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. 18h ago

    9.11.2026 -- Remembering 9.11 on the 25th Anniversary | S4C: Milee Ann Daley, Celine Dion

    Send us Fan Mail The show took on a reflective, heavy-but-hopeful tone marking 25 years since September 11th, weaving together the public commemoration (including audio of President Trump speaking at the Pentagon) with Neal and Julie’s more personal “where were you when the world stopped turning” reflections. Neal talked candidly about how the anniversary still carries a lingering darkness for him as someone working in media at the time—yet also about a quieter gratitude that the country is still standing, still functioning, and still pushing forward a quarter-century later. Julie added a key “never forget” layer: not only the pain and loss, but the unity and neighborliness that surged on September 12th—and the discomfort of seeing the country so divided again. The mood then shifted with a Friday “Studio 4 Covers” segment featuring Highland High School performer **Miley Ann Daley**, who discussed her musical theater background, upcoming roles (including Wednesday Addams at Center Stage Theatre), and delivered a confident Celine Dion cover that lit up listener feedback. Open Line Friday brought spirited (and sometimes tense) calls: heartfelt firsthand 9/11 memories from a retired Air Force caller, frustration with conspiracy-driven derailments on a day of remembrance, and a broader conversation about elections, voter information tools (including a listener-suggested site that appeared to contain at least one major error), Prop 1/HJR 4, and how social media outrage cycles can hijack public discourse. --- ## 2. Highlights - President Trump’s Pentagon remarks aired live, underscoring the episode’s memorial focus and the long shadow of the war on terror. - Neal and Julie’s “never forget” conversation broadened the meaning beyond tragedy—toward remembering national unity and shared purpose after 9/11. - **Miley Ann Daley** (Highland HS) joined “Studio 4 Covers,” previewed her upcoming stage work, and nailed a tough Celine Dion performance—prompting glowing audience texts. - A retired Air Force caller shared a powerful 9/11 story from an on-base lockdown, including the terrifying ripple effects on military families that day. - Open Line Friday turned into a real-time test of civic discourse: callers tried to inject conspiracies and antisemitic framing, and Neal forcefully shut it down as inappropriate—especially on the anniversary. - Discussion on election engagement and information tools: a caller promoted a voting-lookup site, but the show immediately discovered at least one significant inaccuracy, reinforcing the “verify everything” theme. 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

    9.11.2026 -- Remembering 9.11 on the 25th Anniversary | S4C: Milee Ann Daley, Celine Dion

  2. 3d ago

    9.8.2026 -- College Football Upset | Idaho Supreme Court Greenlights Prop One Verbiage | Male Only Gyms

    Send us Fan Mail The Neal Larson show returns from the Labor Day Holiday with a lot to talk about! 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

    9.8.2026 -- College Football Upset | Idaho Supreme Court Greenlights Prop One Verbiage | Male Only Gyms

  3. Sep 3

    9.3.2026 - New Idaho Spider | Consumer Robots Coming | Flock | Lake America Over-reaction

    Send us Fan Mail With Labor Day weekend around the corner and election season heating up, Neal and Julie spent much of the show sorting through the noise—what matters, what doesn’t, and what’s being intentionally spun to rile people up. They hit several high-profile races and media narratives, including Ted Cruz’s blunt “quit your whining” message to Republicans reluctant about Ken Paxton, and the Michigan Senate contest where Neal argues Abdul El-Sayed’s orbit (including Hasan Piker’s prominence) says a lot about the campaign’s worldview. The show also took aim at the latest “hair-on-fire” outrage cycle—this time over place-name changes like “Lake Ontario” supposedly being renamed “Lake America”—with Neal pushing listeners not to “inherit the media’s emotions,” especially when similar renaming happened under the Biden administration with far less attention. From there, the conversation bounced between local news and bigger-picture issues: a bizarre Rexburg arrest involving a nude runner story (handled with restraint and humor), a newly discovered Idaho spider named *Hexura vandal* in honor of the University of Idaho Vandals, and a genuinely curious segment about a cryptic, retro-style White House teaser video featuring RCA cables and an old tube TV. Later, they dug into Idaho politics—Attorney General Raul Labrador’s defense of neutral ballot language, skepticism of one-sided “forums” (including a pointed critique of the Idaho Falls Chamber event), and broader concerns about how the initiative process can misinform voters. The hour wrapped with a future-facing discussion on Elon Musk’s robot predictions, AI emotional dependency, and a lively back-and-forth on license plate readers/Flock cameras—punctuated by listener texts and a memorable call from Adam Hall describing getting pulled over, mistakenly treated as having a warrant, and briefly handcuffed before the error was corrected. --- ## Highlights - Neal on the “Lake America” uproar: stop “inheriting the media outrage” and think independently about what’s actually consequential.   - A sharp critique of political branding and half-truth campaigns—especially how initiatives can be marketed in misleading “soundbite” form.   - A bizarre-but-true Rexburg arrest story (nude runner + “sock storage”) that still managed to stay (mostly) family-friendly.   - The new Idaho spider discovery: *Hexura vandal*, found near Kooskia—plus EastIdahoNews “spider overlay” antics creeping across the screen.   - The White House’s cryptic tube-TV/RCA-cable teaser video: what is it even promoting, and is it AI-generated (or just intern mischief)?   - Caller Adam Hall’s wild traffic stop story: gun drawn, knees on the pavement, handcuffed—then abruptly released when dispatch realized it was a different middle name. 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

