The Lars Larson Show Interviews

Duke Energy made nearly $5 billion last year—and now wants to raise rates on families by 18%. Meanwhile, large corporate customers get smaller increases, and major hedge funds sit at the top collecting returns. So who is the system really built for? Seton Motley, President of Less Government, joins the program to break down how utility monopolies work, why profits are guaranteed, and whether custo...

A ceasefire is supposed to be in place—but bombs are still falling, Iran is reportedly mining the Strait of Hormuz, and both sides are operating under completely different versions of the deal. Add in strikes in Lebanon, and it’s hard to tell what was actually agreed to—or if anyone plans to follow it. John Solomon, founder of Just the News and political commentator, joins the program to break dow...

A naysayer caller pushes back on term limits, arguing they could actually weaken voter control by forcing out leaders people want to keep. If voters already have the power to remove bad politicians, why take that decision away and replace it with a hard deadline? The debate gets heated as Lars counters with the reality of incumbents winning nearly every election and staying in office for decades....

Washington utility customers are facing massive rate hikes—some nearing 30%—while more of that money could be flowing straight to private equity investors. Supporters say it’s needed for infrastructure and green energy mandates, but critics are asking a tougher question: who is this really benefiting? Todd Myers, Vice President for Research at the Washington Policy Center, joins the program to bre...

In a district dominated by Republicans for decades, one candidate is stepping outside the two-party system and taking a different approach. With no party backing, no established machine, and a crowded field, the question is simple: will voters take a chance on something different? Devin Poore, independent candidate for Washington’s 4th Congressional District, joins the program to explain why he’s...

Trump announced a last-minute ceasefire with Iran, but within hours missiles were still flying and key terms of the deal were already in dispute. With conflicting versions of the agreement and ongoing strikes across the region, it’s far from clear what was actually agreed to—or if anyone plans to stick to it. Leland Vittert, host of On Balance and Chief Washington Anchor for NewsNation, joins the...

Oregon farmers are getting just a fraction of the water they need as the state faces record-low snowpack and tens of thousands of acres could go unplanted. At the same time, federal regulations tied to endangered species are limiting how much water can actually be used. Gene Souza, Executive Director of the Klamath Irrigation District, joins the program to explain how policy is colliding with drou...

For years, America’s most highly trained fighters couldn’t carry a firearm on their own bases until now. A new policy change allows service members to request permission to carry for self-defense, raising a bigger question about whether military installations should have ever been treated like gun-free zones. Dr. John Lott, economist and gun policy expert, joins the program to break down the risks...

College sports are spiraling with transfer rules, NIL money, and constant legal battles—and now the federal government is stepping in. Trump’s executive order threatens funding for schools that don’t comply, raising a bigger question about who should actually be in charge. Maddie Salamone, federal policy counsel at Pacific Legal Foundation, joins the program to break down whether Washington fixing...

A ceasefire is in place but both sides are claiming victory, the terms don’t match, and missiles were still flying hours after it was announced. So what exactly was agreed to, and does this deal actually mean the fighting is over? Mark Vargas, former member of the Iraqi Task Force at the Office of the Secretary of War, joins the program to break down what this ceasefire really looks like and what...

Planned Parenthood just reported its highest number of abortions ever—while also receiving record taxpayer funding. With services like cancer screenings declining and abortion numbers rising, the debate over where that money is going is heating up again. Kimberly Bird, spokesperson for Live Action, joins the program to break down the latest report and whether federal funding for Planned Parenthood...

A new lawsuit claims Virginia may be allowing people who have never even lived in the state to cast ballots, raising serious questions about election integrity and who should actually have a say. Supporters call it legal, but critics say it undermines the votes of real residents. John Reid, former Virginia Lieutenant Governor candidate and host of The Reid Revolution , joins the program to break d...

Portland State University is assigning a book that paints White professors in sweeping negative terms, raising a simple question: would this ever be allowed if it targeted any other racial group? Supporters call it academic exploration, but critics see a clear double standard creeping into higher education. Bruce Gilley, Political Science Professor at PSU, joins the program to break down what’s in...

