The Neal Larson Show

Neal Larson
  • 3.0 (2)
  • Politics
  • Updated Daily

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 married to his wife Esther with their five children in Idaho Falls. Julie Mason is a long-time resident of east Idaho with a degree in journalism from Ricks College. Julie enjoys reading, baking, and is an avid dog lover.  When not on the air she enjoys spending time with her three children and husband of 26 years. Together these two are a powerhouse of knowledge with great banter that comes together in an entertaining and informative show.

  1. 6.19.2026 - Fireworks Finale | Idaho GOP Caucus Fight | S4C: Jill Rowberry - God Bless America

    9h ago

    6.19.2026 - Fireworks Finale | Idaho GOP Caucus Fight | S4C: Jill Rowberry - God Bless America

    Send us Fan Mail Friday’s show had a little bit of everything: a big local announcement, some spicy Idaho GOP politics, and a much-needed patriotic reset. Neal and Julie talked through the news that this will be the final year for the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration fireworks at Snake River Landing, as development in the area makes the massive crowd increasingly hard to accommodate. They reflected on what a remarkable 34-year run it’s been, thanked Frank VanderSloot for the long-term investment in the community, and encouraged everyone to really savor this year’s show—especially with America 250 as the backdrop. From there, the conversation moved into Idaho Republican Party convention dynamics, including the contested chair race (Dorothy Moon challenged by Mark Fuller and Steve Thayn) and the increasingly serious push to replace the primary with a caucus system to curb “infiltration” and better align nominees with the party platform. Along the way: a lively (and often humorous) detour into the “hideous” Obama Presidential Center design, some listener back-and-forth on why so many people can’t get into soccer (even while still rooting for Team USA), and a standout Studio 4 performance with Jill Rowberry delivering a stirring “God Bless America.” Highlights: - The Melaleuca Freedom Celebration fireworks are happening this year—but Frank VanderSloot says it’s likely the final one at Snake River Landing as development tightens the space. - Studio 4 Covers: Jill Roberry returns with a powerful “God Bless America” for the America 250 season. - Neal and Julie dig into the Idaho GOP convention: chair race (Dorothy Moon vs. Mark Fuller vs. Steve Thayn) and the brewing caucus-versus-primary fight. - Flash poll results overwhelmingly favored trying a caucus system to curb crossover voting and better define Republican nominees. - The Obama Presidential Center gets roasted—Julie calls it a “dumpster,” and even left-leaning critics aren’t impressed with the architecture. - Listener calls/texts turn the World Cup into a comedy segment—low soccer enthusiasm overall, but a shared hope Team USA wins big. 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? You could try clicking around, reading books, or taking online courses to figure it out—or you can let us handle it. At Sandhill Media Group, we’re your local experts in both radio and digital marketing. Visit SandhillMediaGroup.com today. a href="https://www.sandhillmediagrou

    1h 28m
  2. 6.18.2026 - Caucus vs Primary | Water Virtue Signaling | Iran Deal Reax

    1d ago

    6.18.2026 - Caucus vs Primary | Water Virtue Signaling | Iran Deal Reax

    Send us Fan Mail Decision day at the U.S. Supreme Court had Neal Larson and Julie Mason glued to SCOTUSblog—only to get a couple of smaller rulings (including a narrow Second Amendment decision involving a marijuana user) while the big Idaho-adjacent cases everyone’s watching remain pending. That wait became a jumping-off point for a bigger frustration: how national media frames Idaho’s “protect girls and women in sports” case as “LGBTQ+ rights,” and how often adults’ interests get elevated above protecting kids—whether that’s in sports, bathrooms, or other cultural fights. From there, the show moved through a complicated Shelley story involving a child with sepsis and a parent refusing treatment (and the limits of “parental rights”), then into a classic Neal-and-Julie sidebar on drought, lawn watering, and virtue signaling—complete with a few laughs about miserable social media takes, vegans, and wildfires. The second hour turned sharply political with a deep dive into the Idaho GOP’s brewing internal fight over a potential caucus system, crossover voting, and whether party labels still mean what voters think they mean—plus a live listen-in to Vice President J.D. Vance on the Iran deal, which led to a surprisingly upbeat review of his tone and communication (even as Neal and Julie remained cautious about whether the agreement holds). ## 2. Highlights - Supreme Court decision day delivers a narrow Second Amendment ruling (marijuana use and gun rights), while the high-profile Idaho sports case stays unresolved.   - Neal and Julie unload on media framing: “protect girls and women in sports” getting labeled as “LGBTQ+ rights.”   - Shelley story sparks a careful but firm debate: parental rights matter—but not when a child’s life is at risk (sepsis case).   - “Stop watering your lawn” virtue signaling gets fact-checked, with a pointed argument that lawns are a tiny slice of total water use compared to agriculture.   - Idaho GOP tensions rise: caucus vs. primary, crossover voting, and the claim that some candidates won’t even sign on to the party platform.   - Live J.D. Vance remarks on the Iran deal—plus a moment of unexpected praise for his steadiness and humor under pressure. 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? You could try clicking around, reading books, or taking online courses to figure it out—or you can let us handle it. At Sandhill Media Group, we’re your local experts in both radio and digital marketing. Visit SandhillMediaGroup.com today. a href="https://www.sandhillmediagrou

