The All-Out Fight for Omaha
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I'm Stuart Vonney. I'm Martha McCallum. I'm Jason Chaffetz. And this is the Fox News Rundown.

Monday, October 21st, 2024. I'm Mike Emanuel. While much of the attention this political season is on the race for the White House, the balance of power in the United States Senate is also on the line, with Republicans hopeful they'll be the majority party in January. We've got a great opportunity here to retake the Senate. We should keep every single incumbent who's up.

this year. So, yeah, I feel good about it. We're joined by Nebraska Republican Senator Deb Fischer.

And Lisa Brady, a personal plea for Breast Cancer Awareness Month from a survivor in the Fox family. Please, please, please, testing, test early, hit it early. That is the best way to beat this devilish cancer back, seriously. We speak with Fox Business' Jerry Willis. And I'm Tammy Bruce. I've got the final word on the Fox News Rundown. ♪

It is crunch time in the race for the White House. Both the Trump and Harris campaigns are making strategic visits to battleground states trying to close the deal. RNC co-chair Lara Trump offered this contrast.

on Fox News Sunday. Kamala Harris, as the borders are, who, as you say, you know, you see all this funding go to rehousing and moving around people who broke our laws to come here. Whether it's the fact that people can't afford their lives right now, gas prices soaring, they see that we're on the verge of World War III with Kamala Harris and Joe Biden in charge. Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders says Vice President Harris will fight to improve life

for ordinary Americans. What about an economy in which we do not have three people on top owning more wealth than the bottom half of American society? What about an economy in which we join the rest of the industrialized world, guarantee healthcare to all people as a human right, and where we don't pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs?

On NBC's Meet the Press, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham tied Harris to President Biden's record. 70% of the people think we're going in the wrong direction. And when Vice President Harris is asked, what would you do different? She says nothing comes to mind. The American people are not going to tolerate four more years of

of affordability crisis, a world on fire, a broken border, energy dependence. Trump's gonna win because they have failed the American people. - Most states are winner takes all in terms of electoral votes, but not Nebraska. The Cornhusker State is traditionally Republican, but it does have a blue dot in Omaha where Democrats are focusing a lot of resources and energy hoping to win an electoral vote there.

Senator Pete Ricketts, the former Nebraska governor, made the argument with me that Nebraska's electoral votes should not be divided. This is something where we should speak as Nebraskans with a united voice. We're diluting our voice. We're frankly disenfranchising our rural voters.

So this is something that we should continue to seek change, but I don't think it's going to happen this year. There are also critical Senate races that will determine which party sets the agenda in the Senate. That makes the final stretch of this campaign important for those on the ballot. Nebraska is a conservative state, and I have a long and a good, solid conservative record.

Nebraska Republican Senator Deb Fischer. I'm really thankful for the support that I have from Nebraskans. You know, I have an opponent who's trying to fool Nebraskans by saying he's an independent, but he is funded and well-funded by Democrats, and he would vote with Democrats if he gets to the Senate. My understanding is your opponent says he is tied with you, but you don't buy that, do you?

Well, like I said, it's a close race. You know, he is getting a lot of money in. I've been hit with over $10 million in attack ads, which is a huge amount for here in Nebraska. But we've also been up on the air now, too, and our numbers are moving in a positive way. They're good. The last poll we did last week, I was up 7%.

But we need to continue to be up on the air and define who this guy is. He has this claim to be an independent, but he supports things like amnesty for illegal immigrants. He loves Bernie Sanders. So those are all things that he has said to his donors. And what he tells Nebraskans is that he hasn't decided who he's even going to caucus with.

in the United States Senate, which means he won't get committee assignments. You know, he says things like he doesn't know who he's going to vote for for president. And I respond by saying, you know, give me a break. At this point in time, everybody knows who they're voting for president. It's either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. And so he is really being dishonest with the people in Nebraska on many, many things.

To your opponent, Independent Dan Osborne, you say he doesn't support border security, supports amnesty, social security for illegals. How does that play in Nebraska?

