Nebraska Democratic candidate suggests reading fairy smut to cope with Trump win

Denise Powell, winner of the May 13 Democratic primary for Nebraska's Second Congressional District, posted an Instagram video on Inauguration Day 2025 advising supporters on ways to cope with the election outcome. In the video, Powell told viewers to stop watching the news, eat comfort food, go out with a friend, and watch junk television.

Campaign focus Powell has described her campaign as focused on opposing tariffs, changes to health care, and restrictions on abortion. Outside groups spent more than $6 million during the primary promoting claims about voting and reproductive rights.

Fairy smut is described in the post as a sub-genre of romantasy fiction featuring faeries with magical powers in romantic and sexual scenarios with human characters. The genre gained popularity through books by Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros that spread on TikTok.