Why does land return matter to Indigenous people? In this episode, we speak with Tai Palermo L'22, Legal Director of the Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights, about the historic return of 255 acres in Bristol, RI, from Brown University to the Pokanoket Tribe.

We explore the legal, cultural, and emotional weight of this moment. What land return and the repatriation of sacred artifacts mean for tribal sovereignty. And how they help Indigenous communities take back control and keep their cultures alive.

What’s next for the Pokanoket land? That remains to be seen. This is a conversation about history, justice, and the ongoing work of restoration.

Resources:

Taino Palermo L'22’s Bio

https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/taino-palermo

Land Transfer in The Providence Journal

https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2024/11/20/trailblazing-brown-university-returns-255-acres-to-pokanoket-tribe-bristol-rhode-island/76450706007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11----p001740n11----c11----e001000v118108o11----b0065xxd116565&gca-ft=233&gca-ds=sophi

Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights

https://www.thecipr.org/

Raymond Two Hawks Watson L'22’s Bio

https://provcei.org/

Office of Federal Acknowledgement

https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/ofa

NAGPRA

https://www.bia.gov/service/nagpra

Ever wondered how to turn your passion into policy? In this episode, we're joined by Professor Victoria Litman of Roger Williams School of Law, who breaks down how everyday Rhode Islanders can become powerful advocates at the state and local level. From writing letters to testifying at the State House, she shares simple, actionable steps to influence the laws that shape your life.

Victoria, a nationally recognized researcher in cannabis and psychedelics regulation, details her personal journey advocating for Bill H7047, which aimed to legalize the possession of psychedelic mushrooms but ultimately did not pass. She emphasizes why showing up — especially for the long game — matters, and how your voice can help educate lawmakers and drive meaningful change.

Resources:

Victoria Litman

https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/victoria-litman

Bill H7047

https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2024/02/01/push-to-legalize-magic-mushrooms-is-back-before-house-judiciary-committee/

Freedom to Read Act https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=375699

Petrie-Flom Center

https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/

Capitol TV

https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/

Have an episode idea? Email us at law401podcast@rwu.edu.

This week on Law 401, we’re joined by Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies, Executive Director of the Economic Progress Institute, to unpack the sweeping federal legislation known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Weayonnoh and her team of experts dug through all 870 pages to break down what really matters for Rhode Islanders.

From massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to the broader legal and civil rights implications, we explore the details that affect you. Who’s most impacted? And how can Rhode Island respond? Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded conversation about law, policy, and the future of equity in our state.

Highlights:

• What does this bill really mean to you?
• Taxing the top to protect the vulnerable
• Why it’s about more than money
• What do the numbers really mean?
• What are legal entitlements?

Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies: https://law.rwu.edu/student-life/stories/if-theres-life-theres-hope

Resources:

OBBB https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text

Commentary: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/21/metro/commentary-trump-era-tax-bill-medicaid-snap-rhode-island-tax-policy/

Economic Progress Institute: https://economicprogressri.org/

This episode thrives on podcast partnership. We’re joined by Ed Fitzpatrick, veteran Boston Globe Rhode Island reporter and host of the Rhode Island Report podcast. What is fake news? In this episode, we explore how misinformation, fueled by AI, amplified on social media, and often dismissed as “fake news,” is reshaping our legal system and democracy. From trials to government debates, misinformation undermines fairness and fuels distrust. Attacks on journalists worsen this by silencing accountability and enabling misinformation to spread.

Drawing on decades of reporting, Ed offers insight into the rising tension between free speech, press freedom, and the right to a fair trial in an era of digital half-truths.

Resources:

• Ed’s Bio: https://www.bostonglobe.com/about/staff-list/staff/edward-fitzpatrick/
• Five Freedoms: https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments/amendment-i
• Information Futures Lab: https://sites.brown.edu/informationfutures/
• RI Board of Elections: https://elections.ri.gov/
• RI Bans Deepfakes: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/02/metro/rhode-island-regulates-deepfakes-elections/
• Jeff Britt Trial: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/16/metro/ri-political-operative-britt-found-not-guilty-money-laundering-trial/

Hungry for more media discussion? Join Boston Globe at the Rhode Map Live event: Telling Rhode Island’s Story: The Future of Local Media. Tuesday, Sept. 30. Info and registration via https://rhodemapliveseptember30.splashthat.com/

Zoning laws, red tape, and outdated building restrictions are blocking the housing Rhode Islanders desperately need. In this episode of Law 401, House Speaker Joe Shekarchi joins us to break down how the General Assembly is fighting the housing crisis by passing laws to fix a system that keeps homes out of reach for so many.

In this episode, we cover:

• How zoning laws have slowed housing growth, and what’s changing
• What preemption means, and how the state uses it to mandate housing access
• The legalization and expansion of Accessory Dwelling Units
• New efforts to repurpose vacant commercial and institutional buildings
• Why increasing housing supply can help bring down rents and reduce homelessness
• The balance between local control and statewide responsibility

PLUS: The HASBRO Headquarters move

Resources:

• Speaker Shekarchi’s Bio: https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/Shekarchi/Pages/Biography.aspx

• 2025 R.I. Housing Legislation: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/RIL.PressRelease.ListStructure/Forms/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31%2D3c10%2D431c%2D8dcd%2D9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=375110&Web=2bab1515%2D0dcc%2D4176%2Da2f8%2D8d4beebdf488\

• 2024 R.I. Housing Bills Passed: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=374721

• HousingWorks R.I. 2024 Factbook: https://d337wih8hx5yft.cloudfront.net/images/Publications/HWRI_HFB24.pdf

• Chapter 37: RI Fair Housing Practices Act https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE34/34-37/INDEX.HTM

What’s a tariff — and why do they have the power to shake the global economy, trigger political showdowns, and hit your wallet at the grocery store?

