The Lars Larson Show Interviews

A public housing agency is facing criticism over executive pay and travel spending while some residents say they are struggling to get basic help. Are taxpayer funded agencies prioritizing the right things?

Aaron Mesh is the Managing Editor for Willamette Week. He joins the show to discuss reporting on Home Forward CEO Ivory Mathews, questions surrounding agency compensation and travel expenses, and concerns raised by residents seeking housing assistance in Portland.

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A deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship has left passengers stranded and health officials searching for answers. How should governments and health agencies respond when an outbreak unfolds at sea?

Dr. Amesh Adalja is a Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. He joins the show to discuss the reported hantavirus outbreak aboard the Hondius cruise ship, concerns over possible transmission, and the challenges of containing serious illnesses in isolated environments.

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Small businesses drive most new job creation in America, but many owners say expansion plans are on hold. Are regulations and borrowing costs putting growth at risk?

Dan Varroney is the Founder and CEO of Potomac Core. He joins the show to discuss the current challenges facing small businesses, including high interest rates, access to capital, and regulatory pressure, and what policymakers could do to encourage faster economic growth and hiring.

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A legal fight over medical speech and government oversight is raising new First Amendment questions. Where is the line between public health regulation and free expression?

Dr. Aaron Kheriaty is a physician specializing in psychiatry and the author of several books, including “Making the Cut.” He joins the show to discuss the Supreme Court’s decision involving challenges to medical board investigations over COVID vaccine criticism and alternative treatments, and what the case could mean for physician speech and professional oversight.

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Some anti-abortion groups that strongly backed Trump are now voicing frustration with his recent approach. Could this become a major divide inside the conservative movement?

Marc Wheat is General Counsel for Advancing American Freedom. He joins the show to discuss tensions between Donald Trump and leading pro-life organizations, concerns over abortion policy after the fall of Roe v. Wade, and what these disagreements could mean for upcoming elections and conservative priorities.

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A new lawsuit is challenging prison policies that allow transgender inmates to be housed with women. Are states doing enough to protect inmate safety and privacy?

Beth Parlato is Senior Legal Counsel for the Independent Women’s Law Center. She joins the show to discuss the lawsuit against Washington State’s prison system, the legal arguments surrounding gender inclusive housing policies, and the broader debate over safety, rights, and prison standards.

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The legal battle over the nation’s most common abortion drug is heating up again. Could the next ruling reshape access across the country?

Victoria Cobb is President of The Family Foundation of Virginia. She joins the show to discuss the Supreme Court’s temporary move involving mifepristone, the growing debate over mail order abortion access, and what future legal challenges could mean for abortion policy nationwide.

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Oregon has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate in decades. Could this race become a serious challenge to the political status quo?

State Sen. David Brock Smith joins the show to discuss his campaign against Jeff Merkley, the issues he believes matter most to Oregon voters, and whether Republicans have a real path to winning a statewide Senate race in 2026.

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Washington lawmakers approved billions in new taxes and business groups say confidence is slipping fast. Could companies and workers begin heading for the exits?

Morgan Irwin is Vice President of Government Affairs at the Association of Washington Business. She joins the show to discuss new tax policies in Washington State, growing concerns among employers, and what the latest business sentiment data could mean for the state’s economic future.

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A new complaint against a major Northwest university is escalating a growing legal fight over bathrooms and Title IX. Where should federal protections begin and end?

Sarah Parshall Perry is Vice President and Senior Legal Fellow at Defending Education. She joins the show to discuss a civil rights complaint filed against the University of Washington, the debate over single sex spaces on college campuses, and how federal law could shape future policies involving gender identity and student rights.

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