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
5.25.2026 - Memorial Day Reflections, Trump Primary Fallout, Epstein File Arguments
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On Memorial Day, Neal Larson and Julie Mason open the show by grounding the day in gratitude—then pivot into a wide-ranging, very “live radio” conversation that hits politics, culture, and the moment we’re in. They discuss Thomas Massie losing his primary despite Trump’s endorsement power, and what that says about how vulnerable incumbents can be when local dissatisfaction is already there. From there, they pull the camera back to Idaho politics—how moderates adapt in a deep-red state, why Democrats struggle statewide, and how ideological “blue/purple” influence can still show up through legislative races, party infiltration, and out-of-state money.
The tone shifts when they play Ronald Reagan’s “Soldier’s Pledge,” then the day’s biggest theme emerges: how Americans process politics now—especially around Donald Trump. They talk about the 2028-ish Democratic field speculation (Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, AOC, Buttigieg, Shapiro, etc.), the absurdity of vilifying an NFL player (Jackson Dart) simply for introducing a president, and the broader “hero/villain” thinking that’s breaking people’s brains. Two heated calls—one centered on Israel money, Massie, and the Epstein files, another from a three-time Trump voter frustrated with Trump’s language and follow-through—turn into a real-time case study of how quickly political disagreement becomes moral accusation. Neal and Julie keep coming back to the same point: it’s complicated, nobody’s pure, and if you can’t live in the messy middle—praising what’s good while criticizing what’s bad—you’re going to be manipulated by narratives all day long.
### Highlights
- Reagan’s “Soldier’s Pledge” sets the Memorial Day tone and sparks a call to reflect with family.
- Thomas Massie’s loss becomes a debate over Trump’s influence, money in politics, and local voter dynamics.
- A sharp look at the Democratic bench: likability, coalition math, and why Shapiro’s ceiling may be real.
- Culture snapshot: outrage at Jackson Dart for introducing Trump vs. what actually gets ignored in pro sports.
- The Epstein files argument exposes a deeper divide: transparency demands vs. “everything becomes a weapon.”
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