By Christopher Shea | Reporter
Hiya,
One small perk of cutting the cord and paying for way too many streaming services: My TV has been a nice little escape from every other commercial being political. Maybe a third of the ads I see while streaming or watching YouTube now come from someone running for office.
Such is life during campaign season.
***
High tide in Providence Saturday is at 4:40 p.m. Low tide is at 8:20 a.m. and 9:34 p.m. Sunset is at 7:55 p.m.
High tide in Barrington-Warren Sunday is at 5:19 a.m. and 5:48 p.m. Low tide is at 10:33 a.m. Sunrise is at 5:47 a.m. Sunset is at 7:54 p.m.
***
Here’s your look at the week that was:
Jason Knight, a Democratic candidate running to be Rhode Island's next attorney general, debuted his first ad of the primary on Aug. 7, 2026. (Screenshot/Jason Knight for AG)
By Christopher Shea
The Rhode Island political airwaves are getting crowded. Jason Knight became the third Democratic attorney general candidate to launch TV ads as candidates across several races ramp up spending ahead of the Sept. 9 primary.
The League of RI Businesses used multiple, related PACs to donate $10,000 to Democratic Senate District 19 candidate James Metivier. Checks from each PAC are displayed during a March 30 fundraiser for Metivier at Phantom Farms Brewing in Cumberland. (Courtesy of The League of RI Businesses)
By Nancy Lavin
The League of RI Businesses has begun to execute on a plan to sidestep state limits on campaign donations, using 40 linked political action committees to funnel $50,000 to five Democratic state legislative candidates while encouraging donors to keep their contributions low enough to remain anonymous.
A protester outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's field office in Warwick, Rhode Island, on July 22, 2026. Demonstrators had hoped to keep ICE agents from detaining a Cambodian man who has lived in the state since he was an infant. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
A Rhode Island federal judge on Tuesday ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release Chansareth Hong, a Cambodian refugee whose detention during a routine immigration check-in prompted protests and appeals from elected officials.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, left, state Rep. David Morales, center, and Republican mayoral candidate Dave Talan participate in a forum at South Providence Library on Aug. 4, 2026. The event was organized by the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and Community Libraries of Providence. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Alexander Castro
Providence mayoral candidates Brett Smiley, and David Morales had a doubleheader debate day Tuesday, tackling everything from rent stabilization to the future of the city’s elephants.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates Helena Foulkes (left) and Gov. Dan McKee participate in the first gubernatorial debate of the 2026 election season, hosted by Bill Bartholomew (right foreground) and aired on WPRO 630 AM Monday. (Courtesy of Doug MacGunnigle for Cumulus Providence)
By Nancy Lavin
After years of sparring over press releases, media interviews and TV commercials, Gov. Dan McKee and Helena Buonanno Foulkes finally confronted each other face-to-face in the first gubernatorial debate of the 2026 election cycle, hosted by WPRO on Monday.
After meeting behind closed doors for about an hour Tuesday, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted 4-1 to authorize its executive director and attorneys to seek a declaratory judgment from the Rhode Island Supreme Court on whether former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi's appointment to the judiciary would violate the state's ethics laws. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
The Rhode Island Ethics Commission will appeal a recent Superior Court ruling that cleared the way for former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi to seek a vacancy on the state’s Supreme Court.
ICYMI
Behind locked doors, AG candidates keep it civil | Christopher Shea
A former Providence mayor endorses Morales to take down the incumbent | Christopher Shea
Democratic challengers Foulkes and Khamsyvoravong widen cash leads over incumbents in Q2 | Rhode Island Current staff
COMMENTARY: Argue all you want about the cause of climate change. The 911 calls still come. | Joe Broadmeadow
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