Former Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) discussed his ongoing battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and offered sharp criticism of the U.S. Senate during an interview with The New York Times columnist Ross Douthat released Thursday.

The conversation, part of Douthat's "Interesting Times" podcast, took place less than four months after Sasse revealed his cancer diagnosis in mid-December. During the interview, Sasse reflected on mortality, stating that "death is something we should hate."

Sasse also used the platform to criticize the institution he once served in, describing the Senate as full of "blowhards" when it should function as the nation's "greatest deliberative body." The former senator expressed broader concerns about American institutional health and political dysfunction.

According to the interview, Sasse suggested that America faces institutional collapse and cultural fragmentation, arguing that political disputes serve as distractions from what he characterized as a significant technology revolution currently underway.

Sasse served as Nebraska's junior senator from 2015 until his resignation in 2022 to become president of the University of Florida. His cancer diagnosis was made public several months ago, marking a significant personal challenge for the former lawmaker as he continues his academic career.