Bartholomewtown

Bill Bartholomew
  • 4.7 (68)
  • Daily News
  • Daily

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. 1d ago

    Rhode Island Bond Questions: What Passed and What Didn’t? reporter Zane Wolfang

    Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew speaks with Newport This Week reporter Zane Wolfang about Rhode Island’s bond questions. They discuss the unusual rejection of two statewide bonds, voters’ support for housing and environmental investments, and how awareness and wording may have shaped the results. Key takeaways Rhode Island voters rejected statewide bond questions for the first time since 2006, according to Wolfang.The $120 million housing bond passed.The economic development bond failed amid concerns about its broad wording and unsubstantiated speculation about data centers; Wolfang says he found no specific evidence linking it to data-center development.The state history museum/archive bond may have lacked broad public awareness.The $55 million Green Economy Bond passed, supporting coastal resilience, stormwater and sewage infrastructure, open space, and improvements to state parks and beaches.A $275 million investment in facilities at URI and CCRI Warwick, and renovations to Rhode Island College’s Adams Library, received the largest approval margin discussed. Topic timestamps 0:00 Rhode Island bond results and the interview’s focus0:48 Why two rejected bonds were unusual1:29 The housing bond’s $120 million investment1:59 The failed economic development bond and concerns about its wording3:15 Data-center rumors—and the limits of the available evidence5:00 Why the state history museum/archive bond may have failed7:46 The popular Green Economy Bond and coastal resilience9:15 The $275 million higher-education investmentSupport the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  2. 2d ago

    Why RI Electricity Costs Are So High: Rhode Island Energy President Greg Cornett

    Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew welcomes RI Energy President Greg Cornett for a discussion on the cost of energy in Rhode Island and potential collaboration with governor-elect Foulkes to reduce electric bills. In this episode Why bills are high: Cornett points to aging and constrained electric and natural-gas infrastructure, limited generation supply, and public-policy costs charged to customer bills.Cost growth: Over five years, supply costs rose 40% and public-policy costs rose 36%.Shifting policy charges: Moving certain policy charges off electricity bills and funding them another way could lower bills by 20-25% per month, though that would raise other fiscal questions.Near-term relief: The conversation covers potential short-term bill relief, the state's share of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative funds, supply diversification, and Revolution Wind's long-term fixed costs.How the grid works: Cornett explains how regional generation enters the grid and is balanced by ISO New England.Natural gas and winter: They discuss New England's reliance on natural gas, winter competition between heating and power generation, LNG exposure to global markets, transmission constraints, and permitting reform.Data centers: They discuss making sure data centers pay their own grid costs.Innovation: Cornett covers wave energy, dynamic line ratings and other grid-enhancing technology, battery storage, fuel cells, and small modular nuclear reactors, noting that innovation takes time.Help for customers: Rhode Island's enhanced electric discount rate offers discounts up to 75% for qualifying customers, plus winter bill credits.Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  3. Nov 4

    A New, Blue Day in Rhode Island

    Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew reacts to the 2026 Rhode Island general election results. Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  4. Nov 2

    Dan McGowan (Boston Globe) joins Bill Bartholomew

    Send us Fan Mail Boston Globe columnist and author of Rhode Map Dan McGowan joins Bill Bartholomew for a final look at the 2026 Rhode Island elections. Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  5. Oct 30

    Who Bears the Cost? Brown's Expansion on Brook Street

    Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew talks with Liam Freaney and Peter Brown about Brown University's plan to demolish four historic homes on Brook Street for a new economics building. They also cover what it means for Providence's housing stock and finances. Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  6. Oct 29

    Rhode Island governor and lieutenant governor races, final weekend preview

    Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew sizes up the governor and lieutenant governor races, recorded October 28. 0:00 Intro: where do the races stand heading into the final weekend?0:17 Governor, lane one: the common-sense read on money, vibe and early voting. Helena Foulkes looks like the winner.1:28 How Foulkes built her grassroots groundwork after 2022, with the state Democratic Party shifting its focus to her and away from McKee.4:03 Governor, lane two: unfavorability numbers and the case that the race is less certain.5:03 Ken Block's campaign alleges campaign finance violations over in-kind mailers from the state Democratic Party. Bill compares it to Mattiello's 2018 car-tax moment.7:11 The Costco announcement and what it might mean for Foulkes.8:51 "A lane to look at this as uncertain," and why the math is hard for Block.9:48 The Republican candidate could land around a 6.6–6.8% return.10:50 Lieutenant governor: why the Laughlin–Matos race is likely less close than the 44–43 polls.11:40 The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association's national emails list other states and leave out Rhode Island for the third week in a row.13:24 Why people underestimate Sabina Matos, Laughlin's "governor Matos" article, and how the race's tone has settled.14:39 Why Laughlin has little top-of-ticket help, and the Vic Miller AI ads in the Congressional District 2 race.16:52 Other races to watch: Megan Cotter vs. Jasmine Roy (District 39), anti-incumbent sentiment, and the Lincoln state Senate race.19:05 Recap: two ways to read the governor's race, and a call for listener input.20:19 Coverage plans: a PBS appearance this weekend, more pods next week, and a call for listener ideas for exit interviews (Bill@ripodcast.com or Apple fan mail).21:54 Closing: a political era is ending (McKee, Smiley and others), and "this time next week, we should know."Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  7. Oct 27

    Ted Nesi Talks Election Season

    Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew welcomes WPRI's Ted Nesi for a conversation on the 2026 Rhode Island election season. Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

  8. Oct 22

    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

See All (1K)

4.7
out of 5
68 Ratings

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

You Might Also Like