The Dan Yorke Show

RI1 congressman Gabe Amo joins the broadcast to react to the midterms. 

Independent gubernatorial candidate Ken Block joins the show to share the latest on his BOE complaints against Democrat Helena Foulkes

Ken Block returns to the show to react to developments in his complaint to Rhode Island Board of Elections about direct mailers and allegations of campaign finance violations by Helena Foulkes. 

Independent gubernatorial candidate Ken Block joins the show to discuss his campaign's complaint that Helena Foulkes campaign violated campaign contribution law. 

Independent candidate for governor Ken Block joins the show to react to last night's WPRI debate.

State Representative Megan Cotter joins the show to discuss her reelection and personal health experience, including cyberbullying she has received - from members of the Chariho School Committee

GOP Providence Mayoral Nominee Dave Talan joins Dan Yorke in-studio.

RI Republican gubernatorial nominee Aaron Guckian joins Dan Yorke in-studio.

Bill Bartholomew is joined by Jocelyn Foye from the Womxn Project to talk about the Smithfield School Committee meeting on making changes to the school systems transgender policies. The conversation prompts the Vice-Chair of the School Committee to call in to clarify the changes made. 

Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor joins the show to recap the Ocean Futures Forum that took place in Newport recently, and more events in the Fine Arts and creative community in the state. 

Providence mayor Brett Smiley joins the show. 

Lt Governor Sabina Matos joins Bill Bartholomew      

Independent gubernatorial candidate Ken Block joins the show to discuss his five-point affordability plan. 

Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien joins the show in nthe wake of his Democratic primary defeat to Adam Greenman

Grow Smart RI Executive Director Scott Wolf joins the show.

Former educator and non-profit leader Adam Greenman defeated 16-year incumbent Mayor Don Grebien in the September 9, 2026 Democratic primary. Official figures from the Rhode Island Board of Elections show Greenman securing 54.3% of the vote (3,633 votes) to Grebien's 45.7% (3,055 votes).

Governor Dan McKee joins the show to react to assertions made by Attorney General Peter Neronha earlier today on WPRO. 

Democratic Primary Lt Gov Candidate Xaykham Khamsyvoravong joins the broadcast.

State Senators Alana Dimario and Bridget Valverde join the show.  Each Senator's  diticts each incorporate portions of the house district formerly represented by Julie Casimiro before she resigned earlier this week over a residency scandal.  

Sue Anderbois, Providence City Councilor and candidate in the Democratic primary for Lt Governor of Rhpde Island, joins the broadcast for an in-studio conversation. 

State Representative and candidate in the Democratic primary for Attorney General Jason Knight joins the show. 

RI Democratic candidate for Attorney General Kim Ahern joins the broadcast 

Katie Sonder, Pell Center Associate Director and Fellow at Salve Regina University joins the show to discuss the results of a new poll released by Salve that, among other indicators, show Governor Dan McKee trailing Helena Foulkes by 20 points, with roughly 22 percent of those polled indicating that they are still undecided. 

Providence Ward 5 Candidate for City Council Jackie Goldman talks to Dan about Mayor Brett Smiley calling them "crazy" and talks about their campaign for the council.

Roger Williams University law professor Michael Yelnosky joins the show to react.

Gubernatorial Ken Block joins the show for a full hour in-studio appearance.      

In this episode, we sit down with H. Philip West Jr.—former Executive Director of Common Cause Rhode Island and author of Secrets & Scandals—to break down the legal and ethical fallout. West shares his firsthand account of a private meeting with Shekarchi, explains why Shekarchi’s bid tramples post-RISDIC "revolving-door" ethics reforms, and discusses the troubling conflicts of interest surrounding the commission’s vote.

RWU Law Professor Michael Yelnosky joins the show.   Former Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi stepped down from his leadership post to seek a lifetime appointment on the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Former Law Dean and Professor Michael Yelnosky filed a formal ethics complaint, alleging the move violates the state's "revolving door" law, which requires a one-year cooling-off period for former legislators before taking state employment. However, Superior Court Judge Richard Licht issued a ruling declaring that the state Supreme Court—as a constitutionally created entity—is exempt from the revolving door statute, clearing Shekarchi's path to continue his judicial candidacy. In this episode, Prof. Yelnosky joins the show to react to Judge Licht's 29-page decision, analyze the legal reasoning, and outline what this means for Rhode Island ethics law moving forward.

