Bartholomewtown

Bill Bartholomew
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Bartholomewtown is an independent news and interview podcast exploring Rhode Island through conversations with the people driving politics, culture, business, and public life. Hosted by journalist Bill Bartholomew, the show delivers insightful interviews, original reporting, and clear-eyed analysis from New England's smallest state—with stories that often resonate far beyond it.

  1. 3d ago

    Chariho Superintendent On School Committee Bullying and Sharing a Unified Vision

    Send us Fan Mail Gina Picard on bullying, school governance, and what Chariho needs next Bill Bartholomew speaks with Gina Picard, superintendent of the Chariho Regional School District and a North Providence School Committee member, about the fallout from recent online harassment surrounding state Rep. Megan Cotter and what it reveals about school culture, leadership, and public discourse. The conversation also gets into school committee structure, student safety, communication during incidents, and the bigger challenge of regionalization and school funding in Rhode Island. Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  2. 5d ago

    Inside Communications: Closing Messages, Debate Strategy, and the Rhode Island Election Home Stretch

    Send us Fan Mail Inside Communications presented by Half Street Group: Closing Messages, Debate Strategy, and the Rhode Island Election Home Stretch Bill Bartholomew speaks with Mike Raia of Half Street Group about the final stretch of Rhode Island’s election cycle, with a focus on how candidates are shaping closing messages as early voting gets underway. The conversation breaks down the governor’s race, the lieutenant governor’s race, and what debate moments can still move undecided voters.Raia also explains why this cycle feels more like a communications contest than a traditional persuasion sprint, with campaigns narrowing in on turnout, contrast, and organization rather than broad conversion. Key topics In this episode, Raia says every major campaign is now focused on the same thing: the closing message and the call to action that gets supporters to the polls.The governor’s race is discussed as a debate-driven final push, with Raia noting that televised debates still matter because they reach the remaining undecided voters and late-engaged audience.Raia argues that a nine-point lead is not a toss-up, and says Ken Block would need to win nearly all undecided voters without losing any to truly close the gap.The conversation covers whether Aaron Guckian should have dropped out, with Raia saying publicly pressuring a candidate to leave a race is a disservice to voters.Raia says the strongest path for challengers is not just attacking opponents, but clearly defining how they would govern differently on healthcare, housing, budgeting, and state management.In the lieutenant governor’s race, Raia describes Sabina Matos and John Laughlin as engaged in a respectful, substantive contest that stands out for its lack of personal attacks.Matos is described as leaning into personal narrative and coalition-building with other Democrats, while Laughlin is targeting independent and moderate voters with a pocketbook and tax message.Raia says the lieutenant governor’s race may come down to organization, turnout operations, and which campaign is better positioned to execute in the final days.The discussion broadens to why local politics has struggled to break through in a nationalized media environment, with fewer gatekeepers and more fragmented attention.Raia closes by praising debate moderation, especially Brian Crandall’s performance, saying strong moderation keeps candidates substantive and on point.Timestamps 00:00 - Mike Raia returns to discuss the final stretch of Rhode Island’s election cycle  00:46 - Why campaigns are now focused on turnout, not just persuasion  01:54 - Why debate prep matters most in the governor’s race right now  02:50 - Why early voting limits how much a debate can still change the race  04:20 - Can Ken Block turn a nine-point deficit into a real contest?  05:02 - Why asking a candidate to drop out is, in Raia’s view, a disservice to voters  06:11 - The missing piece in the debates: a real explanation of how candidates would govern  07:15 - What Ken Block has said well, and where he still needs a clearer governing vision  08:19 - Why early voting makes polling a snapshot, not a final verdict  09:34 - Why the lieutenant governor’s race feels old-school in the best way  10:57 - How Sabina Matos is closing with personal story and coalition politics  11:37 - How John Laughlin is targeting independents and moderate voters  12:06 - Why organization and turnout could decide the lieutenant governor’s race  13:14 - Why change may be the dominant message of the cycle  14:52 - The idea of a broader “Ken Block Plus” coalition  15:39 - Why every campaign needs a specific audience and a clear call to action  17:02 - Why Helena Foulkes’s message is landing with voters who want direct problem framing  18:09 - Why problem articulation without solution is not enough for Ken Block  19:23 - The coaching analogy: don’t bring a problem unless you also bring a solution  20:23 - Is local politics still breaking through, or is it mostly inside baseball?  21:13 - Why this cycle felt sleepy, but still had interesting undercurrents  22:59 - Why local campaigns struggle in a nationalized attention economy  24:05 - How campaigns now have to think in micro-audiences and targeted outreach  25:07 - Why different debate formats reach different voter groups  26:25 - A shoutout to Brian Crandall’s debate moderation  27:40 - Why Seth Magaziner has run a disciplined campaign  28:34 - Why Rhode Island is heading toward a different style of government regardless of outcome Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  3. 5d ago

