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.

New federal student loan changes could transform how Rhode Islanders pay for college, graduate school, and professional degrees — while proposed shifts at the U.S. Department of Education could reshape K–12 classrooms. From borrowing caps to changes in Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) to the future of federal education support, what’s at stake for students and families across the state?

On Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, co-hosts Nicole Dyszlewski and Michael Donnelly-Boylen talk with U.S. Senator Jack Reed about the legal, financial, and policy impacts of these changes
— and how they might affect education from kindergarten through professional school.

Topics include:

• Key changes to federal student loan programs and who they affect
• How new rules could alter student loan forgiveness for public-interest careers
• Why “professional” programs face different rules — and who’s included
• What tighter loan caps and loss of subsidized loans mean for working families
• Possible effects of downsizing the U.S. Department of Education
• How Rhode Islanders can respond through legal and political channels
  

Listen and subscribe to Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded — legal conversations made accessible. Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF):
  https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation
• U.S. Department of Education on restoring PSLF: https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-
  release/us-department-of-education-concludes-negotiated-rulemaking-session-restore-
  public-service-loan-forgiveness
• White House Presidential Action on PSLF: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-
  actions/2025/03/restoring-public-service-loan-forgiveness/
• RWU Law’s Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Program (PILRAP):
  https://law.rwu.edu/admission/financing-your-legal-education/public-interest-loan-
  repayment-assistance-program-pilrap
  

Starting with this episode, Law 401 will now release weekly — new episodes every Tuesday.

In this episode of Law 401, we break down Rhode Island’s journey to legalize adult-use cannabis and what that means for everyday users, lawmakers, and communities most affected by past drug policies. Joined by Kim Ahern, Chair of the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission, and Michelle Reddish, a national cannabis regulator now leading Rhode Island’s cannabis office, the discussion covers the new legal framework, the social equity program, zoning rules, dispensary access, and what’s next for cannabis compliance and community reinvestment.

Whether you’re a cannabis policy nerd, a concerned citizen, or just wondering where to legally buy a gummy — this episode is for you.

For resources, please check out:

Cannabis Control Commission RI https://ccc.ri.gov/
ACLU: https://www.riaclu.org/en/know-your-rights/know-your-rights-recreational-marijuana-ri

Why can’t Rhode Islanders afford to live where they work? Why are evictions rising? And what legal protections — if any — exist for people at risk of losing their homes?

In this powerful episode of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, co-hosts Nicole Dyszlewski and Michael Donnelly-Boylen tackle the state’s growing housing crisis. They’re joined by Brenda Clement, Executive Director of HousingWorks RI, and Suzy Harrington-Steppen, Associate Director of Pro Bono Programs at RWU Law, to unpack the legal, economic, and human realities of unaffordable housing and increasing evictions across Rhode Island.

In this episode, we cover:

• What “affordable housing” actually means (and why it’s out of reach for many)

• How local zoning laws and outdated housing stock are holding Rhode Island back

• Why eviction filings are back to pre-pandemic levels — and who’s being hit hardest

• What legal resources exist for tenants and where the system falls short

• The link between substandard housing, health, and education outcomes

• What the future of housing in RI could look like with new legislation and advocacy

Whether you’re a renter, homeowner, policymaker, or concerned citizen, this episode reveals how deeply housing affects everyone — and why we all need to be part of the solution.

Rhode Island Housing Works: https://www.housingworksri.org/

2024 RI Housing Fact Book: https://d337wih8hx5yft.cloudfront.net/images/Publications/HWRI_HFB24.pdf

Evicted by Mark Desmond: https://evictedbook.com/

Rhode Island Legal Services/RI Fair Housing: https://rifairhousing.org/

Center for Justice: https://centerforjustice.org/

South Coast Fair Housing: https://southcoastfairhousing.org/

Rhode Island Commission to End Homelessness: https://www.rihomeless.org/

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

In the debut episode of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, we dig into one of Rhode Island’s most disruptive infrastructure failures — the sudden closure of the Washington Bridge. Joined by investigative reporter Ted Nesi (WPRI 12), we break down the legal, political, and economic fallout of the bridge shutdown, which paralyzed traffic and prompted lawsuits, public outcry, and questions about government accountability.

This episode unpacks:

• Why the state filed suit against contractors
• What the bridge’s unusual structure had to do with the collapse risk
• How public records laws and lack of transparency fueled public distrust
• The broader implications for infrastructure management and state leadership
• What comes next for commuters, businesses, and elected officials as 2026 elections loom

If you’ve ever sat in Washington Bridge traffic, wondered who’s to blame, or questioned whether the system failed — this episode is for you.

https://www.wpri.com/target-12/427m-to-rebuild-washington-bridge-by-november-2028-mckee-announces/

https://www.dot.ri.gov/projects/WashingtonBridgeClosure/index.php

📍 Perfect for Rhode Islanders, commuters, legal minds, and anyone interested in how law and public policy collide in times of crisis.

Law 401 is a podcast from Roger Williams University School of Law that unpacks timely and relevant legal topics impacting Rhode Islanders. Hosts Nicole Dyszlewski and Michael Donnelly-Boylen guide listeners through these complex issues with insightful, jargon-free conversations—and a bit of fun—making the law more accessible, one episode at a time. RWU Law is the only law school in Rhode Island.

Connect:

IG/Bluesky/TikTok: @RWULaw

FB: facebook.com/RWULaw

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/roger-williams-university-school-of-law