The Lars Larson Show Interviews

Some Portland homeowners have been hit with code enforcement fines exceeding $100,000 over short-term rental violations. Is the city enforcing the rules fairly, or punishing property owners beyond reason? Aaron Mesh is Managing Editor of Willamette Week . He joins the show to discuss Portland's aggressive enforcement of short-term rental rules, why some homeowners are facing six-figure penalt...

Cities continue to spend billions in public money on new sports stadiums, even as team values and ticket prices soar. Are taxpayers getting a fair return on those investments? Catherina Gioino is a News Editor at Fortune . She joins the show to discuss the growing use of public funding for professional sports stadiums, the economic arguments for and against subsidies, and whether taxpayers should...

Democratic leaders withdrew their support for Senate candidate Graham Platner only after new allegations became public. Should party leaders have acted much sooner? Leland Vittert is Chief Washington Anchor for NewsNation and host of On Balance with Leland Vittert . He joins the show to discuss the fallout from Graham Platner's Senate campaign, the response from Democratic leaders, and what t...

Oregon is expanding Medicaid spending on non-medical benefits while many patients still struggle to find a primary care doctor. Are state leaders focusing on the right priorities? Ed Diehl represents Oregon House District 17. He joins the show to discuss Oregon's Medicaid spending, the state's investment in non-medical benefits, and whether improving access to doctors should come before...

The Oregonian is apologizing for the decades-old "Jail Blazers" nickname after saying communities of color found the term offensive. Is this responsible journalism, or an unnecessary rewrite of history? Josh Marquis is a former Oregon District Attorney and former President of the Oregon District Attorneys Association. He joins the show to discuss The Oregonian's apology over the &qu...

The United States has launched a new wave of strikes on Iranian targets, raising fears that recent ceasefire efforts may be falling apart. Is the conflict escalating into a broader regional war? Janatan Sayeh is a Research Analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He joins the show to discuss the latest U.S. military strikes on Iran, Tehran's response, the future of the ceasefire,...

Washington now has a new income tax, but one member of Congress has declined to publicly say whether she supports it. Do voters deserve a clear answer before the next election? Carleen Johnson is a Washington State Government Reporter for The Center Square . She joins the show to discuss questions surrounding Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's position on Washington's new income tax, the pol...

Millions of taxpayer dollars meant for students have allegedly been lost to fraud, fake invoices, inflated enrollment, and kickback schemes. Is enough being done to protect education funding? John Hart is CEO of OpenTheBooks. He joins the show to discuss a new report uncovering roughly $225 million in alleged education fraud, the biggest cases across the country, and what reforms are needed to imp...

Movies and television often portray women effortlessly defeating much larger men in hand-to-hand combat. Has Hollywood created unrealistic expectations about the physical differences between men and women? Ali Holcomb is a Communications Advisor and National Security Fellow at Advancing American Freedom. She joins the show to discuss how entertainment portrays female action heroes, the biological...

A military recruit has died and hundreds of trainees have become sick following a flu outbreak at an Air Force training base. Did making flu vaccinations voluntary create an unnecessary risk to military readiness? Dr. Henry Miller is a physician, molecular biologist, and the founding director of the FDA's Office of Biotechnology. He joins the show to discuss the outbreak at Lackland Air Force...

Ukraine says it is gaining ground while Russia continues to suffer heavy losses. Is the momentum finally shifting, or is the reality more complicated than the headlines suggest? Steven Moore is founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project. He joins the show to discuss the latest developments on the battlefield, Russia's mounting casualties, continued Western support for Ukraine, and what the confli...

Visitors from around the world often praise the freedoms and opportunities found in the United States. So why do so many Americans seem less proud of their own country? Nicholas Giordano is a professor of Political Science, host of The P.A.S. Report Podcast , and a fellow with Campus Reform's Higher Education Fellowship. He joins the show to discuss changing attitudes toward American exceptio...

