Dan Osborn Speaks to Soros-Backed Group, Asks Press to Be Removed From Room

by Matt Johnson

(Photo credit Matt Johnson)

OMAHA — On Wednesday evening, Independent U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn was the guest speaker at the August meeting of Indivisible Nebraska, a progressive organization aligned with the national Indivisible network. Approximately 12 to 16 guests were in attendance.

Osborn has positioned himself as unaffiliated with either major party, but the group, which began in 2016 as “Indivisible Nebraskans,” was formed in direct response to President Trump’s election. The broader Indivisible network has received significant funding from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations and the Tides Foundation.

The organization has supported Democratic Socialists through its associated PACs and groups, including Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed this cycle in Michigan’s Senate Race, Zohran Mamdani in his run for New York City mayor, and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The larger umbrella organization also supported defunding the police in 2020.

At the event, Osborn said he appreciated the group’s “nonpartisan and neutrality.” He also did not want the press to be present to cover the event.

No Press Allowed

Shortly after Osborn arrived, a staff member told The Plains Sentinel that the event was not open to the media—a “preference” of both Dan Osborn and Indivisible Nebraska.

The event description stated specifically, “Indivisible Nebraska monthly meetings are open to all.” The Indivisible network has long championed First Amendment rights through public statements and in its protest work.

While The Plains Sentinel reporter agreed to leave the room, another guest provided audio of the event afterward.

Osborn opened his remarks by attacking The Plains Sentinel as “fake” news, a line popularized by President Donald Trump and used by many populist political figures.

Osborn has previously attacked coverage by The Plains Sentinel for covering remarks he made this summer at a public town hall, where he suggested a 5-year mental health evaluation for gun owners to re-register “assault-style” weapons.

His campaign has generally allowed press access to his town halls and rallies, but has on multiple occasions blocked reporters’ access to public events without prior notice.

Political Independence and Working with Both Sides

Much of Osborn’s talk centered on his standard campaign pitch of being a blue-collar mechanic running against a “country club for the uber wealthy.”

Osborn likened himself to other independents running across the country—Todd Achilles in Idaho, Brian Bengs in South Dakota, and Seth Bodnar in Montana—all of whom are running against incumbent Republicans. And like Cindy Burbank in Nebraska, Democratic candidates in South Dakota and Idaho have withdrawn from their races.

Osborn also pointed out that the U.S. Senate already has two independent members—Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine—both of whom caucus with Democrats.

One attendee was concerned Osborn would be a candidate like Jon Tester of Montana, describing him as “a Democrat who votes consistently with the Republican platform.”

Osborn responded by indicating that even a broken clock is right twice a day, and that included President Trump.

“He ordered the DOJ to investigate the Big Four meatpackers, right? To break up that monopoly. Been preaching that from day one. That’s a great idea. So why wouldn’t I work with that party to try to implement something like that, that I know is going to be good for workers in Nebraska?”

Issues with ICE

Osborn also spoke on the importance of speaking to people across the political aisle, sharing a story of a man with a pro-Trump T-shirt that read “I’d rather vote for the Felon.”

“He’s probably from a small town. He’s probably never been out of that town. He probably gets one source of information and it gets echoed at the bar at night and the coffee shop in the morning,” Osborn said. “So when he tells me that a Democrat is somebody that wants to take his hard-earned tax dollars and give it to somebody here illegally, I hear, okay, here’s a person who’s probably fiscally responsible.”

Osborn went on to criticize ICE spending.

“We could talk about government waste, and I can turn that right back around on ICE, and the fact that they’re spending $80 billion for a budget that they’ve performed their same mission off of $70 billion through multiple administrations. Right? Can’t argue with that. That’s wasteful.”

Indivisible Nebraska regularly participates in “ICE Out” protests at the ICE detention center in Council Bluffs with the left-leaning protest group 50501. On their website, they also promote the campaign “ICE Out for Good,” which includes this message on its affiliated site:

“We must demand all Members—especially our Democratic senators—refuse to give ICE one more penny of taxpayer money or vote for any funding bill that doesn’t get ICE and Border Patrol out of our cities.”

Osborn expressed willingness to work across the aisle, but also indicated that being elected to the U.S. Senate meant “accountability” for members of the Trump administration, specifically for issues involving ICE.

“When I go there in November, it’s about accountability, and it’s holding people accountable for the crap that they have done, from ‘ICE Barbie’ [Kristi Noem] to Pam Bondi to the Epstein files to all the things. And if they broke the law, I’m happy to sit on that Senate hearing committee and find them guilty.”

The Campaign Continues

While polls show a tight race between Ricketts and Osborn, with some Osborn internal polling showing he has a slight lead, betting markets are skeptical that Osborn will flip the seat, giving Ricketts an edge of 75% or more.

Osborn is currently campaigning around the state, aiming to hold events in all 93 of Nebraska’s counties. There is no clear indication, however, as to which ones will allow media access and which will not.

— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.