MBenson

Former Minnesota State Senator
HHS Chair during the COVID-19 pandemic
MBA
CPA
Wife
Mom
Thankful

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@unstadj @bryanstrawser When you go, of course you will visit the American Cemetery. I would recommend visiting the German Cemetery as well.

The contrast is so stark you will feel it and never forget it. The French people dedicated land to properly bury both conqueror and liberator.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@unstadj @bryanstrawser We met a man who was the first American to enter a concentration camp.
He told us that if anyone denied the Holocaust, I was to tell them that I met a man who was.
I will never forget the quiver in his voice as he said, "If they don't believe me, they can go to Hell."

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@unstadj @bryanstrawser There is no place like it on Earth.

You are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the mission and the overwhelming sense that you need to live a life that honors their sacrifice.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@unstadj @bryanstrawser We were at the 75th Anniversary and paused for 30 minutes to listen in as a member of Easy Company pointed to names and told how they died.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@hughhewitt @Pontifex https://t.co/378qKhBKqO

[U.S. in Holy See @USinHolySee]

Contrary to news reports, Pope Leo has not bestowed an exclusive special honor on the Iranian Ambassador to the Holy See. This decoration is given to all accredited ambassadors to the Holy See after 2+ years of service and has been standard practice for many years. It is a personal recognition and does not imply support or opposition to any policy or country. Thirteen ambassadors were recently given this recognition. Previous U.S. ambassadors have all received the same. Finally, the decoration was not given in person by the pope.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@MikeBol12226903 @hughhewitt @Pontifex https://t.co/378qKhBKqO

[U.S. in Holy See @USinHolySee]

Contrary to news reports, Pope Leo has not bestowed an exclusive special honor on the Iranian Ambassador to the Holy See. This decoration is given to all accredited ambassadors to the Holy See after 2+ years of service and has been standard practice for many years. It is a personal recognition and does not imply support or opposition to any policy or country. Thirteen ambassadors were recently given this recognition. Previous U.S. ambassadors have all received the same. Finally, the decoration was not given in person by the pope.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

Hope:

https://t.co/0Bq7Sm02EZ

[FOX 9 @FOX9]

Mayo Clinic researchers say they have developed an AI tool that can spot pancreatic cancer years before it is typically diagnosed. https://t.co/rPFWExCCT8

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@GOPMajorityWhip @MatthewFoldi Eternal rest grant unto her and let the Perpetual Light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

[Mary Katharine Ham @mkhammer]

I took this picture on April 5, 2015, the last time my birthday fell on Easter. It was not a great day for me. I fought back tears at church, and not in the overwhelmed-by God's-great-mercy way. Little did I know at the time, my year was going to take much worse turns. But I was newly pregnant with my second child, and though very sick and feeling pretty sorry for myself that Easter morning, I knew I was blessed with this new life and a Savior who loves me. I took this photo because it was a reminder of new life and bread of life, and the light of the world.

Later that year, I would lose my husband while 7 months pregnant. He died in September. My daughter was born in November. A lot of people wonder, and have asked me, how does one keep her faith through those dark days. I always wondered, how could I have made it through without it?

I was angry and scared and so, so thankful I had met Jesus before that moment. I met Him while reading one of those 90s teen study bibles with neon graphics, in my childhood bedroom. In my sad, grey adult bedroom, I woke up panicking in the night, but He was always with me.

I prayed Jeremiah 29:11 to calm myself down: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.'" I prayed it even though I didn't really believe it at the time.

It's not that Jesus solved all my problems in this fallen world or fixed my immediate pain right up. But I was in it with Him and with His promises. And he put the kind of brother in my life who would move in with me to help raise the kids for six months. He put parents in my life who showed up every weekend. He put a neighbor in my life who mowed my lawn every week and another who was a SEAL wife and understood grief like few do, and a best friend who could work out my paperwork (death is so much paperwork) when I couldn't.

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world," C.S. Lewis writes in "The Problem of Pain." I learned a lot while I was being shouted at.

I think about Jeremiah 29:11 and 11 years ago today. I think about how my little girl who was not yet born then baked my birthday cake today. I think about how she has three siblings now and the most amazing dad— I remarried in 2020 and he adopted the girls. He took all four of our kids to the store to pick out something for my birthday and then let them each choose a walkout song on the karaoke machine as he gave them a Bruce Buffer announcement call when they came down the stairs to present them to me.

I think about how they've gained grandparents and cousins and love and faith. (Our first holiday with Steve's family was Easter, and I took it as a good sign.) I pray they've watched our lives and gained trust in their Lord.

I think about how my patience was tested by them several times today, as the patience of a parent always is, and how infinite my Father in heaven's patience for me must be. I think about how much I love each of them, and how much my heart grew when each was born just to fit it all in, and how much greater still is my Father's love for me. I think about how much I have to learn and how my faith is still not as mature as it should be at this point (occasionally illustrated on this app).

Today in the car, my kids requested "No Fear" by @jonreddick , "Your Way's Better," by @forestfrank , and "Jesus Is Alive, It's a Happy Day" — that one came with sign language by the 3- and 4-year-old, which I recommend for making your heart soar on a Sunday. They listen to secular music, too, but those are their favorites.

