The Neal Larson Show
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.
The Neal Larson Show
5.8.2026 - INTERVIEW: AG Raul Labrador, Rep Barb Ehardt S4C: Skyline HS's The Chamber
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We kicked off the morning talking straight about election season in East Idaho—specifically how to spot (and ignore) the deceptive “dark money” mailers that show up dressed in feel-good names like “water champions” or “veterans” groups. Neal’s message was basically: don’t even read the hit piece—flip it over, check the “paid for by,” and if it’s not an actual campaign you recognize, toss it. The bigger point is voter discipline: study candidates, don’t let outsiders or shell groups shape your opinions, and don’t let crossover primary voting decide close races when turnout is the real fix.
Then we shifted into some lighter moments—Mother’s Day ideas, and a Skyline High School chamber a cappella group came in and nailed “Yesterday” ahead of their May 19 concert. After that, we dug into the Mark Hamill/Obama appearance and the backlash over a Trump-death meme, using it as a springboard into a broader conversation about political hatred, double standards, and why so many celebrities torch their own goodwill chasing that rage. The hour also featured Representative Barb Ehardt in-studio and Attorney General Raul Labrador on the phone, covering endorsements, election stakes in East Idaho, the fight for fairness in women’s sports (and how Idaho’s law helped set national precedent), ongoing “culture issue” battles like bathrooms and explicit library content, and the reality of defending these laws in court. We also addressed the messy political twisting around ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) funding votes—how budgets get weaponized in mailers—and closed with a strong push for conservatives to show up, bring friends, and stop assuming someone else will carry the turnout burden.
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### Highlights
- How to spot “Potemkin” political groups and why you should ignore negative dark-money mailers
- Skyline High School chamber choir performs “Yesterday” + details for their May 19 concert
- Barbie Hart and Raul Labrador on women’s sports legislation, cultural fights, and defending Idaho laws in court
- ICAC funding controversy explained: how budget votes get spun for campaign attacks
- Final takeaway: turnout wins close races—don’t sit this one out
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