The Lars Larson Show Interviews

As concerns grow over foreign supply chains and the decline of domestic manufacturing, some business leaders are urging consumers to spend their money closer to home. Can buying American-made products really strengthen the economy and support local workers? Joshua Denke is co-founder of TheReal1776, an online marketplace focused exclusively on American-made products. He joins the show to discuss t...

The Supreme Court is weighing whether to allow new restrictions on the abortion pill while a major legal battle moves forward. Could one ruling dramatically change access to medication abortions across the country? Kristan Hawkins is CEO of Pro-Life Generation and president of Students for Life of America and Students for Life Action. She joins the show to discuss the Supreme Court case involving...

Rapid growth in data centers is creating new pressure on power supplies across the country and some communities fear residents could be pushed aside to meet rising energy demand. Should everyday consumers take a back seat to the technology industry’s expansion? Sam Romain is Chair of Americans for Energy Dominance. He joins the show to discuss growing concerns over data center energy consumption,...

The Justice Department is suing Colorado and Denver over firearm and magazine bans that officials say violate the Second Amendment. Should states be allowed to prohibit firearms and accessories that millions of Americans legally own? Bob Barr is a former CIA analyst and former member of Congress. He joins the show to discuss the Trump administration’s lawsuits against Colorado and Denver, the cons...

New testimony from a CIA whistleblower is reigniting questions about how the government handled investigations into the origins of COVID-19. Did public health officials improperly influence intelligence findings surrounding the lab leak theory? John Solomon is a political commentator and founder of Just the News. He joins the show to discuss testimony involving former White House medical adviser A...

Oregon students rank at the bottom nationally in fourth grade reading and one unconventional governor candidate is using a six foot pencil costume to make sure voters notice. Is the campaign a stunt or a warning sign about the state’s education system? J. Schuberth is a former college professor and literacy advocate running for Oregon governor under the name “Pencil.” He joins the show to discuss...

President Trump says he supports suspending the federal gas tax as fuel prices climb during tensions in the Middle East. Would Americans really feel relief at the pump or would the savings disappear before they reach consumers? Steve Cotton is President of Cotton Wealth Management Associates. He joins the show to discuss the economic impact of a possible gas tax holiday, what history shows about f...

Health officials are closely monitoring a growing hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship after new cases raised concerns about possible person to person spread. Are experts underestimating how easily this virus can move between people? Rayne Guest is founder and CEO of ArrowClean, formerly known as R-Water. She joins the show to discuss the latest developments surrounding the Andes strain of...

A new report argues that stricter childcare regulations may be making care more expensive without improving safety outcomes. Are state policies creating new barriers for families and working parents? Edward Timmons is Vice President of Policy at the Archbridge Institute. He joins the show to discuss a new ranking of state childcare regulations, the connection between regulation and affordability,...

A Portland sauna business followed county rules and secured permits, but complaints over wood smoke have sparked a growing neighborhood battle. When a business is operating legally, how much power should neighbors have to stop it? Aaron Mesh is the Managing Editor for Willamette Week. He joins the show to discuss the dispute surrounding a wood burning sauna business in Portland, gaps in Multnomah...

Republicans promised to shrink government involvement in the economy, but a new housing bill is drawing criticism from conservatives who say it expands subsidies and distorts the market. Will the plan make housing more affordable or push prices even higher? Joel Griffith is a senior fellow at Advancing American Freedom. He joins the show to discuss the Senate’s 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, co...

The Colorado River supplies water to millions across the American West, but another historically dry winter is forcing states to make emergency cuts. How long can the region sustain growing demand with shrinking water supplies? Tom Buschatzke is Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources. He joins the show to discuss the latest agreement between Arizona, California, and Nevada to conser...

The U.S. has massive reserves of critical minerals needed for energy, technology, and national defense, yet new mining projects can take decades to approve. Is America regulating itself out of economic and strategic independence? Megan Jenkins leads Pacific Legal Foundation’s strategic research team. She joins the show to discuss why mine permitting in the United States takes so long, the legal an...

Reports that federal officials halted publication of vaccine safety studies are raising new questions about transparency inside America’s health agencies. Are scientific findings being filtered through politics before the public sees them? Henry Miller is a physician, molecular biologist, and the Glenn Swogger Distinguished Scholar at the Science Literacy Project. He also served as the founding di...

Drone warfare is changing the battlefield and military medics are increasingly becoming targets themselves. Is the U.S. prepared to protect wounded troops in the next major conflict? Jeremy Cannon is Chair of the Strategic Advisory Committee for RESPOND-US. He joins the show to discuss how modern warfare is reshaping battlefield medicine, the growing dangers facing military medical teams, and conc...

Streaming platforms used by millions for music and podcasts are facing new scrutiny over extremist content tied to terrorist organizations. Are tech companies doing enough to stop radical propaganda from spreading through audio platforms? Sophie McDowall is a research associate at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation. She joins the show to discuss fi...

A California mayor has pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, raising new concerns about foreign influence at the local level. How vulnerable are American institutions to outside political operations? Richard Lyons is the author of “The DNA of Democracy” and “Shadows of the Acropolis.” He joins the show to discuss the case involving former California mayor Eileen...

A major activist organization facing federal fraud charges is still tied to classroom materials used in school districts across the country. Should schools continue using curriculum connected to politically controversial groups? Adam Guillette is president of Accuracy in Media. He joins the show to discuss reports involving the Southern Poverty Law Center’s “Learning for Justice” program, concerns...

Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions were overturned after a court found serious misconduct tied to the original trial. Does the ruling protect the integrity of the justice system or reopen wounds in one of America’s most infamous crime cases? Leland Vittert is host of “On Balance with Leland Vittert” and Chief Washington Anchor for NewsNation. He joins the show to discuss the South Carolina Supreme...

An Oregon court ruling could require employers to pay workers for meal break time even if employees voluntarily return to work early. Is the decision protecting workers or creating new legal risks for businesses? Anthony Smith is Oregon State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business. He joins the show to discuss the ongoing legal dispute over meal break policies, concerns from...

China’s government is facing criticism over efforts to align religious teachings with Communist Party ideology. Should the international community respond when governments alter religious doctrine and restrict worship practices? Samuel Ben-Ur is a research analyst focusing on the Middle East at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He joins the show to discuss China’s “Sinicization of Christi...

A Virginia prosecutor is facing a federal investigation after a murder case involving a suspect with dozens of prior arrests reignited debate over charging decisions and public safety. When repeat offenders keep getting released, who should be held responsible? Josh Marquis is Assistant to the District Attorney in Linn County, former Vice President of the National District Attorneys Association, a...

The cost of the Interstate Bridge Replacement project has surged into the billions while timelines continue slipping. Are taxpayers getting transparency and accountability for one of the Northwest’s largest infrastructure projects? Rep. John Ley joins the show to discuss compensation tied to former Interstate Bridge Replacement administrator Greg Johnson, rising project costs, delays surrounding t...

Americans say they trust Big Tech and the federal government far less than parents when it comes to children’s online activity. So who should actually decide what safeguards belong on social media? Sean Stevens is Chief Researcher at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). He joins the show to discuss new polling on trust in social media regulation, concerns over government inv...

Republicans are heading into another Oregon governor’s race with several candidates in the field and growing debate over who can break the party’s long statewide losing streak. Could one candidate finally reshape the political map? Jim Pasero is a principal at the public affairs company Third Century Solutions. He joins the show to discuss the Oregon Republican gubernatorial field, the campaign of...