Ben Sasse on Faith, Family, and Facing Death

Human mortality and the health of American democratic institutions converge in this conversation between host Russ Roberts and former U.S. senator and university president Ben Sasse. Sasse, currently navigating a terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis, reflects on how facing death clarifies priorities, shifting focus from professional achievement to relational depth and faith. The discussion critiques the legislative branch's abdication of responsibility to the administrative state and the resulting performative nature of modern politics. Sasse argues that the American constitutional system requires active civic education to survive, noting that current educational models often foster delayed adolescence rather than intellectual curiosity. Ultimately, the dialogue emphasizes that while technological revolutions and political polarization create significant challenges, the core of human existence remains rooted in embodied, place-based relationships and the pursuit of virtue.