Merry Christmas!

Ok everybody. Any Christmas group activities you can tell us about? Do you have yearly board game competitions in your family? Do you play charades or go caroling in your neighborhood? (These are fun to read, but they also may give us some ideas for stuff to do with extended family in town!).

This is awful news. My thoughts are with Ben Sasse and his family. Ben had an independent spirit and wasn't afraid to buck the party line when he thought it mattered. The letter he wrote is full of strength and dignity. It takes real courage to face news like this with that kind of grace.

Want to know why I talk about MONOPOLIES all the time? This is why. 👇

When Pete Ricketts was Governor of Nebraska, he signed an OFFICIAL government proclamation declaring January “Human Trafficking Awareness Month" In September of this year, Ricketts voted to BLOCK releasing the Epstein files. Only after massive public backlash did he change his position in November.

The DOJ was supposed to release the Epstein Files today. Worth remembering: in September, Pete Ricketts voted to BLOCK releasing these files. Only after massive public pressure did he change his position in November.

“I’m not sure what Pete is smoking, since it’s apparently not weed, but these 1930s-style scare tactics and the prohibition of cannabis has only harmed patients and caregivers,” Osborn said Thursday in a campaign statement. “Grow up, Pete.”

Just yesterday, 22 Senators signed on to a letter to try to STOP Trump’s order to re-schedule marijuana as a Schedule III Drug. And guess who proudly signed on to this archaic letter? My opponent Pete Ricketts.

I know times are hard & money is tight for many right now, but if you're able, there's a nonprofit in Lexington taking donations for workers affected by the Tyson closure. Donations cover rent or mortgage payments, food, healthcare, & utilities. 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to people.

Here's former FTC Chair Lina Khan on The Adam Friedland Show talking about consolidation in agriculture. When chicken farmers only have one or two buyers like Tyson, those companies can rig prices and control everything.

Here's antitrust attorney Basel Musharbash on Tyson's closure of their plant in Lexington, NE. Basel is an antitrust attorney who has represented farmers in litigation against meat processors under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Watch and learn. 👍

The Ricketts machine is obstructing medical marijuana so badly, their own obstruction is going to lead to lawsuits. Guess who pays for those lawsuits when the commission gets sued? YOU DO. Nebraska taxpayers. This is fiscal irresponsibility at its worst.

Regulating medical cannabis AS PASSED BY THE PEOPLE would have created an estimated $925 million economic activity by 2030.

The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission is stacked with Ricketts/Pillen appointees whose job is to STRANGLE medical marijuana with regulations. This is what billionaires do when they lose at the ballot box. They rig the system.

I strongly agree with President Trump that marijuana should be reclassified as a Schedule III drug. This would remove government regulations that have prevented us from learning more about the drug and prevented families from getting the treatment they need.

Packer Pete stands with Tyson.

Ricketts keeps saying he’s treating the Tyson closure as a "natural disaster," but this disaster was created by unchecked corporate greed and a lack of leaders who are willing to enforce the antitrust laws we already have on the books.

Pete Ricketts has never meaningfully challenged the stranglehold the Big 4 Meatpackers have in Nebraska.

Pete Ricketts has taken over $70,000 in campaign contributions from Tyson Foods.

We are forcing Pete Ricketts to do his job. Yesterday, Ricketts was asked about the Packers and Stockyards Act, and he said his “team is looking at any allegation of wrongdoing” by Tyson.

"Tyson isn’t selling this plant to a competitor, they are closing it, destroying five percent of America’s beef processing capacity,” said Osborn"

"I want to be out here talking to the workers and advocating for them, because nobody’s advocating for them and holding Tyson responsible… Nobody on the top ever takes cuts. It always comes from the bottom. It always comes from the people who help put food on people’s tables every day.”

“Osborn described the Tyson plant closure as nothing more than “market manipulation” and “a move to funnel more profit into an already multi-billion dollar industry”.

"The law has clearly been broken, so pick up the damn phone and get the USDA to enforce it," said Senate candidate Dan Osborn in Lexington, criticizing Tyson’s plant closure and urging Nebraska officials to take action." (Report from News Channel Nebraska)

We had a press conference in Lexington today to talk about the Tyson plant closure and demand enforcement of antitrust law. 3,200 workers are losing their jobs while Tyson manipulates the market. You can watch the thing here.👇 www.youtube.com/live/Uxadr9U...

