5.15.2026 - Election Toxicity, Dark Money, Windmill Red Lights

Send us Fan MailThis one felt like the moment in the election stretch where you look up and realize you’re running on fumes—and Facebook isn’t helping. Neal Larson and Julie Mason talk candidly about how toxic the local political feed has gotten, why they’re stepping back from social media, and why they’re not apologizing for asking hard questions of candidates who want to represent tens of thousands of people and steward taxpayer dollars. They draw a bright line between legitimate scrutiny of a public record and the behind-the-scenes personal gossip they refuse to traffic in, while also pushing back on the idea that it’s “unfair” to examine votes, funding sources, and campaign behavior. A big thread through the hour is money: the difference between transparent in-state spending (like Jordan Redman openly putting his name on dollars) versus murky PAC pipelines that show up at the last minute and try to steer Idaho races without voters even knowing who’s really behind it.The show also digs into a very specific local flare-up: a Ben Fuhriman campaign mailer implying endorsement from the grassroots group **End the Red Light District**, which worked to pass legislation dimming the red lights on wind turbines. Spokesperson Aaron Harker joins to clarify the group didn’t give permission for names/photos to be used and that the win belonged to a huge volunteer effort—not any one campaign. From there, Neal and Julie zoom back out to the bigger pattern: candidates dodging interviews, taking up too much “oxygen,” and turning straightforward governance into unnecessary drama. The week closes with a Friday “flash poll” vibe—listeners weigh in on which East Idaho races they’re watching closest and how they think they’ll actually break.---### Highlights- Neal and Julie lay out why they scrutinize candidates’ public records—and refuse to be shamed for it.- Transparent political spending vs. dark money PACs: why the source and accountability matter.- The “Save Idaho PAC” question: out-of-state money, unclear motivations, and why voters should demand answers.- Aaron Harker (End the Red Light District) responds to the Fuhrman mailer and the implied endorsement problem.- Listener pulse check: which local races feel tight and which ones money might be tilting.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