Swing Left Nebraska

Latest Episodes:

Fired Up With Jayden Speed, LD2 Candidate Aug 10, 2025

Show notes

Today, I have the distinct pleasure of interviewing Jayden Speed, an inspiring candidate who is currently running for Legislature District 2. This vital district encompasses a significant portion of Cass County, along with a substantial chunk of Lancaster County, making it a diverse and important area within our state. I truly enjoyed my in-depth conversation with Jayden, finding his insights and dedication to the community both refreshing and thought-provoking. Jayden is focused on the issues that matter to everyday Nebraskans. He is committed to making the good life achievable for everyone. I believe you will find this discussion as engaging and informative as I did.speedfornebraska.com

Making "Good Trouble" With Jamie, Karin, and Thia! Jul 20, 2025

Show notes

Today’s episode is a special detour from our usual content. I’m joined by three remarkable women: Karin, Jamie, and Thia. These incredible ladies are united by a mission to cause "good trouble" – challenging the status quo and inspiring others.

Prepare to be captivated as Karin, Jamie, and Thia share impactful stories: powerful actions they've taken, inspiring initiatives planned, and how you can get involved. Their experiences highlight the power of collective action and individual courage.

Fair warning: this episode contains some spicy language, reflecting the authentic spirit of our guests. It’s a small price for the profound inspiration and actionable ideas you're about to receive. So, sit back and get ready to be enlightened, entertained, and empowered to make your own "good trouble."

Adam Gotschall of Metropolitan Community College calls for violence against women

Thia's Tik Tok

Jamie's Facebook

Jamie's Twitter

Unpacking The Unicameral With Cindy Maxwell Ostdiek, Week 22 Jun 08, 2025

Show notes

What an exciting moment to wrap up this chapter. In this special episode, we're taking a deep dive into the whirlwind that was this past legislative session. We'll be celebrating some of the victories we fought so hard for, acknowledging the progress made, and sharing the highlights of our successes. Of course, we’ll also be candid about the challenges we faced and the losses that remind us of the work still ahead.

This marks the end of our current season, and we'll be taking a bit of a break. Don’t worry, though! We'll be back in full force come January to dissect and analyze the 2026 legislative session. In the meantime, I might just drop in with some bonus episodes and special interviews. So, make sure you are subscribed so you won't miss a thing!

⁠⁠nebraskalegislature.gov/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠swingleftnebraska.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nelegislativestudygroup.com/⁠

Unpacking The Unicameral With Cindy Maxwell Ostdiek, Week 21 Jun 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we will be delving into several key pieces of legislation that have garnered significant attention. We will be unpacking the details surrounding the recently vetoed bedbug bill, examining the rationale behind its initial passage and the subsequent decision to veto it.

Furthermore, we will provide a comprehensive analysis of the anti-trans bill, exploring its potential implications and the broader context surrounding this contentious issue.

Beyond these prominent bills, we will also be covering a range of other noteworthy happenings within the unicameral.

⁠⁠nebraskalegislature.gov/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠swingleftnebraska.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nelegislativestudygroup.com/⁠

Unpacking The Unicameral With Cindy Maxwell Ostdiek, Week 20 May 25, 2025

Show notes

We have a packed agenda today, focusing on several key areas that have recently captured public attention. Firstly, we'll be dissecting the Governor's recent veto actions, specifically examining the implications of the veto of a bill addressing the growing concern of bed bugs.

We will provide a comprehensive update on the implementation of the voter-approved minimum wage increases. Beyond these significant issues, we also have a range of other important updates to cover within the unicameral.

To reach your U.S. House Representative or Senators, you can call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121

⁠⁠nebraskalegislature.gov/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠swingleftnebraska.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nelegislativestudygroup.com/⁠

Unpacking the Unicameral with Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek, Week 19 May 19, 2025

Show notes

We're delighted to have you tune in as we delve into the latest developments from the previous week's session in the unicameral legislature. Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the key discussions, debates, and decisions that transpired. Furthermore, we'll offer insights into the upcoming week's legislative agenda, highlighting the bills and issues that are likely to take center stage. Stay with us as we unpack the complexities of Nebraska's unicameral system and help you understand how these proceedings impact our state.

Unpacking the Unicameral with Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek, Week 18 May 11, 2025

Show notes

Today, we're going to be diving deeper into the fascinating discussions and developments surrounding the unicameral legislature from our previous episode.

But that's not all! We also want to give you, our valued listeners, a little sneak peek, a little taste, if you will, of what you can expect in the coming week's episode. We've got some really interesting topics lined up, including where things are at with the medical cannabis bill and the budget bill scheduled to resume on Monday.

We think it's going to be a really insightful and engaging discussion, and we can't wait to share it with you

⁠⁠nebraskalegislature.gov/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠swingleftnebraska.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nelegislativestudygroup.com/⁠

Unpacking the Unicameral with Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek, Week 17 May 04, 2025

Show notes

Our discussion begins with a recap of the impactful "People's Day" event at the state capitol. Next, we'll provide a comprehensive update on the contentious anti-transgender bill currently moving through the legislature. Following that, we will examine a noteworthy bill that proposes removing the lifetime ban on accessing SNAP benefits for certain individuals with drug felonies. Our conversation will then turn to a bill that could have significant implications for the minimum wage earned by 15-year-old workers in Nebraska. Beyond these key issues, we will also touch upon several other important legislative developments from the past two weeks, providing you with a well-rounded overview of the current political landscape in Nebraska.

⁠⁠nebraskalegislature.gov/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠swingleftnebraska.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nelegislativestudygroup.com/⁠

Unpacking the Unicameral with Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek, Week 15 Apr 20, 2025

Show notes

We have a packed show for you this week, where we'll discuss various legislative topics.
First, we'll delve into a controversial bill that would mandate healthcare facilities performing procedural abortions to dispose of fetal remains through cremation or burial. We'll explore the implications of this bill for healthcare providers, patients, and the broader community.
Additionally, we'll examine other significant bills from last week, covering various topics and policy areas.
Looking ahead to next week, we'll preview a bill that aims to define and restrict the rights of transgender women in various areas. We'll examine the potential consequences of this bill for the transgender community and discuss the broader debate surrounding transgender rights.

⁠⁠nebraskalegislature.gov/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠swingleftnebraska.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nelegislativestudygroup.com/

Unpacking the Unicameral with Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek, Week 14 Apr 13, 2025

Show notes

On today's episode, we celebrate the victory of the Winner Take All bill being rejected. This bill would have drastically changed Nebraska's electoral process, and we're relieved that it won't be moving forward. We'll discuss the potential implications of this bill and why it was so important to defeat it.
We'll also discuss Senator Victor Rountree's bill, which aims to lift the lifetime ban on public food assistance for Nebraskans convicted of drug felonies. This is a crucial piece of legislation that could significantly impact the lives of many Nebraskans who are struggling to get back on their feet after a conviction.
In addition to these two major topics, we'll also cover other bills from last week and give you a preview of what's to come next week in the Nebraska legislature.

⁠⁠nebraskalegislature.gov/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠swingleftnebraska.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nelegislativestudygroup.com/

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