A New Jersey construction company says the state requires contractors on public projects to meet race- and sex-based hiring quotas. Is that equal opportunity, or unconstitutional discrimination? Michael Earle is President of Earle Asphalt Company. He joins the show to discuss his company's lawsuit challenging New Jersey's public contracting rules, race- and sex-based hiring requirements,...

A television host says seeing American flags throughout a neighborhood makes her feel uncomfortable and unsafe. What does that reaction say about patriotism and the way national symbols are viewed today? Dr. Gilda Carle is a relationship expert, columnist, and author of Real Men Don't Go Woke . She joins the show to discuss changing attitudes toward the American flag, national identity, and w...

A coalition of states is trying to stop one of the biggest entertainment mergers in history. Is government protecting consumers from less competition, or standing in the way of a rapidly changing media industry? Steve Moore is a former Trump economic advisor, co-founder of Unleash Prosperity, and economist. He joins the show to discuss the proposed $110 billion Warner Bros. merger, why several sta...

As the NATO summit wraps up, questions remain about whether the United States should continue bearing the largest share of Europe's security costs. Is the alliance still serving America's interests, or is it time for Europe to take the lead? Mark Episkopos is a Research Fellow in the Eurasia Program at the Quincy Institute and an Adjunct Professor of History at Marymount University. He j...

The Justice Department has filed lawsuits challenging gun restrictions in several states, arguing they violate the Second Amendment. Will the courts side with gun owners, or uphold the states' authority to regulate firearms? Bob Barr is a former Member of Congress, former federal prosecutor, and former U.S. Attorney. He joins the show to discuss the Justice Department's legal challenges...

Texas launched a new stock exchange to challenge Wall Street's embrace of ESG investing, but some of its biggest financial backers have championed ESG policies themselves. Does that undermine the exchange's mission? Will Hild is Executive Director of Consumers' Research, the nation's oldest consumer protection organization. He joins the show to discuss the launch of the Texas S...

A new batch of Washington tax laws takes effect today, affecting everything from estates to property taxes and businesses. Will taxpayers see better government services, or simply higher bills? Jason Mercier is Vice President and Director of Research at Mountain States Policy Center. He joins the show to discuss the new tax laws that took effect on July 1, what they mean for Washington families an...

A former judge accused of possessing thousands of child sexual abuse images has reached a plea agreement that drops most of the charges. Does that outcome reflect justice, or a failure to hold powerful people accountable? Congresswoman Nancy Mace represents South Carolina's First Congressional District. She joins the show to discuss the plea agreement involving former Charleston County judge...

Millions of Americans believe the American Dream is slipping away. But does history show that building wealth is actually harder today, or are the same timeless principles still winning? Dr. Joseph S. Moore is a historian, investor, and author of How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (and Didn't) . He joins the show to discuss what three centuries of f...

The Supreme Court has ruled that states can restrict girls' sports to biological females. Does the decision restore fairness in athletics, or deepen the national debate over transgender participation? Jon Schweppe is Senior Policy Advisor at the American Principles Project. He joins the show to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling, what it means for Title IX, and how states may respond mov...

A Portland city councilor seeking reelection failed to pay thousands of dollars in property taxes for months before settling the bill. Should voters overlook the mistake, or see it as a question of accountability? Jason Williams is Founder of the Taxpayer Association of Oregon. He joins the show to discuss the unpaid tax controversy, public trust, and why accountability matters for elected officia...

The Supreme Court has overturned a 90-year-old precedent limiting the president's power to remove federal regulators. Will the ruling strengthen accountability, or weaken independent agencies? Iain Murray is Vice President for Strategy and Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He joins the show to discuss the Supreme Court's decision, executive authority, and what it mea...

Two requests for the same government records produced dramatically different results. Is selective transparency becoming the new normal? TJ Martinell is an award-winning reporter and author with The Center Square. He joins the show to discuss allegations that Washington's Attorney General's Office released unredacted records to one requester while heavily redacting the same records for a...