Democratic Candidate Suggests Reading Fairy Tales in Response to Trump

A Democratic candidate, Dennis Powell, who recently secured the Democratic nomination for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, has made an unusual suggestion. She encouraged voters to “read fairy tales” as a coping mechanism following President Donald Trump’s anticipated 2024 reelection.

This advice was shared in a video posted on Instagram by the Nebraska Women’s Political Action Committee on January 20, 2025, just before the kickoff of Trump’s second term. Powell, who co-founded the organization in 2017, remarked, “Today, do small things that bring you joy. Stop watching the news. Stop following social media. Eat some comfort food. Go out with friends. Watch junk TV.”

Powell further added, “Read Fairy Fools. I’m so into it right now. But remember, we’re in it for the long haul. Today is just the beginning of a hell of a journey. But we’ve been through it so far. We’re going to do it again, and we’re just going to keep showing up.”

Fairy smut, a genre intertwining romance and fantasy, often includes explicit content featuring fairies and mythical beings. Popular titles in this niche include Sarah J. Maas’ *A Court of Thorns and Roses* series and Rebecca Jarosz’s *Empyrean* series.

Powell recently triumphed in a six-person primary, according to the Nebraska Examiner. She raised over $1.6 million between May 2025 and April 2026, based on Federal Election Commission data. Next, she faces Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding, who is campaigning to fill the seat of retiring Republican Rep. Don Bacon. Harding has raised over $1.2 million from July 2025 to May 2026.

Political ads have characterized Powell as “Dark Money Dennis,” alleging that she has received contributions from a shadowy funding group. Powell has dismissed these claims as false, reacting to the ad’s content during an interview.

The Nebraska Democratic Party has called for a Justice Department investigation due to Harding’s failure to meet two financial disclosure filing deadlines, the first of which was in 2025. Candidates who raise more than $5,000 are required to submit a disclosure form within 15 days of launching their campaigns, or by May 15. Harding finally submitted his paperwork on June 11, significantly past the deadline, but asserted he had “nothing to hide.”

Powell co-founded Women Who Run Nebraska after participating in the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., in 2017, during Trump’s first term.