On this episode, political reporter Ian Donnis interviews Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on climate, dark money, the tax code, Rhode Island’s loss of federal funding and what they may mean to the future of scientific research in our state and beyond. Whitehouse also takes on Democrats and why they lost the election….and, yes he talks about that vote on tariffs that he missed. Then, Michelle San Miguel profiles Ana Flores, a Cuban-born painter and sculptor, who has spent decades turning materials from nature into works of art. Finally, Michelle San Miguel and our contributor, WPRI 12’s Politics Editor Ted Nesi explain what lawmakers are prioritizing in the final weeks of the General Assembly’s annual session. And why members of the Rhode Island House were united in their effort to reject Governor Dan McKee’s resolution to offer raises to 11 of his department heads.

This week on A Lively Experiment, the Senate says not so fast to a House move to block Cabinet pay raises. Plus, we hear from those hit hardest by Trump cuts to local medical research. Moderator Jim Hummel gets analysis from former State Representative Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, Billy Hunt of the Libertarian Party of Rhode Island and Boston Globe Reporter/RI PBS Weekly Contributor Steph Machado.