    1h 23m
  3. 6.17.2026 - INTERVIEW: Ali Khan of MOAT IT | Data Center Debate in Idaho | Voice Cloning on Air | Keeping Up With China

    2d ago

    6.17.2026 - INTERVIEW: Ali Khan of MOAT IT | Data Center Debate in Idaho | Voice Cloning on Air | Keeping Up With China

    Send us Fan Mail Neal Larson and Julie Mason spent the morning digging into two fast-moving topics that hit close to home: the push for new data centers in Idaho and the realities (and risks) of everyday AI. The show’s big “learn something” interview was with Ali Khan, CEO of Moat I.T. in Pocatello, who walked through how modern data centers can be designed—especially around the hot-button concerns of water use, power draw, and local impact. He argued that newer closed-loop cooling systems can drastically reduce ongoing water needs compared to older evaporative setups, and he made the case that Idaho needs to ask better project-by-project questions rather than defaulting to fear or blanket opposition. The conversation widened into politics and culture—J.D. Vance’s media blitz (including a tense stop on *The View*), a quick look ahead to 2028 Republican jockeying (Rubio vs. Vance), and why Neal thinks America can’t afford to fall behind in the computing/AI race. In the back half, the tone turned more playful and surprisingly revealing: Neal and Julie shared examples of AI “seeing” more than people realize, debated job displacement vs. productivity gains, and even demoed voice cloning/parody work (including Neal’s “third yard sale” bit). Listener texts and calls drove the pace, from surveillance concerns to real-world AI use in trucking logistics.   ## 2. Highlights - Ollie Khan (Moat I.T.) explains closed-loop cooling and why many newer data centers may use far less water than older evaporative designs.   - Neal and Julie argue the U.S. can’t opt out of the data/AI race without serious geopolitical consequences—“keep up or fall behind.”   - A candid moment on AI privacy: Julie describes AI referencing a name (“Jay”) she’d only typed in her Word script, not in the prompt.   - Neal demos AI audio/voice tools, including the parody “Pocatello’s underbelly… the third yard sale,” and compares AI’s “radio host” output to real personality.   - Listener call from a trucker: using AI to build an app and handle routing/logistics—“it won’t drive my truck, but it impacts me every day.”   - Window talk with Advanced Window Products: major one-day offer plus a technical breakdown of argon gas, spacers, efficiency, and the lifetime warranty. 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? You could try clicking around, reading books, or taking online courses to figure it out—or you can let us handle it. At Sandhill Media Group, we’re your local experts in both radio and digital marketing. Visit SandhillMediaGroup.com today. a href="https://www.sandhillmediagrou

    1h 31m
  4. 6.15.2026 - Iran Deal | Pocatello Parody | Superintendent Pay Raise | UFC at White House

    4d ago

    6.15.2026 - Iran Deal | Pocatello Parody | Superintendent Pay Raise | UFC at White House

    Send us Fan Mail Neal Larson and Julie Mason kicked off the week with a clear-eyed look at the newly announced U.S.–Iran framework deal—what it *does* cover (a halt in hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and a commitment to stop pursuing nuclear weapons) and what’s still unresolved (enrichment details, inspections, proxy groups, missiles, long-term sanctions relief, and Israel’s role). They also pushed back on rumors flying around online—like claims the U.S. would spend $300 billion rebuilding Iran—walking through what’s actually being reported and why a regional reconstruction plan (if it materializes) would likely come with major strings attached. Closer to home, the show leaned into local frustration (and comedy) over Pocatello’s yard sale restrictions, including Neal’s fully produced “Third Yard Sale” parody that had listeners howling—and texting in to share it. The conversation broadened into Idaho’s school funding optics and trust issues, after news of a major superintendent pay hike landed alongside reports of district cuts and a statewide slump in passing school bonds. Hour two mixed patriotism and politics—listener calls weighed in on a UFC event at the White House and Neal and Julie contrasted that with past White House events—before wrapping with a Chicago concert ticket giveaway that turned into its own mini-drama when they realized one of the contest songs may have been Peter Cetera solo, not technically Chicago. ## 2. Highlights - Neal breaks down the Iran framework deal point-by-point—and flags what’s *not* included (missiles, proxies, uranium stockpiles, long-term verification details). - The “Third Yard Sale” parody hits the air, and listeners immediately start requesting the link to share (and joking about playing it at their own yard sales). - A sharp discussion on Idaho school bonds drying up statewide—paired with the awkward optics of a $20,000-per-year superintendent raise while teachers don’t get an across-the-board increase. - Listener calls defend a UFC event at the White House (including a Teddy Roosevelt boxing match throwback) and argue it’s a cultural/strength signal. - Neal and Julie spotlight Dan + Shay’s national anthem performance and contrast it with ongoing “Trump is a fascist” messaging from entertainers. - Chicago ticket contest fun… followed by a last-minute realization: “Glory of Love” may have been a Peter Cetera solo track—prompting talk of adding more tickets. 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? You could try clicking around, reading books, or taking online courses to figure it out—or you can let us handle it. At Sandhill Media Group, we’re your local experts in both radio and digital marketing. Visit SandhillMediaGroup.com today. a href="https://www.sandhillmediagrou