Let me tell you what happened the week Tyson announced it was laying off 3,200 workers from its plant in Lexington, NE. -Beef packer profits hit HIGHEST level since 2022 -Tyson stock went UP 7% -Cattle prices for ranchers went DOWN 3.4% -Beef prices near RECORD HIGHS See how this system works yet?

I'm holding a press conference today at 11 A.M. CST to discuss Tyson’s decision to close their Lexington plant and how this closure will devastate lives, not just the 3,200 Tyson workers losing their jobs, but every business and family in Lexington who will be impacted.

After Tyson announced 3,200 layoffs, beef packer profits hit their HIGHEST level since August 2022. This is not a coincidence. This is how monopolies work. Less competition = more profits for Tyson, less money for ranchers, and no jobs for workers. Enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act.

This headline says so much…

Tyson Foods over the last few months: • Approved 43 MILLION shares in stock buybacks • Spent $196 million buying back its own stock to juice up the price • Announced closure of Lexington plant: 3,200 workers in a town of 11,000 people Then what happened?

What happened the week Tyson announced it was laying off 3,200 workers from its plant in Lexington, NE? The profits from the Big 4 Meatpackers hit their HIGHEST level since 2022. This is what a cartel looks like.

Being a peace officer that serves and protects this great city is one of the hardest and selfless roles in our society. My heart goes out to the officers who put on the uniform and protect us. My thoughts are with their families right now.

Watch the whole thing. It's about Nebraska.

Great conversation with Paul Hughes in studio at WJAG in Norfolk this morning. Catch my interview Monday morning on 105.9 FM!

In a competitive food system, a meatpacker like Tyson would try to SELL a plant rather than close it. But Tyson DOESN’T want to sell to a competitor! They want to retain as much monopoly power as possible. Listen to Tyson’s own words, it wants to “right-size” its business...

THIS. 👇

We’ve become so desensitized to acts of corruption by our elected officials. The rules and “punishments” we dole out are wholly inadequate. Ban members of Congress for trading stocks. Send them to jail if they get caught doing it.

If a member of Congress gets caught trading stock, I don’t believe they should get a slap on the wrist or a paltry fine. The punishment should fit the crime. I believe they should be sent to jail.

Not only do I think there should be a BAN on congressional stock trading, I think members of Congress caught trading stock should go to jail if they violate the ban. If Martha Stewart should have to do jail time, our elected officials should face a punishment worse than America’s Mom.

According to Forbes, Pete Ricketts #Nebraska families wealth is up 32 million. Huh, those tax breaks must be nice. @osbornforne.bsky.social

Comment of the day. 👇

The people of Lexington shouldn't be casualties of Tyson's market manipulation. If you work at that plant or will be impacted by this closure in some other way, I want to hear your story. Comment or send us a direct message. We will keep all private messages private.

We can’t expect Tyson to help Nebraskans out of the “goodness of their hearts.” We’ve seen this story before. In 2006, Tyson closed a plant in Norfolk, NE. At the time, they made sure it could not be used as a meat-packing plant. Almost 20 years later, that plant is STILL empty. Monopoly 101.

Meat Packers SHOULDN’T have undue market power to completely control and throttle ranchers.

Want to know what a monopolized food system looks like? Tyson shutting down a plant in Lexington, Nebraska during a period of record high beef prices when demand for beef is sky high.

Dear Tyson workers in Lexington, Nebraska. I am NOT going to give you hollow “thoughts and prayers” that do absolutely nothing. I’m going to fight like hell to keep your jobs. More soon, Dan Osborn

I believe Tyson's decision to shut down its Lexington plant instead of selling it is a PLOY to manipulate cattle and beef markets in violation of our antitrust laws. 🧵

“Thanksgiving and football. Some things just go together greatly.” – John Madden I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Today, I’m incredibly thankful to all of the kind, inspiring people I’ve met on this crazy journey. I hope you have great day with loved ones. 🙏

The same executives that just fired 3,200 workers in Lexington a week before Thanksgiving collected $14.4 Million in bonus pay last year. talkbusiness.net/2024/12/tyso...