LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — U.S. Rep. Mike Flood held another town hall in Lincoln on Tuesday, facing around 200 of his constituents who voiced their concerns on federal and global issues.
Inside the Vance D. Rogers Center for Fine Arts at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Flood began by updating the community on some of the work he has done for Lincoln and Nebraska’s First Congressional District, before getting into the question-and-answer session.
As with his previous town halls, the auditorium was filled with a chorus of cheers and boos in response to Flood’s answers, with many shouting out their own questions and criticisms at the congressman.
Following the event, Flood spoke with reporters, saying he doesn’t know of a better way to meet with his constituents and take questions than a town hall.
“If I didn’t show up, they’d call me a coward,” Flood said. “And I do show up, they’re mad. All I know what to do is show up, answer the questions to the best of my ability, knowing that everybody is recording it, everybody gets to see it, everybody can judge for themselves whether or not I answer the questions.”
During the town hall, members of the community questioned Flood on numerous topics, including the increasing U.S. deficit, tariffs, his support for the Trump administration and the ongoing war in Iran.
When questioned why he voted against a recent War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. military hostilities with Iran, Flood said it would be “incredibly disingenuous to pull the rug out from the president when he’s actively trying to negotiate an end to a conflict that we all want to end.”
Others questioned Flood on his support for Israel and his vote in favor of the most recent National Defense Authorization Act, a $1.15 trillion military spending package that includes further U.S. military collaboration with Israel and ensures the two countries share future defense research and technology development.
Reporters later asked Flood why he continues to support Israel, despite its ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and the International Criminal Court’s warrant for the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I don’t want women and children to suffer, I don’t want civilians to suffer,” Flood said. “We’re dealing with an enemy of the Israeli state, and of America, that intentionally positions itself in places where they think they should somehow be untouchable. We, as Americans have provided aid to civilian populations, and we should continue to do that, we should also seek to make sure that any and all strikes carried out by our country, certainly, and by our allies minimize civilian casualties as much as possible.”
Flood did not answer how much money he receives from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), but said “I do have supporters that support Israel and I have been supportive of Israel in the past, and I’m sure I have donors that do that. What’s on the internet is not entirely accurate.”
Before the town hall, Nebraska For Us hosted a silent protest outside the venue, with signs claiming that Flood has cut Medicaid and SNAP, given tax breaks to billionaires and increased health insurance premiums, which were all affected by the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year.
Chris Backemeyer, Flood’s democratic opponent this November, and Nik Sandman, the libertarian candidate, also stood outside to meet with attendees and hear their concerns. Backemeyer said Flood’s voting record has hurt farmers and consumers in Congressional District 1, and if elected, he hopes push back against corruption.
“One of the first things that motivated me to actually run for this seat was coming to Congressman Flood’s town hall a year ago here in Lincoln,” Backemeyer said. “I saw people lining up around two city blocks, motivated to speak their opinion, to make their thoughts heard, and it’s the same thing here today, it’s 100 degrees out and people are coming out because they’re concerned about the trajectory of our country and they want better representation in Washington.”
Sandman said he’s also running against Flood to help farmers, claiming he has more experience than either of the other candidates.
“I farmed for 26 years, so I’m very familiar with the farm program, and it needs a major rethink,” he said. “They’re both democrats and republicans, and for the last 75 years that’s who’s been designing our farm program, and that’s the farm program we have which is a disaster at this moment.”
The full press interview with Flood following the town hall can be found below:
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