Osborn's leaked audio
News · Heat 1.1 / 10 · 3 shows · 10m airtime
The Omaha World Herald published leaked audio on October 6 in which Nebraska Senate independent Dan Osborn says rural Nebraskans' lives suck and they vote for Donald Trump to feel like winners. Osborn has apologized, and he says about 70 people came to a Red Cloud town hall where residents were not deeply offended. Ricketts has separately said Osborn told Nebraska's Black and Latino Democrat caucus the border wall is racist, and Trump is set to rally in Grand Island with Ricketts and the governor. The race turns on whether the apology holds rural support against a presidential visit.
How 3 podcasts covered it
- The Fox News Rundown, 2026-09-28 (12:17 to 13:32)
Lists Ricketts's flip-flop charges against Osborn
Ricketts, in his own words, adds a slate of flip-flop charges against Osborn - the border wall, ICE, red flag laws, transgender sports - and folds in the rural Nebraskans remark as one item on the list.
New angle: Ricketts says Osborn told Nebraska's Black and Latino Democrat caucus the border wall is racist. - The NPR Politics Podcast, 2026-10-06 (5:22 to 7:11)
Recaps the leaked audio and the Nebraska race
Turns to Nebraska's Senate race and the leaked audio of independent Dan Osborn disparaging rural voters, plus Trump's planned Grand Island rally with Pete Ricketts.
New angle: Leaked audio captures Osborn saying rural Nebraskans' lives suck and they vote Trump to feel like winners. - The NPR Politics Podcast, 2026-10-06 (8:39 to 10:52)
Adds Osborn's apology and Trump's rally
Adds the response side of the Osborn tape: the CNN interview where he calls it colorful language and denies meaning their lives suck, the Red Cloud town hall apology, and Trump's Monday Grand Island rally with Ricketts.
New angle: Trump is set to rally in Grand Island on Monday with Ricketts and the governor. - What Next, 2026-10-19 (25:00 to 29:52)
Puts the leaked audio to Osborn directly
Puts the leaked audio to Osborn directly. He says the Red Cloud town hall drew about 70 people and that residents told him they were not deeply offended, and he credits Ricketts's $40 million campaign with turning the clip into a mountain.
New angle: Osborn says about 70 people came to the Red Cloud town hall and residents there were not deeply offended.