Monday, March 16th

The Rhode Island federal delegation remains mostly quiet, as does House Democratic Leadership, on the Iran war. Senator Schumer signals he is open to fund the war if certain conditions are met.

The war reaches its 17th day as conflict continues to intensify.

Headlines

Trump demands the Strait of Hormuz be opened; calls on allies to join. Already several allies, including Japan and Australia, have ruled out participating in the US’s apparent attempt to take the strait by force. Trump is reportedly implying he will be conditioning aid to Ukraine on participation in the push on the strait. (Al Jazeera) He has also said that Iran has been hit very hard but the US is not ready to make a deal yet. (The Guardian)

Over 3 million Iranians displaced as Tehran suffers some of its “strongest strikes yet”. At least 1,500 Iranian civilians have been reported killed in the war. The exiled son of Iran’s last shah, Reza Pahlavi, is urging Iranians worldwide to protest the war.

Serious blows were felt widely, as the Gulf Cooperation Council nations united following an Iranian attack on the Dubai International Airport where a fire was contained late Sunday night. The sinking of IRIS Dena, an inactive warship with the Iranian navy on visit to India at their invitation, has created a cause for security analysis of US alignment in PM Modi's government. The Indian government was not informed of the US submarine's position in its waters nor its intent to fire on the IRIS Dena.

Quick Hits

• Revolution wind is officially online in Rhode Island. The 704-MWh wind farm will provide stable prices to Rhode Island and Connecticut for the first 20 years of its operation, enough to power over 350,000 homes and businesses. (WPRI)
• Brent Crude opened at ~$105/barrel today, fertilizer prices are up 30% in just two weeks. (Politico)
• Israeli soldiers kill four family members in the northern West Bank.
• Zeteo poll finds majority of Americans believe the war was launched to distract from the Epstein Files.
• Protesters in Texas were convicted after one shot a police officer in the neck during a July 4th protest outside of the Prairieland ICE Detention Facility. The protesters, nine in total, were convicted on mixed charges ranging from domestic terrorism to attempted murder. The government argued that the eight defendants who did not shoot the officer were guilty of material support for terrorism for wearing black and therefore associated with “Antifa”. (Intercept)
• Taiwan reports large-scale Chinese military aircraft presence near the island. (Politico)
• Pentagon to tighten its control over Stars and Stripes after DoD officials branded it a “woke distraction”. (NPR)
• UN General Assembly Adopts Three Texts Covering Road Safety, International Days on Coffee, Wellness; United States Opposes All.
• One Battle After Another wins best picture at the Oscars; Paul Thomas Anderson, best director, One Battle After Another; Michael B. Jordan, best actor, Sinners; Jessie Buckley, best actress, Hamnet.

R.I. Stories

Steve Ahlquist reports on the state of affairs in the Port. The Parks Department has already spent $250,000 of Community Benefits Fund without public approval, updates on the oil leak mentioned below, and more.

The City of Providence believes a diesel leak may have been caused by a Rhode Island Energy building and brownfield in the Port, polluting water discharged through a stormwater drain that runs into the bay. Providence Eye has more.

R.I. Politics

A collection of bills has been introduced in the General Assembly including three bills that enable those injured by climate change, including insurers, to bring lawsuits against fossil fuel companies. Another bill would encourage insurers to stop covering fossil fuel companies or investing in them. The legislation was introduced by Representatives June Speakman (D-Warren, Bristol), Terri Cortvriend (D-Middletown, Portsmouth), and Jennifer Boylan (D-Barrington, East Providence​​).

On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee will meet to discuss the 2026 Appropriations bill. This bill includes the establishment of a line item veto for the Governor. Additionally, the bill transfers the authority of the green buildings advisory committee from the Dept. of Administration to the office of the state building code commissioner, as well as establishes resources for Big River Reservoir and transfers it from water resources to the Dept. of Environmental Management, and extends the sunset provision on a number of programs and incentives. The Senate will convene in the Senate Lounge at 5:00 pm.

The House Committee on Education will meet on Tuesday to discuss legislation that,

• Mandates all public schools start on the same day as each other each year – H7482 – Voas, Potter, O'Brien, Slater.
• Mandates all schools establish a policy and procedure for students chronically diagnosed with seizures – H7481 – Fogarty, Cortvriend, Alzate, Boylan, Carson, Shallcross Smith, Spears, Kazarian, Handy, Hull.
• Attempt to address the teachers shortage, establish a “Teacher’s Bill of Rights”, and seek to provide additional protocols and protections for student safety.

The House Committee of Municipal Government & Housing will meet on Tuesday to discuss legislation that,

• Permits property owners to hire licensed third-party to review development documents and performs building inspections – 7563 – Quattrocchi, Fascia, Nardone, Santucci, Perez, Place, Chippendale, Cotter, Hopkins.
• Requires a code enforcement officer to give a copy of any housing code violation notice to all tenants of the building affected by a code violation along with any hearing dates scheduled for the violation – 7658 – Cruz, Stewart, Furtado, Kislak, J. Lombardi, Sanchez, Handy, Morales, Giraldo, Tanzi.
• Unifies the Foster-Gloster School District – 8232 – Chippendale, Santucci, Place.

The House Committee on Special Legislation will meet on Tuesday. No significant legislation to note.

R.I. Elections

Former Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong, candidate for Lieutenant Governor, was endorsed by Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr.

Look for a discussion of the management of Union-directed political contributions in GoLocal.

Newly appointed Rhode Island District Court Judge Michael McCaffrey continues to operate a campaign account of ~$230,000. GoLocal.

Editorial and Expert Opinion

Current Affairs published an interview with Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, on the forces motivating the war in Iran. Parsi’s analysis points the motive most squarely at Israel but also the trajectory as being consistent since Trump pulled out of the JCPOA.

Russia stands mostly on the sidelines as Iran is attacked by the United States, despite a strong history and compacts of agreement. Iran and Russia have a long history of trade and the Iranians supported Russia in its war on Ukraine. The reason lies in the dynamics of a world at war. Iran has become a net-supplier of arms to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. At the same time, Russia benefits from higher oil prices, already making tens of billions in additional profit since the war began. Foreign Affairs has more.

Ireland’s premier Micheál Martin will visit the White House this week, and the dynamics of the two vastly different countries who are each trying to find their footing in the global order will be on full display. As the United States tries to assert its position as a hegemon, despite the growing evidence of a strong multi-polar world, Ireland’s elites are trying to steer the country towards a closer relationship with the militarizing and imperial forces in NATO and the EU. Ireland deals with the additional complications of a domestic politics very much at odds with the positions of the nation’s allies, and a United Kingdom that appears willing to violate Ireland’s sovereignty using NATO. More in Jacobin. 

Sports

The Celtics won easily over the Washington Wizards (16-50), 111-100 on Saturday. Neemias Queta led the Celtics in scoring with 26 points. Tatum had 20 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and two steals, Brown had 16. Next game tonight against the Suns (39-28) 

Bruins won in a nine-round shootout over the Capitals on Saturday, 3-2. McAvoy scored the Bruins’ 2 goals. Fraser Minten scored the shootout goal to win it. Bruins up one spot in the Atlantic, now in fourth; in the wildcard position with 16 games left. Next game tonight at NJ Devils (68 pts) at 7:00.

URI women’s basketball will face Alabama in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Both Barrington HS basketball teams won the state championship. The boys took the win over Central Sunday night, 81-76. The girls over Westerly on Saturday.