The Neal Larson Show

The Neal Larson Show

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The Neal Larson Show episodes

  • 8.22.2025--NLS--Cleanup in D.C., Raid on John Bolton, A.I. Romance

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    In the Neal Larson Show, the hosts delve into national and local topics, starting with President Donald Trump's law enforcement ride-along in Washington D.C. and a new executive order creating a "self-deportation" program for illegal immigrants, which offers free flights to any foreign country. The hosts also touch on Trump's live remarks from a museum, where he commented on cleaning up D.C., the FBI raid of John Bolton's home, and various media outlets. Locally, the conversation shifts to Idaho news, including parents now being able to qualify for a school choice tax credit, the return of Lori Vallow Daybell to Pocatello, and a third measles case in Bonner County, which raises concerns about a potential outbreak.

    The show also features a live in-studio performance by musician Dawson Moon from Pocatello, who covers a Sam Barber song and shares the story of how he once got to perform on stage with Zach Bryan. The hosts engage in lighter discussions, debating the controversy over Cracker Barrel's logo change, which they feel is an overreaction. They also have a humorous and detailed debate with listeners about local road naming conventions and whether U.S. Highway 20 qualifies as a "freeway." Additionally, they explore a peculiar story about people forming romantic relationships with AI and grieving when the technology is altered.

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    1 hr 26 min
  • 8.21.2025--NLS--I.F. City Council Raises Spark Debate

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    1 hr 29 min
  • 8.20.2025--NLS--Foreign Affairs, Simpson on D.C. Crime and Immigration

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    In this episode of the Neal Larson Show, the hosts praise President Trump's recent diplomatic actions. They call his meetings with Vladimir Putin in Alaska and with European leaders at the White House a historic show of strength and a significant step toward peace in Ukraine. A clip from CNN's Abby Phillip is highlighted as an example for of left-wing media "hackery" and an attempt to spin events as a sign of Trump's weakness. This leads to a broader critique of the Democratic party being a leaderless "zombie party", detached from reality, unable to even define basic terms like "woman." Neal and Julie applaud Kristi Noem's initiative to paint the southern border wall black to increase its temperature, making it harder to climb. They say it's a common-sense deterrent that liberals oppose due to a misguided ideology of weakness.

    Later in the program, the hosts are joined by Congressman Mike Simpson for his "August work period." Simpson voices his strong support for Trump's decision to take federal control over crime in Washington D.C., calling it a necessary step that even many Democrats secretly welcome. He discusses immigration, saying that while illegal immigrants should be deported, an exception must be made for long-term, law-abiding agricultural workers who are vital to Idaho's economy, noting a bipartisan effort exists to provide them with green cards. The conversation also covers the importance of the recently passed "One Big Beautiful Bill" in preventing a massive tax increase to stimulate the economy, and his prediction that Republicans will maintain control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections.

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    1 hr 22 min
  • 8.19.2025--NLS--Trump's Diplomacy, Achilles' Run for Senate, Left-wing Hypocrisy

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    In this episode Neal and Julie a major diplomatic win for Donald Trump following his meetings with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and several European leaders in Washington, D.C. They feature clips of officials from Finland, Italy, and NATO praising Trump for breaking the deadlock with Russia and making meaningful progress toward peace. The hosts contrast this reception with early media coverage, which had predicted European leaders would arrive to pressure Trump. They frame the outcome as part of a broader cultural shift, pointing to the Boise Pride Festival’s recent funding shortfall as an example. Their view is that corporations no longer feel bound by “cancel culture” to support progressive causes, creating an environment where businesses and individuals feel freer to express their true beliefs.

    The discussion then turns to Idaho politics, centering on Todd Achilles’ independent bid for the U.S. Senate. The hosts express skepticism about his “independent” label, characterizing him as a leftist aligned with figures like Bernie Sanders and AOC who is distancing himself from the Democratic brand in a conservative state. They criticize his campaign message that Idaho has become “unlivable” and extend an invitation for him to debate on the show. From there, the conversation broadens into a critique of what they see as left-wing hypocrisy on authoritarianism, sparked by a viral “No Kings” video in which a woman calls out progressive support for COVID-era mandates. The hosts argue that the left only resists authoritarianism when it serves their agenda, pointing to federal abortion protections as another example of a “King-like” ruling they endorsed.