One time, reading the Christmas story with my kids, I read "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people," and my eldest (about 5 at the time) said, "Mom, the angel always says that!"

She's right, the angel always says that! It is so hard not to be afraid, but we have a Good Shepherd. Our lives were touched by death, but He has conquered it.

My kids like new worship songs, but I love the classics, and today as on every Easter, I sang "Blessed Assurance," because Jesus is mine. And in the darkest times, He is new life and bread of life, and the light of the world. I am remembering to rejoice in that every day.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@dawn_gillman Peace be with you and your family.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@pattiandersonmn You will be missed!

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@Amandasmylife @toffeetink Please be clear which Hallow content is contrary to Catholic doctrine or dogma. Citations please.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@Amandasmylife You should probably look up actual teachings of the Church. Perhaps note the Solemn Intercessions this good Friday.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@jonmsweeney @fan_cornell Sister Miriam will change the way you pray. Jeff Cavins will take you deeper into scripture. Father Mike and Bishop Barron will give very different teachings related to the same Gospel every Sunday. Not celebrities. Just following their calling.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@STATter911 Glad you found him. He has high standards for himself and his work.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@paulgazelka @WalterHudson Fair point. You will influence the world for better as long as their is breath in your lungs.

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

@paulgazelka @WalterHudson Wrong is wrong, so let's name it and demand it of others. You are both men who want to leave the world better than you found it. In the end that will be what matters.

[ZitoSalena @ZitoSalena]

January 2nd, 1776

The Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia publishes the 'Tory Resolutions' more commonly known as the “Tory Act” detailing how the colonies handle those who remain loyal to the British and King George.

There were seven resolutions in all; and while, they stressed kindness, and patience for their misguided priorities--It was clear the Continental Congress was having none of it with the loyalist, in particular, those actively aiding the Brits against the patriots.

Excerpt:

"And, with respect to all such unworthy Americans, as, regardless of their duty to their Creator, their country and their posterity, have taken part with our oppressors, and, influenced by the hope or possession of ignominious rewards, strive to recommend themselves to the bounty of administration, by misrepresenting and traducing the conduct and principles of the friends of American liberty, and opposing every measure formed for its preservation and security."
#America250

https://t.co/Qx09lvSecA

[MBenson @MBensonMN]

For the first day of 2026, we remember that in the end, it is about this:

[Ben Sasse @BenSasse]

Friends-

This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.

Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do.

I’m blessed with amazing siblings and half-a-dozen buddies that are genuinely brothers. As one of them put it, “Sure, you’re on the clock, but we’re all on the clock.” Death is a wicked thief, and the bastard pursues us all.

Still, I’ve got less time than I’d prefer. This is hard for someone wired to work and build, but harder still as a husband and a dad. I can’t begin to describe how great my people are. During the past year, as we’d temporarily stepped back from public life and built new family rhythms, Melissa and I have grown even closer — and that on top of three decades of the best friend a man could ever have. Seven months ago, Corrie was commissioned into the Air Force and she’s off at instrument and multi-engine rounds of flight school. Last week, Alex kicked butt graduating from college a semester early even while teaching gen chem, organic, and physics (she’s a freak). This summer, 14-year-old Breck started learning to drive. (Okay, we’ve been driving off-book for six years — but now we’ve got paper to make it street-legal.) I couldn’t be more grateful to constantly get to bear-hug this motley crew of sinners and saints.

There’s not a good time to tell your peeps you’re now marching to the beat of a faster drummer — but the season of advent isn’t the worst. As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come.

Not an abstract hope in fanciful human goodness; not hope in vague hallmark-sappy spirituality; not a bootstrapped hope in our own strength (what foolishness is the evaporating-muscle I once prided myself in). Nope — often we lazily say “hope” when what we mean is “optimism.” To be clear, optimism is great, and it’s absolutely necessary, but it’s insufficient. It’s not the kinda thing that holds up when you tell your daughters you’re not going to walk them down the aisle. Nor telling your mom and pops they’re gonna bury their son.

A well-lived life demands more reality — stiffer stuff. That’s why, during advent, even while still walking in darkness, we shout our hope — often properly with a gravelly voice soldiering through tears.

Such is the calling of the pilgrim. Those who know ourselves to need a Physician should dang well look forward to enduring beauty and eventual fulfillment. That is, we hope in a real Deliverer — a rescuing God, born at a real time, in a real place. But the eternal city — with foundations and without cancer — is not yet.

Remembering Isaiah’s prophecies of what’s to come doesn’t dull the pain of current sufferings. But it does put it in eternity’s perspective:
“When we've been there 10,000 years…We've no less days to sing God's praise.”

I’ll have more to say. I’m not going down without a fight. One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jawdropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more. Death and dying aren’t the same — the process of dying is still something to be lived. We’re zealously embracing a lot of gallows humor in our house, and I’ve pledged to do my part to run through the irreverent tape.

But for now, as our family faces the reality of treatments, but more importantly as we celebrate Christmas, we wish you peace: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned….For to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9).

With great gratitude, and with gravelly-but-hopeful voices,
Ben — and the Sasses