    1h 19m
  5. PARODY: The Third Yard Sale: Pocatello's Dark Underbelly

    4d ago

    PARODY: The Third Yard Sale: Pocatello's Dark Underbelly

    Send us Fan Mail Bonus comedy parody, in honor of Pocatello's recent yard sale crackdown!

    2 min
  6. 6.12.2026 - Disclosure, Shakespeare & Schools

    Jun 12

    6.12.2026 - Disclosure, Shakespeare & Schools

    Send us Fan Mail Neal kicked things off with a rare opening-day movie run — and a surprisingly thoughtful review of the new Spielberg “Disclosure Day” film. Beyond the symbolism and layered storytelling, the conversation turned to the most talked-about detail: the “disclosure” scenes near the end felt so vivid compared to earlier CGI moments that Neal floated an interesting *what-if* (clearly labeled as speculation): could Hollywood be used as a soft-launch channel to acclimate the public before any official release of more definitive UFO footage? From there, the show moved into a real-world local controversy: a parent challenge in District 91 targeting an *adapted* fifth-grade version of **A Midsummer Night’s Dream**. Neal and Julie dug into what the “harmful to minors” intent behind recent policy fights was *actually* meant to address (explicit sexual material), why censoring Shakespeare isn’t the same issue, and how overreach can hand opponents easy “I told you so” ammunition. Listener calls and texts broadened the discussion into today’s education reality — reading decline, discipline and behavior disruptions, special needs mainstreaming vs. targeted support, and whether funding models (“butts in seats”) and administrative bloat are working against classrooms. The hour was rounded out with a standout in-studio performance of **“America the Beautiful”** by Finley Webster (fresh off graduation and headed to Utah State), plus a lighter end-of-week mix of small-town politics, family news, and oddball headlines. ## 2. Highlights - Neal’s “Disclosure Day” movie review — and his speculative theory that the most convincing UFO/alien scenes could be intentional “acclimation” before real disclosure. - District 91 book challenge: why an adapted **A Midsummer Night’s Dream** didn’t meet Idaho’s “harmful to minors” standard, and why that distinction matters. - A sharp listener point: the Shakespeare complaint could’ve been filed to make the law look absurd — and Neal’s warning about feeding opponents easy talking points. - Finley Webster performs **“America the Beautiful”** live in studio as part of the America 250 patriotic focus. - A deeper education dive: classroom behavior dynamics, discipline, special needs support, administrative growth, and why school choice debates keep resurfacing. - Neal’s Aunt Shirley calls in — and gets a live on-air congratulations for being named Grand Marshal of Salmon’s Salmon River Days Parade.  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? You could try clicking around, reading books, or taking online courses to figure it out—or you can let us handle it. At Sandhill Media Group, we’re your local experts in both radio and digital marketing. Visit SandhillMediaGroup.com today. a href="https://www.sandhillmediagrou

    1h 26m
  7. 6.11.2026 - INTERVIEW: Sen. Jim Risch on polling, Iran, SAVE Act -- Yard Sale Crackdowns, and electoral dirty tricks

    Jun 11

    6.11.2026 - INTERVIEW: Sen. Jim Risch on polling, Iran, SAVE Act -- Yard Sale Crackdowns, and electoral dirty tricks

