The Neal Larson Show

The Neal Larson Show

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The Neal Larson Show episodes

  • 7.25.2025--NLS--Save our School "Panic Tour", Psychology of a Murderer

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    In this episode of the Neal Larson Show, hosts Neal Larson and Julie Mason criticized the "Save Our Schools" advocacy tour in Idaho, labeling it a "panic tour" and an overreaction to a new $50 million school choice program. While affirming their personal support for public education, including voting for school bonds and levies, they argued that the tour's organizers are disproportionately threatened by a program that constitutes a tiny fraction of the state's multi-billion-dollar education budget. They suggest the tour is a disingenuous, "copy and paste" political effort seen in other states, aimed more at fundraising for Democrats than addressing the unique needs of individual school districts. They concluded that the advocates' intense opposition reveals an insecurity about their own educational product and a fear that alternative school choice options might prove successful.

    The program also featured a variety of other topics, including a live in-studio performance by musicians Shelby Ray Murdock and Andrea Alonzo of the band Out West. The hosts promoted the 14th annual "Guns N' Hoses" charity softball game between local law enforcement and firefighters to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They also engaged in a lighthearted rant against what they called "common core gas cans," criticizing overly complicated EPA regulations and comparing them to other environmental overreaches like paper straws. The conversation briefly touched on national politics, with commentary on Tulsi Gabbard's allegations about Hillary Clinton's health, and locally, they discussed the upcoming sentencing of Lori Vallow Daybell, pondering the logistics of her transport and the psychology of interacting with convicted murderers.

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    1 hr 19 min
  • 7.23.2025--NLS--HB 93 on Educational Choice, Moscow Murder Victim Statements

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    In today's episode, we discuss Idaho House Bill 93, which provides tax credits for parental choice in education. The host interviews Chris Cargill from the Mountain States Policy Center, who explains that the $50 million program is a tax credit, not a voucher, and is minuscule compared to the nearly $3 billion K-12 public school budget. Cargill addresses what the host calls the "panic tour" by opponents, stating the program doesn't take money from public schools and that similar initiatives in other states have improved educational outcomes for all students. 

    Later we look at Obama's response to allegations by Tulsi Gabbard regarding the origins of the Trump-Russia collusion narrative. Obama's statement seems to avoid directly addressing the core accusation.

    The latter half of the podcast provides live coverage of the sentencing for Bryan Kohberger, convicted of four murders. The broadcast features the emotional and heart-wrenching victim impact statements from the surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, as well as family members of the victim, Madison Mogen. The speakers describe the devastating and lasting trauma caused by the murders, their struggles with grief, fear, and media harassment, while also sharing cherished memories of their lost loved ones. Throughout the statements, the host notes Kohberger's complete lack of emotion. Family members express their support for the plea agreement, which ensures Kohberger will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole, and they emphasize their commitment to honoring the victims' memories through positive action and love.

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    1 hr 33 min
  • 7.22.2025--NLS--"Bitter Bidens", "Obama's Coup", Stephen Colbert's Cancellation

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    In the latest episode, Neal and Julie discuss the political fallout following the 2024 election, focusing on the "bitter Bidens." They critique Hunter Biden for his profanity-laced podcast appearances where he attacks figures like George Clooney and Nancy Pelosi, viewing it as evidence of the family's "trashy" nature and a sign of a deep rift within the Democratic Party. The conversation then shifts to what the hosts term the "Obama coup," alleging that new documents suggest the Obama administration pressured former FBI Director James Comey to drop the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails and knowingly perpetuated the "Russia-Russia-Russia" hoax to undermine Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. Despite calling for accountability, the hosts express doubt that high-level officials like Comey will ever face real consequences, dismissing his recent melodramatic statements as political theater.

    The hosts also touch on pop culture, mocking Stephen Colbert's announcement that he will spend the final 10 months of his canceled show focused on his dislike for Trump, attributing the show's failure to financial losses and a format that audiences now find inauthentic. This leads to a broader discussion about media and public perception, where the hosts defend questioning official narratives, citing how past "conspiracy theories" like the COVID-19 lab leak origin and vaccine concerns have become more credible over time. The episode also features lighter segments, including a debate on underrated food items like Krispy Kreme donuts and dill pickle-flavored ramen. Finally, they provide updates on local news, mentioning the upcoming sentencing of Bryan Kohberger and a scheduled interview with Chris Cargill from the Mountain States Policy Center.

