Law 401

Did you know that one in three Rhode Island families face food insecurity? Did you know that large grocery chains increase prices and drive out competition through a restrictive covenant?
RI Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos joins us to discuss her support for the Fair Price Grocery Agenda. This legislation focuses on reducing food deserts--communities lacking access to grocery stores with fresh, affordable options.  This package of bills opposes the unfair control of large grocery chains and includes measures to improve access for all shoppers. Think seniors who are unable to use digital coupons, or anyone without a smartphone who is excluded from app-based discounts. If you care about fair prices and access to healthy food in your community, this conversation is for you. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos
https://ltgov.ri.gov/about
Bill S2642
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2237.pdf
Fair Price Grocery Agenda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy4U_YN_amk
Robinson-Patman Act
https://www.ftc.gov/advice-guidance/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws/price-discrimination-robinson-patman-violations
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

Why start civic education early? Understanding the importance of young people’s participation in democracy is the focus of this week’s conversation.
Part of an ongoing series on civics, our guest is Hillary Lima from Generation Citizen. Hillary shares why inspiring youth and giving them direct civic experience, in the classroom or at the State House, is so important.
We cover Rhode Island’s civic learning requirements with bigger questions on engagement, equity, and trust in public institutions. It also brings to light why government transparency matters more than ever in a time of deep political polarization.
Resources
Hillary Lima
https://www.generationcitizen.org/team-member/hillary-lima/
Bill S2233
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2233.pdf
Bill H7581
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Billtext/BillText26/HouseText26/H7581.pdf
Civic Literacy Act
https://governor.ri.gov/press-release...
Tufts Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement
https://circle.tufts.edu/
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Disclaimer The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

For a small state, why does Rhode Island have such a powerful impact on the national legal stage?
A group of pro bono lawyers working under the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island (LCRI) might have something to do with it.LCRI was formed to file lawsuits challenging a range of Trump administration policies. From taking legal action against federal decisions affecting immigration, nonprofits, and education, we’ll explore how this local team of legal advocates is driving national change.  Attorney Miriam Weizenbaum, one of LCRI’s legal counsels, joins Nicole and MDB to explain the critical role LCRI plays in protecting democracy.
Resources
Miriam Weizenbaum
https://www.dwbrlaw.com/attorneys/weizenbaum-miriam/
Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island
https://www.lawyerscommitteeri.org/
“How Rhode Island became the center of the legal battle for the nation’s SNAP benefits”
https://www.oceanstatemedia.org/politics/how-rhode-island-became-the-center-of-the-legal-battle-for-the-nations-snap-benefits-1
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

A Dove study found 80% of Black women feel they must change their natural hair to fit in at work. In this episode, we talk with Rhode Island State Senator Tiara Mack, the first queer Black person elected to the RI Senate and lead sponsor of the CROWN Act, “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.”
Sen. Mack explains the historical connection between hair and identity in Black culture, and how the CROWN Act provides legal protection against discrimination in schools and workplaces. We close on a lighter note talking about the viral dance video that made her a social media sensation.
 
Resources
Senator Tiara T. Mack
https://www.rilegislature.gov/senators/mack/Pages/Biography.aspx
Dove CROWN Research Study
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.law.nova.edu/current-students/orgs/blsa/dove_the_crown_reseach_study.pdf
Locs, Law & Liberation
https://racism.org/articles/law-and-justice/38-law-policies-and-race/12823-locs-law-liberation
 
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

Who has the power to impose tariffs—the President or Congress?
Greg W. Bowman, Dean of Roger Williams University School of Law, former international trade attorney, and resident trade law subject matter expert, breaks down the Supreme Court’s decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump—the case that raises the simple question of ownership in imposing tariffs. Hosts MDB and Nicole unpack the Court’s ruling and ask the questions you want to know:
Did the President exceed his authority in imposing certain tariffs? What does the SCOTUS decision mean regarding the limits of presidential emergency powers?   What happens to tariffs already being paid (hint: refunds)?  More importantly, why does the ruling matter for Rhode Island businesses and consumers who rely on global trade.
    
