Nebraska
RNC Chair Whatley visits Omaha to push for GOP election monitoring volunteers • Nebraska Examiner
OMAHA — Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee, visited Nebraska on Thursday to encourage local Republicans to volunteer as poll workers, poll watchers and attorneys familiar with election law.
Whatley was one of the lead Republican attorneys that the George W. Bush campaign leaned on in 2000 in Broward County, Florida, to push back against Democratic Party efforts during a recount of the Bush race against Al Gore.
His appearance at a training session co-hosted by the Nebraska Republican Party was part of the RNC’s swing state and swing congressional district push to restore Republican faith in voting processes by monitoring them.
It’s also a sign that former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, is still interested in competing for Nebraska’s swing 2nd District. The state is one of two that awards a single Electoral College vote to the presidential popular vote winner in each congressional district.
Trump sowed doubts
Trump has raised doubts, often without evidence, about voting by mail. Some political observers have said his unwillingness to accept his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden depressed GOP turnout in 2021 and 2022.
But the RNC has been brainstorming ways to remind Republican voters who have lost faith that their vote still counts. Critics of the program have argued that it is aimed at slowing down the process to certification if the race is once again close.
The RNC says it has largely settled on trying to make sure that election rules are consistent, that voter IDs are required, that voter rolls are reviewed for errors and that people who want to vote early to do so by mail and not via drop boxes.
“This is not election denialism,” Whatley said. “These are not conspiracy theories. These are basic protections on voting.… We’re trying to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat.”
Program started in North Carolina
Whatley, a former GOP chair in North Carolina, said he started a similar “voting integrity” program there in 2019. A consent decree had limited how aggressively the RNC could monitor elections, citing fears of voter intimidation. The decree expired in 2018.
On Thursday, Whatley told about 80 to 100 local Republicans that they were needed. He gave a standard stump speech highlighting the Trump-era economy, Trump’s talk about border security and the value of projecting strength abroad. He criticized Trump’s opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“We need to throw away everything that we’re doing at the RNC and focus on two critical missions: We need to get out the vote, and we need to protect the ballot, and that’s it,” Whatley told his audience.
Whatley was joined by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is close with Trump.
“I don’t know why the Dems aren’t participating with us in this,” she said.
Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb said the state party and the Democratic National Committee have an election protection team and plan in place, “so we are not worried.” She said they expect a close election.
“We’ve been at the election commissions late at night and early in the morning as our candidates won with a few hundred votes, so these plans are critical for a safe and fair election process,” Kleeb said.
Update on winner-take-all push
Nebraska Republican Party chairman Eric Underwood spoke at Thursday’s event, thanking Charles Herbster, a big Trump donor and 2022 gubernatorial candidate, for helping to arrange the visit, and calling on Republicans to press their friends to vote.
In a follow-up interview, Underwood said the state party, the RNC and the Trump campaign are working on twin tracks to compete in the 2nd District while also pushing the Legislature to shift to winner-take-all rather than splitting the state’s Electoral College votes.
“We believe now that our senators and everybody else is on the same page,” Underwood said. “And if it’s what’s meant for this state, then it’s going to happen. I think there’s still a good chance for it to happen this year.”
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NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – The Nebraska Extension hosted a workshop Wednesday morning for ag producers, focusing on how to use drought monitoring and forecasting tools, assess drought impacts and risks, explore management strategies, and identify available resources.
Organizers say the goal is to help producers make more informed, timely decisions as changing weather patterns continue to affect soil moisture, crop conditions, and long-term planning.
The session also highlighted practical tools farmers can use to track drought development and adjust operations before conditions worsen.
“The really warm temperatures and strong wind just sucked the moisture out of the soil, out of the vegetation and this has been going on since at least October and were not going to come out of it over the night, it’s going to take a while to rebuild those moisture supplies even if we get average moisture it will be enough for vegetation but it won’t helped us recover what we’ve already lost,” said Deborah Bathke, Nebraska state climatologist.
Officials add that continued education and early planning are key to helping producers stay resilient through increasingly variable growing seasons.
