Former U.S. Senator from Nebraska Ben Sasse, 54, is battling terminal pancreatic cancer. Despite a grim initial prognosis, a modern clinical trial drug is providing him with extended time to voice his concerns regarding the state of American politics and the future of the country.
A Medical Breakthrough and a Terminal Diagnosis
Sasse was given a life expectancy of three to four months in mid-December. His cancer had metastasized, resulting in what he describes as five cancers, including lung, vascular, and liver cancer.
He is currently participating in a clinical trial for a drug called daraxonrasib, developed by Revolution Medicines. The therapy works by blocking a defective gene that signals cancer cells to grow without stopping.
Sasse reports a 76% reduction in tumor volume and significantly less pain since starting the treatment. Data from the drug maker indicates that patients who previously had six months to live survived a median of 13 months.
A Call for Political Reason
A conservative Republican with a PhD in American history, Sasse is using his remaining time to advocate for a return to deliberative governance. He argues that the U.S. Senate has become too much like “Instagram,” serving as a backdrop for sound bites rather than a place for steady, boring, and trustworthy work.
Sasse believes the fundamental political community should be the neighborhood, city hall, or state legislature, rather than a federal political tribe. He suggests that national political dysfunction is an echo of a larger problem: the existence of “thin, shallow community” in America.
He has specifically called for the regulation of artificial intelligence and a national conversation on the disruption of work. Sasse warns that the digital revolution is routinizing economic activity, meaning future generations can no longer assume job stability until retirement.
Legacy and Personal Reflection
Sasse’s career has been marked by independent thought. He was one of seven Republicans who voted to convict during Donald Trump’s impeachment following January 6, a move that offended the Nebraska Republican Committee.
In 2023, Sasse resigned from the Senate with four years left in his term to become the president of the University of Florida. He cited a lack of substance in the Senate and a desire to spend more time with his wife, Melissa, and their three children.
A follower of reformed Christianity, or Calvinism, Sasse views his diagnosis as a “touch of grace” that forces him to be truthful about his own brokenness and the finite nature of life.
Future Outlook
As Sasse continues his treatment, he may continue to use his platform to push for institutional reforms in Washington. The success of the daraxonrasib trial could potentially lead to new standards of care for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
While Sasse acknowledges that he is unlikely to walk his daughters down the aisle or be present for his 14-year-old son’s transition into adulthood, he maintains that “Notice no maverick molecules in the universe” and trusts in a divine plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is daraxonrasib and how does it help?
Daraxonrasib is a drug in a clinical trial that blocks a defective gene signaling cells to grow nonstop. In Ben Sasse’s case, it has led to a 76% reduction in tumor volume and a decrease in pain.
Why did Ben Sasse leave the U.S. Senate in 2023?
Sasse resigned to become the president of the University of Florida because he felt there was too little substance in the Senate and he had been too absent from his wife and three children.
What does Sasse believe is wrong with the current U.S. Senate?
He believes the Senate has become a platform for sound bites and “smack-down nonsense” due to the prevalence of cameras. He argues it should be more deliberative, plodding, and trustworthy.
Do you believe the U.S. Senate should limit the use of cameras to encourage more deliberative, less performative politics?
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