📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,424 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Anyone can build on YouTube

2. New Media Voices: Crime, AI, and Baby Yoda

3. Leading FOX: Spencer Pratt and Marco Rubio

4. Trending: Bessent, Mullin, and Rubio on Capitol Hill

5. What the Right is Writing: Mamdani, Platner, and Bass

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

We don’t normally highlight Democrat successes, but Senator Raphael Warnock’s rapid YouTube growth offers a clear lesson. In just a few months, his channel skyrocketed from 7k monthly views to over a million.

The strategy shift comes down to simple math: 84% of American adults use YouTube. Compare that to the 71% of Americans on Facebook, 50% on Instagram, and just 21% on X.

Bottom line: YouTube is the dominant platform and can’t be treated as an afterthought. From Warnock to Mullin, the tools for growth are available to anyone willing to use them. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 6/2

• Jury selection in the Carmelo Anthony murder trial has raised concerns by Kelly about racial bias, the MK True Crime team reacts

• Kelly reacts to disturbing footage showing young British man Henry Novak dying while handcuffed, draws comparisons to the George Floyd

• She explains Blake Lively’s new legal battle against Justin Baldoni, raising questions about California’s Speak Your Truth Act on defamation claims related to sexual harassment

• Kelly discusses the Mackenzie Sharilla murder case featured on Netflix, and the influence of parental behavior on juvenile offenders

The Ben Shapiro Show - 6/2

• Shapiro compares the death due to police negligence of white Brit Henry Novak to George Floyd, with Novak being framed as racist by his killer while he bled out

• He argues the UK’s barring of Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur shows the complicated intersection between policing antisemitism and free speech

• Shapiro says Sen. Bernie Sanders’ proposals for government ownership of AI companies raise concerns about wealth generation, free speech

• He criticizes Candace Owens and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for their stances on Iran, Jewish people, and conspiracy theories

• Shapiro argues the rise of Democrat candidate Graham Platner challenges classical liberal values, the concept of unlimited tolerance

The Michael Knowles Show - 6/2

• Knowles expresses concerns that Israel’s military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon creates friction, potentially escalating conflict, but acknowledges Iranian missiles being used against Kuwait

• He condemns Pride Month, noting its subdued nature this year but criticizing organizations like the Yankees for its continued promotion

• He jokingly calls for a return to 1220 AD, arguing liberal rationalism has failed, creating a vacuum filled by either demon worship or traditional faith

• Knowles supports Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart for introducing President Trump and not bending the knee to backlash

• He uses porn star Bonnie Blue’s orgie baby shower to illustrate the “limits of politics,” advocating for state intervention

The Brett Cooper Show - 6/2

• Cooper celebrates Gen Z’s disruption of Hollywood, as young creators like Kane Parsons and Curry Barker achieve indie box office success

• Their low-budget films, Backroom and Obsession, signal a new era for audience-driven content

• She contrasts this with “recycled lazy crap,” citing Disney’s failing Star Wars sequels like The Mandalorian and Grogu

• Cooper attributes Hollywood’s paralysis to political correctness, while independent filmmakers leverage social media and take creative risks

The Dan Bongino Show - 6/3

• Bongino celebrates Bill Pulte as acting DNI, emphasizing the need for strong leadership after Tulsi Gabbard’s sad departure

• He highlights the importance of voting in-person on election day, particularly in California

• Bongino criticizes a federal appeals court ruling on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces, arguing such policies undermine military effectiveness

• Guest Gad Saad discusses his book Suicidal Empathy, which critiques the left’s approach to societal issues, and Bongino compares it to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ hypocrisy on economics and merit

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• Spencer Pratt makes his final pitch before the Los Angeles mayoral election

• Jill Biden claims she expected Kamala Harris would win, publishes new book to keep the cash coming

• Democrat candidate Graham Platner thinks all you need to be a man is muscles and guns, not fidelity as sexting scandal rocks his campaign

