PODCAST · news
Rhode Island Report
by The Boston Globe
A weekly podcast from The Boston Globe on what’s bubbling in Rhode Island news. In-depth interviews with newsmakers, perspective and analysis from Globe Rhode Island reporters, and intimate conversations with community members across the state.
Episodes
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Saying goodbye
Rhode Island Report's final weekly episode aired last week. We'll no longer be posting episodes on a regular basis. But, you can still find more of our reporting at Globe.com/RI. Thank you to our guests and listeners for a great five years! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...
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Exploring Providence's abandoned East Side train tunnel
If you’ve lived in Rhode Island long enough, you’ve heard about Providence’s abandoned train tunnel. The last train passed through in the early 1980s. Since then, it’s been a site for graffiti, art installations, parties, and a riot. Host Edward Fitzpatrick walks all the way to the end with…
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Democratic candidates for Pawtucket mayor face off
With the Democratic primary less than a month away, incumbent Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien is facing a challenge from Adam Greenman, the former president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. Host Edward Fitzpatrick brought the two candidates together for their only debate, in...
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Move over, Taylor Swift. Rhode Island has another celebrity: Dawn the Duck.
She made headlines across the country during the World Cup, when she marched at the front of a Tartan Army parade in Providence. She has also appeared at events ranging from New England Patriots games to local festivals. Dawn and her owner, Justin Taymes, joined host Edward Fitzpatrick on the…
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Tad Devine on his new book, 10 years after running Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign
For decades, Rhode Island's Tad Devine has been one of the Democratic Party's most accomplished political consultants. Now, the chief strategist behind Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign has written a new book called "How the Democrats Screwed Bernie.” The La Salle Academy and Brown...
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Lawsuits allege sexual abuse at R.I. diocese orphanage
On July 1, a new Rhode Island law made it possible for victims of sexual abuse as children to sue institutions that didn’t protect them, even if the statute of limitations has expired. So far, more than 50 lawsuits have been filed against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. And St. Aloysius...
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How will the ‘Taylor Swift tax’ affect Rhode Island’s economy?
States use tax policy to compete with each other for businesses and jobs. But does it work? Professor Adam Myers from Providence College recently completed a book titled “Coordination Failure” that explores this question. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk about Rhode Island’s millionaires...
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House Speaker Chris Blazejewski on his vision for R.I.
In May, the Rhode Island House of Representatives elected a new leader. Chris Blazejewski, a Providence Democrat, is now House Speaker, a role many call the most powerful job in state government. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk about his priorities for the General Assembly. Tips and…
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Encore: Rhode Island's state coral
Our team is taking some time off for the summer, so we're bringing you an episode from 2025 about Rhode Island's state coral. Astrangia poculata, also known as Northern Star Coral, isn't like those colorful reefs down in the tropics, but it might play an important role in protecting its more...
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Encore: Behind the scenes with Rhode Island's 'Clamarati'
Our team is taking some time off for the summer, so we're bringing you this episode about Rhode Island's 'clamarati." Every year, they visit clam cake shacks all over the state, sampling as many deep-fried clam cakes as they can -- so you don’t have to. We tagged along with them in 2024 for their...
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Encore: Queer Hikes
Our team is taking a little time off for the summer, so in honor of Pride month, we're reupping this episode about Queer Hikes- a Southern New England group that started five years ago and continues to meet almost every weekend to support each other and spend time outdoors. Tips and ideas? Email…
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'Kevin from Providence' on holding institutions accountable for child sexual abuse
Survivors of child sexual abuse in Rhode Island can now sue institutions that enabled or covered it up, even if previous time limits have expired. That’s thanks to a law just signed by Governor Dan McKee.Jim Scanlan has been advocating for this bill at the State House for years. He was sexually...
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Will Gina Raimondo run for president?
Five years ago this month, for the very first episode of this podcast, we interviewed then-US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, former governor of Rhode Island. Now she's back on the Rhode Island Report, to talk about her life after the Biden administration, artificial intelligence and its...
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Democratic candidates for Providence mayor face off in first debate of primary campaign
In their first head-to-head debate in the Democratic primary for mayor of Providence, incumbent Mayor Brett Smiley and state Representative David Morales took questions from Globe Rhode Island’s Steph Machado on rent control, local control of Providence schools, public safety, the city's unfunded...
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Running up that hill
Host Edward Fitzpatrick gets out of the studio to join Dr. Judson Brewer, of the Brown Mindfulness Center, as he leads students and researchers on a run up one of the steepest hills in Providence. They get together to do this every Wednesday, and they say it’s not just about getting exercise....
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Chefs got candid at Food Club Live
Globe Rhode Island’s founder of The Food Club, Alexa Gagosz, recently hosted the first Food Club Live, a series of one-on-one "fun and honest" conversations with some of the biggest names in Providence’s food scene. From the trends shaping where and what we eat, to what it takes to build…
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Rhode Island has a bridge problem. Can the state learn from the past?
A flawed bridge, frayed nerves, fraught politics – this has been a daily reality for Rhode Islanders since the abrupt closure of the Washington Bridge westbound in 2023. But it’s not the first time the state has grappled with how to replace a critical highway bridge. Rhode Island Report partnered...