    9.3.2026 - New Idaho Spider | Consumer Robots Coming | Flock | Lake America Over-reaction

  4. Sep 2

    9.2.2026 - Social Media Silos | Idaho’s Culture Fight | Marijuana Amendment

    Send us Fan Mail Neal opens the show a little out of sync—recovering from meniscus surgery, adjusting to crutches, and owning that he hasn’t felt like he’s brought his usual “A game.” From there, the conversation turns to a brief Idaho Falls City Council statement about hate speech delivered after the Pledge of Allegiance. Neal and Julie largely agree with the sentiment, but they push back on the vagueness and what feels like selective outrage—arguing that if leaders want to call out demeaning language, it should be applied consistently, not only when it’s politically convenient. The show also detours into a candid (and funny) look at the modern social-media ecosystem—how it feeds narcissism, rewards extremism, and traps people in algorithm-driven “silos of delusion,” punctuated by a caller Neal quickly cuts off for veering into anti-Semitic talking points. The strongest sustained debate centers on Idaho’s proposed state constitutional amendment dealing with marijuana and other psychoactive drugs—essentially whether voters should lock regulatory authority into the Legislature and limit citizen initiatives on that topic. Neal argues the initiative process has become a magnet for out-of-state money and ideological end-runs, and he and Julie paint legalization as a cultural and community-risk issue, not just a “personal choice” question. A libertarian-leaning caller challenges them on “victimless crimes” and individual freedom, triggering an extended back-and-forth about shared public costs, community standards, enforceability, and where lines get drawn (with comparisons to DUI laws, zoning, homelessness, and other public-order rules). A later caller—who says he used to smoke—largely sides with Neal and Julie, adding personal perspective about how legalization changed places like Colorado and California. Along the way, they touch on the upcoming Lori Vallow appeal hearing and the broader question of what drives extreme criminal behavior—and what society can learn from it. --- ## Highlights - Neal’s post-surgery honesty: “C-minus/D-plus” energy this week—and Julie roasting his “pain-meds texting” habits.   - Idaho Falls City Council’s anti–hate speech statement after the Pledge sparks Neal’s critique of vague, selectively aimed moral messaging.   - Neal cuts off a repeat caller after anti-Semitic bait—using it as a real-time example of algorithm-driven radicalization.   - The show’s most heated segment: marijuana legalization vs. “community health,” with a libertarian caller challenging Neal and Julie on criminalizing “victimless” behavior.   - Julie’s on-the-ground Denver example (through her son) and how public disorder, impaired driving, and smell-in-everything realities don’t match the “private basement” legalization pitch.   - A text arguing weed is needed because “adulting is hard” prompts Neal’s blunt response: relief isn’t the same as resilience—and it won’t fix the underlying problem. 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

    9.2.2026 - Social Media Silos | Idaho’s Culture Fight | Marijuana Amendment

  5. Sep 1

    9.1.2026 - Abortion Ruling Update | Walmart Policies | Politics of “Pouncing”

    Send us Fan Mail Neal Larson and Julie Mason bounced between big-picture infrastructure debates and the creeping realities of everyday surveillance—starting with a pointed defense of data centers. They argued that as water use improves and options like modular nuclear reactors emerge, the practical objections are getting weaker, and that America risks falling behind China if we let social-media-fueled fears stall development. From there, the conversation widened into a broader theme that kept resurfacing all morning: how easily public opinion gets steered by emotion, algorithms, and worst-case assumptions—sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right, and sometimes from unlikely coalitions. That same skepticism carried into a long segment on privacy, sparked by a TikTok breakdown of Walmart’s updated privacy policy and the push toward digital shelf tags that could enable real-time price changes. Neal and Julie wrestled with what’s legally “voluntary” versus what feels like unavoidable modern life, and how often consumers are now forced to do the checking and accountability themselves. They then connected the dots to Idaho’s ongoing fights over license plate readers (including a listener’s concerns and a second caller’s “HIPAA mindset” about guardrails), plus a quick but consequential update on an Idaho federal judge narrowing an abortion-related ruling. The hour also touched the Lindsey Clancy trial developments and conspiracy claims, a fresh jab at political “middle-of-the-road” leadership (with a Mr. Miyagi metaphor), and a late segment on Democrats struggling to answer for Hasan Piker—framed as a political self-inflicted wound they’d rather pivot away from than confront directly. --- ## 2. Highlights - Neal and Julie made the case that modern data centers aren’t the same “water hogs” they used to be—and argued that modular nuclear could neutralize grid concerns entirely. - A deep dive into Walmart’s privacy policy and the looming rollout of digital shelf tags: “I just want to pay the price on the shelf without being profiled.” - A listener compared fears about Flock cameras to the much bigger private-sector data machine—while another caller (from healthcare IT) urged a HIPAA-style framework for public surveillance tools. - Neal pushed back on a viral “Flock camera” horror story, calling it bad police work—not the technology—while still acknowledging the slippery-slope concern. - A sharp Prop 1 discussion: lawmakers who pivot to Idaho’s current abortion ban may be dodging the real question of how expansive the initiative could be. - Politics-as-theater moment: Democrats’ “Republicans pounce” defense over Hasan Piker gets mocked as a diversion tactic—followed by Neal’s argument that “pounce” is just good offense. 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

