Nebraska Examiner Editor-in-Chief Aaron Sanderford joins the show to discuss a new audit questioning a $2.5 million no-bid contract approved by Gov. Jim Pillen’s administration. Sanderford explains what the audit found, how the process broke down, and why the central question is no longer who steered the contract... but why? He also discusses other recent reporting from the Examiner, including the historic resignation of former Sen. Dan McKeon and the shifting political landscape ahead of 2026.

Read Aaron's story here: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/15/auditor-flags-possible-pillen-favoritism-in-2-5m-no-bid-bioeconomy-contract-with-lobbyist/

More from the Nebraska Examiner: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/

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Additional music provided by friend of the show Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, support them at: https://www.joshhoyer.com/

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—Chapters—

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#Nebraska #Omaha #Lincoln #Election2026 #JimPillen #NebraskaExaminer #Unicameral #NEleg

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Chris Backemeyer, a former State Department diplomat and candidate for Congress in Nebraska’s 1st District, joins the show to discuss the recent killing of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti during an ICE operation in Minneapolis and what Congress should do in response. Backemeyer outlines his concerns about executive overreach, the role of congressional oversight, and how U.S. foreign policy decisions are affecting trust abroad and families here in Nebraska.

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Additional music provided by friend of the show Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, support them at: https://www.joshhoyer.com/

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#Nebraska #Omaha #Lincoln #Election2026 #Politics #Congress #ICE #AlexPretti #NATO #Iran

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Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) returns to the show to break down President Trump’s speech from Davos, including controversial comments about Greenland, NATO, and the use of military force against U.S. allies. Bacon also discusses the constitutional limits of presidential power, Congress’s role on tariffs, rising tensions with Europe, and the latest developments in Ukraine as the war with Russia continues.

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Additional music provided by friend of the show Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, support them at: https://www.joshhoyer.com/

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#Nebraska #Omaha #Lincoln #2026Election #Greenland #Congress #NATO #Ukraine #Russia #Davos

Rep. Bacon: Military Action Against Greenland Would Be IMPEACHABLE

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Caitlin Knutson, a special education teacher and candidate for Nebraska Legislature District 2, joins the show as the 2026 election season gets underway. Knutson discusses why she decided to run, what she’s hearing from voters across eastern Lincoln and Cass County, and how issues like property taxes, education funding, and government accountability are shaping the race.

For more information on Knutson, visit https://www.knutsonforlegislature.com/

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Support the show by becoming a ‘Friend of Dan’ on Patreon - https://patreon.com/thedanparsonsshow

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Additional music provided by friend of the show Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, support them at: https://www.joshhoyer.com/

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Connect with The Dan Parsons Show on Social Media:

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On the go? Listen to the audio version of The Dan Parsons Show at: https://shows.acast.com/the-dan-parsons-show

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—Chapters—

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#Nebraska #Omaha #Lincoln #2026Election #NebraskaLegislature #Unicameral #affordability #schoolchoice #taxpolicy

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Investigative journalist Yanqi Xu of Flatwater Free Press joins the show to discuss her latest reporting on the unresolved death of 17-year-old Zach Panther at a hog farm owned by the family of Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. Yanqi explains how she approached the investigation alongside the New York Times, the obstacles she encountered, and what the case reveals about workplace safety, government oversight, and accountability journalism in Nebraska.

Read the full story: https://flatwaterfreepress.org/a-mysterious-death-of-a-teen-at-a-hog-farm/

Thumbnail Photo: Christopher Smith, New York Times

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Support the show by becoming a ‘Friend of Dan’ on Patreon - https://patreon.com/thedanparsonsshow

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Additional music provided by friend of the show Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, support them at: https://www.joshhoyer.com/

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On the go? Listen to the audio version of The Dan Parsons Show at: https://shows.acast.com/the-dan-parsons-show

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#Nebraska #Omaha #Lincoln #InvestigativeJournalism #Accountability #WorkplaceSafety

The Mysterious Death of a Teen at Pillen Family Farms

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Leigh Esau, founder of the Foster Care Closet of Nebraska, joins the show to discuss the loss of state funding for her organization and what it means for children entering Nebraska’s foster care system. Esau explains how the Foster Care Closet works to restore dignity and choice for youth in crisis, and why meeting basic needs in the first hours of foster care can shape a child’s entire experience.

