The Lars Larson Show Interviews

Willamette Week just released its endorsements for 30 races on Oregon’s May ballot, including key contests that could shape the state’s political future — and possibly the next challenge to Governor Tina Kotek. The paper says its picks focus less on ideology and more on competence, accountability, and who can actually get results. Aaron Mesh, Managing Editor of Willamette Week, joins us to break d...

Christine Drazan says she helped stop a massive tax increase by referring it to voters, but critics argue she’s taking credit for work done by others. As Oregon’s Republican governor primary heats up, new questions are also emerging about taxpayer funding tied to the Portland Trail Blazers and whether candidate Chris Dudley has been fully honest with voters about his abortion stance. Oregon State...

Former FBI Director James Comey is back in court after being indicted over a social media post critics say threatened President Donald Trump. The Justice Department argues the post crossed a dangerous line, while supporters say the case risks criminalizing political speech and raises major First Amendment concerns. Leland Vittert, host of On Balance with Leland Vittert and Chief Washington Anchor...

Oregon was once a magnet for businesses, families, and opportunity; now critics say it’s becoming a warning sign for the rest of America. Rising homelessness, crime, addiction, struggling schools, and businesses leaving the state have many asking whether decades of progressive leadership pushed Oregon into decline. Dennis Kneale, former CNBC and Fox Business host and author of Oregoners: How One S...

Your vote decides elections, but should politicians be allowed to profit from the outcome? After multiple congressional candidates were reportedly caught betting on their own races, critics warn election gambling could open the door to corruption and insider manipulation. Should prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket be banned from election betting altogether? Dr. Bo Kabala joins us to disc...

One Oregon commissioner turned down her own government pension and reportedly saved taxpayers $200,000. So why are politicians still collecting taxpayer-funded retirement packages for “public service”? Should elected officials be expected to give up those benefits altogether? Patti Adair, Deschutes County Commissioner and candidate for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, joins us to discuss gover...

Your business partner could suddenly become your legal liability. The Department of Labor is proposing new “joint employer” rules that could hold multiple businesses responsible for employee wages, damages, and labor violations. Supporters say it protects workers, while critics warn it could crush franchises, contractors, and small businesses with lawsuits and government overreach. Sean Higgins, r...

Washington County controls a $2 billion budget but now faces budget shortfalls, scandal fallout, and a major leadership shakeup as Chair Kathryn Harrington steps down. With establishment insiders and an outsider candidate battling for control, voters must decide whether the county needs more of the same — or a political wild card to clean house. Jenny Kamprath, candidate for Washington County Chai...

Americans have gotten used to fast, cheap, and even free shipping — but growing federal regulations could be driving those costs straight back onto consumers. New research warns government red tape is acting like a hidden tax on transportation, raising shipping prices and slowing productivity across trucking, rail, air, and freight industries. Patrick McLaughlin, Research Fellow at the Hoover Inst...

More than three million Virginians already cast their votes, but now the state’s redistricting battle is heading to the courts after a judge blocked certification of a closely approved ballot measure that could dramatically reshape congressional power. Critics say Democrats are trying to redraw the map after the election to secure a political advantage, while supporters argue the process must foll...

Most people know Chernobyl from history books or the hit TV series, but few heard from people who were actually there as the Soviet Union scrambled to contain the world’s worst nuclear disaster. Nearly 40 years later, questions still surround what really happened, how much was covered up, and what life looked like on the ground during the chaos. Carol J. Williams, author of Dispatches from Moscow:...

An Oregon state representative is accusing his opponent of spreading “false and defamatory” claims in the state voters’ pamphlet, raising new questions about whether campaign materials are informing voters — or misleading them. With election officials now being asked to review the statements, the controversy is turning into a broader fight over truth, free speech, and political accountability. Chr...

One of Washington’s most heavily secured events turned into chaos after an armed suspect allegedly charged a security checkpoint during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while President Trump and top administration officials were inside. The incident is now raising serious questions about Secret Service security failures, political violence, and what actually happened behind closed doors that...

