The Lars Larson Show Interviews

Portland State University is assigning a book that paints White professors in sweeping negative terms, raising a simple question: would this ever be allowed if it targeted any other racial group? Supporters call it academic exploration, but critics see a clear double standard creeping into higher education.

Bruce Gilley, Political Science Professor at PSU, joins the program to break down what’s in the book, why it matters, and what it says about the direction universities are heading.

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Gas is climbing past $4 a gallon, and only a few states are hitting pause on gas taxes. Some say it’s real relief for drivers, others call it a short-term political move that barely makes a difference.

Paul Miller, founder of Miller & Company, joins the program to break down whether suspending gas taxes actually helps or just sounds good.

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Detroit just made it a crime to hand out pamphlets or talk to someone near an abortion clinic, raising major questions about where free speech rights begin and end. Supporters call it protecting patients, but critics say it targets one viewpoint and shuts down conversation.

Nate Kellum, Senior Counsel at First Liberty Institute, joins the program to break down the lawsuit and whether this crosses a constitutional line.

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After a deadly school shooting in Georgia, lawmakers are moving to require weapon detection systems in every public school, something no state has done before. Supporters say it could save lives, while critics question the cost and effectiveness.

Burt Jones, Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor and former State Senator, joins the program to explain why he supports the push and whether this should become a national standard.

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The economy added 178,000 jobs in March but major revisions to previous months paint a much shakier picture. With volatility in the labor market and global uncertainty still looming, the headline number may not tell the full story.

Sean Higgins, Research Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, joins the program to break down what the jobs report really shows and whether there’s more trouble ahead.

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A proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget is sparking debate in Washington, especially as it could come alongside cuts to domestic programs like Medicaid. Some lawmakers say it’s necessary for national security, while others warn about the tradeoffs.

Veronique de Rugy, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center, joins the program to break down the budget, the pushback from within the GOP, and what these priorities could mean moving forward.

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A new report says birth tourism has turned U.S. citizenship into a global commodity, with foreign nationals flying in to give birth and secure citizenship for their children. Critics argue it’s a loophole being exploited on a massive scale, raising concerns about cost, security, and the original intent of the Constitution.

Mateo Forero, Director of Investigations at FAIR, joins the program to break down how widespread this is and what it could mean for immigration policy moving forward.

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Lawmakers are pushing to end tax breaks for data centers just as AI infrastructure becomes a global race. Supporters say it’s about fairness and costs but critics warn it could slow U.S. innovation and hand an advantage to China.

Donald Kimball, Communications Manager at the Washington Policy Center and Tech Exchange Editor, joins the program to break down what’s at stake and whether policies like this could push America further behind.

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Oregon lawmakers face growing concerns over taxes, public safety, and government accountability but what should be tackled first? With frustration building across the state, voters are looking for answers and real priorities.

Bill Vivian, candidate for Oregon House District 8 and Navy veteran, joins the program to lay out what he sees as the biggest problem in Salem and how he would fix it.

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A reported Medicaid fraud scheme allegedly used fake addresses and out-of-state billing while vulnerable people were caught in the middle and questions are now being raised about what state officials knew and when. So how did this go on, and who’s responsible for stopping it?

Jeff Eager, former Bend mayor and attorney, joins the program to break down what’s been uncovered and whether state leadership should be held accountable.

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