After the 2016 election, writer Ross Benes noticed that people in places like New York City (where he lives now) were suddenly curious about “flyover” states like Nebraska, where he grew up. “If I was ever going to write about my hometown and get people to notice, this would be the time,” he says, “while people on the coasts are innately curious about middle America.”

Today, Patty sits down with Ross to discuss the book project that came out of all this, Rural Rebellion. They spend the hour talking about Nebraska’s recent political history, the rural/urban divide, and a host of issues affecting rural communities.

Ross Benes is an author, journalist, and research analyst. His latest book is Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold (University Press of Kansas, 2021).