The Lars Larson Show Interviews

Oregon lawmakers poured hundreds of millions of dollars into residential mental health treatment, promising 689 new beds by October 2026. But the state now projects just 377 beds, with more delays ahead. Aaron Mesh, managing editor of Willamette Week, joins Lars to explain why the state is falling short, what the delays mean for people too mentally ill to stand trial who remain stuck in jail, and...

Female athletes at Camas High School walked out of a cross-country competition rather than race against a biological male. Now a rally is planned in support of the girls, reigniting the debate over fairness and the future of girls’ sports. Carleen Johnson, a staff reporter for The Center Square, joins Lars to discuss what happened, why the athletes took a stand, and whether schools are doing enoug...

Democratic congressional nominee Brad Lander was detained by Israeli security forces alongside dozens of American and Israeli activists while helping Palestinians harvest olives in the occupied West Bank. Israeli authorities said the activity required prior coordination, while Lander condemned the detention and criticized the occupation. Leland Vittert, NewsNation’s chief Washington anchor and hos...

Federal agencies spent $1.4 billion on guns, ammunition and military-style equipment from fiscal years 2024 through 2026, according to OpenTheBooks.com. While some agencies sharply increased spending, others—including the IRS—cut back. Rachel O’Brien, deputy public policy editor at OpenTheBooks.com, joins Lars to break down the numbers and ask a basic question: Why do federal agencies that aren’t...

Washington lawmakers gutted key parental-rights protections passed by voters in 2024. Now, Initiative 001 aims to strengthen parents’ ability to review school materials, receive notifications about certain incidents and medical procedures, and opt their children out of some activities. Washington State Rep. Travis Couture joins Lars to push back against claims that the initiative weakens parental...

A Douglas County political fight has erupted over a school board vote on locker room privacy. Commissioner Chris Boice accused school board member and county commissioner candidate Steve Hammerson of voting to use taxpayer money to accommodate biological boys in girls’ locker rooms. Hammerson says the motion actually called for prioritizing up to $95,000 for privacy measures, and that the board un...

Frustrated with both major parties, retired Marine officer and entrepreneur Chad Humphrey is running as a Libertarian for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District. He says Republicans and Democrats alike have embraced corporate subsidies, government overreach, and endless wars. Humphrey joins Lars to explain why he wants to abolish the IRS, challenge the Federal Reserve, and put more money back in Am...

Violent demonstrations in France have reportedly drawn hundreds of thousands of participants, with looting, attacks on public buildings, and the destruction of a historic city hall that survived Nazi occupation. Dr. Alex McFarland, founder and president of Alex McFarland Ministries and author of more than 20 books, joins Lars to discuss what is driving the unrest and why political violence should...

A New York woman who cares for her fiancé through a Medicaid-funded home care program has filed charges against a union seeking to organize nearly 190,000 personal care providers. The case raises a basic question: should people caring for loved ones have to surrender part of their pay to a union? Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, joins Lars to explain the...

A new private school in Chicago is charging $55,000 a year while using artificial intelligence for much of its academic instruction. Students reportedly spend about two hours a day on adaptive learning software, with human guides supervising their progress instead of traditional teachers. Sheri Few, founder and president of U.S. Parents Involved in Education, joins Lars to discuss whether this mod...

Oregon, Washington and California use federal databases to check gun buyers, yet have fought federal efforts to verify voter citizenship. Elections expert Dr. Douglas Frank joins Lars to discuss the dispute over voter eligibility, the role of government databases and why he believes election officials should take citizenship verification seriously. If the government can check who is legally allowe...

An Oregon man who reportedly intervened to stop a school shooter may have run into a legal problem of his own: state law generally restricts firearm possession on school property, even for people with concealed-carry licenses. Constitutional law scholar Eugene Volokh joins Lars to break down the legal questions surrounding the case, the limits on carrying firearms at schools and whether the law le...