• Jimmy Kimmel dodges blame for the slow death of late night television

FOX & Friends

• Karen Bass advances to an LA mayoral runoff, likely against Spencer Pratt, while in the California gubernatorial primary, Republican Steve Hilton sees a slight advantage over Xavier Becerra

• Iran fires missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain, while Sec. of State Marco Rubio says there are indications the Iranian Supreme Leader is engaging more in concessions

• A man is holding people hostage in a Bakersfield, CA bank

• A sex offender’s indictment has been thrown out by a Virginia judge

• Bill Pulte has been chosen as the next acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard caring for her sick husband

• Three men are caught on camera entering NYC manholes

• A 66-year-old grandmother was stabbed up to 20 times in Atlanta, Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones reacts

• The City of Newark, NJ expands its lawsuit against ICE

• New Jersey Democrat primary winner Adam Hamawy has ties to Al-Qaeda, was a defense witness in a terror trial

• More than half of young adults return back home after initially moving out, per a recent study

• Long Island teen Ryan Martino is interviewed on beating cancer, graduating with a 4.0 and a $125k scholarship

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• A Democrat Congresswoman just STORMED OUT of Marco Rubio’s hearing, as Rubio clowned on her.. “Wait, why is she leaving?! …Well, thank you for coming! [X, Sortor]

• THANEDAR: When will you stop spreading bigoted and racist words? MULLIN: It’s INTERESTING … YOUR party is the one supporting a guy with a NAZI TATTOO on his CHEST in Maine! [X, Dougherty]

• Democrats just nominated a guy who served as a defense witness for the World Trade Center bomber and who worked for an Al Qaeda front group. [X, Bonchie]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Karen Bass to face runoff election amid challenge from Spencer Pratt [FOX News]

• Trump-endorsed candidate concedes in primary upset [FOX News]

• Kash Patel warns ‘we’re just getting started’ [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Squad-Endorsed Democrat Adam Hamawy, Linked with Al-Qaeda and Blind Sheikh, Wins NJ Primary [Breitbart]

• Jones: Dems Sticking with Platner Because Collins Won’t Stop [Breitbart]

• Trump Administration Forgoes Gay Pride Propaganda Second Year in a Row [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Republicans Can Kill Trump’s Retribution Fund for Good [WSJ Ed]

• The Real Problem With Graham Platner [WSJ Ed]

• Now Jill Biden Tells Us [WSJ Ed]

• An ObamaCare Fraud Update [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Trump tells ‘Pod Force One’ Graham Platner is a ‘major sleaze bag,’ but James Talarico is worse [NYP]

• Trump doesn’t rule out tapping DeSantis as his attorney general: ‘Ron’s very good’ [NYP]

• Trump predicts meeting with Iran’s probably gay Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei: ‘Getting along quite well’ [NYP]

• Mamdani’s top City Hall spox raked in more than $50K consulting for Graham Platner’s Maine Senate campaign [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• ‘What a Cool Pic’: Totenkopf-Tattooed Graham Platner Admired ‘German Helmets’ in WW2 Photo of Nazi-Allied Troops, Deleted Post Shows [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• Labor Secretary Sonderling points to apprenticeship programs like Ford’s as manufacturing wins [Reporter]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,368 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (10+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Faith-fueled media

2. New Media Voices: Graham Platner, trans topics, and America 250

3. Leading FOX: California Gov race and AI

4. Trending: Seattle, DC, and LA

5. What the Right is Writing: California election month and Platner news

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

For the right, 2028 starts in church, and new Pew data illustrates why: 66% of regular churchgoers recently heard clergy speak on social and political issues. Specifically, a good portion of White evangelical Protestants have heard church leaders speak recently on abortion, homosexuality, and trans topics.

This influence is clearly visible in conservative new media. Allie Beth Stuckey (Evangelical) and Michael Knowles (Catholic) both kicked off the week with shows about how corporate America is trending away from branding June as “Pride Month.”