    9.1.2026 - Abortion Ruling Update | Walmart Policies | Politics of “Pouncing”

  6. Aug 31

    8.31.2028 -- PROP 1 | INT: Dorothy moon | Desantis on Flock Cams | Neal's Knee Surgery

    Send us Fan Mail Neal and Julie kicked off the morning with a heavy focus on Idaho’s upcoming voter initiative (Prop 1), arguing it’s being sold as a “fix” for perceived gaps in current abortion law but would function more like a sledgehammer than a screwdriver—reshaping far more than supporters are admitting. Neal framed the stakes in cultural terms, warning that adopting a broadly pro-choice policy would fundamentally change Idaho, while also emphasizing that if there are legitimate clarity issues for doctors, those can be addressed legislatively without legalizing elective abortion deep into pregnancy or weakening parental rights. Idaho GOP Chair Dorothy Moon joined in-studio to discuss statewide organizing to defeat Prop 1, including Leadership Institute trainings across Idaho, distributing palm cards and signs, and what she’s seeing on turnout, churches engaging the issue, and a handful of legislative races to watch—especially in North Idaho. The hour also hit a mix of national and offbeat news: Neal’s knee surgery recovery (and the “interesting results” of mixing pain meds with radio), Gov. Ron DeSantis warning about Flock license-plate cameras and the surveillance-state line, a brief Trump/Trey Gowdy clip, and a tense caller exchange featuring an out-of-state “seminar call” about nuclear waste that Neal and Julie ultimately rejected as agenda-driven and ungrounded. --- ## Highlights - Neal’s blunt warning that Prop 1 isn’t a “tweak” to Idaho’s law—it’s a cultural and legal reset with big downstream effects, including on parental consent. - Dorothy Moon details the statewide, three-hour “no one leaves” trainings aimed at door-to-door persuasion, complete with palm cards and signs—plus her “sign girl” philosophy for building visible opposition. - Discussion of churches stepping into the Prop 1 fight (Catholic diocese messaging, pastors speaking out), alongside Neal’s point that LDS members shouldn’t assume leadership will speak publicly—so congregants need to. - Gov. Ron DeSantis calling Flock cameras “out of control,” giving momentum to the privacy/guardrails conversation Neal and Julie say is “about 15 years too late.” - Neal’s sharp takedown of the Lindsey Clancy “sympathy movement,” arguing postpartum struggles don’t erase the reality of three dead children—and warning against turning perpetrators into victims/heroes. - A chaotic caller claiming Idaho was “suckered” into nuclear waste—and after admitting he’s a Green Party member calling from California, Neal shuts it down as a classic talk-radio “seminar caller” tactic. 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

    8.31.2028 -- PROP 1 | INT: Dorothy moon | Desantis on Flock Cams | Neal's Knee Surgery

  7. Aug 27

    8.27.2026 - INT: Sec. of State Phil McGrane | Parental Choice Tantrums | Dem Opposition to Voting Security