Not well at all. That's why I say when Nebraskans hear about the few things he has taken stands on, they realize that he aligns with the Democrat Party. He is not an independent and he's certainly way too far left for our state. What about the abortion issue? My understanding is Osborne claims to be pro-life, but would codify Roe v. Wade?

How does he justify that? He doesn't, you know, which is...

of, um, sad. Um, a lot of the things that are being picked up nationally, uh, like our discussion here, it's difficult to get the press to focus on that in Nebraska. You know, he says he's personally pro-life, but yes, he wants to codify Roe. Uh, he says he's personally pro-life, uh, but yet he says a woman should be able to make these decisions on her own. He shouldn't be telling women what to do. Um,

We all know that that means he has no core value when it comes to this. In fact, on one interview he did give here in Nebraska, he was asked if there was anything he wouldn't compromise on. And he said, oh, no, he's pretty malleable. He could change in his opinion and

and compromise on everything that is not somebody we need in the united states senate we need somebody who's honest about where they stand we need somebody who has strong core values and and who is not afraid to stand up and fight for those values

Obviously, every couple of years when you're the minority party in the Senate or the House, you're hoping that you can win back the majority. There's great hope on the Republican side that this cycle, the GOP, will take back the majority in the Senate. I know from covering Capitol Hill every day for about a decade that being the minority party is not much fun. So where are you on that? Are you confident Republicans will regain control of the Senate?

I feel really good about it, Mike. You know, we have a great opportunity here. We'll get West Virginia. Montana looks good.

There's really a lot of strength and action going on in the blue wall of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Those states look good. Nevada and Arizona look good, too. So we've got a great opportunity here to retake the Senate. We should keep every single incumbent who's up.

this year. So, yeah, I feel good about it. I'm looking forward to being able to get some good things done for the people of this country. Obviously, it's not clear who's going to win the presidential race at this point. I know you have your preference. But if Kamala Harris were to win the White House, would

What about the importance of a Republican majority being a check on her? Oh, it's huge. It is so important that we get the majority in the United States Senate to be able to really do our do our job in oversight, especially when it comes to the

president's nominations. And if it is Kamala Harris, I anticipate that her nominees will be in the same vein that we have seen from the Biden administration. And in many cases, these people have not been qualified. And that's why you see a straight Democrat support

And for the most part, Republicans are not voting to confirm these folks. They aren't qualified. They don't have the training. They don't have the experience. They're there as true political appointments who are bringing their ideology with them. So it's extremely important that we do that. It's important that we can have oversight on these agencies so we can roll back some of these issues

regulations that have been out there. And it would be much, much easier to do that with Donald Trump in the White House. That's why it's so important that we elect Donald Trump and get him in the White House, because we've got to get America back on track. Looking ahead to Election Day, most states rely on the winner-take-all system to assign their electoral votes. Can you explain to our national audience how different Nebraska is?

Yes, we are. We split our congressional electoral votes. We have three congresspeople, and so those three votes are split on whoever gets the majority of the popular vote within that congressional district.

So you'll hear a lot about, and Maine does that too. Maine and Nebraska are the only two states. But you hear a lot about the blue dot in Nebraska, and that is CD2, the Douglas County area, Omaha area.

What we're seeing there is a lot of money coming in from the Harris campaign. I was at an event and heard it's about 21 million that's gone into Omaha now with the Harris campaign to pick up that one electoral vote there. You add that to the 10 million in attack ads against me, which we're going to see both of those numbers increase dramatically.

That's a lot of outside money. That's a lot of out-of-state money coming into Nebraska. Governor Walz was not in Omaha. He was in a suburb of Omaha in Papillion.

And they're working to get that one electoral vote because they know that this is going to be a close election. But Republicans are organized, working hard, door to door all across the state and a big, big focus there in CD2.

I haven't asked you this before, but I'm curious, would you favor going to a winner-take-all system in terms of the electoral votes in Nebraska? Yes. You know, when I was in the Nebraska legislature, I supported a bill on that before. So it...

