The Dan Parsons Show

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 tra...

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 P...

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 i...

Nebraska state government reporter Andrew Wegley of the Lincoln Journal Star joins the show to break down his scoop on the “Dove Caucus” memo, staff-driven efforts to push biblical values legislation, and what it all means for the independence of the Unicameral. Wegley also looks ahead to Nebraska’s high-stakes 2026 races (CD2, governor, and U.S. Senate), talks about the medical marijuana fight an...

Alex Pecoraro, prevention strategist with the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, joins the show to break down the survivor-centered realities behind the Epstein case and the patterns of grooming, coercion, and silence that advocates see every day. Pecoraro also discusses Nebraska’s rates of sexual and domestic violence, the barriers survivors face when seeking help, and how co...

Nebraska rancher, entrepreneur, and former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Jenkins joins the show to talk about the ripple effects of federal trade, tariff, and immigration policies on the state’s agriculture and economy. Jenkins also weighs in on the Trump administration’s recent decision to import beef from Argentina, the role of immigrants in Nebraska’s workforce, and how partisanship is reshaping po...

Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek, independent candidate for District 4 in the Nebraska Legislature, joins the show to discuss her campaign and mission to restore nonpartisan leadership in the Unicameral. Maxwell-Ostdiek shares what she learned from her 2022 race, discusses how she plans to address the state’s $451 million budget shortfall, the ongoing SNAP funding crisis, and the legislature’s failure to uph...

Former state senator and current Omaha Chamber CEO Heath Mello joins the show to discuss how the federal government shutdown is impacting Omaha’s economy, Eppley Airfield, and local businesses. Mello also weighs in on deep budget cuts facing the University of Nebraska, the Chamber’s new “Omaha Competes” initiative, and how brain drain, workforce development, and public policy will shape Nebraska’s...

Nebraska State Sen. George Dungan (District 26) joins the show to discuss the growing controversy surrounding Sen. Dan McEwen, the state’s ballooning $451 million budget shortfall, and his push for more equitable tax policy. Dungan also weighs in on Nebraska’s redistricting process amid national partisan map wars, defends voter-approved ballot initiatives, and outlines his priorities as he seeks r...

Omaha Mayor John Ewing returns to the show to discuss his administration’s compassionate approach to addressing homelessness following the City Council’s rejection of a public encampment ban. Ewing also outlines Omaha’s response to the federal government shutdown and SNAP benefit delays, weighs in on the North Omaha OPPD plant legal debacle, and reflects on the city’s growing excitement for the Ma...

Attorney General John Cartier of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska joins the show with breaking news the tribe says no other outlet has yet covered. Cartier details how the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office abruptly withdrew from ongoing negotiations over a tribal tobacco-tax compact—just hours before the tribe’s first Cannabis Commission meeting—after learning of the tribe’s plan to enter the state’s...

Attorney and election reform advocate Wes Dodge joins the show to discuss Nebraska’s voter data privacy battle with the Trump administration, the push for open primaries and ranked-choice voting, and how money and dark influence shape politics in the Cornhusker State. Dodge, who serves on the boards of Common Cause Nebraska and Better Ballots Nebraska, also weighs in on the Dan Osborn campaign and...

Nebraskans have been let down once again by the Nebraska Cannabis Commission. In this Go Fact Yourself episode (Dan on the Street edition) Dan takes to the streets to interview politicians, advocates and patients to get their reactions to new strict regulations recently proposed. ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ Support the show by becoming a ‘Friend of Dan’ on Patreon - https://patreon.com/thedanparsonsshow ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻...

Congressman Don Bacon returns to the show to talk about the ongoing government shutdown, Trump’s new tariff push, and why he believes Congress must reclaim its war powers. We also discuss fentanyl and addiction—issues Bacon says hit close to home—along with foreign policy toward Ukraine, military vacancies, and the looming release of the Epstein files. ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ Support the show by becoming a ‘Fr...