Oregon lawmakers weakened laws that allowed serious juvenile offenders to be tried and sentenced as adults, despite voters having twice supported tougher accountability measures. Former district attorney Josh Marquis joins Lars to explain how changes approved in 2019 affected the treatment of violent juvenile offenders—and why those decisions matter when communities face horrific crimes. Should po...

Washington could leave as much as $1.5 billion in potential scholarship donations on the table if it declines to participate in the new federal Scholarship Tax Credit program. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal opposes opting in, while Gov. Bob Ferguson faces a decision before the January 1 deadline. Meg Goudy, education director at Mountain States Policy Center, joins Lars to explain how the prog...

The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to clear the way for border-wall construction through Big Bend National Park, after a federal judge blocked work until the government secures the necessary waivers. The administration says the ruling leaves a gap of more than 300 miles in border defenses that cartels and other bad actors could exploit. Andrew “Art” Arthur, a resident fellow in l...

A federal court has struck down New York’s ban on purchasing body armor, delivering a major ruling in the fight over Second Amendment rights. Cody Wisniewski, president and CEO of the Firearms Policy Coalition Action Foundation, joins Lars to explain the constitutional battle, why the ruling matters for gun owners, and what it could mean for similar restrictions across the country. Send us Fan Mai...

A Georgia elections data analyst says his research uncovered potential voter-residency violations using voter-registration records and National Change of Address data. Mark Davis, president of Data Productions, Inc., joins Lars to discuss his findings, a Fair Fight lawsuit, a judge’s assessment of his analysis, and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s objections. Should poll workers be...

America’s green card system is meant to provide a legal path to permanent residency, but critics believe it can be exploited and leave gaps in immigration enforcement. Michael Letts joins Lars to discuss weaknesses in the system, concerns over vetting and public safety, and why the federal government needs to ensure that legal immigration rules are enforced—not abused. Send us Fan Mail

A Southern Oregon man built a viral Christian metal-and-banjo band whose members don’t actually exist. Ethan Howard, creator and musical director of Shunned at a Funeral, joins Lars to explain how the project exploded to more than 3.5 million views, how his progressive visual impairment shaped his musical journey, and why the claim that his music is “100% AI” misses how the project actually works....

Reports of ballots arriving for deceased voters, suspicious mailings to election offices, and hundreds of Deschutes County voters receiving the wrong ballots are raising serious questions about Oregon’s election system. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read joins Lars to discuss voter citizenship verification, the federal SAVE tool, and the safeguards designed to protect election integrity. What s...

A dispute in Douglas County, Oregon, has sparked a heated fight over student privacy, taxpayer money, and what a school board proposal actually meant. Commissioner Chris Boice has accused challenger Steve Hammerson of supporting taxpayer-funded accommodations for biological boys in girls’ locker rooms. The producer notes say Hammerson’s motion called for prioritizing up to $95,000 for locker room...

An American reportedly killed in a Houthi attack has intensified concerns about Iran-backed threats in the Middle East. As tensions rise, the Trump administration faces a critical decision about how to protect American lives and deter further attacks. State Department Principal Deputy Spokeswoman Paloma Chacón joins Lars to discuss the threat, the administration’s response, and what it will take t...

California has made it easier for a union to gain bargaining authority over rideshare drivers, raising questions about worker choice, flexibility, and potential union dues. Sean Higgins of the Competitive Enterprise Institute joins Lars to explain how the California Gig Workers Union gained its position and what the new rules could mean for drivers who never wanted union representation. Will these...

Washington lawmakers passed new standards for sheriffs that raised concerns about whether elected law enforcement leaders could be forced out of office. A judge has now blocked key provisions of the law. Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank joins Lars to discuss the legal fight, state oversight of local law enforcement, and voters’ right to choose their own sheriff. Should politicians in Olympia be a...

Taylor Swift celebrated her husband, Travis Kelce, on national television — and the moment drew criticism from people who found it embarrassing. Ali Holcomb, communications advisor and national security fellow at Advancing American Freedom, joins Lars to discuss why expressing pride in your marriage sparked such a reaction. With marriage rates declining and traditional family life facing cultural...