To me, it doesn't make sense that Nebraska is different, really different from the rest of the country. In fact, if you look at the breakdown of congressional districts, if every state did this split that we do here in Nebraska, Republicans would

would win, hands down. But the Democrats, obviously, in Nebraska, like the idea that we don't have winner take all. But yet they attack Republicans all the time for saying, you know, the big money spent in elections, even though Republicans, we are always outspent in elections.

but they don't like all the money in elections, we'll look at 21 million of outside money coming into the state of Nebraska because we have this split in our electoral votes. It's pretty ironic that they would encourage that and talk about how it's going to help the economy when usually all of us don't like out-of-state and dark money coming in.

Indeed. Senator Deb Fischer, the great state of Nebraska. We know how busy you are. Grateful for your time today. Safe travels. Hope to see you soon. Thanks, Mike. Have a good day.

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I'm Benjamin Hall, Fox News senior correspondent and New York Times bestselling author. Join me every Monday on my podcast as I speak with silent but noteworthy heroes. Make sure you subscribe to my podcast, Searching for Heroes with Benjamin Hall, wherever you download podcasts and leave a rating and a review. This is Tammy Bruce with your Fox News commentary coming up.

Breast cancer used to be considered a death sentence, and it's still a leading cause of death in women in the U.S., second only to lung cancer. But since 1989, death rates have dropped by more than 40 percent, while the five-year survival rate has increased to about 90 percent. And even metastatic breast cancer, the most advanced stage, is considered potentially manageable, like a chronic disease.

Early detection and more targeted treatment are part of the progress, along with awareness, including the national campaign every October. But survivors are also living longer with the many impacts of cancer. Those individuals will have effects of their cancer therapy that they carry with them throughout their entire life.

not only a different risk of cancer, but also financial implications. Dr. Karen Knudson is CEO of the American Cancer Society. Someone who's had a cancer diagnosis will over their lifetime have a much higher cost of health care than someone who's not had a cancer diagnosis. Three in five people diagnosed with cancer face financial hardships, which can include taking unpaid leave, losing health insurance or losing a job, in addition to medical debt.

Even the cost of traveling for treatment can make care unaffordable. Look, the technology is great. Fox Business' Jerry Willis is a breast cancer survivor. And if you use it, if you actually get tested and you test positive...

And, you know, you take advantage of everything offered to you. You have a very good chance of not just survival, but beating the diagnosis, right? I mean, that's what I've done. I was diagnosed as a stage three breast cancer person eight years ago, and I have...

Thank goodness, you know, knock on wood, I am attesting negative every year. So as they say, no evidence of disease. I'm NAD every time I come in. So that's great news. There is great technology. The problem is many people are dissuaded from using it for a variety of reasons. And the story we've been working on is about how...

how sometimes when people fear the financial burden of cancer, sometimes they don't get tested or sometimes they don't take all their meds because they're trying to save money. So there's a lot of things to think about when you talk about cancer treatment. I know you're visiting Hope Lodge, an outpatient center that does offer financial assistance programs. Do cancer patients often still end up having big bills that are not covered by insurance?

Oh, you bet they do. Uh, that's absolutely true. Hope Lodge is an unusual place in that it's really sort of like a free hotel and clubhouse for people who have been diagnosed with all kinds of cancers. And it's operated by the American Cancer Society. They operate this thing. They bring people in here. They stay, uh,

as they are being treated in the New York City area. There's other facilities just like it all over the country. So if you're in that position where you have to travel for care, definitely worth checking out. We spoke to a woman who did just that. She'd been living in Washington and her treatment was here in New York City. So she came up here, got her treatment, walked to her doctor and her treatment. And she said,

sort of the support she got here was just so important to getting better. And that's what we find is that, you know, it's not just the meds, right? It's your family. It's your support system. It's how, you know, the folks at work interact with you, if they're patient with you and what you're going through, all of that really matters. And of course, money matters. I just wanted to share a couple of numbers with you that I was frankly shocked at.

