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
6.12.2026 - Disclosure, Shakespeare & Schools
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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.
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