    Send us Fan Mail Senator Jim Risch joined Neal Larson and Julie Mason from Washington, D.C. for a wide-ranging conversation that started with rising tension around Iran. Risch argued the regime can’t be trusted to honor agreements, emphasized the difference between the Iranian people and the ruling hardliners, and said the Strait of Hormuz must remain open—both for global stability and because no nation can be allowed to “close” international waters. He also pushed back on the idea that U.S. actions there are designed to strategically choke China’s energy supply, while noting the ripple effects any conflict in the region can create. Back in studio, Neal and Julie dug into how little the public often knows compared to what intelligence briefings may contain, and why politics-driven “certainty” can make honest conversation impossible. From there, the show bounced through several hot-button (and sometimes funny) debates: campaign polling as a tool to shape narratives rather than measure reality, alleged political games around last names and rank-choice voting, and a spirited takedown of what they see as overreaching local regulation—this time sparked by yard sale limits. The hour wrapped with a blunt discussion about public reaction to the Carmelo Anthony/Austin Metcalf case and comments from Jasmine Crockett, with Neal and Julie arguing that excusing violence for political points breaks trust, blocks real lessons, and disrespects victims. ## 2. Highlights - Senator Jim Risch on Iran: the regime “drags its feet” and can’t be relied on—even with a signed deal.   - A sober look at the Strait of Hormuz: why it *has* to remain open and what that means for global energy.   - Neal and Julie push back on “keyboard-warrior certainty,” arguing the public simply doesn’t have the same intel leaders do.   - The “polling vs. propaganda” moment: why campaigns sometimes use polling to *shape* a race instead of measure it.   - The yard sale crackdown debate: “Why are we turning the city into an HOA?” plus a flash poll on how many sales is “too many.”   - A heated response to Jasmine Crockett’s remarks on the Metcalf family—calling it political minimization of real grief. 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? You could try clicking around, reading books, or taking online courses to figure it out—or you can let us handle it. At Sandhill Media Group, we’re your local experts in both radio and digital marketing. Visit SandhillMediaGroup.com today. a href="https://www.sandhillmediagrou

    1h 28m
  8. 6.10.2026 - NFL Streaming Costs, Track Meet Stabbing Verdict, Faith & “Christian” Labels

    Jun 10

    6.10.2026 - NFL Streaming Costs, Track Meet Stabbing Verdict, Faith & “Christian” Labels

    Send us Fan Mail Today we bounced between three conversations that all hit the same nerve: what we expect from institutions—and what happens when reality doesn’t match the expectation. First up was Congress stepping into the mess of modern sports broadcasting, where following the NFL can mean juggling a pile of platforms and potentially spending hundreds (even up to $600+ depending on what you count) just to watch the games you want. We’re still not convinced it’s Congress’s job to referee entertainment pricing, but we can at least understand the frustration—especially when hearings highlight how hard the streaming shift is hitting sports bars and small businesses that need reliability, not spinning wheels and frozen feeds. Then we turned to the Carmelo Anthony trial and conviction in Texas stemming from a fatal stabbing at a high school track meet. The self-defense claim hinged on a shove/hand contact, but the discussion came back to a basic point: the ability to walk away matters, and using lethal force in that situation didn’t meet the bar for justification. We also talked about how quickly the public “race-ifies” cases like this—even when the trial itself didn’t center race—and why the bigger lesson is teaching kids how to de-escalate, not escalate. We wrapped with a grab bag of national weirdness: Trump speaking from the Oval Office (and drifting into very Trump construction-detail mode), the ongoing UFO disclosure pressure campaign and why AI-era distrust makes “bombshells” harder to believe, and a surprisingly heated new round in the “are Latter-day Saints Christians?” argument—where we basically landed on: I’d rather live surrounded by God-fearing people than spend my time drawing purity-line boundaries that nobody can ultimately prove. ### Highlights - Why the NFL’s platform fragmentation feels like a paywall maze—and why Congress is suddenly sniffing around it   - The Carmelo Anthony guilty verdict: self-defense claims, walking away, and how the public turned it into a racial flashpoint   - UFO “disclosure” politics in the age of AI: even if they tell us, will anyone trust it?   - The “Mormons aren’t Christian” argument flaring up again—and why that whole fight misses the point   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? You could try clicking around, reading books, or taking online courses to figure it out—or you can let us handle it. At Sandhill Media Group, we’re your local experts in both radio and digital marketing. Visit SandhillMediaGroup.com today. a href="https://www.sandhillmediagrou

    1h 23m
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Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

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 married to his wife Esther with their five children in Idaho Falls. Julie Mason is a long-time resident of east Idaho with a degree in journalism from Ricks College. Julie enjoys reading, baking, and is an avid dog lover.  When not on the air she enjoys spending time with her three children and husband of 26 years. Together these two are a powerhouse of knowledge with great banter that comes together in an entertaining and informative show.

Information

  • Creator
    Neal Larson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    470
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Neal Larson Show
  • Show Website
    The Neal Larson Show

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