    The Rhode Island Connection Problem No One Talks About - Jason Dodier, FountainHead RI

    Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew talks with Jason Dodier, co-founder of Fountainhead Rhode Island, about building stronger connections between Rhode Island’s people, industries, and global opportunities. They explore how the state can compete in the emerging AI and data-infrastructure economy—not by chasing massive data-center campuses, but by investing in local talent, practical AI adoption, resilient infrastructure, and industries such as ocean technology, healthcare, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. In this conversation Jason’s path from Rhode Island to international work in energy, climate, and technologyThe founding mission of Fountainhead Rhode IslandWhy relationships, mentoring, and emotional intelligence matter as much as innovationRhode Island’s opportunity to lead in AI, ocean technology, and clean-energy infrastructureMaking AI practical for small businesses, healthcare providers, nonprofits, students, and workersThe case for locally focused, lower-impact computing infrastructureBalancing economic development with community, environmental, and ratepayer concernsKeeping the value created by the blue economy in Rhode IslandWhat Rhode Island can learn from smaller places—including Kenya—competing globally Guest Jason DOdier is a Rhode Island-based entrepreneur and the co-founder of Fountainhead Rhode Island, an organization focused on connecting leaders, companies, nonprofits, and civic institutions to create opportunity in the state. FountainHead Rhode Island will host Phase II of its annual AI & Data Infrastructure Summit on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 1:00 to 8:30 PM ET at the Providence Marriott Downtown (1 Orms Street, Providence, RI 02904). The Summit builds on a successful Phase I in June, which drew hundreds of attendees and featured speakers from Amazon, Microsoft, Barclays, Schneider Electric, AlixPartners, and Alvarez & Marsal. Phase II brings together business executives, technology leaders, policymakers, developers, investors, and educators to discuss how Rhode Island can compete for the next wave of AI and data infrastructure investment. Topics include: - Energy and power generation for AI and data centers - Data center development, investment, and permitting - Workforce development and education - Cybersecurity and emerging technologies The program features an executive keynote, fireside chats with national leaders, main stage expert panels, a live technology and exhibitor showcase, a hackathon running throughout the day, and a closing networking reception. Event details: - Date: Friday, October 23, 2026 - Time: 1:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET (exhibition floor opens at 1:00 PM; main stage panels 4:00 to 6:00 PM; networking reception to follow) - Location: Providence Marriott Downtown, 1 Orms Street, Providence, RI 02904 Links: - Summit website: https://summit.fountainheadri.org/ - Phase I recap video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzQwNkSSMvc Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  4. Oct 16

    DEBATE: Lt Governor - Matos/Loughlin

    Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew moderates a debate for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island featuring incumbent, Democrat nominee Sabina Matos and Republican nominee John Loughlin Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  5. Oct 13

    DEBATE: Governor of Rhode Island - Foulkes, Guckian & Block

    Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew moderates a debate for Governor of Rhode Island. WPRO x BTOWN debate series. Featuring Democrat nominee Helena Buonanno Foulkes, Republican nominee Aaron Guckian, independent Ken Block. Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