Steven King, Managing Director at Quonset Development Corporation, joins the show to discuss a new workforce housing initiative. A factsheet provided by QDC: Workforce Housing at Quonset Business Park Quonset Development Corporation and Moran Properties are partnering to develop new workforce housing at Quonset Business Park, helping expand housing options for the workers who support Rhode Island’s economy. Project at a Glance • At least 140 new apartments • One- and two-bedroom units • Located on 6.89 acres along Gate Road • 40% of the apartments designated as Quonset Workforce Housing • At least 10% reserved as low- and moderate-income housing • Construction is anticipated to begin by end of 2027. Who Will the Workforce Housing Serve? Preference for the workforce-designated apartments will be given to people working: • At Quonset Business Park • In health care or education • Within 25 miles of Quonset Business Park • With the federal, state or local government Keeping Rents Within Reach The long-term agreement establishes maximum rents for the workforce-designated apartments. Those limits will be based on average wages at Quonset Business Park, household income levels in North Kingstown and state income guidelines for workforce housing. Final rental rates will be determined as the project advances. Note: rents provided in the QDC Board packet are ceilings for rent over the course of the project’s 99-year lease and are not meant to suggest current pricing. Site Map Infrastructure Upgrades With the upcoming completion of RIDOT’s “Missing Move” project, the housing development will be situated adjacent to on- and off-ramps to Route 403, providing residents with a direct connection to the highway in both directions. The ramps will significantly reduce travel on local roads, including along Devil’s Foot Road and through the West Davisville neighborhood. A Public and Thorough Review Process The housing proposal has undergone several years of public review and planning: • December 2022: The Quonset Development Corporation Board approved a major variance allowing workforce apartments at the site. • January-May 2023: The North Kingstown Planning Commission considered the proposal during four public meetings and a public hearing. • May 16, 2023: The Planning Commission approved the major variance in a public vote. • 2023-2025: Quonset conducted public processes to seek qualified development proposals, negotiating with several housing developers, who eventually declined to move forward. • July 21, 2026: The Quonset Board considers the proposed agreement with Moran Properties. Benefits for North Kingstown The development will generate additional revenue for the Town of North Kingstown. Together with existing businesses at the Business Park, the project will help bring Quonset’s annual contribution to North Kingstown’s municipal tax base to more than $15 million in property taxes and related payments. What Happens Next? Before construction begins, the project will be required to: • Complete Quonset’s technical review process • Secure all required state permits and approvals • Establish a construction and anticipated completion schedule

Bill Batholomew filling in for Dan Yorke talks to Ken Block, author of "Disproven: My Unbiased Search for Voter Fraud for the Trump Campaign", to preview tonight's anticipated speech from President Trump on election fraud in 2020.

The Latest Flashpoint: The federal Department of Justice has officially filed a motion to expedite their appeal in U.S. v. Amore (following their formal appeal to the First Circuit on June 3rd). This escalates a high-stakes legal battle over who controls Rhode Island's voter data. The Origin: This stems from a September 2025 DOJ demand letter seeking Rhode Island's complete, unredacted statewide voter registration list. When Secretary of State Gregg Amore refused to hand over private data without a court order, the DOJ sued. The Core Conflict: Privacy vs. "Verification" What the DOJ is demanding: Full, unredacted voter files, including sensitive, non-public data: full names, residential addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. The DOJ’s Stance: They claim authority under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to enforce "list maintenance" and verify that RI is properly cleaning its voter rolls. They call it a "trust but verify" approach. Amore’s Defense: Amore immediately pushed back, stating the feds are welcome to public voter data, but he will not violate state privacy statutes or hand over sensitive, personal identifiers without a direct mandate. He argues the federal government is attempting to build an unauthorized national voter database. The Political & Local Stakes The Big Picture: Rhode Island isn't alone. This is part of a coordinated, national push by the Trump Administration's DOJ, which filed similar lawsuits against a tranche of states with Democratic administrations. Local Backing & Coalition: Local and national groups—including Common Cause RI, the ACLU of RI, and SEIU District 1199NE—successfully intervened in the case to protect voter privacy. The Fear of "Purges": Voting rights advocates warn that centralizing this data into a federal "master file" shared with agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could lead to targeted voter purges and have a chilling effect on voter registration in immigrant communities. Where It Stands Now A Big Win for RI (April 2026): U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy handed Amore a major victory, granting the motion to dismiss the DOJ's lawsuit and blocking the attempt to access Rhode Islanders' private data. The Appeal (Summer 2026): The federal government isn't backing down. They are aggressively pushing the First Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the dismissal, setting up a major constitutional showdown over the Elections Clause.

In this segment, we break down the latest friction points in the upcoming Rhode Island Democratic primary. Governor Dan McKee addresses the recent political waves caused by Cumberland Mayor Jeff Mutter and the Cumberland Democratic Town Committee's decision to back primary challenger Helena Folks. We unpack McKee’s response, his defense of his record as Cumberland’s former 12-year mayor, and what this local endorsement shift means for his statewide re-election momentum leading into the September primary.

