The Dan Parsons Show

A new statewide poll shows growing dissatisfaction among Nebraskans, with two-thirds saying the state is on the wrong track. Dr. Rebecca Firestone of OpenSky Policy Institute and Hadley Richters of the Holland Children’s Institute join the show to break down what’s driving those concerns and how it could shape policy debates ahead of the 2026 elections. The conversation explores affordability...

The first episode of "Dan on the Road" is here! Hit the road with Dan as we travel to Norfolk, Nebraska to explore for ourselves what's behind the worst financial crisis in American agriculture since the '80s. Along the way we meet a wide array of folks from family farmers to politicians. You might see some Dan Parsons Show familiar faces along the way. Previous Dan Parsons Show Guest Appearances:...

In this episode Janell Folkerts, a self-proclaimed “Patriot Hippie” and former MAGA supporter who voted for Trump three times in past elections, joins us to discuss her frustrations with the current administration and why they’re losing support. As a staunch supporter of the military, she talks about her disapproval of U.S. involvement in the conflict with Iran. We also discuss her disappointment...

Democratic congressional candidate Denise Powell joins the show to discuss the state of the race in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District as a crowded primary field competes for one of the most closely watched seats in the country. Powell outlines how she plans to build a coalition across party lines and distinguishes herself in the field, while also weighing in on key issues including rising cost...

The first episode of "Dan on the Road" is here! In this episode, we travel to Norfolk, Nebraska to explore for ourselves what's behind the worst financial crisis in American agriculture since the '80s. You don't want to miss this investigative piece now on Patreon! Full episode now live on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thedanparsonsshow ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ Additional music provided by friend of the show Jos...

Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District candidate Crystal Rhoades joins the show as the race heads toward the May 12 primary. Rhoades reacts to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its economic impact on American households, including rising gas prices and broader cost-of-living concerns. She also discusses the key issues driving voters in the district, including affordability and the role of...

Former Nebraska Chamber of Commerce president Bryan Slone returns to the show to discuss the economic challenges facing Nebraska and the policies shaping the state’s future. Slone shares his perspective on workforce shortages, population decline, and the ongoing “brain drain” impacting communities across the state. He also weighs in on the 2026 political landscape, in...

Retired U.S. Navy veteran and Democratic congressional candidate Kishla Askins returns to the show to discuss the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the role of Congress in authorizing military force. Askins, who served in combat roles in both Iraq and Afghanistan, shares her perspective on the strategic and constitutional questions surrounding the war. We also cover Askins’ campaign for N...

Nebraska State Senator John Cavanaugh returns to the show as his campaign for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District gets underway. He brings special guest Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), who recently endorsed him in the crowded NE-02 Democratic primary race. Cavanaugh reacts to the United States and Israel’s recent military strikes on Iran and discusses the role of Congress in authorizing military force....

Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former Nebraska State Senator Bob Krist returns to the show to discuss the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Drawing on his experience during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, Krist offers his perspective on the military strategy behind the current operations, the risks of a prolonged regional war, and...

Nebraska Farmers Union President (and Dan Parsons Show fan-favorite) John Hansen returns to the show to react to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision limiting President Trump’s use of tariffs. Hansen also discusses the impact of the ongoing trade war on American agriculture, including a projected $47 billion agricultural trade deficit and mounting financial pressure on farmers heading int...

Dr. Marilyn Moore—longtime educator, retired Lincoln Public Schools associate superintendent, and former president of Bryan College of Health Sciences—joins the show to discuss why she publicly called on Governor Jim Pillen to reconsider his recent rhetoric. After the governor used the derogatory term "libt*rd" during a telephone town hall and later labeled a Lincoln Public Schools position as “wo...

Former Nebraska First Lady Susanne Shore joins the show to announce her candidacy for the Omaha-based District 4 seat on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Shore talks about her background in higher education and health care, her years as First Lady (wife of Pete Ricketts, now U.S. Senator for Nebraska), and why she says the university is at a “critical point.” We also dive into the impa...

Flatwater Free Press investigative reporter Henry Cordes joins the show to discuss a new Nebraska law championed by Gov. Jim Pillen that was intended to get tough on China... but may now threaten billions in state tax incentives and thousands of jobs. He explains the history of Nebraska’s business recruitment programs, the unintended consequences of the new law, and what it could mean for future e...

Nebraska Immigration attorneys Allison Heimes and Tasha Afkham join the show to examine the current state of U.S. immigration policy and enforcement. Hymas and Afkam explain how changes in administrative procedure, asylum processing, and appeals pathways are shaping outcomes in immigration courts... and the role Congress and the federal judiciary may play in the years ahea...

Nebraska State Sen. Megan Hunt joins the show to discuss a confrontation on the legislative floor that derailed debate on a recent bill addressing anti-Semitism training in schools. Hunt describes the exchange, discusses whether she plans to file a formal complaint, and what it reveals about decorum (or lack thereof) in the Unicameral. The District 8 lawmaker also shares her thoughts on a recent a...

Dr. Jeremy Hosein, a Lincoln neurosurgeon and candidate for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, joins the show to discuss the challenges facing higher education in the state, including budget pressures, workforce shortages, and Nebraska’s ongoing brain drain concerns. Hosine outlines his view that the university must better demonstrate its value to lawmakers and communities while preparin...

Former Nebraska State Senator John Stinner joins the show to discuss his recent Nebraska Examiner column challenging claims that the state is facing a true budget crisis. A former chair of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, Stenner breaks down why the projected $472 million shortfall is not a revenue problem, but the result of policy choices, heavy reliance on one-time money, and the remo...

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...

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...

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 R...

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 informa...

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 oversi...

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...

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 backg...