    Send us Fan Mail Neal and Julie covered a packed Thursday show that bounced between Idaho politics, election integrity, and a few culture-war flashpoints—with Neal also sharing he’ll be out Friday for outpatient knee surgery (torn meniscus), and that “HOA Adam” will co-host with Julie. A major chunk of the hour focused on Idaho’s parental choice tax credit: Neal argued opponents are still “throwing a tantrum” after losing in the Legislature, at the governor’s desk, and in court—now trying to weaponize data requests to imply wrongdoing no matter what the numbers show. A caller added a thoughtful critique about the uneven regulatory burdens between public schools and private options, sparking a broader conversation about discipline, funding formulas, and how choice might evolve in rural Idaho through micro-schools and online options. The show also featured an interview with Idaho Secretary of State **Phil McGrane**, who discussed election preparations, updates to online voter registration (including strengthened photo ID verification), and Idaho’s stance in a dispute with the U.S. Department of Justice over access to protected voter data. McGrane also addressed the high-profile **Prop 1** abortion initiative—sharing his personal pro-life perspective while emphasizing his responsibility to administer fair elections—and previewed a possible legal challenge tied to ballot wording. In hour two, Neal and Julie pivoted to national and cultural topics: Shapiro’s Tucker parody, commentary on narrative-driven politics (including a riff on conspiracy-style blaming), California’s attempt to restrict filming near immigration facilities, James O’Keefe’s Alaska voting-ID sting, and a skeptical look at claims that voter ID would “target” city voters. They wrapped with a quick audience temperature-check on the Lindsey Clancy trial and a listener call about psychiatric medications—using it to underscore concerns about mental health treatment while still acknowledging the seriousness of violent crimes. --- ## 2. Highlights - Neal unloads on Idaho’s “not a dollar more” crowd for still chasing the parental choice tax credit—now demanding data the state doesn’t even collect, and claiming “no transparency” when they don’t get it.   - A caller argues public schools are hamstrung by regulations and discipline rules; Neal and Julie agree the “funding + butts-in-seats” incentive structure creates perverse outcomes.   - **Phil McGrane** explains Idaho’s tightened online voter registration ID verification (selfie + driver’s license photo) and why Idaho refused DOJ demands for sensitive voter data.   - McGrane signals he expects a **Prop 1 ballot wording lawsuit** could land as soon as that day—while stressing ballot-printing deadlines and the need for fast resolution.   - Neal and Julie lampoon the idea that voter ID “targets people who live in cities,” calling it rhetorical scrambling and a tell that some political actors benefit from loose rules.   - A humorous, off-script stretch: synchronized swimming in a canal, “Secretary of Steak” barbecue talk, and parody-level conspiracy mockery that’s really a warning about how easily bad narratives spread. 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

    8.27.2026 - INT: Sec. of State Phil McGrane | Parental Choice Tantrums | Dem Opposition to Voting Security

  8. Aug 26

    8.26.2026 - INT: Barb Ehardt | Remembering Dolly | Viability Redefinition

    Send us Fan Mail Neal and Julie kicked off the morning in classic fashion—riffing on “rogue thoughts,” laughing at themselves, and then diving into a serious local flashpoint: flock cameras. They walked listeners through why law enforcement wants them (catching people with warrants, solving crimes faster) while still acknowledging legitimate worries about surveillance creep, community trust, and the way TikTok-fueled outrage can short-circuit basic due diligence. The throughline was restraint and tradeoffs: you can oppose cameras, but you can’t pretend there’s no cost in police time, budgets, or crime-solving capability—and you should demand clear answers about what replaces them if they’re removed. From there, the show shifted to culture and politics: a warm, surprisingly detailed Dolly Parton remembrance (including her humor, generosity, and the story behind “I Will Always Love You”), Neal’s anticipation for an Angel Studios film on Reagan and Reykjavik, and then a heavy focus on Idaho’s abortion ballot initiative (“Prop 1” as referenced on-air). Representative Barb Ehardt joined in-studio to argue the initiative is being sold as “privacy” while, in her view, redefining viability in a way that could push abortion far later than most voters realize and undercut parental involvement. Ehardt also announced the launch of her Faith and Family PAC, emphasized Southeast Idaho as a potential battleground region, and later jumped into a fiery side discussion on the WNBA’s refusal to define “woman,” praising Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White for forcing the issue into the spotlight. --- ## 2. Highlights - Neal and Julie try to “end the flock camera discussion” with a gavel—after admitting it’s one of those topics that instantly turns into herding cats.   - A pointed warning about internet-driven activism: don’t let TikTok “trend mechanics” replace asking basic follow-up questions about costs, contracts, and what comes next.   - A lively Dolly Parton tribute—her generosity, authenticity, “I Will Always Love You” history, and her famously funny line about gay marriage: “They deserve to be miserable like the rest of us.”   - Rep. Barb Ehardt breaks down her concerns with the abortion initiative’s language—especially the definition of “viability,” parental rights implications, and the strategy to defeat it by reaching moderates who think it goes too far.   - Ehardt announces her new Faith and Family PAC and calls for volunteers, donations, signs, and outreach—warning the initiative may be “won or lost” in Southeast Idaho.   - Unexpected sports/culture crossover: Hart unloads on the WNBA controversy, praising Enes Kanter Freedom and calling the league’s inability to define “woman” an embarrassment. 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

    8.26.2026 - INT: Barb Ehardt | Remembering Dolly | Viability Redefinition
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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
    521
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Neal Larson Show
  • Show Website
    The Neal Larson Show

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