So we were talking about breast cancer, right? So the one-year cost of being treated for stage one breast cancer, only $5,700. You catch it early. Stage one, $5,700. That's an all-in cost. You may pay less.

Stage two, it zooms to $98,000. Stage four, a quarter of a million dollars. So you can see that these costs vary dramatically depending on how far the disease has progressed in your body.

The longer it's gone, the more you're going to pay. So I would just urge people, you know, it is October, right? Go get that mammogram, ladies. Be sure you're tested. And I know it's a pain and it's kind of uncomfortable. Nobody likes doing it. But at the end of the day, it's going to be a whole lot less painful than, you know, the kind of treatment you might get for cancer. Well, and as you alluded to before, I mean, some people...

may not want the answer, especially if they think something might be wrong. They might be concerned about the cost and everything else. And they might be concerned about, you know, what is my survivability rate? Can I actually beat this thing? Am I catching it early enough? All these things that probably race through your mind if you're in the middle of a scare and you're afraid about going to get that test. And then what about the... Go ahead. Can I just interrupt you there? Because I just want to share something because I've been through this myself.

And I have to say that when I was first diagnosed, I could not embrace that diagnosis. I mean, weeks and then months went by where I was doing everything I was told to do. But in my head, I hadn't quite internalized the idea that, yes, I had breast cancer. I mean, I remember going to a doctor's office and looking at the women sitting around me and thinking, wow, these ladies look really sick. I was one of them. Yeah.

I mean, your mind plays funny tricks on you and you have to, you know, make that choice, embrace that idea that you're going to drive the train, that you're going to be the one who shows up for those, all of those doctor appointments. You're going to pursue what you need to do to get better. No, absolutely. That was one of the questions that I had for you because you are a breast cancer survivor. And for anyone who hasn't been through it,

or had someone close to them go through it even, it can be hard to understand exactly all the different facets of this process, this journey that you end up going on. And what about those people around you? What about people who do have a loved one or a best friend going through it and they don't know what to say and they don't know what to do? Well, look, I mean...

A hug. I love you. I'm thinking about you. Just very basic support is what people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer need. You know, if you establish that welcome attitude, that attitude that yes,

I am here for you and I will help you. You tell me what you need. I'll try to anticipate what you need. You don't really have to say that much, I don't think, to communicate that you're there and supportive.

My best advice is to, you know, get those friends and family members activated, get them supporting you because it's essential not to be alone. I think that's the thing so many people miss, particularly women as they go through this, because they're so used to taking care of everybody else. You need support. Do not be alone. Just in your battle with breast cancer, have you noticed...

treatment changing in recent years? Oh, yeah. I mean, a lot of the things that people talk about were not available when I went through it. And in fact, I've gone to symposiums where you see presentations by doctors and these 60-year-old men, 70-year-old men are so excited because the technology is making such great breakthroughs.

There's all kinds of things being done now to push back the limits. Metastatic breast cancer, they're delaying the ultimate impact of that because of strides, breakthroughs in cancer. It's shocking what's going on and how well we're fighting against it. But

For anybody's individual situation, please, please, please, testing, test early, hit it early. That is the best way to beat this devilish cancer back, seriously. Because the less you have, the less you can deal with it, the better. You have said that your cancer fight taught you things. What did you learn about yourself? Well...

I have a hard time taking in negative information, and that was probably the biggest negative I've ever had to kind of accommodate in my brain. So I had to learn how to do that. It taught me to appreciate the world around me, nature, my family, my friends. It put an emphasis on things that aren't tangential or material and have more to do with things that are lasting and real.

So, in that way, breast cancer was a positive for me. It sounds like we need to balance kind of the sense of optimism about the new technology and the new treatment and the advances in research and treatment with a continued urgency about fighting the disease, right? What's the most important thing you want people to be thinking about for Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Get tested. Get screened.

There are many different kinds of cancer. Be in touch with your primary care physician about what you need to get done. Think of it as just something you have to do. It's something on your to-do list. It shouldn't be threatening to you in any way. You're just making sure that you will continue to be there for your family, right? Think of it that way. Don't think of it, some people just think it's sort of selfish spending time doing this. It's not.

