The Lars Larson Show Interviews

Washington has added new taxes, expanded regulations, and increased the cost of doing business. Are those policies strengthening the state's economy—or pushing employers, investment, and jobs somewhere else? Dr. Erika Creydt is a physician, lifelong Whatcom County resident, and candidate for Washington State Senate. She joins the show to discuss the economic impact of Washington's tax an...

California's environmental regulations don't stop at the state line. Because so much of America's cargo flows through California ports, critics say one state's climate policies are driving up shipping costs—and ultimately the prices consumers pay nationwide. Should one state's regulations affect families across the country? Iulia Lupse is editor-in-chief of Clear News Dail...

Portland's average response time for the highest-priority 911 calls has climbed to nearly 20 minutes, while thousands of child abuse reports are going without an assigned investigator. Are these growing pains, or signs of a public safety system that's failing the people it's supposed to protect? Senator Christine Drazan is the Republican leader in the Oregon House and a candidate fo...

A nationwide outbreak of the parasite cyclospora has sickened thousands of people, with investigators looking at lettuce and salad greens as a possible source. With no specific grower or supplier identified, what can families do to protect themselves while shopping and preparing fresh produce? Food safety expert and ArrowClean founder Rayne Guest joins the show to discuss the growing cyclospora ou...

Inflation has eased compared to its peak, but Americans are still paying far more for groceries, housing, and everyday essentials than they were before the pandemic. With energy prices, global conflicts, and housing costs continuing to put pressure on family budgets, is meaningful relief finally on the way? Steve Swedberg, policy analyst at the Center for Economic Freedom, joins the show to break...

A stomach parasite is spreading across more than half the country, with health officials investigating contaminated produce as the likely source. At the same time, the federal government has scaled back surveillance for several foodborne illnesses, raising questions about whether outbreaks are being detected quickly enough. Is America's food supply being properly monitored? Dr. Henry Miller,...

A private company's climate score could influence what buyers think your home is worth. Should these ratings carry that much weight? Molly Vogt is a Senior Fellow at the American Energy Institute. She joins the show to discuss new climate risk scores used by major real estate websites and how they could affect home values across the country. Send us Fan Mail

A homeowner invited neighbors over to pray. The city responded with legal warnings and a zoning dispute. Where should government draw the line? Marc Wheat is General Counsel at Advancing American Freedom. He joins the show to discuss a case now headed to the Supreme Court involving religious freedom, zoning laws, and prayer gatherings inside private homes. Send us Fan Mail

He once served time in federal prison. Today, he helps oversee one of the largest prison systems in the world. How did that happen? Josh Smith is the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He joins the show to discuss his journey from incarceration to public service, prison reform, and the lessons he learned along the way. Send us Fan Mail

One state shifted education funding directly to families and reported strong academic results with little fraud. Could that model work nationwide? Tommy Schultz is the CEO of the American Federation for Children. He joins the show to discuss education savings accounts, school choice, and what recent results could mean for students and parents. Send us Fan Mail

States want AI jobs and investment, but not everyone wants the infrastructure that comes with it. Could those decisions reshape where innovation happens? Professor Kevin Frazier is a Senior Fellow at the Abundance Institute. He joins the show to discuss New York's approach to AI infrastructure, data centers, and what it could mean for economic growth and technological development. Send us Fan...

A developer wanted to transform one of Portland's biggest eyesores into a thriving waterfront destination. Instead, he says the city's permitting process made the project nearly impossible. Is Portland's bureaucracy chasing away the very investment it needs? James Kasper is a Vancouver-based developer and business owner. He joins the show to discuss his proposal to redevelop Portlan...

Children need more than financial support—they need an engaged father. But what does it really take to raise respectful, confident, and independent kids in today's world? Dr. Binyamin Rothstein is an osteopathic physician with more than 45 years of experience in family medicine and the author of A Real Man's Guide to Becoming a Terrific Dad . A father of eight and grandfather of many, he...

A federal appeals court says states can't give in-state tuition to illegal immigrants while charging higher rates to American citizens from other states. Should Oregon's similar policy be next? Hannah Davis is Investigations Manager at the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). She joins the show to discuss the Fifth Circuit's ruling striking down Texas' in-state tu...

A South Korean energy company wants to cover hundreds of acres of productive Willamette Valley farmland with solar panels. Is green energy worth sacrificing some of Oregon's best agricultural land? Troy Jones is a Harrisburg resident and member of Friends of Gap Road. He joins the show to discuss the proposed Muddy Creek Energy Park, concerns about converting farmland into a large-scale solar...

California has made it illegal for employers to require workers to attend meetings about politics or religion. Is the law protecting employees from coercion, or violating employers' First Amendment rights? Will Swaim is President of the California Policy Center. He joins the show to discuss the legal challenge to California's workplace speech law, the recent arguments before the Ninth Ci...

A new study claims Apple News and Google News ignored more than 100 stories about a Democratic Senate candidate's controversies until he became a political liability. Are news apps shaping public opinion by deciding which stories get seen? David Bozell is President of the Media Research Center. He joins the show to discuss the organization's analysis of Apple News and Google News, allega...

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan is facing calls to recuse herself from a major climate lawsuit after critics say she publicly endorsed legal theories central to the case. Should a justice hear a case after weighing in on the underlying issues? Carrie Severino is President of the Judicial Crisis Network and a former law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas. She joins the show to discuss the ethics co...

The sudden passing of Senator Lindsey Graham has set off a scramble for one of the country's most influential Senate seats. Who is best positioned to carry the Republican banner, and what does the race mean for the future of the GOP? Mark Lynch is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from South Carolina who challenged Sen. Lindsey Graham in the 2026 GOP primary and has announced he will...

Billions of dollars in unclaimed U.S. savings bonds are sitting in federal accounts while millions of Americans may not even know the money belongs to them. Should the government keep holding it, or work to return it to its rightful owners? Vivek Malek is Missouri State Treasurer. He joins the show to discuss the effort by state treasurers to persuade the Treasury Department to release nearly $39...

For decades, fusion energy has been called the power source of the future. Now one American company says it has cleared a major regulatory hurdle and is moving closer to delivering commercial fusion power. Is the future finally here? David Kirtley is Founder and CEO of Helion Energy. He joins the show to discuss Helion becoming the first company to receive regulatory approval for a commercial fusi...

As more states expand legal marijuana, critics say the country is seeing rising addiction, mental health concerns, and a growing illegal market. Has legalization delivered on its promises, or created new problems? Kevin Sabet is President and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), a former White House drug policy advisor, and author of Smokescreen . He joins the show to discuss the long-term...

Global threats continue to grow as conflicts intensify around the world. Is the U.S. military prepared for the challenges ahead, or are critical readiness gaps emerging? Major General John King joins the show to discuss America's military readiness, evolving global threats, and what the United States must do to maintain its strategic advantage. Send us Fan Mail

A single federal judge can often halt a president's policies across the entire country with one ruling. Has that power gone too far, or is it an essential constitutional check on the executive branch? Zack Smith is a Senior Legal Fellow in the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation. He joins the show to discuss nationwide injunctions, recent Supreme C...

Many parents say America's classrooms spend more time criticizing the country's history than celebrating its founding principles. Should schools be doing more to teach patriotism? Anne Schlafly Cori is Chairman of Eagle Forum. She joins the show to discuss civics education, the role of patriotism in schools, and why she believes America's founding values should play a larger role in...