States like Ohio and Kentucky are building massive, modern bridges for a fraction of the cost—without tolls—while Oregon and Washington are asking taxpayers to foot a bill that could reach $19 billion. So where is all that money actually going? Washington State Representative John Ley joins the program to break down what’s driving the price tag, what’s really included in the project, and whether t...

A lawsuit claims American ex-Special Forces veterans were hired by a foreign government to carry out targeted killings in Yemen with little clarity on who was on the list or why. Now one of the surviving targets is fighting back in court, raising serious legal and ethical questions. Jeremy Louwerse, Senior Reporter for the California Post, joins the program to break down what’s been uncovered and...

Portland’s fire department says it won’t respond to some homeless encampment fires unless they spread—after reports that nearly half of their calls are tied to homelessness. That raises a serious question: who decides when a fire is “contained enough” to ignore? Kevin Dahlgren, independent journalist covering homelessness and addiction, joins the program to break down what this policy means on the...

A suspected Chinese cyberattack on a U.S. surveillance system is being called a major national security threat, with reports that sensitive law enforcement data may have been compromised. It’s the latest in a string of high-level breaches targeting American systems. Wayne Barnes, former FBI counterintelligence agent with 29 years of experience, joins the program to break down what this means, how...

Iran is threatening global oil supply, but the U.S. isn’t feeling the same pressure it would have decades ago. Thanks to the shale revolution, America now leads the world in energy production—raising a big question about how that changes our position on the global stage. Kevin Dayaratna, Vice President at Advancing American Freedom, joins the program to break down whether energy independence gave...

Trump says regime change in Iran has already happened—but critics say that’s premature with the war still unfolding. At the same time, signs of internal collapse, weakening leadership, and growing unrest inside Iran are hard to ignore. Zineb Riboua, research fellow at the Hudson Institute, joins the program to break down whether the regime is already unraveling—and whether it even matters if the f...

A new study shows AI health chatbots can be fooled by fake medical information nearly half the time—especially when it sounds like it’s coming from a doctor. As more Americans turn to AI for quick answers, that raises serious questions about how reliable it really is. Dr. Henry Miller, physician and former founding director of the FDA’s Office of Biotechnology, joins the program to break down the...

A new filing in the Charlie Kirk murder case shows a key bullet analysis came back “inconclusive”—and some are already claiming it clears the suspect. But experts say that’s not how forensic evidence works, especially with other evidence still in play. Nils Grevillius, crime expert and Army veteran, joins the program to break down what “inconclusive” actually means and whether this changes the cas...

A reported Medicaid fraud scheme allegedly used fake addresses and out-of-state billing while vulnerable people were caught in the middle and questions are now being raised about what state officials knew and when. So how did this go on, and who’s responsible for stopping it? Jeff Eager, former Bend mayor and attorney, joins the program to break down what’s been uncovered and whether state leaders...

Oregon lawmakers face growing concerns over taxes, public safety, and government accountability but what should be tackled first? With frustration building across the state, voters are looking for answers and real priorities. Bill Vivian, candidate for Oregon House District 8 and Navy veteran, joins the program to lay out what he sees as the biggest problem in Salem and how he would fix it. Send u...

Lawmakers are pushing to end tax breaks for data centers just as AI infrastructure becomes a global race. Supporters say it’s about fairness and costs but critics warn it could slow U.S. innovation and hand an advantage to China. Donald Kimball, Communications Manager at the Washington Policy Center and Tech Exchange Editor, joins the program to break down what’s at stake and whether policies like...

A new report says birth tourism has turned U.S. citizenship into a global commodity, with foreign nationals flying in to give birth and secure citizenship for their children. Critics argue it’s a loophole being exploited on a massive scale, raising concerns about cost, security, and the original intent of the Constitution. Mateo Forero, Director of Investigations at FAIR, joins the program to brea...