Ben Sasse would like a final word. At 54, the former U.S. senator from Nebraska is dying of pancreatic cancer. A new drug has given him extra time — time he’s using to appeal for “bigger stuff” in Washington and to focus on faith, community and family.
Sasse, a conservative Republican known for independent thought and an academic background in American history, says a terminal diagnosis sharpens focus. “We’re all always on the clock,” he told Scott Pelley. Knowing time is finite becomes “an opportunity to talk about bigger stuff.” He said the diagnosis forces honesty about priorities: the best roles in life are not political titles but being a parent, spouse, neighbor and friend.
On policy and politics, Sasse argued that both parties lack long-term ideas about national security, the future of work and institution building for 2030 and 2050. He urged Congress to confront the digital revolution’s disruption of work — the routinization of tasks and the rapid collapse of lifetime careers — and to regulate artificial intelligence before it overwhelms society. He criticized headline-driven politics and the way the modern Senate has been reshaped into a platform for soundbites, saying the institution should be “plodding and steady and boring and trustworthy.”
Sasse described himself as a Republican in the Lincoln–Reagan tradition that sees political life rooted in neighborhood, city hall and state legislatures more than in federal tribal politics. He lamented that when politics becomes the primary identity for many, it crowds out other commitments that make life meaningful.
Reflecting on his Senate career, Sasse noted he tried to stay connected to everyday people — working odd jobs during recesses and interacting with Nebraskans to remain grounded. He left the Senate in 2023 with four years left in his term to become president of the University of Florida, citing family reasons and dissatisfaction with the lack of substantive legislative work.
Sasse’s public stands, including his criticism of the “screamers who monetize hate” and his vote to convict former President Donald Trump in the second impeachment over January 6, made him controversial in his party. He said he pushed back against personality cults, conspiracy theories and claims that elections were stolen, arguing those things are not conservative values.
Colleagues remembered him as someone who thought beyond partisan labels. Democrat Mark Warner praised Sasse’s future-focused thinking; Republican John Thune called him “an example of what the Senate should be,” noting his concern for institution-building and for the long term.
Diagnosis and treatment
In mid-December, Sasse was told he had three to four months to live. He has metastatic pancreatic-origin cancer affecting his liver, lungs and vascular system — “I’ve got five cancers,” he said. He is part of a clinical trial for daraxonrasib, an experimental drug made by Revolution Medicines that targets a defective gene signal driving unchecked tumor growth. Sasse said the drug produced “a massive 76% reduction in tumor volume over the last four months” and has reduced his pain significantly from the time of diagnosis.
Revolution Medicines reported that patients on the drug who survived six months had a median survival of 13 months, offering cautious optimism. Sasse said providence, prayer and the drug have extended his time.
Faith and family
Sasse is an ardent believer in reformed Christianity (Calvinism) and framed his illness in theological terms: “Death is wicked. Death is evil. Death is not how it’s supposed to be.” Still, he called the diagnosis “a touch of grace” that forces him to tell the truth about himself — to admit limits, stop pretending to be omnipotent and focus on what matters.
He spoke warmly of his wife, Melissa, whom he described as “tough and gritty and theologically rooted.” They have been married 31 years. The couple have three children: two adult daughters, 24 and 22, and a son who is 14. Sasse said he regrets that he will probably not walk his daughters down the aisle and that he will miss many of his son’s key teenage moments. He said he wants to give his son advice and be present as his shoulders get broader. Yet he also said these losses make more sense in the context of his faith: “It’s not a surprise to God.”
On legacy and priorities
Sasse warned about the dangers of defining one’s identity solely by political title: many public servants think their highest calling is their office — senator or representative — and he called that view “bull.” He argued that titles are ways to serve, but they should not displace family and community as first priorities.
Sasse urged rebuilding neighbor-to-neighbor community, healing the brokenness of politics and taking the digital revolution seriously. He believes Congress is failing to wrestle with the most fundamental questions about work and institutions, leaving younger generations unprepared for a future where routine economic tasks will be automated or fundamentally changed.
Despite the personal hardships, Pelley found Sasse “insightful, passionate and hopeful.” Sasse described himself as still loving America and interested in discussing “big and meaty things” — national strategy, the future of work, community life, the governance of new technologies — while also cherishing immediate family and spiritual life.
Clinical trial and outlook
Sasse emphasized the role of the clinical trial and the drug in extending his time and quality of life. He said he has much less pain than four months ago and that the tumor reduction has been substantial. He framed the additional time as an opportunity to speak about “bigger stuff,” to encourage institution-building, and to reflect on what a good public life looks like.
Final reflections
Sasse said the diagnosis forces greater honesty and fewer illusions about personal centrality. He said he hates cancer but is grateful for the clarity it has brought about what’s most important: truth-telling, relationships, faith and work that has real substance. He urged a politics that emphasizes neighborhood and civic institutions over national tribalism and called for regulation of technologies powerful enough to reshape work and society.
More from Ben Sasse and Scott Pelley appeared in a CBS News “Things That Matter” conversation, and the interview aired as part of 60 Minutes coverage.