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    1 hr 22 min
  • 8.18.2025--NLS--MSNOW, Comey Quotes Swift

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    In the podcast, the hosts discuss the rebranding of the cable news channel MSNBC. It will be spun off from its parent company, NBC Universal, into a new entity called Versant and will change its name to "My Source News Opinion World," or MS NOW for short. The hosts speculate that NBC is distancing itself from MSNBC because the latter's far-left viewpoint has damaged the overall brand's credibility. This leads to a broader conversation about the current state of the Democratic party, which they describe as a fractured "amalgamation of left-wingers" beholden to its most radical factions. They argue that Democratic leaders are afraid to challenge the "vicious militant wing" of their party, forcing them to adopt politically unpopular stances.

    Another major topic is a viral video of former FBI Director James Comey, in which he identifies as a "Swifty" and quotes Taylor Swift lyrics. The hosts describe the video as pathetic and unbecoming of a 64-year-old man who once ran a major intelligence agency, suggesting it undermines his credibility and seriousness. This discussion transitions into an analysis of the modern media landscape, where consumers often seek out news sources that confirm their existing biases rather than provide objective facts. The hosts conclude that the demand for drama and reinforcement over factual reporting has led to a prevalence of clickbait and a filtered, "algorithmized" view of the world for media consumers.

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    1 hr 25 min
  • 8.15.2025--NLS--Eyes on Alaska, Dems' Paranoia, AI and Industry

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    On Friday's edition of The Neal Larson Show, Neal and Julie discussed President Trump's upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, speculating that a deal has likely already been negotiated behind the scenes. The conversation then shifted to domestic politics, with the hosts criticizing Democrats like Eric Swalwell and Gavin Newsom for promoting what they described as paranoid narratives about Trump becoming a dictator. They highlighted Newsom's claim that receiving a "Trump 2028" hat was proof of Trump's dictatorial ambitions, framing it as an example of Democrats being manipulated by Trump's political tactics. The show also featured a segment with Joe Scarborough, who used polling data to argue that Democrats are out of touch with public concern about crime in Washington D.C., particularly among Black and lower-income residents.

    Later, the show featured a live in-studio performance from local singer Heather Hathaway, who sang Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror." Hathaway also promoted the Gem State Singer competition at the Eastern Idaho State Fair, an event she organizes to showcase local talent. Another major topic was the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and automation, with the hosts discussing projections that companies like Amazon could fully automate their warehouse and delivery operations by 2030. This led to a broader conversation about the societal impact of mass job displacement, the potential for a universal basic income, and the need for individuals to adapt their skills for a changing economy. The program also included an analysis of a CNN segment where commentator Gillian Michaels debated the historical context of slavery in America.

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    1 hr 25 min
  • 8.14.2025--NLS--Smithsonian Honorees, Self-Censorship, ISU Scandal

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    On Thursday's edition of The Neal Larson Show, Neal and Julie discuss President Trump's recent press conference where he announced the Kennedy Center honorees—including George Strait, Sylvester Stallone, Kiss, and Michael Crawford—but also called for an investigation into the 2020 election aftermath. This led to a broader conversation about Trump's order to review Smithsonian exhibits, which the host defended as an effort to remove "woke" political narratives and guilt from historical presentations, with Neal citing his own experiences at national parks and monuments. A significant portion of the show was also dedicated to a study from Northwestern and Michigan universities, which found that 88% of undergraduate students pretend to hold more left-wing views to succeed socially and academically, highlighting a culture of self-censorship on college campuses.

     The hosts also revisited the developing scandal at Idaho State University concerning $900,000 in state funds for a forensics lab that were improperly transferred to Bannock County instead of being returned to the state, a matter now under investigation by the Attorney General. Lighter topics included the arrest of a man for throwing a Subway sandwich at a federal officer in D.C., which sparked a discussion about the "Broken Windows Theory" of policing and a humorous flash poll about what food listeners would prefer to have thrown at them.

