Ben Sasse is a Republican senator from Nebraska, and he recently made news because he refused to endorse Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, and because of his desire to help remake the legislative body he serves. Oh, and he also might be picking you up the next time you call an Uber in Nebraska.
That’s what happened to University of Nebraska student Adrian Silva when he called for the car service Saturday. A driver named Benjamin, who has another full-time gig, made the stop in a GMC Acadaia.
https://twitter.com/Adrian1Silva/status/797578573699776512
Seriously? Was that seriously, Ben (or Benjamin) Sasse? Turns out, yes, it was.
Fact check?#real https://t.co/p8qRG1xp8p
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) November 13, 2016
But, um, why? Is he in need of a side job or something? Nope. Instead, as Sasse explained to one Twitter user, “I like to work alongside and for Nebraskans.”
The fares he picked up on Saturday went to charity, he said, because “I’m obviously not allowed to make any outside money.” He also did it because he’s on a Nebraska work tour.
“Sen. Sasse does tons of Nebraska work events, from changing tires on semi-trucks to feeding cattle at 5am,” a Sasse spokesperson told the Guardian. “This work tour was built around the changing and dis-intermediated economy, a subject he talks about frequently.”
It’s unclear if Sasse—who reportedly has a five-star rating—and Silva discussed the on-demand economy. But the two apparently had a pleasant six-minute experience in which Sasse introduced himself and shook Silva’s hand before the two talked about politics (Silva apparently is a Clinton supporter).
“I asked if we could talk about the election, and he said, ‘Sure, you can lay it on me,’” Silva told BuzzFeed. “Since Ben Sasse was one of the few Republican senators who didn’t endorse Donald, I asked him if he held that position still. He made it clear that they would obviously have to work together.”
But the most important service Sasse could provide was this reminder to Uber riders and drivers.
Pro-Tip
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) November 14, 2016
If you throw up in an uber, the surcharge can be substantial
Upside: It's a market incentive to get drivers to agree to Sat.pm work