    DEBATE: Governor of Rhode Island - Foulkes, Guckian & Block

  6. Oct 9

    Rhode Island’s ALICE Report, the Nonprofit Safety Net, and What Comes Next

    Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew speaks with Cortney Nicolato, president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island, about the ALICE study and why the old federal poverty measure misses a huge share of working families. They discuss how nonprofits are filling gaps in state services, why funding is under strain, and what policy and system changes could better support Rhode Islanders. https://unitedwayri.org/alice/ In this episode Nicolato explains ALICE—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—a framework developed because the federal poverty level doesn’t reflect the real cost of living.She says 43% of Rhode Island families, or about 190,000 households, fall into the ALICE bracket.A family of four in Rhode Island needs about $111,000 just to survive, while median income in key sectors such as hospitality, retail, call centers, and childcare is about $87,000.The conversation explores what a survival budget includes: housing, health care, taxes, child care, elder care, and unexpected costs like copays and medical bills.Nicolato says the federal poverty measure is outdated: it was created in the 1960s to measure food costs, not modern household needs.They discuss frontline workers—including childcare workers, construction laborers, cashiers, wait staff, and landscapers—who are essential to Rhode Island’s economy but still struggle financially.Nicolato points to equity gaps: 63% of Hispanic households, 56% of Black households, and 64% of households headed by someone 65 or older are in the ALICE category.She describes United Way’s Family Stability Initiative, which supports families over about 18 months and helps participants move from crisis toward stability.She highlights other programs, including the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, 211, SNAP navigation, and VITA, which brought $23 million back into Rhode Island last year.The discussion considers nonprofits’ role as a quasi-public infrastructure layer, especially as funding tightens and demand increases.Nicolato argues nonprofits should be treated as mission-driven businesses, with more stable planning, accountability, and support from state and federal government.Timestamps 00:00 — Introducing the ALICE study and Rhode Island’s cost-of-living crisis  01:19 — Why ALICE captures need better than the federal poverty level  02:00 — A family of four needs $111,000 just to survive in Rhode Island  03:18 — What goes into a survival budget beyond rent and groceries  04:45 — Why the 1960s poverty formula no longer fits modern life  05:37 — Frontline workers who keep Rhode Island running but still struggle  06:32 — Multiple jobs, shame, and barriers to upward mobility  07:44 — The equity gap for Hispanic, Black, and older households  08:35 — Turning data into action through United Way’s Family Stability Initiative  09:31 — Helping families move from crisis to stability with financial coaching and housing support  10:00 — Utility aid, 211, SNAP help, and $23 million returned through VITA  11:25 — How nonprofit funding strain compounds the state’s social problems  12:24 — Why nonprofits need to be treated like essential infrastructure  13:50 — Supporting nonprofits with legal help, resource sharing, and advocacy  15:16 — The case for long-term planning instead of yearly budget chaos  17:14 — Why nonprofits often run state programs better, cheaper, and faster  18:27 — Collaboration between nonprofit, private, and government sectors  19:03 — Where to find the ALICE data and Rhode Island-specific report Notable quotes “Data is knowledge, but what you do with it matters.”“They are trying their damnedest and doing the most that they can. It is the system that has not allowed them to do the things that they need to do.”“We’re running it better, cheaper, faster.”Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  7. Oct 7

    Aaron Guckian on staying in the Rhode Island governor’s race ahead of the first debate

    Send us Fan Mail Aaron Guckian on staying in the Rhode Island governor’s race ahead of the first debate Bill Bartholomew interviews Republican gubernatorial nominee Aaron Guckian just hours before the first of three major statewide debates. The conversation centers on whether Guckian will stay in the race, how he differentiates himself from independent candidate Ken Block and Helena Foulkes, and what his governing pitch looks like on taxes, energy, infrastructure, and cost of living.Guckian says repeatedly that he is “all in” and frames his campaign around a pragmatic, center-right message aimed at lowering the burden on Rhode Islanders while leveraging federal and state partnerships for economic growth. Key topics In this episode: Guckian directly says he is staying in the race and commits to a three-way contest through Election Day.He addresses the swirl around Ken Block’s efforts to position himself as the stronger anti-Democratic option, including the report that a Guckian team member floated a possible meeting.Guckian identifies Robert Anderson as the volunteer who accompanied him and says Anderson is a strategist and supporter, not an official campaign insider.He lays out his governing pitch around Quonset Point, Electric Boat, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, the Naval War College, and defense-related investment as a major Rhode Island opportunity.He emphasizes his personal background: married with three daughters, East Greenwich roots, a mother who is a respiratory therapist, and a father who is a union plumber.He argues Rhode Island is overtaxed and overburdened by fees, electricity costs, and natural gas bills, and says the state needs a “massive change.”He highlights Rhode Island Works Smarter, a platform focused on process improvement, frontline worker input, consultant savings, and a 24/7 anonymous idea portal.He proposes an advanced energy commission, federal grant pursuit, and exploration of small modular reactors and other energy infrastructure strategies.He says his experience includes former chairmanship of the Warwick Sewer Authority, an MBA, nonprofit fundraising, healthcare work, and broad government familiarity.He argues that his campaign can still be competitive despite weak polling and limited cash on hand, citing his prior 150,000-vote run for lieutenant governor and the possibility that debate performance will drive donations and polling movement.He critiques Providence politics, opposing rent control and warning about tax increases, public safety risks, and what he sees as unrealistic promises from young or inexperienced incoming leaders.He discusses affordability, the gas tax, healthcare workforce retention, and a proposal to use loan repayment incentives to keep doctors in Rhode Island.Timestamps 00:00 - Opening setup: first debate looming and the race’s intraparty tension  00:42 - Responding to Ken Block’s pressure and the “stay in or get out” question  01:41 - Why Guckian says Rhode Island needs major change on taxes and costs  02:27 - Clarifying the “ghost” figure and the confusion around the campaign visit  03:43 - Identifying Robert Anderson and redirecting to the campaign platform  04:03 - What a Guckian governorship would look like  05:02 - Personal biography and why his background matters to voters  06:26 - Defense, energy, and federal investment as Rhode Island’s growth engine  07:53 - Why he says his infrastructure and government experience translate to the governor’s office  08:31 - Polling, fundraising, and why he thinks debate night could change the race  09:49 - Comparing his path to past Rhode Island three-way races  10:46 - Providence politics, rent control, and the case against leftward city leadership  11:45 - Taxes, budget pressure, and why he says local promises may not pencil out  13:09 - Arriving late to a meeting and the campaign’s response  14:54 - Rhode Island Works Smarter and the role of frontline workers  15:49 - Cutting consultant dependence and rethinking transportation leadership  16:43 - His identity as a pragmatic centrist Republican and why he thinks that matters  17:41 - Final commitment: staying in the race through the end  18:47 - His public-service pitch, charity work, and healthcare advocacy  19:45 - Personal recovery, financial stress, and why affordability is central  20:13 - Gas tax suspension, healthcare incentives, and doctor retention  20:54 - Closing banter, harmony, and a lighter note before the debate Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  8. Oct 7