This podcast will keep you informed.Resources
Dean Gregory W. Bowman
https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/gregory-w-bowman
Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf
World Trade Organization
https://www.wto.org/
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, joins us to discuss her legislation that would allow survivors of childhood abuse to file civil claims for up to 35 years. The measure would hold institutions and individuals accountable for child abuse negligence or cover up. She also shares why it’s deeply personal.
The legislation comes as a recent report by RI Attorney General Peter Neronha identified decades of abuse. The report found that 75 priests were accused of abusing 300 victims in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. This is a sensitive but important issue that affects communities across Rhode Island.
Resources
Carol Hagan McEntee
https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/mcentee/Pages/Biography.aspx
H 7200 Legislation
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7200.pdf
Report on Child Abuse
https://riag.ri.gov/diocese-report
 
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed. 

Episode 24’s guest, RWU law professor Natalia Friedlander, explores a critical question: Is it possible for Artificial Intelligence to have bias?
AI influences decisions in health care, housing, education, and courts. Exactly how does AI exhibit or apply hidden bias – and how could that legally affect you? We examine who is responsible when AI systems produce biased outcomes. What safeguards are in place for Rhode Islanders? From legal education to public policy, we uncover that AI is not just a tech issue but also a matter of fairness, accountability, and justice.
Resources
Natalia Friedlander
https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/natalia-friedlander
Rhode Island’s AI Task Force Report
https://etss.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur466/files/2026-01/Final-Rhode-Island-AI-Action-Plan-Report-2026-01-26.pdf
Harvard Law’s Principles for AI Governance
https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-138/beyond-section-230-principles-for-ai-governance/
 
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed. 

Are talks of the US acquiring Greenland just political theatre? RWU Law professor Gregory Noone joins us to explain the legal realities behind headlines. This topic involves serious issues of sovereignty, mineral rights, national security, and international law.
Learn about Greenland’s status as a sovereign territory within Denmark and the probability of the US legally acquiring it. The conversation also brings international policy closer to home, explaining how national security reasoning abroad can shape decisions here in RI.
Resources
Dr. Gregory P. Noone
https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/gregory-p-noone
https://www.publicinternationallawandpolicygroup.org/dr-gregory-p-noone-bio
Article 5 NATO
https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/collective-defence-and-article-5
 
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

In the Season 2 premiere of Law 401, hosts MDB and Nicole sit down with Representative June Speakman to discuss the state of civic education in Rhode Island. Drawing on her experience as a legislator and professor at Roger Williams University, Rep. Speakman explores how civics should work vs how it really plays out in classrooms and at the State House.
The conversation looks at Rhode Island’s 2021 Civic Literacy Act, which requires proficiency for all public high school grads. It also examines whether K–12 educators have the time and funding to teach meaningful civics. And what protesting and voicing your opinion looks like when done respectfully.
Resources:
Representative June Speakman
https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/speakman/Pages/Biography.aspx
https://www.rwu.edu/academics/schools/fssns/faculty/june-s-speakman
Civic Literacy Act
https://governor.ri.gov/press-releases/governor-mckee-signs-legislation-civics-education-schools
Cook v. McKee
https://clearinghouse.net/case/43400/
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Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

In this festive two-part season finale of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, hosts MDB and Nicole welcome lawyer and improv performer James Bagley L’12, for a fun dive into the quirks of holiday law—from Santa’s chimney “break-ins,” elf labor laws to glowing yard displays—legal angles you’ve probably never considered! Capping this episode is a special year-one best-moments review, with the hosts looking back on their favorite conversations, wildest legal hypotheticals, and a forward look as they gear up for an even more relevant season two.
 
Resources
James Bagley
James J. Bagley, (he/they), is Defense Counsel for the Mental Health Treatment Court and a Staff Attorney with the Office of the Mental Health Advocate’s Office.  James studied theatre at the University of Rhode Island, comedy at the Magnet Theatre (NYC) and later the Providence Improv Guild, where he was a house team performer for eight years.
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.