It's not selfish at all. It will make a difference to the people in your life and a positive one. Fox Business' Geri Willis, thank you very much for your time. You're most welcome.

Here's a look at the week ahead. Monday on the election front, former President Trump heads to Concord, North Carolina for a meeting with faith leaders. It's also the deadline in Pennsylvania to register to vote.

Tuesday, the Democratic ticket is bringing out the big guns again. Former President Barack Obama will be campaigning in Madison, Wisconsin, along with Vice Presidential Candidate Tim Walz. Stevie Wonder are also performing a concert in Detroit. It's part of a 10-city swing state tour ahead of the election. Wednesday, are you a pet lover? Well, you can start accessorizing with your pooch. Shoe company Crocs is releasing matching pet Crocs so you can be twinsies.

Thursday, President Biden heads to a West Coast meeting for an event in Arizona. France is also hosting an international ministers meeting on Lebanon. Friday, play ball. It's game one of the World Series on Fox. And that's a look at your week ahead. I'm Tom Graham, Fox News.

We all have plans in life, maybe to take a cross-country road trip or simply get through this workout without any back pain. Whether our plans are big, small, spontaneous, or years in the making, good health helps us accomplish them.

At Banner Health, we're here to provide more than health care. Whatever you're planning, wherever you're going, we're here to help you get there. Banner Health. Exhale. It's the Will Cain Show. Watch it live at noon Eastern, Monday through Thursday on FoxNews.com or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss a show. Get the podcast five days a week at FoxNewsPodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.

Rate and review the Fox News Rundown on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It's time for your Fox News commentary. Tammy Bruce. What's on your mind? Here we are just a few weeks before Election Day. People have already begun voting around the country, and yet panic is setting in at the Kamala Harris campaign.

Despite raising $1 billion, Harris not only isn't making any inroads with voters, but she's losing momentum. Americans have complained from the start of her selection as the Democratic nominee that they need to hear more about where she stands on the issues, considering her history and the disastrous results of Biden-Harris policies. But Kamala, the woman of change and joy, has supplied neither details nor seriousness.

Kamala remains oblique, much like a riddle wrapped in an enigma, to borrow a phrase from Winston Churchill. But there is one group that is not confused at all about Harris's positions and intentions, the progressive left. Why? Because for years she has been showing them who she is. And during this campaign, she has been telling them in their own special language that nothing has changed.

Kamala is behaving as though she's been dropped in from the planet Venus as a gift from the stars to chart a new way by, quote, turning the page to better vibes and joy or from what has been to the same darn thing but with pearls on.

The bad news for Harris is platitudes and fantasy talk might be good for a first date, but not when you're running to become president of the United States. But progressives are just fine with Kamala Harris, despite her talk of being a capitalist, believing in entrepreneurs with great lawns and her affinity for the middle class, because, well,

You know the rest. The so-called progressive left, which is actually quite regressive, are comfortable that Kamala hasn't changed because she tells them so directly and indirectly. Her most direct wink and nod to her pals on the fringe of her party came during the CNN interview with Dana Bash in August. After being asked about her dramatic policy shifts on issues like immigration and energy production, she told Bash, quote,

I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed.

Now, that may sound like another vacuous platitude, but having been on the left as a community organizer, I recognized that phrase immediately and can tell you there's much more to that line than people realize. When leftist organizers talk about their values, they mean the socialist wish fantasy of government, which owns and controls everything, devoting its efforts to centralized planning on behalf of the workers who exist to maintain the bureaucratic state.

Fundamentally transforming the nation is their value system. As her campaign falters and she scrambles to make more noise at the voters with interviews, Democrats are coming to grips with having underestimated the American people. The left understands what her intentions are. The rest of us must also understand that her gibberish has an actual meaning, meant to obscure her intentions and gain power to maintain the catastrophic Democratic agenda.

I'm Tammy Bruce, a Fox News contributor, and my current book is called Fear Itself, available everywhere. This column originally appeared at FoxNews.com.

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