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    1 hr 22 min
  • 7.21.2025--NLS--WNBA Pay, In-Tennessee-N-Out-California, Obama's Russia Scandal

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    In the latest episode, Neal and Julie delve into several current events, beginning with the WNBA players' protest demanding higher pay. They argue the slogan "Pay us what you owe us" is misleading, as players are paid according to their contracts in a league that is not yet profitable, unlike the NBA. The conversation then shifts to the controversy surrounding former President Trump and the ongoing pressure to release the Epstein files, with the hosts discussing a disputed letter and Alan Dershowitz's suggestion that Trump sue Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for defamation. The discussion also touches on corporate and individual departures from California, citing In-N-Out Burger's move to Tennessee as an example of people fleeing the state's "unlivable" conditions.

    The podcast also dedicates significant time to the declassification of documents by Tulsi Gabbard, which reportedly show that the Obama administration knew the "Russia, Russia, Russia" collusion narrative was a hoax as early as December 2016. The hosts discuss the implications of this, labeling it a "treasonous conspiracy" designed to undermine the Trump presidency and question why a special counsel was appointed for a known fabrication. This leads to a broader conversation about political scandals, the destruction of evidence, and what they perceive as a deliberate attempt by Democrats to frame Trump, drawing parallels to the events of January 6th. The episode concludes with a brief discussion on a legal agreement between Idaho's Attorney General and Planned Parenthood regarding out-of-state abortion referrals and the controversy over a new judicial appointment by Governor Brad Little.

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    1 hr 22 min
  • 7.18.2025--NLS--Studio 4 Cover: Sale Pending; Moscow 4 Book, WSJ Prints "Birthday Letter"

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    In this episode of the Neal Larson Show, you'll find the Studio 4 Cover by a local band of BYU-Idaho students, singing "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire. 

    Neal and Julie interview Vicky Ward, one the authors of the new book "Moscow Four", written by Ward and James Patterson.  The book takes an in-depth look at the circumstances surrounding the Moscow murders, including the climate in the community leading up to the murders, the police investigation, legal handling of the matter, and the reactions from the families of Ethan Chapin, Kalee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen. 

    The hosts then take a look at the letter printed by the Wall Street Journal, which alleges it was written by Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. They critique the letter as an apparent fabrication attempting to smear Trump through his association with Epstein. Trump has stated his intentions to sue the Wall Street Journal, calling the letter "false, malicious, and defamatory" in a post on Truth Social.

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    1 hr 19 min
  • 7.17.2025--NLS--Comedy is Back, Epstein Firestorm, ICE Raids

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    In this episode, hosts Neal Larson and Julie Mason delve into the controversy surrounding comedian Shane Gillis's hosting of the ESPY Awards. They discuss his provocative jokes about female athletes, such as Caitlin Clark, framing them as a necessary pushback against cancel culture and an example of edgy comedy that plays to a broader audience beyond the room. The conversation then shifts to a lengthy analysis of the political firestorm surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files. The hosts and several callers express frustration with Donald Trump's characterization of the case as a "Democrat hoax," with many listeners believing the files should be released. Various theories are explored, including the possibility that the evidence has been tainted by intelligence agencies, or that Trump is strategically playing "4D chess" to build pressure for a special counsel investigation.

    Neal and Julie critique the media for what they see as overblown outrage concerning an Army veteran who was mistakenly detained during an ICE raid, arguing it highlights a lack of personal responsibility. The discussion moves to the future of the American workforce, referencing Mike Rowe's prediction that trade jobs like plumbing and electrical work will become highly lucrative as AI saturates the coding market. The program also briefly examines the potential for progressive indoctrination in children's television, using "Sesame Street" as an example, and concludes by touching on the ethical questions raised by a new IVF technique that uses DNA from three people to prevent genetic disorders.

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    1 hr 30 min
  • 7.15.2025--NLS--D.O.G.E. Cuts, Momdani's Radicalism, Assassination Allegations

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    In a today's episode of the Neal Larson Show, Neal critiques the "DOGE cuts," which were recently codified after a tie-breaking vote by the Vice President. The   nine-billion-dollar cut represents a mere one-tenth of one percent of the federal budget. He argued that this gives Republicans a talking point without substantively addressing government bloat, waste, and fraud. The conversation then shifts to the renewed calls for the release of the Epstein files, noting a peculiar reversal where Democrats are now vocal proponents. Neal speculated this could be a masterful political play by Donald Trump, potentially baiting Democrats into demanding the release of information that could be more detrimental to them in the long run.

