5.13.2026 - Dark Money, Local Races, Voter Sanity

Send us Fan MailWith six days to go before the election, Neal Larson opens with a pretty accurate picture of what this moment feels like: multiple tornadoes on the horizon—chaos in a bunch of places at once. He does a needed “we’re going to be okay” wellness check for everyone, even while admitting he badly wants conservatives to win—people who actually mean what they say, who’ll govern like the party label they run under, and who won’t take the “benefits” of affiliation while refusing the responsibility. From there, the conversation turns into a broader critique of integrity in politics, the way some lawmakers dodge accountability (including on enforcement of laws like immigration), and how special interests—especially the cheap-labor lobby—quietly shape what does and doesn’t become law in Idaho.Neal and Julie Mason then dig into what’s making this election season feel especially gross: PAC mailers, misleading claims, “dark money,” and political branding designed to trick voters. They walk through a real example involving an anti–Julianne Young flyer and the confusion around “Idaho First,” tracing funding through layers of committees and out-of-state routes that make transparency harder on purpose. Callers pile on with what they’re seeing locally—sign shenanigans, candidates using “regular” ads for name recognition, frustration with candidates who won’t return messages, and concern that precinct races (PCOs) are quietly being targeted by people who aren’t actually Republicans. The repeated takeaway is simple: ignore the mailers, verify everything, and vote—especially in those down-ballot races that can be decided by a couple dozen votes.### Highlights- Neal’s reminder to keep perspective: after May 20, we’ll still have our homes, communities, and lives—don’t let the chaos hijack your mental health.- A blunt warning about PAC mailers: misleading by design—“be smarter than the mailers.”- “Idaho First” / PAC transparency rabbit hole: how layered funding obscures who’s actually behind attacks.- Callers flag PCO races as a major battleground—sometimes with “Democrats running as Republicans.”- The show’s repeated emphasis: do your own research, check the “why,” and focus on turnout.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