The Lars Larson Show Interviews

More than 150 voters in Green Bay received duplicate ballots and while officials call it a mistake, critics say it’s exactly the kind of error that shakes confidence in elections. When ballots can’t be fully accounted for, how should voters react? James Dickson, founder of Make Politics Local Again, joins the program to break down what happened, how systems are supposed to prevent this, and whethe...

Oil prices just plunged after Iran signaled the Strait of Hormuz is open but the U.S. blockade remains in place. Markets are reacting fast, but the bigger question is whether this is real progress or just a temporary move in a much larger standoff. Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute, joins the program to break down what’s driving the price drop and whether Americans can expect lasti...

A new White House-backed analysis is raising eyebrows, suggesting companies that heavily implemented DEI policies may be seeing lower productivity. Supporters say DEI expands opportunity, while critics argue it may be hurting performance and missing its intended goals. Andrew Crapuchettes, CEO of RedBalloon, joins the program to break down the findings and what they could mean for businesses movin...

Portland’s housing authority is struggling with vacancies and long wait times but new reporting shows its CEO spent over $100,000 in taxpayer money on travel over the past three years. With housing needs growing, questions are being raised about priorities and accountability. Aaron Mesh, Managing Editor at Willamette Week, joins the program to break down what was uncovered and what it says about h...

Dutch doctors euthanized a teenage boy just because he had autism. When the definition of “suffering” keeps changing, where does the line get drawn? Leland Vittert joins the program to break down what this means and whether the boundaries are already being pushed too far. Send us Fan Mail

Washington Republicans are pushing to require proof of citizenship to vote. Why is that controversial?  State GOP Chair Jim Walsh joins the program to explain the proposal, why it’s facing resistance, and what it could mean for voters moving forward.  Send us Fan Mail

Your home Wi-Fi may not be as secure as you think. Federal agencies are warning that foreign hackers have been exploiting common routers, potentially exposing personal data without users ever knowing. Also, are we turning space into a junkyard? With hundreds of thousands of satellites planned, scientists warn of a potential chain reaction that could make orbit unusable. What does that mean for the...

A family winery operated for decades, paying taxes the entire time, only to be hit with millions in fines and forced toward shutdown. Now the case is raising serious questions about government power, regulation, and whether small businesses can be wiped out over disputed rules. Bridget Conlan, attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation, joins the program to break down what happened and whether this co...

New data shows the most economically competitive states tend to have low or no income taxes and people are moving there in large numbers. That raises a bigger question about whether tax policy is driving where Americans choose to live and work. Jonathan Williams, President and Chief Economist at ALEC, joins the program to break down the latest rankings and whether more states need to rethink their...

Talks have collapsed, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, and both sides appear locked into positions that don’t even overlap. With one of the world’s most critical energy routes still disrupted, the question now is what happens next and whether a deal was ever possible. Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis, national security expert, joins the program to break down why the talks failed and what i...

Investigative journalist Nick Shirley was so effective at exposing fraud in California that Gov. Gavin Newsom now wants to pass the STOP NICK SHIRLEY Act. John O’Connor, author and legal analyst, joins the program to break down the bill, what it could mean for investigative journalism, and where the line should be drawn. Send us Fan Mail

Lars Larson reveals his endorsement in the race for Oregon governor, weighing in on who he believes is best positioned to lead the state forward. Send us Fan Mail

An Oregon school allowed Black Lives Matter posters, LGBT flags, and union signs but fired a social worker for displaying children's books that say boys are boys and girls are girls. Should a school be allowed to fire an employee for displaying books that present biological reality? David Cortman of Alliance Defending Freedom joins the program to break down what happened, the legal fight ahea...

A Vancouver school serving vulnerable students could be shut down but families say the decision may already be made before the vote even happens. With concerns about transparency, student support, and where kids will go next, parents are asking whether this is really about improving education—or something else. Bruce Anderholt, a FLEX parent, joins the program to explain what’s at stake, why famil...

The U.S. is now enforcing a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical oil chokepoints in the world. Tankers are scrambling, supply routes are shifting, and the ripple effects could hit everything from global markets to gas prices at home. Julian Epstein, former chief counsel for House Democrats, joins the program to break down whether this move is necessary, whether it’s working,...

Tax Day is here and Americans are still spending billions of hours navigating a tax code that keeps growing. While Trump’s tax cuts aimed to simplify filing and put more money back in people’s pockets, many are wondering if the system is any easier today. Demian Brady, Vice President of Research at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, joins the program to break down what changed, what didn’t,...

Twenty years after the Terri Schiavo case, new research suggests some patients once labeled “unconscious” may actually have been aware. That raises a haunting question: did we get it wrong in one of the most controversial end-of-life cases in American history? Wesley J. Smith, senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, joins the program to explore what new science is revealing and what it could mea...

Republicans passed what they call one of the biggest tax cuts in decades but heading into the midterms, voters don’t seem convinced. With economic concerns rising and messaging struggling to break through, the question is whether the problem is the policy or the people trying to sell it. Richard Stern of Advancing American Freedom joins the program to break down what’s in the bill, why it hasn’t r...

When activists can’t pass laws through legislatures, are they turning to the courts to get the same result? A growing number of lawsuits are targeting entire industries, raising concerns about whether legal action is being used to bypass voters and elected officials. O.H. Skinner, Executive Director of Alliance for Consumers Action, joins the program to break down the rise of these lawsuits, what...

The shrimp in your grocery store may come from farms using heavy antibiotics, raising concerns about drug-resistant bacteria making its way into the U.S. food supply. As global trade expands, so do the risks tied to how that food is produced. Dr. Henry Miller, physician and former founding director of the FDA’s Office of Biotechnology, joins the program to break down what’s happening overseas and...

A new study shows one in five parents still spank their kids and some believe it’s necessary to raise them properly. But as parenting norms shift, the debate over discipline versus harm is far from settled. Dr. Isha Mannering, pediatrician and parenting expert, joins the program to break down what the research says and whether spanking helps or hurts kids in the long run. Send us Fan Mail

A University of Washington climate scientist says the media got the last warming spike wrong and may be doing it again. With politicians warning of drought and extreme weather, the question is whether the science matches the messaging. Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington, joins the program to break down what’s really behind recent temperature swings and wh...

Oregon’s top Republican candidates just walked away from the only scheduled debate before the primary, leaving voters without a chance to see them face off. Is this strategy or avoiding tough questions? Chris Dudley, former NBA player and candidate for Oregon governor, joins the program to explain why the debate fell apart and whether voters should be concerned. Send us Fan Mail

Republicans are heading into the midterms with a massive war chest but also facing rising gas prices, global conflict, and growing voter frustration. The big question: can money and messaging overcome real-world economic pressure? Henry Olsen, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, joins the program to break down whether campaign cash can change the narrative—or if voters are focuse...

Oregon Democrats passed new tax changes impacting car loans, small businesses, and equipment purchases but now there’s a push to let voters weigh in directly. Supporters say the move protects essential services, while critics argue it could drive business out of the state. Rep. Dwayne Yunker joins the program to break down what the changes mean for taxpayers and whether voters should have the fina...