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    1 hr 25 min
  • 8.13.2025--NLS--Policy Debates, BSU Candidates, Grocery Tax, Front Plates

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    Wednesday's episode of The Neal Larson Show covers a range of national and local topics, starting with New York City politics where socialist candidate Mamdani has a significant lead in the mayoral race. They shift to an Idaho story, expressing frustration that the media is reporting on Brian Kohberger's complaints about being taunted in prison, arguing it's not newsworthy and keeps his name in the public eye. The conversation also touches on Texas politics, where the state Senate passed a new redistricting map despite a walkout by Democrats, a move the hosts see as part of a broader, successful strategy by Donald Trump to counter systemic advantages for the Democratic party. Another significant local issue discussed is the controversy surrounding Dr. Andrew Finstuen, a finalist for the Boise State University presidency, due to past comments in which he described American culture as racist and misogynistic.

    Neal and Julie dive into Idaho-specific policy debates, including the ongoing voter initiative to repeal the grocery tax. They reference an interview with the effort's organizer, Howard Reinerson, and take calls, including one from former legislator Kerry Hanks, who provided historical context on a similar bill that passed in 2017 but was vetoed by then-Governor Butch Otter. The discussion also highlights the hypocrisy of those who criticize the new school choice law (House Bill 93) for lacking safeguards while supporting the LAUNCH scholarship program, which has similar issues. Additionally, they discuss a new Idaho law that only requires front license plates on vehicles manufactured with a mounting bracket, questioning the logic and inconsistency of the rule. The show also features a live broadcast of President Trump announcing the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees, which include George Strait, Michael Crawford, Sylvester Stallone, Kiss, and Gloria Gaynor.

    Let’s talk advertising. When you want to advertise on the radio, you call the station, right? But what about Facebook, Instagram, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, and other streaming platforms?

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    1 hr 27 min
  • 8.12.2025--NLS--The Guard in D.C., Public Lands, Grocery Tax, A.I.

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    Today in the Neal Larson Show podcast, the hosts discuss national and local political issues, beginning with former President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington D.C. to address crime, which the host frames as a masterful political move. The conversation then shifts to Idaho politics, highlighting a proposal by State Senator Ben Adams to introduce a constitutional amendment in 2026 that would prevent the state from selling any future public lands obtained from the federal government. A significant portion of the show is dedicated to a voter initiative aiming to repeal Idaho's 6% sales tax on groceries. The host expresses his support for repealing the tax but voices strong reservations about using the voter initiative process, which he views as a flawed system susceptible to outside influence. The segment includes a variety of perspectives from callers who debate the pros and cons of the grocery tax and the proposed repeal.

    Later in the program, the hosts are joined by Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador for an interview. The Attorney General discusses his office's preparation to defend Idaho's law protecting women's sports before the U.S. Supreme Court in January, expressing confidence in their case. He also celebrates the recent decision by the Trump administration's Department of the Interior to reverse the approval of the Lava Ridge Wind Project, a move his office supported. Labrador also briefly touches on potential legal challenges to House Bill 93, the state's new parental choice in education law, stating his office is ready to defend it. The show concludes with a lighter discussion between the hosts about their experiences using various artificial intelligence platforms, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok, comparing their features, biases, and overall utility.

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    1 hr 26 min
  • 8.11.2025--NLS--Gerrymandering, Cleaning up D.C.

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    In this episode of the Neal Larson Show, we explore the Democrat party's hypocrisy regarding gerrymandering. They condemn the practice in states like Texas while employing the same tactics in states they control, such as Illinois. Neal asserts that Democrats' frustration stems not from a genuine concern for democracy but from Republicans adopting their own strategies. He discusses comments from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and former Attorney General Eric Holder, criticizing their justifications for partisan redistricting. Neal and Julie contends that Democrats resort to these measures because their political ideas, such as open borders and certain cultural ideologies, are unpopular with the American public. President Trump's efforts to counter these tactics are mentioned, as well as the need to train future leaders to continue this pushback.

    Neal and Julie also touch on local politics, criticizing the Idaho Falls city council for passing a controversial bathroom policy during the pandemic with limited public input. Later, the podcast features a live press conference from President Donald Trump, who announces he is deploying the National Guard to Washington D.C. to address crime and homelessness. Trump details his executive orders to federalize the D.C. police and remove homeless encampments, vowing to make the capital safe and beautiful. Neal and Julie discuss the legality and potential impact of Trump's actions, with some listeners calling it fascism, a claim the host refutes by explaining the historical definition of the term.

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    1 hr 26 min

About The Neal Larson Show

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Neal Larson is an Associated Press Award-winning newspaper columnist and radio talk show host. He has a BA from Idaho State University in Media Studies and Political Science. Neal is happily…