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
8.11.2026 - COVID Shot and Pregnancy | Apology Line Open |
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Neal and Julie spend much of the show reacting to fresh controversy around Anthony Fauci—especially the gap between what he said publicly during COVID and what he reportedly expressed privately, with the most emotional part of the conversation centering on concerns about vaccine guidance for pregnant women. They’re careful to separate justified outrage from overstated claims, calling out a viral “82%” figure as based on incomplete data and warning that bad numbers can undermine legitimate scrutiny. Along the way, they return to a recurring theme: the damage done by public shaming, institutional pressure, and “cult-like” political loyalty that makes it hard for people to admit they were wrong.
Listener calls and texts drive the hour in a big way: stories from people who felt coerced by employers (including the military), people describing long-term health issues they believe followed the shot, and others who simply refused because it didn’t add up to them. Neal and Julie also open up about why they’re still waiting on accountability—if not apologies—and talk through how to handle disagreement without letting it poison every relationship. A few lighter moments break up the heaviness, including an “apology line” bit (with a caller confessing to voting for Evan McMullen) and some banter about avoiding a certain overdone local topic.
---
## Highlights
- Neal and Julie unload on Fauci’s “public vs. private” contradictions—then pivot to the bigger question: what do you *do* with the fact that a top authority lied?
- A pointed warning about the viral “82% mortality” claim: Neal says the truth matters, because bad stats let critics dismiss everything else.
- The “apology line” gag turns real fast—listeners call in with regret, resentment, and stories of workplace pressure that changed careers and families.
- A military caller says he was forced to take the shot and describes repeated illness afterward, arguing mandates violated basic constitutional limits.
- A thoughtful listener analogy lands: two people can apply the same “information,” but different “base coats” (life experience) change how it looks—like nail polish over black vs. white.
- A broader accountability discussion emerges: one caller proposes bonding/financial penalties for officials and institutions that misuse power or mislead the public.
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.