One of Oregon's most beloved fishing rivers could soon be off-limits to your boat. Who actually gets to decide who belongs on Oregon's waterways...you, or the government? Oregon State Representative Court Boice joins us to discuss the proposed boating restrictions, tribal influence over river access, and who should ultimately decide how Oregon’s public waterways are used. Send us Fan Mai...

Hospital bills keep climbing faster than inflation, wages, and almost everything else in the economy — but critics say it’s not just the hospitals driving the cost. New research argues government policies have inflated prices, limited competition, and helped create a healthcare system where Americans fear bankruptcy while hospitals post strong profits. John Graham, Visiting Fellow with Paragon Hea...

Another assassination attempt against President Trump has reignited fears about political violence in America after a gunman opened fire during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington. Investigators say the suspect specifically targeted administration officials, raising new questions about extremism, security failures, and whether the country is facing a domestic terror crisis it refu...

A groundbreaking cancer treatment from Moderna and Merck & Co. reportedly cut the risk of recurrence or death nearly in half — yet the companies are avoiding one controversial word: “vaccine.”  Dr. Henry Miller, physician, molecular biologist, and former founding director of the FDA’s Office of Biotechnology, joins us to discuss the future of mRNA cancer treatments, whether politics is interfe...

At Harvard University, more than 60% of grades are now A’s and when school officials proposed limiting top grades to restore academic rigor, some students called the idea racist.  Dr. Zachary Marschall, Editor-in-Chief of Campus Reform, joins us to discuss grade inflation, merit in higher education, and when academic standards became part of the culture war. Send us Fan Mail

A Portland man convicted of one of the most disturbing murders this city has ever seen just walked into a parole hearing. Should a man who tortured and killed a disabled woman ever walk free?  Former Oregon District Attorneys Association President Josh Marquis joins the program to discuss the case and whether violent offenders like this should ever be allowed back into society. Send us Fan Mail

One of the country’s most well-known anti-hate organizations is now facing explosive federal allegations. Prosecutors claim the Southern Poverty Law Center funneled millions to extremist groups while building its reputation fighting them. Is the organization America trusted to expose hate actually running a scam of its own? Tyler O’Neil, senior editor at The Daily Signal and author of Making Hate...

A trucking company owner in Tillamook says his fuel costs jumped by $30,000 in a single month and unlike bigger companies, he says he can’t simply pass the cost on to customers. As energy prices rise again, small business owners are asking whether “energy independence” means anything if they still can’t stay afloat. Jason Rawe, an Oregon trucking carrier, joins the program to explain what the spik...

While America’s attention stays fixed on the Middle East, China is closely watching how the U.S. responds and some experts warn Taiwan could be next. With most of the world’s advanced computer chips tied to Taiwan, a conflict there could trigger economic chaos far beyond the battlefield. Eyck Freymann, Hoover Fellow at Stanford University and author of Defending Taiwan, joins the program to discus...

The House just passed a bipartisan bill extending protections for Haitian immigrants, setting up a major fight over who controls immigration policy—Congress, the courts, or the White House. With the Senate, Supreme Court, and President Trump all looming over the issue, the battle over Temporary Protected Status is far from over. Congressman Brandon Gill, who represents Texas’ 26th Congressional Di...

What if the American economy isn’t really a free market at all? Critics argue giant corporations and government have become so intertwined that the system now rewards political connections over competition, leaving small businesses and ordinary Americans behind. Seton Motley, President of Less Government, joins the program to discuss whether modern “capitalism” has turned into corporate cronyism a...

A retired police officer can carry concealed across the country under federal law but a retired Navy SEAL cannot. Now a new proposal would extend nationwide concealed carry protections to elite military veterans, raising questions about fairness, public safety, and gun rights. Former Congressman and CIA analyst Bob Barr joins the program to discuss whether America should trust its special operatio...