Fmr. Sen. Ben Sasse reveals cancer diagnosis has drawn him closer to God, warns about digital revolution
April 29, 2026
Former Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska says he’s now much closer to God following his diagnosis with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and says he expects to live a little longer thanks to “providence, prayer and a miracle drug.”
The Christian Post reports that who Sasse, who quit the Senate in 2023 with four years left in his second term, shared thoughts about his faith, family, politics and the future of the country in an interview with Scott Pelley on “60 Minutes” broadcast on Sunday.
During that interview, Sasse said one of his biggest concerns is how the digital revolution continues to transform society and impact communities.
Sasse explained how he believes faith in God is essential to building strong communities, he maintains that religious freedom should be protected in society.
“I want to defend the right of everyone to believe what they believe and to assemble with their co-religionists, whether I agree with it or not. The state’s job is to take violence out of the public square so people can wrestle with more important questions,” Sasse stated.
He told Pelley, “So in my view, yes, God is absolutely essential to all of these questions. But as Ben, the secular American citizen or office holder, my job is to prohibit violence so that all 330 million Americans come to the conversation on an equal plane to then have that debate.”
According to the Christian Post, Sasse says he should have been dead by now after being given just three to four months to live, but thanks to “providence, prayer” and daraxonrasib, he’s still alive despite his cancer spreading to his lungs, liver and vascular system.
The former senator explained, “Me getting a cancer diagnosis … is pretty small on the grand scheme of things, but it’s a touch of grace because it forces me to tell the truth. And the lie I want to tell myself is that I’m the center of everything, and I’m going to be around forever and I can work harder and store up enough that I can atone for my own brokenness. I can’t.”
Sasse has expressed gratitude for his situation, saying, “I hate cancer, but I’m also grateful for it. I tell a lot more truth to myself than I used to when I thought I was super omni-competent and interesting.”
Photo: Top, Credit: YouTube/60 Minutes