A rowdy, packed live show at Sideshow Speakeasy for our 100th episode. Sen. Danielle Conrad and GOP consultant Ryan Horn dive into immigration, state oversight, free speech, and the CD2 knife-fight. Then Flatwater Free Press’ Matt Wynn flips the script and grills Dan about media, politics, and building this pod. Truth over tribalism—uncut. ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ Support the show by becoming a ‘Friend of Dan’...

The federal government is shutdown. In this episode, we welcome Dr. Rebecca Firestone, Executive Director of the Lincoln-based non-profit think-tank OpenSky Policy Institute, to help us breakdown the impact on Nebraska—including layoffs, SNAP benefits, rural hospitals, ACA tax credits, and more. ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ For more analysis from OpenSky, visit: https://www.openskypolicy.org/ ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ Support the...

Nebraska State Sen. John Cavanaugh (District 9) returns to the show to break down why he formally challenged the Medical Cannabis Commission’s new rules—arguing they override what voters clearly passed in 2024. We also touch on his 2026 run for Congress, including the current government shutdown, concerns for rural hospitals, tariffs, and more. ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ For more information on Sen. Cavanaugh's c...

State Sen. John Fredrickson (District 20) makes his first appearance on The Dan Parsons Show to talk about his re-election campaign, property tax reform, protecting Nebraskans’ voice on ballot initiatives, the threat of mid-decade redistricting, and the future of higher education funding in Nebraska. ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ For more information on Sen. Fredrickson's re-election campaign, visit https://www.john...

President Trump’s new claim that Tylenol use during pregnancy may cause autism sent shockwaves across the country—but is there any science behind it? Dr. Bob Rauner returns to the show to break down the data, debunk the misinformation, and explain why this announcement may do more harm than good. From pregnancy panic to vaccine confusion ahead of cold and flu season, Dr. Bob gives us clear, scienc...

Eric Moyer, candidate for Congress in Nebraska’s 1st District, joins the show to talk about why he’s running, the state of political discourse, and the issues he says matter most to working families. From immigration and tariffs to the “Big Beautiful Bill” and the Epstein files, Moyer lays out his case for change — and his strategy to take on Rep. Mike Flood in a safely Republican district. ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻...

BREAKING: Governor Jim Pillen signed off Thursday on harsh new medical cannabis restrictions. Fan favorite Crista Eggers—executive director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana—returns to The Dan Parsons Show to rip into the governor’s plant caps, limited licenses, and what she calls a deliberate attempt to “suffocate the program on purpose.” We dig into what this means for patients, how the state...

The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska has become the first government in the state to fully legalize and regulate medical cannabis — with plans to create a safe, functioning program by early next year. The Tribe's Attorney General John Cartier returns to the show to explain how the tribe used its sovereignty to bypass state obstruction, why this matters for patients who’ve been waiting years for relief, and...

Congressman Don Bacon says he supports releasing the Epstein files... but his vote for a non-binding resolution has left critics questioning whether Congress is protecting the powerful instead of delivering justice. In this GO FACT YOURSELF - Fact of the Week, we break down the difference between Bacon’s resolution and a discharge petition, the oversight committee’s subpoena power, and what’s real...

Nebraska’s Rep. Don Bacon returns to react to President Trump's trade war hitting home in Nebraska, recent developments in Russia's assault on Ukraine, and how the White House is falling short. We also dig into the bungled Epstein-files rollout, and lastly, Bacon's recent decision not to seek re-election and what he hopes to work on next—all after a little Husker talk to kick things off. ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻...

Nebraska State Senator Margo Juarez joins the show to discuss her opposition to the proposed ICE detention facility in McCook—dubbed the "Cornhusker Clink"—calling for “policy, not punishment” in the state's approach to immigration. She shares concerns about transparency, oversight, and the impact on families and Nebraska’s overcrowded prison system. Senator Juarez also talks about her interim stu...