office of inspector general — and offered some new details about why the bill has not gotten out of committee. Our entire interview — which also includes RIPTA and the primary care crisis — can be seen here.”

5. DEMOCRATS: With Democrats reeling after voters sent Donald Trump back to the White House, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts is among those trying to chart a new course. As Kelly Garrity reports in Politico’s Massachusetts Playbook, Auchincloss is leading Majority Democrats, “a coalition of federal, state and local Democrats, most of whom have won in competitive purple or red seats. The group, which The New York Times first reported on late last week, includes members of Congress, as well as mayors, governors and state legislators. The roughly 30 members tend to lean toward the center — members include Democratic Reps. Angie Craig (Minn), Pat Ryan (N.Y.), Joe Neguse (Colo.), Jared Golden (Maine) and Maggie Goodlander (N.H.).” Auchincloss told Garrity that Democrats need a box of fresh crayons, adding, “I use that term ‘box of fresh crayons’ deliberately — like a lot of different stripes of political belief, but a shared belief that we need much more vigorous debate about ideas, and we need much more appetite to challenge the status quo because the status quo is putting this party on a trajectory to a permanent minority in this country.”

6. HEALTHCARE: My colleague Lynn Arditi reports on how a staffing shortage and rise in workplace violence have fueled the strike at Butler Hospital: “In hospitals, a combative or violent patient, known as a “code gray,” can be so spontaneous and unpredictable that it’s impossible to prevent. But the risk of violence increases when hospitals are understaffed or employees are insufficiently trained or experienced to manage patients they are assigned to care for, according to interviews with employees and industry researchers, and an examination of inspection reports by The Public’s Radio. Now, roughly 800 unionized workers at Butler Hospital are in the eleventh week of a strike. And their demands for better pay and benefits, union leaders and labor researchers said, are part of a larger effort to ensure workers have the staffing and resources needed to safely care for their patients.”

7. RI POLI MELANGE: Attorney General Peter Neronha continues to join with other Democrats in bringing lawsuits against the Trump administration, in cases involving education funding and health coverage …. Neil Steinberg is winding down his time as the voluntary chair of the RI Life Science Hub …. U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner is hosting a congressional staff delegation today [Friday] to the North Kingstown factory of Edesia Nutrition, following almost 30 floor speeches calling for the White House to restore nutrition aid …. U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo decried cuts to FEMA and the National Weather Service amid tragic flooding in Texas …. Former Northern RI Chamber head Liz Catucci is the new executive director of the Partnership for Rhode Island …. Newport Councilor Xay Khamsyvoravong is among those expressing concern about the possible closing by Brown University Health of the birthing center at Newport Hospital …. Former rep, congressional candidate, talk-meister and man-about-town John Loughlin has a vanity website about his beloved 1990 Chevy C-1500 Cheyenne and how he restored it. There’s even a snap of a certain well-coiffed reporter bantering with Loughlin during his 2010 run against David Cicilline.

8. PUBLIC MEDIA: Congress has voted to roll back $9 billion in public media funding and foreign aid. Here’s part of the response from Pam Johnston, president/CEO of The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS. “This is a pivotal moment for democracy and public media. Public media is not a luxury – it provides trusted journalism, life-saving emergency information, and free, high-quality educational programming for every family, no matter their zip code or income. With today’s vote, Rhode Island will lose nearly $1.1 million in federal support starting this fall – funding that directly fuels our local journalism, arts & culture coverage, and the educational programming our community values and depends on. To be clear, this is a direct attack on local content and storytelling at a time that Rhode Islanders need it most. I am grateful to our local Congressional delegation for their unwavering support of public media and voting against this measure. I join my colleagues across the country in denouncing this decision. Despite this vote, our commitment to our audience and our community does not waver. We will keep listening, reporting, educating, and serving. If you believe in the power of local journalism and the importance of free access to trusted, local information, please support us. We need you now more than ever. Become a member, make a donation, watch and listen to our programs, and support our work so that, together, we can navigate this challenging chapter and continue telling the local stories that matter most here at home.”

9. FALL RIVER: A grim scene played out in Fall River as a fire at an assisted-living facility claimed 9 lives this week, the worst blaze in the state in many years. The view from media critic Dan Kennedy: “Despite lacking the resources of the Boston-based media, Fall River’s information providers are giving a voice to officials and residents rather than relying on outsiders to tell their story.”

10. THE BENCH: With former Rhode Island Senate majority leader Michael McCaffrey facing an elevated level of opposition regarding his nomination to be a district court judge, all eyes are on Gov. McKee.

11. THE LG FIELD: What’s your number? How many candidates do you expect to run for lieutenant governor next year, challenging Democratic incumbent Sabina Matos? The field is slowly assembling. Cynthia Coyne was first out of the gate. Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Middletown) is contemplating it, as he told me this week. And as Ray Baccari Jr. reports, Providence Councilor Sue AnderBois is another potential prospect. As we’ve noted before, one or more of the mayors of Pawtucket, Central Falls, and East Providence could be part of the mix, along with other aspirants. 

12. RISING PROSPECTS: Congrats to you if you had a 10-game winning streak for the Sox on your bingo card ahead of the All-Star break. The Sox have finally delivered on some of their pre-season promise. But is it just a tease or a preview of a squad that will still be playing baseball in October?

13. THE OUTDOORS: How an innocent mistake left a Cranston lake strangled by invasive plants.

14. KICKER: For a sense of the dramatic flux of contemporary life, just consider how CBS is killing The Late Show despite its status as a ratings leader, not to mention the singular talent that is Stephen Colbert. Elsewhere, NYT columnist David Brooks is not without hope, although he argues that contemporary novels are failing to meet the moment: “What qualities mark nearly every great cultural moment? Confidence and audacity. Look at Renaissance art or Russian or Victorian novels. I would say there has been a general loss in confidence and audacity across Western culture over the past 50 years.” 

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