Nebraska rancher, businessman and former independent U.S. Senate candidate Jim Jenkins joins Dan Parsons for a candid conversation about the growing pressure on Nebraska agriculture, and why he believes the state’s political leaders aren’t doing enough about it.
Jenkins argues that President Trump’s sweeping tariffs amount to a massive tax on American businesses and consumers, driving up costs for farmers and ranchers while threatening Nebraska’s export-dependent agricultural economy. He also explains how tariffs have affected his own ranch and a family business, and questions why Nebraska’s congressional delegation has largely allowed the president to set tariff policy without stronger congressional oversight.
The conversation also turns to Trump’s efforts to bring down beef prices through increased imports, the Pete Ricketts–Dan Osborn Senate race, and Jenkins’ belief that Nebraska needs more political competition and leaders willing to put governing ahead of party loyalty.
Jenkins knows something about challenging the two-party system. In 2014, he ran for U.S. Senate as an independent, sharing the debate stage with Republican Ben Sasse and Democrat Dave Domina. Twelve years later, independent candidates and new political parties are playing an increasingly prominent role in Nebraska politics.
His message to Nebraska’s political establishment today is pointed: “You are not doing the job right now, my friends.”
A wide-ranging conversation about tariffs, beef, agriculture, independent politics and the kind of leadership Jenkins believes Nebraska needs.
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