    Rhode Island's Nonprofit Crisis - Singer, Chief Strategy & Audience Officer, Ocean State Media

    Send us Fan Mail read Singer's piece here: https://www.oceanstatemedia.org/economy/2026-09-28/we-do-not-want-to-turn-people-away-r-i-nonprofits-face-financial-crisis Rhode Island’s nonprofit fiscal cliff and the future of local public media Bill Bartholomew talks with Singer, Chief Strategy and Audience Officer at Ocean State Media, about a growing crisis hitting Rhode Island nonprofits, public media, and the people who rely on both. The conversation starts with Singer’s reporting on how funding pressure is rippling through the nonprofit ecosystem, then expands into bigger questions about whether direct government service, philanthropy, or a stronger tax base can realistically fill the gap.We discuss how Ocean State Media is reshaping itself as a community-driven local news operation, and why the story emerged from listening sessions in Bristol rather than a newsroom assignment. Singer also explains why the crisis is bigger than one grant, one organization, or one budget cycle. Key topics In this episode: Singer explains his role at Ocean State Media and how the merged PBS and NPR operation is rebuilding as a multi-platform local news organization.We discuss how “Ocean State Media in Motion” brought staff into communities around Rhode Island, including a coffee hour in Bristol where the nonprofit funding story first surfaced.Singer describes a widening demand crisis across housing, food assistance, mental health care, and substance-use treatment, with need rising even after the pandemic.We break down the Matthewson Street Church roof grant example, where federal funding approved under one administration was lost under new ideological conditions tied to trans people and migrants.Bill and Singer wrestle with the “middleman” argument: whether nonprofits should be bypassed and services delivered directly by the state.Singer argues that even if direct delivery sounds simpler, the service systems already built by nonprofits are hard to replicate and often more effective than starting from scratch.The conversation turns to Rhode Island’s tax base, the limits of private philanthropy, and whether the next governor will inherit an unworkable fiscal situation.Singer notes that some proposals may land too late, especially with Medicaid changes and emergency-room spillover already looming.The discussion widens into the role of local journalism, the decline of regional newspapers, and Ocean State Media’s effort to surface stories from local communities and make them relevant statewide.Bill and Singer close by talking about audience engagement, local call-in culture, and why the most useful media often comes from informed community disagreement rather than social media noise.Timestamps (0:00) Rhode Island’s nonprofit funding crisis begins  (0:58) Singer introduces his role at Ocean State Media  (1:27) Rebuilding a merged PBS and NPR newsroom  (2:56) How community listening in Bristol surfaced the story  (3:26) Volunteer shortages and the widening nonprofit strain  (4:26) Demand keeps rising after the pandemic  (5:52) Why the Matthewson Street Church grant became a flashpoint  (7:12) The “limited pie” problem for donors and institutions  (8:56) Can government replace nonprofits directly?  (9:45) Are nonprofits really just middlemen?  (11:20) The central question: where does the money come from?  (12:38) Governor’s office response and a budget coming too late  (13:27) Why the next governor may inherit the crisis  (15:21) Addressing root causes before people hit catastrophe  (17:34) Community-led journalism and reporting from the ground  (18:47) Why local stories need broader statewide relevance  (20:13) Building audience trust through real community conversation  (21:49) Talk radio, local disagreement, and what people actually care about  (23:17) Volunteer-hour Medicaid ideas and why implementation is messy Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

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4.7
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About

Bartholomewtown is an independent news and interview podcast exploring Rhode Island through conversations with the people driving politics, culture, business, and public life. Hosted by journalist Bill Bartholomew, the show delivers insightful interviews, original reporting, and clear-eyed analysis from New England's smallest state—with stories that often resonate far beyond it.

Information

  • Creator
    Bill Bartholomew
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Bartholomewtown
  • Show Website
    Bartholomewtown

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