The Lars Larson Show Interviews

California officials are relying on federal help to respond to a dangerous chemical emergency after years of criticizing federal environmental oversight. Are states too quick to reject Washington until they need help managing a crisis?

Mandy Gunasekara is former Chief of Staff at the Environmental Protection Agency. She joins the show to discuss the chemical emergency in Orange County, California, the role of federal environmental agencies during disasters, and the debate over whether states are politicizing their relationship with Washington when crises unfold.

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The federal government is now refunding billions of dollars in tariffs after a Supreme Court ruling declared them unlawful. Could the decision reshape trade policy and cost taxpayers far more than expected?

Richard Stern is Vice President of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom. He joins the show to discuss the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, the growing wave of refunds being paid to importers, and what the decision could mean for trade policy, government authority, and the American economy.

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A new book argues the biggest divide in America is no longer Democrat versus Republican, but everyday citizens versus a small ruling class that holds growing influence over government, media, and culture. Have America’s elites become disconnected from the public they govern?

Scott Rasmussen is an independent pollster, ESPN co-founder, and author of the new book “Out of Touch.” He joins the show to discuss new polling on public trust, the growing divide between voters and institutions, and concerns that political and cultural elites are becoming increasingly disconnected from core American values.

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Supporters of the Greater Idaho movement say years of frustration with Salem have pushed rural communities to consider leaving Oregon altogether. After one county voted to end relocation talks, is the movement losing momentum or proving its point about political division in the state?

Matt McCaw is executive director of the Citizens for Greater Idaho movement. He joins the show to discuss the latest vote in Wallowa County, why some rural residents feel disconnected from Oregon’s leadership, and whether the push to move the Idaho border still has a future.

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TriMet is cutting hundreds of positions as the agency struggles with a growing budget deficit, falling ridership, and declining fare revenue. Can Portland’s public transit system recover or is the financial situation becoming unsustainable?

John Ley is a Washington state representative for District 18. He joins the show to discuss TriMet’s proposed layoffs, the broader challenges facing public transit systems in the Pacific Northwest, and whether rising costs, remote work, and declining ridership are pushing mass transit toward a breaking point.

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Reports that some Oregon voters discovered unexpected changes to their party affiliation during the primary election are raising new questions about election administration and voter confidence. Are these isolated errors or signs of deeper problems with the system?

Dr. Douglas Frank is a physicist, inventor, and elections analyst. He joins the show to discuss concerns about voter registration records in Oregon, claims involving party affiliation changes, and the broader debate over election security, transparency, and public trust in the voting process.

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New data shows U.S. manufacturing activity growing at its fastest pace in four years as companies ramp up production and brace for rising global costs. Is American industry finally regaining momentum after years of decline?

Conn Davis is CEO of Byrna Technologies. He joins the show to discuss the latest manufacturing numbers, the impact of global instability and rising costs on American factories, and whether President Trump’s economic policies are helping drive a broader industrial resurgence in the United States.

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Oregon’s catch and release policies are under renewed scrutiny as critics argue serious offenders are being released before ever appearing before a judge. Should the state overhaul its pretrial release system in the name of public safety?

Kevin Mannix is an Oregon state representative from Salem and a chief supporter of the proposed Oregon Crimefighting Act. He joins the show to discuss Initiative Petition 50, efforts to require court arraignments for felony suspects before release, and the broader debate over bail reform, jail capacity, and crime policy in Oregon.

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New whistleblower allegations involving virus samples, lab safety incidents, and animal testing at a National Institutes of Health facility are raising fresh questions about transparency inside America’s top public health agencies. Could dangerous research practices be putting the public at risk?

Justin Goodman is Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy at White Coat Waste Project. He joins the show to discuss allegations of virus smuggling, claims of a possible cover-up involving NIH researchers, and ongoing concerns about high risk laboratory experiments involving dangerous pathogens.

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Another Washington tech entrepreneur says the state’s new millionaire tax is pushing business leaders to leave for places like Texas. Could higher taxes and growing regulation weaken Washington’s reputation as a hub for innovation and startups?

Jesse Proudman is founder and CTO of the privacy focused AI platform Venice.ai. He joins the show to discuss why some entrepreneurs are reconsidering staying in Washington, concerns about the state’s new millionaire tax, and what the changing business climate could mean for jobs, investment, and the future of the tech industry.

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