    The discussion also explored the Democratic party's embrace of Zoran Momdani, the new Democratic nominee for New York mayor. Neal and Julie suggest the Democrat party is latching onto him as a "shiny new toy" out of desperation, despite his radical ideology being at odds with mainstream American values. The Democrats opting for short-term gains that could lead to long-term political costs.

     The show also touched on the serious allegations emerging from a shooter's manifesto, which implicated Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in a plot to assassinate Senator Amy Klobuchar. 

    They also discussed the controversy over the Biden administration's potential use of an autopen for presidential documents and a new policy in the West Ada school district requiring classroom displays to be content-neutral.

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    1 hr 20 min
  • 7.14.2025--NLS--Epstein Files, Reclaiming Conservative Culture

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    In this episode, Neal Larson discusses the one-year anniversary of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and the political intrigue surrounding the Epstein files. He recounts watching the 2006 film "The Sentinel," which he recommends for its plot about a presidential assassination attempt from within the Secret Service. The main focus, however, is on Donald Trump's recent Truth Social post regarding the Epstein files. In the post, Trump urged his MAGA supporters to "stop whining" and claimed the files were fabricated by his political opponents, including Obama and Hillary Clinton, to harm him. Neal points out the logical contradiction that the files seem to implicate figures like Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, not Trump.

    The Trump administration's failure to release the files seems to fuel conspiracy theories. Neal suggests the delay likely protects powerful individuals involved and he believes the public deserves to know the extent to which the system is compromised. The conversation then shifts to a clip from Scott Jennings at a Turning Point USA event, who spoke about conservatives no longer playing by the left's rules and building their own momentum. Neal observes that conservatives are reclaiming culture by losing their fear of being politically incorrect. He uses the re-emergence of terms like "illegal alien" and even the "R-word" as examples, clarifying that while he doesn't condone the language, it signals a shift from fear to courage and a pushback against the left's control over discourse.

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    1 hr 23 min
  • 7.14.2025--NLS--Mamdami Mayoral Campaign, Epstein leverage, Buc-ee's in Boise

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    Neal and Julie argue that the current political landscape, arguing that the Democratic party is damaging its own prospects by focusing on unpopular, radical issues.  They suggest that figures like Mamdani and the party's stance on open borders and transgender athletes alienate mainstream voters, leaving an open field for Donald Trump to dominate. The "Everyone is Welcome Here" poster controversy, represents a dishonest political statement from the left due to its underlying symbolism and origins. The left's embrace of this phrase and their rejection of "All Lives Matter," seems hypocritical. 

    In other news, including a clip of Lara Trump suggesting the release of the Epstein files was strategically "slow-rolled," Neal and Julie they suggest that Trump may be using the information for political leverage. Later they play audio of Donald Trump calling Fed Chairman Jerome Powell a "stupid" "knucklehead," defending the comments as part of the fighting style that supporters appreciate, especially when contrasted with President Biden's perceived weakness on the world stage. On a lighter note, the hosts joke about rebranding themselves as "listener satisfaction specialists" and discuss the news of a Buc-ee's convenience store coming to Meridian, Idaho. 

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    1 hr 24 min
  • 7.11.2025--NLS--Fulcher on the Big Beautiful Bill, Epstein Controversy, College Transfer Portal

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    In this episode, host Neal Larson discusses a range of political topics, starting with his critique of government subsidies for wind and solar energy, which he argues are inefficient and propped up for political reasons. The conversation then shifts to the controversy surrounding the Epstein documents, with Larson expressing frustration over the Trump administration's handling of the situation and their claims that no list exists. He contrasts this with statements from Alan Dershowitz, who insists documents are being suppressed. Larson also reflects on the one-year anniversary of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, sharing his personal belief that Trump's survival was an act of divine intervention, destined to ensure his presidency. 
    The program also features an interview with Congressman Russ Fulcher, who discusses the recently passed "big, beautiful bill." Fulcher details the bill's provisions, including the renewal of tax cuts, funding for border security, and changes to Medicaid. He also explains that while subsidies for wind and solar were not removed by the bill, an executive order was issued to address them. Later in the show, musician Kaylee Caural, a BYU-Idaho student, joins for a live in-studio performance, playing a mashup of Billy Joel's "Piano Man" and ABBA's "Mamma Mia." The hosts also touch on the upcoming performances for Caural and delve into a discussion about the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal on college athletics.

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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…