Cumberland Mayor Jeff Mutter joins the show to break down his high-stakes decision to endorse Helena Buonanno Foulkes for Governor. In a candid conversation, Mutter explains why he bypassed current Governor—and former Cumberland Mayor—Dan McKee, pulling back the curtain on the shifting political dynamics in Rhode Island and what this means for the future of the state.

Todd Ziebarth, Chief of State Policy and Advocacy for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, joins The Dan Yorke Show. Ziebarth responds to calls demanding that Governor Dan McKee's 2009 charter school champion award be rescinded, and provides national context on the ongoing political and policy debates surrounding Rhode Island's public charter systems.

Randy Bottella, President of the Auto Body Association of Rhode Island (ABARI), joins The Dan Yorke Show to discuss the major auto insurance legislation currently sitting on Governor Dan McKee’s desk. Bottella explains the consumer and industry impacts of the bill—including changes to the state's vehicle total loss threshold—and shares why his organization is pushing for the Governor to sign it into law.

Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien joins The Dan Yorke Show to detail his endorsement of Governor Dan McKee. Mayor Grebien discusses the strategic relationship between the state and the city of Pawtucket, highlighting how the McKee administration's support drives local economic development, transit initiatives, and Blackstone Valley growth.

North Providence Mayor Charlie Lombardi joins The Dan Yorke Show to discuss his official endorsement of Governor Dan McKee. Mayor Lombardi breaks down the local impact of the McKee administration’s policies on North Providence infrastructure, small businesses, and municipal funding, and shares his perspective on the state's political landscape.

The high-stakes legal battle over Rhode Island’s open Supreme Court seat has reached a fever pitch. Following a grueling three-hour hearing, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted 6–1 to reject former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s motion to dismiss the ethics complaint against him. The complaint, filed by Roger Williams University Law Professor and former Dean Michael Yelnosky, alleges that Shekarchi’s rapid jump from the Speaker’s rostrum to a lifetime appointment on the state’s highest court is a flagrant violation of Rhode Island’s "revolving door" law. With the Commission pushing forward with its formal investigation, Shekarchi’s legal team is now signaling a move to the court system to halt the process. In this episode, we sit down with the man who launched the complaint, Michael Yelnosky, to unpack the Commission's landmark vote, the executive director's blistering 27-page objection, and what happens next now that Shekarchi is taking the battle to court.

As Rhode Island drivers already face some of the highest car insurance and repair costs in the nation, a contentious piece of legislation sits on Governor Dan McKee’s desk. In this episode, we sit down with insurance industry expert Christopher S. Stark to break down House Bill 7866 and Senate Bill 3115. This legislation proposes raising the state’s vehicle total-loss threshold from 80% to 85%. While proponents frame it as a win for consumer choice and local auto body shops, Stark warns it could backfire drastically—leading to skyrocketing premiums, longer repair delays, and potential safety risks on the road. We dive deep into the mechanics of the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, why Rhode Island is a unique battleground for auto repair laws, and what Governor McKee's final decision will mean for your wallet.

Lauren Matlach Deputy Director, RI League of Charter Public Schools joins the show to react to Governor Dan McKee's decision to sign a charter school pause.

Woonsocket mayor Chris Beauchamp joins the show to discuss why he is endorsing Governor Dan McKee.

Providence City Councilor Juan Pichardo discusses joining the municipal coalition supporting Governor McKee, emphasizing the focus on defending health care, food assistance, and critical social services for Rhode Island’s capital city.

Mayor Bob DaSilva breaks down his decision to back Governor Dan McKee, highlighting how critical it is to have a former mayor in the state’s highest office who understands local municipal needs.

Former Rhode Island State Police Colonel and WPRO contributor Steve O'Donnell joins The Dan Yorke Show to offer analysis and advise about the "beach takeover" trend that has led to late-spring disturbances on Rhode Island beaches. 

Federal Hill Commerce Association president Rick Simone responds to comments made about him by Opa owner Francois Karam earlier on today on The Dan Yorke Show.

The Incident: On Saturday night, a reckless motorcyclist bypassed barriers into a pedestrian festival zone. A bystander attempted to stop the driver by throwing a trash can, causing the bike to crash violently into a pop-up dining tent, sending chairs flying and patrons scrambling. The Fallout: The driver suffered minor injuries and faces multiple police summonses. While disaster was narrowly avoided, the video went viral and sparked safety alarms across the city. The Insider Perspective: We speak with Francois Karam, owner/manager of Opa Restaurant on Atwells Avenue. Karam has been a vocal opponent of the current "al fresco" street closure format, warning city officials for months that the setups pose major safety and economic risks to local businesses.