A Lively Experiment Podcast
A Lively Experiment is a weekly News & Politics program on Rhode Island PBS. Tune in each Friday at 7:00 pm for new episodes regarding the political climate in Rhode Island.

National Committeewoman for the RI GOP Sue Cienki, Attorney and Legal Analyst Lou Pulner, and Political Contributor Jim Vincent join Moderator Jim Hummel to discuss a congressman from NY comes to Sabina Matos’s defense, former President Trump faces more indictments, affirmative action struck down, plus an interview with Rhode Island PBS Scholarship Winner, Isabella Ba.
Libertarian Party of RI Chairman Billy Hunt, URI Political Science Professor Emily Lynch, and Chairman of the RI Republican Party Joe Powers join Moderator Jim Hummel to discuss the RI Board of Elections looking into Matos campaign signatures, Tidewater Landing gets private funding, plus a new book on Rhode Island politics featuring multiple A Lively Experiment panelists.
Former Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, Republican Strategist Lisa Pelosi, and Former Editor of The Anchor at RIC Raymond Baccari join Moderator Jim Hummel to discuss upcoming CD1 debates, Providence wants to take over the Cranston Armory with funding from the state, plus state funded tuition for RIC juniors and seniors.
Brown University Professor Wendy Schiller, Watchdog RI Chairman Ken Block, and Political Contributor Bob Walsh join Moderator Jim Hummel to discuss the latest in the race for CD1, investigations into the Matos campaign, the fight continues for shoreline access, defending Gov. McKee and the future of the Cranston Street Armory.
WPRI-TV Investigative Reporter Tim White, The Boston Globe’s Steph Machado, and Bartholomewtown Podcast Founder Bill Bartholomew join Moderator Jim Hummel to discuss investigations into possible signature fraud from the Matos congressional campaign, reactions to the shoreline access bill, and Sen. Miller pleads no contest to vandalism and obstruction charges.
Politics and Business Editor for WPRI TV Ted Nesi, Retired URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley, and RI Republican National Committeeman Steve Frias join Moderator Jim Hummel to discuss a “sleepy” CD1 race, Josh Miller in more hot water for allegedly lying to police, and McKee makes a turn against mayors.
Providence Journal Reporter Antonia Noori Farzan, Former State Representative Nick Gorham, and The Public’s Radio Ian Donnis join Moderator Jim Hummel to discuss an ethics investigation into a now-infamous trip to Philadelphia, a State Senator caught on video keying a car, Johnston town officials want control over school department spending, plus how shoreline access could be enforced.
Former Attorney General Arlene Violet, The Boston Globe’s Steph Machado, and The Providence Journal’s Patrick Anderson join Moderator Jim Hummel to discuss Gov. McKee’s lunch with a lobbyist, construction slows at Tidewater Landing, a wrap-up of the 2023 General Assembly, Providence property tax increase, Providence teacher’s contract passes, plus the latest on the CD1 race.
Developer and Former Providence Mayor Joe Paolino, National Committeewoman for the RI GOP Sue Cienki, and Political Strategist Rob Horowitz join Moderator Jim Hummel to discuss the RI legislative session wraps up, what legislation passed and what was left on the table? Plus, continued fallout from the alleged inappropriate behavior from a former state official.
Republican Strategist Lisa Pelosi, former RI State Representative (D) Mike Marcello, and Corporate Communications Consultant Dave Layman join Moderator Jim Hummel to discuss alleged misconduct from a top state official, tension between the RI governor and attorney general, Rhode Island’s ballooning budget, former president Trump indicted on classified documents charges, plus a look into the mind of Trump voters.