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The future of voting rights in Rhode Island
Last week’s US Supreme Court ruling on Louisiana’s election map has gutted the landmark federal Voting Rights Act. That’s according to Shahidah Ali, the Political Action Committee Chair for the Rhode Island Coalition of Black Women, and John Marion, the executive director of Common Cause Rhode...
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Encore: Emily Sweeney on the Green Book in New England
You might have heard of the Green Book, a guidebook that was widely circulated from the 1930s through the 1960s to help Black travelers find welcoming places across the country to stay, eat, and fill up their cars. But did you know that many of those locations were in New England? Emily Sweeney…
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How McKee and Foulkes differ on major issues
The biggest race in Rhode Island this election season is the Democratic primary for governor. Incumbent Daniel McKee is facing a rematch with former CVS executive Helena Foulkes, whom he narrowly defeated in the 2022 primary. So, we brought both candidates into the studio separately to explain...
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Responding to climate change in Rhode Island
In the Ocean State, surrounded by water, we’re vulnerable to climate change and in particular, sea level rise. We’re seeing the effects everywhere – from the collapse of part of the Newport Cliff Walk to the erosion of local beaches. Salve Regina University biology and biomedical sciences…
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Is it constitutional for US presidents to declare war without Congress?
It’s been just over a month since President Trump declared war on Iran. The Constitution gives Congress the power to initiate war, but the president started the surprise airstrikes without their approval. Is that constitutional? Host Edward Fitzpatrick talks to Salve Regina University History...
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What's next for the Providence Place mall?
Launched nearly three decades ago in a prime location between the State House and downtown as an economic catalyst for Rhode Island's capital city, the Providence Place mall now has more than 20 empty storefronts and restaurant spaces. It's been in receivership since 2024, and is up for sale.…
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Ceremony, policy, party: How the role of first ladies is evolving
The Melania Trump movie is putting first ladies back in the spotlight. How has their role evolved over the years? Salve Regina University Political Science Professor Mary Anderson joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to offer some perspective. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected]. See Privacy...
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Rhode Island's chaotic health care landscape
Rhode Island recently nearly lost two safety-net hospitals; there’s a shortage of primary care providers, reimbursement rates are lower than in neighboring states, and nursing homes are understaffed. Anna Matos-Mournighan, the graduate program director for healthcare administration at Salve…
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Rhode Map Live: Navigating the Small Business Landscape
Earlier this week, in front of a live audience, Globe Rhode Island’s Dan McGowan and Alexa Gagosz moderated a panel discussion about what it really takes to start, fund, and grow a small business in Rhode Island. This is a lightly edited recording of that discussion. Tips and ideas? Email us at...
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AFL-CIO's Patrick Crowley on the R.I. governor's race
How do Rhode Islanders feel about Governor Dan McKee and his Democratic opponent, Helena Foulkes? What about a tax on millionaires? The Rhode Island AFL-CIO recently commissioned a poll to find out. Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to discuss…
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Judge William Smith: Trump ‘completely misunderstands the role of the judiciary’
Earlier this year, US District Court Judge William Smith retired after 23 years on the bench. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk about President Trump's criticism of judges, threats against the judiciary, and some of his key decisions over the years. Tips and ideas? Email us at...
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Salve Regina University's Jim Ludes on Greenland, NATO, and the new international order
US foreign policy is taking a dramatically different turn under the Trump administration. How is this affecting America's relationships with the rest of the world? "We've heard privately from European diplomats - and some in public - that they will not trust the United States again, period."…
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R.I. Secretary of State Amore on 'nationalized elections'
President Donald Trump recently floated an idea to nationalize the US elections. That violates the Constitution, according to Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to outline what’s legal and what’s not when it comes to running elections. Tips and ideas?...
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Politics and the Olympics
The Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, starts on Feb. 6. Like every Olympics, they will showcase the best athletes from around the globe, and reveal something about world politics. Erin Redihan, a lecturer in the history department at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., teaches a…
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Fixing Rhode Island’s school funding formula
Globe Rhode Island’s Dan McGowan and Steph Machado moderated a panel discussion in front of a Rhode Map Live audience earlier this month about a report that aims to reform Rhode Island’s school funding formula. The panel featured David Cicilline, the head of the Rhode Island Foundation…
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Judge John McConnell on following the rule of law, despite unprecedented cases and threats
US District Court Chief Judge John McConnell was thrust into the national spotlight last year after ruling on some of the most high-profile challenges to Trump administration policies. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk to us about that experience, and the public threats against him and...
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Education behind the walls of Rhode Island's prisons
Roger Williams University runs prison education and reentry programs for Rhode Islanders who are serving time. Now, he has a master's degree in community development and runs programs to help people re-enter society after being in prison. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick, along with Gena Bianco,...
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What to expect from the R.I. General Assembly in 2026
It’s the first day of the 2026 legislative session. Lawmakers return to face a series of major issues, including looming cuts in federal funding, the potential closure of two hospitals, and a state budget deficit of more than $100 million. Globe Rhode Island’s Steph Machado and Dan McGowan join...