Learn more or support the Foster Care Closet: https://fostercarecloset.org/

Thumbnail Photo: Rebecca Marie Photography

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Support the show by becoming a ‘Friend of Dan’ on Patreon - https://patreon.com/thedanparsonsshow

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Additional music provided by friend of the show Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, support them at: https://www.joshhoyer.com/

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Connect with The Dan Parsons Show on Social Media:

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On the go? Listen to the audio version of The Dan Parsons Show at: https://shows.acast.com/the-dan-parsons-show

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#Nebraska #Omaha #Lincoln #FosterCare #HolidayGiving #Nonprofits

Foster Kids are Facing CRISIS in Nebraska | Foster Care Closet of Nebraska

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Former Nebraska State Senator Lynne Walz joins the show to discuss her newly formed exploratory committee and the statewide listening tour that could lead to a 2026 run for governor. Walz reflects on what she heard from voters across Nebraska, including concerns about education funding, property taxes, agriculture, health care, and the state’s looming budget deficit. She also talks about her background as an educator, her bipartisan leadership in the Legislature, and why she believes Nebraska needs to move away from division and toward opportunity, collaboration, and shared prosperity.

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Additional music provided by friend of the show Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, support them at: https://www.joshhoyer.com/

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Connect with The Dan Parsons Show on Social Media:

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#NebraskaPolitics #IndependentJournalism #Nebraska #Omaha #Lincoln #DanParsonsShow #Election2026 #LynneWalz #Rural #Healthcare

The Race for Nebraska Governor Officially Begins? | Lynne Walz

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Nebraska State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh joins the show to discuss being twice denied entry to the ICE detention facility in McCook... despite state law granting legislators access to correctional facilities at any time. Cavanaugh outlines what happened during her attempted visit, why she believes the governor’s administration is obstructing legislative oversight, and what this means for transparency, detainee treatment, and the separation of powers in Nebraska government. She also weighs in on the fate of the former work ethic camp, prison overcrowding, and the growing tension between the legislature and the Pillen administration ahead of a difficult budget session.

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Additional music provided by friend of the show Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, support them at: https://www.joshhoyer.com/

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—Chapters—

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#NebraskaPolitics #ICE #GovernmentOversight #Immigration #CivilRights #Transparency #PublicAccountability #NebraskaLegislature #IndependentJournalism #Nebraska #Omaha #Lincoln #DanParsonsShow

Nebraska Lawmaker BLOCKED From Visiting ICE Prison in McCook | Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh

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Former Nebraska State Senator and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Bob Krist returns to the show with blunt, unfiltered insight into two major unfolding stories: the alleged war-crime controversy surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump’s use of a slur targeting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Krist also weighs in on Nebraska’s 2026 governor’s race, the persistent rumors around Gov. Jim Pillen, and why he believes Former State Senator Lynn Walz could change election if she jumps in.

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Support the show by becoming a ‘Friend of Dan’ on Patreon - https://patreon.com/thedanparsonsshow

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Additional music provided by friend of the show Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, support them at: https://www.joshhoyer.com/

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—Chapters—

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#Nebraska#Omaha #Lincoln #Election2026 #Trump #Hegseth #News #DanParsonsShow #Podcast

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Entrepreneur and hemp-industry leader Tina Jones joins the show to break down misconceptions about the federal government’s new hemp provisions and why they won’t destroy Nebraska’s industrial hemp industry. Jones explains how the 2018 Farm Bill sparked the rise of CBD and intoxicating hemp products, why Congress is now moving to restrict them, and how this shift could actually accelerate growth in non-consumable hemp sectors. She also highlights Nebraska’s emerging decortication facility near McCook, the surge in demand for hemp-based construction materials like hemp-lime and hempcrete, and her new collaboration with the UNL College of Architecture to teach the next generation of natural-building innovators.

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Support the show by becoming a ‘Friend of Dan’ on Patreon - https://patreon.com/thedanparsonsshow

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Additional music provided by friend of the show Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, support them at: https://www.joshhoyer.com/

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This show is also brought to you by the Nebraska Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), creating a brighter future for horse racing in Nebraska. Learn more at: http://www.nebraskahorsemen.com

If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, help is available. Call 1-833-BETOVER (238-6837) or visit https://problemgambling.nebraska.gov/

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#Nebraska #News #DanParsonsShow #Omaha #Lincoln #Podcast #HempIndustry #IndustrialHemp #HempCrete

Is Hemp Really Getting Banned? Here’s the Truth.

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