In this episode of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, co-hosts Nicole P. Dyszlewski and Michael Donnelly-Boylen explore how tariffs impact everything from international trade to Rhode Island’s local businesses. They’re joined by Gregory W. Bowman, Dean of Roger Williams University School of Law and former international trade attorney, for a deep dive into how this complex economic tool works — and why we should all be paying attention.

In this episode, we cover:

• What tariffs are and how they influence global trade relationships
• The legal and political process behind implementing tariffs
• Why tariffs don’t just affect big corporations, but everyday consumers
• Historical and current U.S. tariff policies — and the debates surrounding them
• The tension between protecting national industries and global market access
• How future lawyers can prepare to work in this evolving legal landscape

Whether you’re a student of law, a small business owner, or someone trying to make sense of trade wars in the news, this episode unpacks the legal and practical sides of tariffs in an accessible way.

Listen now and subscribe to Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded — legal conversations made accessible.

Rhode Island Impacts:

• Polaris MEP "Tariff Impact Report" (June 2025) https://polarismep.org/news/tariff-impact-report/
• University of Rhode Island report: “Tariff‑induced uncertainties cloud R.I. economy’s recession status” https://www.uri.edu/news/2025/08/tariff-induced-uncertainties-cloud-r-i-economys-recession-status-says-uri-economist/
• General:Tariffs—Everything you need to know but were afraid to ask https://www.epi.org/publication/tariffs-everything-you-need-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask/
• Carlo Institute's 'Separating Tariff Facts from Tariff Fictions' https://www.cato.org/publications/separating-tariff-facts-tariff-fictions
• Boston Globe article: "Appeals court finds Trump’s sweeping tariffs unconstitutional but leaves them in place for now" https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/08/29/business/trump-tariffs-unconstitutional-appeals-court/

When reports surfaced about a longtime high school coach conducting "fat tests" behind closed doors, the story shocked Rhode Island — and raised serious legal and ethical questions about student safety, institutional responsibility, and transparency in public education.

In this episode of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, co-hosts Nicole P. Dyszlewski and Michael Donnelly-Boylen are joined by investigative reporter Tim White of WPRI 12 (and RWU Law MSL '22) to unpack the disturbing case out of North Kingstown. Together, they explore what went wrong, why it took so long to come to light, and what it tells us about how misconduct is handled in schools.

In this episode, we cover:

• What happened in the North Kingstown “fat test” scandal — and how it unfolded
• What legal obligations schools have to report and investigate abuse
• The roles of Title IX, mandated reporting laws, and civil litigation
• How journalists approach sensitive investigations involving minors
• What systems failed — and what accountability looks like
• The lasting impact on students, families, and the wider community

This episode explores not just a local scandal but a broader reckoning over power, trust, and institutional silence.

Listen now and subscribe to Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded — legal conversations made accessible.

• People Magazine: "Former High School Basketball Coach Accused of Molesting Boys During Nude 'Fat Testing' Goes to Trial" https://people.com/former-coach-accused-molesting-boys-during-fat-testing-goes-to-trial-11707208
• GoLocalProv article: "North Kingstown Naked Fat Test Coach Charged with Sexual Assault and Child Molestation" https://www.golocalprov.com/news/new-north-kingstown-naked-fat-test-coach-charged-with-sexual-assault-and-ch
• Tim White and Eli Sherman - WPRI break down the verdict in the "naked fat test" trial of Aaron Thomas.https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1429194511765168
• The Public's Radio | Rhode Island PBS https://www.ripbs.org/news-and-culture/jury-finds-former-ri-high-school-basketball-coach-not-guilty-of-sex-crimes
• RI Relevant Laws Second-Degree Child Molestation — R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-8.4 https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-11/chapter-11-37/section-11-37-8-4/
• Simple Assault or Battery (Misdemeanor Penalties) -- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11‑5‑3https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-11/chapter-11-5/section-11-5-3/

Across the country, battles over book bans are intensifying — and Rhode Island is not immune. Who decides what’s appropriate to read? Who gets to make that call for children, schools, and public libraries?

In this episode of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, co-hosts Nicole P. Dyszlewski and Michael Donnelly-Boylen explore the growing wave of book challenges and censorship efforts, and how they intersect with law, policy, and free expression. They’re joined by Cheryl Space, Director of the Community Libraries of Providence, and Dan Novack, Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Penguin Random House, to discuss the implications of book bans in Rhode Island andbeyond.

In this episode, we cover:

• How library book challenges typically begin — and who decides what stays on shelves
• Why legal protections for free speech don’t always prevent book removals
• The tension between parental rights, school boards, and public access
• How publishers are pushing back through litigation and advocacy
• What’s at stake for marginalized communities and authors
• How Rhode Island libraries are responding to national trends

From libraries to classrooms to courtrooms, this episode dives deep into the fight over access to ideas — and what it means for democracy.

Resource links:

• House Bill 5726 (Freedom to Read Act – PDF: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H5726.pdf
• Senate Bill 238 (Companion Bill): https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/S0238/2025
• Community Libraries of Providence: https://clpvd.org/
• Penguin Random House https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/

Listen now and subscribe to Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded — legal conversations made accessible.