Blab Politics
Nebraska Targeted in $15 Million Anti-Trump Ad Blitz by Home of the Brave
A new wave of political advertising is sweeping Nebraska and 16 other states, as Home of the Brave, a group formed by former Trump aides, unleashes a $15 million campaign called “Sticker Shock Summer.” Launched Monday, June 8, 2026, the effort places billboards and video spots across the Cornhusker State, aiming to link President Donald Trump’s policies to the rising cost of everyday goods.
The campaign’s spokesperson, Sarah Matthews, says the ads are designed to "educate and mobilize Nebraskans." Matthews, who left her post as Trump’s deputy White House press secretary on January 6, 2021, after the Capitol riot, remains a registered Republican. She argues that many voters are "not willing to call out Trump," and that the price hikes for gas, groceries, and other essentials are the direct result of the administration’s tariffs, the U.S. war in Iran, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Matthews explained that the ads will feature person‑on‑the‑street interviews with Americans who feel the pinch of higher fuel and food costs. "Home of the Brave" wants to turn the sense of hopelessness around affordability into action, encouraging residents to contact their lawmakers and push for reforms that lower prices.
Specific policy items will be highlighted. The tariffs, which rose from an average effective rate of 2.5 % in early 2025 to about 27 % before being partially rolled back to 11.8 % in April 2026, are cited as a source of higher import costs. The U.S. war in Iran, which began with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026, is described as a driver of global supply disruptions that have pushed energy and commodity prices higher. The OBBBA, signed into law on July 4, 2025, is blamed for expanding tax cuts for high‑income households while cutting spending on programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.
The Nebraska GOP has dismissed the effort. Mary Jane Truemper, chair of the state Republican Party, said the campaign would not resonate with voters. "Nebraskans don’t take their cues from coastal activists with a checkbook," Truemper said. "They trust what they can see with their own eyes, and what they see is a country that’s stronger under Republican leadership."
Home of the Brave’s website describes the group as a coalition of former Trump officials and conservative activists who have turned against the former president after his refusal to accept the 2020 election results. The organization’s stated goal is to counter what it calls "Trump‑driven policies" that it believes have harmed the American economy.
The campaign’s launch comes as Nebraska heads into the May 2026 primary, when the state’s lone congressional seat—a blue dot in a predominantly red state—has become a focal point for Democratic voters. The ads are part of a broader trend of anti‑Trump messaging that has appeared in other states, including Ohio and Wyoming, according to reports.
The $15 million budget covers billboard placements in high‑traffic areas across Nebraska and the other 16 states, as well as television and digital video spots. Home of the Brave has not yet disclosed how the funds will be allocated among the different media channels.
As the campaign rolls out, state officials and political analysts will watch how Nebraskans respond. The group’s strategy relies on the assumption that economic frustration will translate into political pressure on lawmakers, a claim that remains to be tested.
The current status of the campaign is that it is actively running ads in Nebraska and the other targeted states. No official response has been issued by the Trump campaign or the White House. The Nebraska GOP has publicly denounced the effort as an attempt by a left‑wing group to influence state politics. The campaign’s future will likely be shaped by the upcoming primary elections and any subsequent policy debates on tariffs, the Iran war, and the OBBBA.
The next few weeks will see the ads in circulation while voters prepare for the May primary. The campaign’s effectiveness will depend on whether the messaging resonates with Nebraskans and whether it can galvanize them to contact their representatives. No further developments have been reported as of the time of writing.
The campaign’s spokesperson, Sarah Matthews, says the ads are designed to "educate and mobilize Nebraskans." Matthews, who left her post as Trump’s deputy White House press secretary on January 6, 2021, after the Capitol riot, remains a registered Republican. She argues that many voters are "not willing to call out Trump," and that the price hikes for gas, groceries, and other essentials are the direct result of the administration’s tariffs, the U.S. war in Iran, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Matthews explained that the ads will feature person‑on‑the‑street interviews with Americans who feel the pinch of higher fuel and food costs. "Home of the Brave" wants to turn the sense of hopelessness around affordability into action, encouraging residents to contact their lawmakers and push for reforms that lower prices.
Specific policy items will be highlighted. The tariffs, which rose from an average effective rate of 2.5 % in early 2025 to about 27 % before being partially rolled back to 11.8 % in April 2026, are cited as a source of higher import costs. The U.S. war in Iran, which began with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026, is described as a driver of global supply disruptions that have pushed energy and commodity prices higher. The OBBBA, signed into law on July 4, 2025, is blamed for expanding tax cuts for high‑income households while cutting spending on programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.
The Nebraska GOP has dismissed the effort. Mary Jane Truemper, chair of the state Republican Party, said the campaign would not resonate with voters. "Nebraskans don’t take their cues from coastal activists with a checkbook," Truemper said. "They trust what they can see with their own eyes, and what they see is a country that’s stronger under Republican leadership."
Home of the Brave’s website describes the group as a coalition of former Trump officials and conservative activists who have turned against the former president after his refusal to accept the 2020 election results. The organization’s stated goal is to counter what it calls "Trump‑driven policies" that it believes have harmed the American economy.
The campaign’s launch comes as Nebraska heads into the May 2026 primary, when the state’s lone congressional seat—a blue dot in a predominantly red state—has become a focal point for Democratic voters. The ads are part of a broader trend of anti‑Trump messaging that has appeared in other states, including Ohio and Wyoming, according to reports.
The $15 million budget covers billboard placements in high‑traffic areas across Nebraska and the other 16 states, as well as television and digital video spots. Home of the Brave has not yet disclosed how the funds will be allocated among the different media channels.
As the campaign rolls out, state officials and political analysts will watch how Nebraskans respond. The group’s strategy relies on the assumption that economic frustration will translate into political pressure on lawmakers, a claim that remains to be tested.
The current status of the campaign is that it is actively running ads in Nebraska and the other targeted states. No official response has been issued by the Trump campaign or the White House. The Nebraska GOP has publicly denounced the effort as an attempt by a left‑wing group to influence state politics. The campaign’s future will likely be shaped by the upcoming primary elections and any subsequent policy debates on tariffs, the Iran war, and the OBBBA.
The next few weeks will see the ads in circulation while voters prepare for the May primary. The campaign’s effectiveness will depend on whether the messaging resonates with Nebraskans and whether it can galvanize them to contact their representatives. No further developments have been reported as of the time of writing.
