The Lars Larson Show Interviews

 Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. Is Southwest Washington ready for a change in Congress? State Senator John Braun, a Republican candidate for Congress, joins the show to discuss his challenge to Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the issues driving the race, and why he believes voters are paying the price for her record i...

 Washington’s primary results are raising red flags for Republicans, with several GOP incumbents trailing heading into November. What are voters telling lawmakers? State Representative John Ley joins the show to discuss his own race in Southwest Washington, the challenges Republicans face in the general election, and what the results reveal about the political mood across the state.  Send us Fan M...

 A man previously convicted of killing his own father is now accused of starting the Old Trails Fire near Spokane, which destroyed hundreds of structures and forced thousands from their homes. How did investigators track him down, and how was he back on the streets? Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels joins the show to discuss the arson investigation, the suspect’s arrest, and the devastating wildf...

 One Oregon guardian says her special needs sister began receiving ballots after getting a REAL ID, even though she says no one ever agreed to register her to vote. How did it happen? Lars listener Teri joins the show to share her sister’s story, what she was told by the DMV, and why she believes Oregon’s automatic voter registration system deserves a closer look.  Send us Fan Mail

 The ballots have been counted, and primary results across the country are sending some surprising signals to both parties. What do they tell us about where voters are headed before November? Leland Vittert, host of On Balance with Leland Vittert and Chief Washington Anchor for NewsNation, joins the show to discuss the biggest election takeaways, the warning signs for Republicans and Democrats, an...

 A new analysis estimates that roughly 9 million people enrolled through Medicaid expansion may not actually qualify, costing federal taxpayers about $33 billion a year. How did the program get this far off track? Liam Sigaud, Adjunct Scholar at the Paragon Health Institute, joins the show to discuss the incentives created by Obamacare, the impact on taxpayers and vulnerable patients, and whether...

 More than half of New York City’s reported hate crimes this year have targeted Jewish victims, even as other major crime categories decline. Is city leadership doing enough to confront antisemitism? Sydney Altfield, National Director of Teach Coalition, joins the show to discuss the rise in antisemitic hate crimes, growing concerns within New York’s Jewish community, and whether Mayor Zohran Mamd...

 Wildfires are devastating communities across Washington and Oregon, but people working on the ground say the problem has been building for decades. Did years of fire suppression and hands-off forest policy make today’s fires worse? Taylor Muskthel, owner of B & M Land Management, joins the show to discuss what she sees firsthand in Northwest forests, how fuel loads became so dangerous, and wh...

 Medicaid has spent more than $5 billion on a widely used autism therapy in just six years, while prosecutors are uncovering millions of dollars in allegedly fraudulent claims. Are families getting the care they need, or are scammers exploiting the system? Taylor Sanders with the Autism Family Alliance joins the show to discuss the soaring cost of autism therapy, recent fraud cases, and how taxpay...

 Nineteen people are accused of billing Medicare and Medicaid for millions of dollars in care that was never provided. How much taxpayer money is being lost to healthcare fraud? Tom Jones, President of the American Accountability Foundation, joins the show to discuss the latest alleged fraud schemes, how scammers exploit government healthcare programs, and what can be done to protect taxpayers.  S...

 A proposed Portland ballot measure would redirect a portion of the Portland Clean Energy Fund to hire more police officers, but supporters say city officials are already working to stop it before voters get a chance to decide. Aaron Schmautz, President of the Portland Police Association, joins the show to discuss the controversy surrounding the initiative, allegations of election interference, an...

 Iran's heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site is believed to house advanced uranium enrichment capabilities deep underground. Can the U.S. and its allies stop Iran's nuclear ambitions if key facilities are out of reach? Andrea Stricker, Deputy Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Nonproliferation Program, joins the show to discuss what intelligence expert...

 Americans are increasingly bringing politics to work, and new polling suggests many employees would rather switch departments than work for a boss with different political views. Is political division becoming a threat to productivity and workplace culture? Andrew Crapuchettes, Founder and CEO of RedBalloon, joins the show to discuss the growing impact of politics in the workplace, what employers...

 Gas prices are climbing, economic growth is slowing, and businesses are facing another round of higher costs. Will companies absorb the hit, or will consumers end up paying more? Conn Davis, CEO of Byrna Technologies, joins the show to discuss the economic pressures facing American businesses, what rising costs could mean for prices at the checkout counter, and what consumers should expect in the...

 As wildfires burn across the Pacific Northwest, some private firefighting resources are reportedly sitting idle because of dispatch policies and delays in a new federal contracting system. Derrick Holdstock, owner of Western Fire Resources, joins the show to discuss how VIPR contracting issues and resource reassignment policies could be affecting wildfire response when every minute counts.  Send...

 Citizen investigators say they've uncovered evidence of election irregularities in counties across Oregon and are taking their findings directly to local officials. Are these isolated mistakes, or signs of a larger problem? Dr. Douglas Frank, physicist, inventor, and election analyst, joins the show to discuss the evidence his teams say they've gathered, what they're presenting to...

 National crime statistics can paint a misleading picture. New research suggests that most murders occur in a relatively small number of counties, while the majority of counties experience little to no violent crime. Dr. John Lott, President of the Crime Prevention Research Center and author of More Guns, Less Crime , joins the show to discuss what the data reveals about where violent crime is hap...

As Washington voters receive their primary ballots, a dispute is brewing over whether election officials are giving voters complete and accurate information about certified write-in candidates. Dusty Wisniew, Republican candidate for Washington State Representative in the 39th District, joins the show to discuss why he believes election materials should be corrected while voting is underway and wh...

The Interstate Bridge replacement project carries a $15 billion price tag, but critics say costs have ballooned far beyond the original mission. Should federal taxpayers keep footing the bill, or is it time to hit pause? Washington State Representative John Ley joins the show to discuss his request for the Trump administration to deny federal approval for the project, why he believes it's bec...

Seattle's police chief was removed just days after a deadly shooting at a downtown food festival, but the mayor won't fully explain why. Is this about public safety, politics, or something else? Jonathan Choe, journalist with Discovery Institute and Turning Point USA Frontlines, joins the show to discuss the controversy surrounding Chief Shon Barnes' firing, the unanswered questions...

 Two Southern Oregon outpatient clinics are set to close, and critics say state policies are driving health care providers to cut services. Are political decisions making it harder for Oregonians to get the care they need? Representative Dwayne Yunker joins the show to discuss the closure of Asante's physical therapy clinics, the impact of Oregon's staffing mandates, and why he believes...

After multiple court setbacks, the Trump administration is relying on a little-known provision of the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act to impose new tariffs on Canadian imports. Does the president have the legal authority to do it, and what could it mean for consumers and businesses? Ryan Young, Senior Economist and Director of Publications at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, joins the show to di...

President Trump says a new agreement could lead to the complete disarmament of Hamas, but Israeli officials remain skeptical and questions remain about whether the deal can actually be enforced. Samuel Ben-Ur, Research Analyst focusing on the Middle East at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joins the show to discuss the proposed agreement, Iran's reported efforts to undermine it, and...

Sarah Mittelman spent years as a Democratic Party leader before deciding to leave the party and run for the Washington Legislature as a Republican. What changed? Sarah Mittelman, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and candidate for Washington State Representative in the 49th Legislative District, joins the show to discuss why she walked away from the Democratic Party, what she witnessed firsthand, a...

Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a Senate hearing despite receiving a broad presidential pardon. Does the pardon end the matter, or are there still unanswered questions about the government's COVID-19 response? Steve Moore, former Trump economic advisor and co-founder of Unleash Prosperity, joins the show to discuss Fauci's testimony, the pandemic...