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Adam Carriker is joined by HuskerOnline publisher Sean Callahan to break down the upcoming season for Matt Rhule and Nebraska football. Callahan gives unique insight on what Nebraska’s offense may look like, realistic expectation for quarterback Anthony Colandrea, if the offensive line is legit better, the new 4-2-5 defense, the undersized defensive line and if the Huskers will win more than seven games. Also, will Nebraska basketball make a Sweet 16 run again?
Hit the play button for that and more in this episode of the Carriker Chronicles. For a synopsis, scroll down.
Synopsis
In the latest installment of the Carriker Chronicles, Adam Carriker and Sean Callahan discuss the upcoming season for Nebraska football and why this year is so important. They explain that Year 4 under Matt Rhule is a big turning point because by now, the program should reflect his system, culture, and recruiting. If things are going to work long-term, this is the season where fans should really start to see it.
One of the first things they talk about is the overall vibe of the offseason. Callahan mentions that Nebraska has “closed the lab,” meaning the team is done experimenting and now fully focused on playing football. The expectation is that players understand the system better and can execute at a higher level without the outside distractions.
They also discuss the offense and what it might look like under Dana Holgorsen. While there may be some similarities to past systems, there will also be differences based on the players Nebraska has. Part of the conversation is quarterback Anthony Colandrea, and they set realistic expectations for him. He doesn’t have to be perfect, but he does need to be consistent, make plays with his feet and take care of the football.
The offensive line is another key topic. Callahan believes the group has improved this offseason, especially with players like Elijah Pritchett, who seems to be on the uptick. If the offensive line can protect the quarterback and create running lanes, it could make a huge difference for the entire offense. They also mention the running back room, which has potential but still needs to prove itself during the season.
On defense, Nebraska is expected to run more of a 4-2-5 scheme this year. This means more speed on the field, but it also raises questions about size, especially on the defensive line. One of the biggest concerns is whether the defensive front can hold up against physical teams. However, they point out that the secondary might be the strongest position group, which could help balance things out.
Special teams are briefly discussed, with the expectation that they will be solid but not necessarily a major strength or weakness. Recruiting is another area where Nebraska seems to be trending in the right direction, which is important for building long-term success.
They also touch on men’s basketball and whether the team can make another Sweet 16 run. While it’s possible, it will depend heavily on player development and who will replace those that have left.
To wrap it up, they debate whether Nebraska football will win more than seven games this season. It’s seen as a realistic but challenging goal. This is a critical year for Matt Rhule and the program, and fans should have a much clearer idea of the team’s future by the end of the season.
Program order
- 00:00: Intro
- 01:09: Sean Callahan Joins the Show
- 01:54: Year 4 Under Matt Rhule
- 04:04: Offseason Vibe: Closing the Lab, Focusing on Football
- 05:30: Dana Holgorsen: Similarities & Differences to Expect
- 07:30: Offensive Line: Offseason Improvements
- 09:45: Elijah Pritchett Spotlight
- 12:54: Running Back Room: What to Expect
- 15:20: Defensive Scheme: What to Expect This Year
- 18:53: Biggest Defensive Question Marks
- 22:10: Strongest Defensive Position Group
- 23:00: Special Teams Outlook
- 25:08: Recruiting Class Breakdown
- 27:45: Nebraska Basketball Preview
- 29:50: Over/Under: 7 Wins Next Season
- 31:18: Fan Questions
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska baseball team lost to Kansas 9-7 on Tuesday in front of a record crowd at Hoglund Park. The Huskers took an early lead on an RBI single by National Freshman of the Week Drew Grego. After giving up three unanswered runs, Nebraska rallied to go back in front on a 3rd-inning single by Will Jesske. Both Grego and Jesske finished with two hits in the game.
Kansas, however, took control in the middle innings. The Jayhawks got home runs from Tyson Owens and Josh Dykoff in the sixth frame. Both round-trippers came off NU relief pitcher Ty Horn. Kansas added insurance in the 7th inning before a late rally by the Huskers.
Nebraska trimmed a five-run deficit to two, but couldn’t complete the comeback on the road.
The Huskers’ loss is their second to the Jayhawks this season. Nebraska’s record drops to 31-10 overall.
Will Bolt’s team returns to action on Friday at Illinois. Game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Champaign.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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