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Encore: Former Brown University President Ruth Simmons
Brown University has been on our minds a lot since the deadly shooting on campus. So, we're bringing back this conversation with former president Ruth Simmons. She made history in 2001 as the first Black president of an Ivy League institution. She joined us on the podcast to talk about her…
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Encore: Chestnut fights down by the schoolyard
We're taking a little break for the holidays. While we're gone, enjoy this episode about host Edward Fitzpatrick's memories of chestnut fights at his elementary school. Listen in as he returns to his native Greenville for a showdown with his childhood friend Sue Tremblay. Tips and ideas? Email us...
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Providence Mayor Smiley on the shooting at Brown
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley sits down with host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk about the past 48 hours since the mass shooting at Brown and where the investigation goes from here. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected]. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...
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The lighting of Rhode Island's Big Blue Bug
It's the holiday season, and cities across the country are having tree lighting ceremonies. But how many of them light a bug? Rhode Island's version of the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center is the lighting of the Big Blue Bug off I-95. So, host Edward Fitzpatrick tagged along as they flipped…
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Want to run a marathon? Here’s what not to do.
Have you ever completely messed up a marathon? Or maybe you’re thinking about running one and want to avoid the common mistakes? RISD grad Alen Yen says he’s been “bad” at marathons for more than a decade. But he stuck with it and finally figured out how to conquer the 26.2 miles. He joins host...
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Talking Heads' Chris Frantz on the newly resurfaced 'Psycho Killer' demo
More than 50 years ago, in a Providence apartment, some of the band members of Talking Heads recorded an early demo of what would eventually become their hit, "Psycho Killer." Over the years, that recording eventually made its way to RISD. And on Friday, fans can finally hear it. The track is...
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A more complex picture of Rhode Island's first couple, Roger and Mary Williams
If you live in Rhode Island, you’ve heard of Roger Williams. But do we really know what our founder was like? Roger Williams University History Professor Charlotte Carrington-Farmer is out with a new book exploring his story through his own writings and what other people wrote about him. She’s…
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R.I. state coral is key to addressing climate change
Rhode Island is the only state with its own official coral. Astrangia poculata, also known as Northern Star Coral, isn't like those colorful reefs down in the tropics, but it might play an important role in protecting its more vibrant cousins. To find out more, host Edward Fitzpatrick met with...
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Senator Jack Reed on the politicization of the military
The military is supposed to be apolitical, but critics say it’s getting pulled into the Trump administration’s political agenda. Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat and former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to weigh in on what’s happening. Tips...
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Amanda Milkovits on her night at the Conjuring House
Halloween is upon us, so we thought it’d be a good time to check in on Rhode Island’s most famous haunted location — the Conjuring House. Globe Rhode Island’s Amanda Milkovits spent the night there with her sister. She joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to tell the story of what happened. Tips and...
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The cost of coal vs. cheaper renewable energy
Coal once powered our country. Now, despite claims by the Trump administration, it’s the dirtiest, most expensive form of energy, according to Bob Wyss, a former Providence Journal reporter. Wyss tracks the history of coal in a new book called “Black Gold: The Rise, Reign, and Fall of American...
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Rhode Islanders responding to ICE
As ICE raids and deportations increase across the country, some Rhode Islanders are pushing back. Maya Lehrer is an organizer with the Rhode Island Deportation Defense Network. She says, "A lot of the time, just us being there and letting our neighbors know ICE is here is enough that they leave."...
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Is it legal to send troops into US cities?
President Trump recently said he’d like to use US cities as “training grounds” for the military. And he’s trying to send the National Guard into places like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago. Is that legal? Roger Williams University School of Law professors Peter Margulies and Jared Goldstein join…
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Setting the record straight on Tylenol, vaccines, and autism
Who can get a COVID vaccine? What’s going on with Tylenol? Can we trust the CDC? There’s a lot of confusion right now in the world of public health. Roger Williams University Public Health professor Jacqueline Cottle and Dr. Amy Nunn, the chief executive officer of the Rhode Island Public Health...
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Will Attorney General Neronha run for Governor?
Attorney General Peter Neronha has been busy these days, between filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to halt the Revolution Wind project to criticizing the latest health insurance rates. He also placed 2nd in a recent poll for the ic primary for governor. And he…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A weekly podcast from The Boston Globe on what’s bubbling in Rhode Island news. In-depth interviews with newsmakers, perspective and analysis from Globe Rhode Island reporters, and intimate conversations with community members across the state.
HOSTED BY
The Boston Globe
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Rhode Island Report have?
Rhode Island Report currently has 288 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Rhode Island Report about?
A weekly podcast from The Boston Globe on what’s bubbling in Rhode Island news. In-depth interviews with newsmakers, perspective and analysis from Globe Rhode Island reporters, and intimate conversations with community members across the state.
How often does Rhode Island Report release new episodes?
Rhode Island Report publishes regularly with 288 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Rhode Island Report?
You can listen to Rhode Island Report on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Rhode Island Report?
Rhode Island Report is created and hosted by The Boston Globe.
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