The new media pushback isn’t new, but the growing influence these voices and their listeners wield is. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 6/1

• Kelly criticizes Maine senate candidate Graham Platner’s sexting scandal, Nazi tattoo, and activity on the predatory chat app Kik

• She lambasts Jill Biden’s book tour, highlighting her defensive cover for Joe Biden’s decline and disaster debate

• Kelly and guest Emily Jashinsky condemn Tom Steyer’s California campaign for featuring a trans athlete

• Kelly expresses strong skepticism about CBS News as Scott Pelley attacks Barry Weiss for “murdering” 60 Minutes

• She argues authenticity trumps character now, comparing Graham Platner to President Trump and Ken Paxton’s scandals

• Jashinsky scrutinizes James Talarico’s image and his supposed girlfriend Brianna Menard

The Ben Shapiro Show - 6/1

• Shapiro lambasts Democrats’ support for the “sexting Nazi” Graham Platner against moderate incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins

• Shapiro accuses NJ Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of undermining law enforcement by endorsing anti-ICE riots

• He supports the UK’s ban on Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker for anti-Western rhetoric

• Shapiro argues western decline is a conscious choice, as seen with French President Emmanuel Macron’s struggles with riots and Los Angeles’ homelessness, endorses Spencer Pratt for mayor

The Matt Walsh Show - 6/1

• Walsh shames the “embarrassing” lack of America250 celebrations, contrasting it with the 1876 Centennial under Ulysses Grant and the 1976 Bicentennial led by Gerald Ford

• He blames the Biden Administration for undermining American history during the time they should have spent preparing for this year

• While grateful for the work of Freedom250, he warns against many of the events becoming Trump rallies

• Walsh describes the Great American Fair concert lineup as “washed-up,” featuring Milli Vanilli, Vanilla Ice, and Flo Rida

• He also condemns the America250 organization’s progressive agenda, mentioning Harvey Milk and Marsha P. Johnson, while distracting from heroes like Daniel Boone

TimcastIRL - 6/1

• Pool criticizes the Democrat Party civil war over Graham Platner’s past, noting selective outrage compared to defamation of President Trump

• The panel talks about Spencer Pratt’s political rise ahead of the election

• Pool makes fun of Reps. Yassamin Ansari and Rashida Tlaib, and what he calls a flawed “liberal Joe Rogan” strategy

• He criticizes the UK’s entry bans against Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker, describes foreign aid to Israel as a weapons subsidy

• The panel talks about UFO sightings, drone weaponization, the need to release Julian Assange’s files, and declining political content viewership

Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 6/1

• Stuckey asserts a turning tide against Pride Month and the sexual revolution, condemns Boston Public Library’s drag queen storytime

• She contrasts the corporate pride of Target and Michaels to Christian companies like Hobby Lobby and 7 Weeks Coffee, thanks Elon Musk for urging people to cancel Netflix over LGBTQ+ children’s content

• Stuckey argues the same-sex marriage ruling created a “slippery slope” to current issues, highlights the “peak woke era” backlash

• She celebrates conservative pushback with TN Gov. Bill Lee declaring Nuclear Family Month and TX AG Ken Paxton settling with a children’s hospital over illegal trans minor procedures

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• As if a Nazi tattoo and denigrating veterans wasn’t enough, Maine senate candidate Graham Platner is now caught in a sexting scandal

• NJ Gov. Mikie Sherrill finally condemns violent protests outside ICE facility

• CA gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer defends a trans student athlete

• Joy Reid joins other liberals in trashing America250 celebrations

• Robots take the runway in Seoul, South Korea

FOX & Friends

• As the LA mayoral election is today, Spencer Pratt surges in the polls

• Guest AR Sen. Sarah Huckabee Sanders reacts to California gubernatorial polls opening today

• Iran claims Israel, US can’t be considered separate agents, President Trump floats a peace deal by next week

• ICE agents face a surge in threats, as seen in Newark, NJ

• Missing nuclear scientist Melissa Casias’ remains have been discovered in the New Mexico woods

• Maine senate candidate Graham Platner faces yet another scandal for sexting multiple women while married, Democrats remain divided

• Milwaukee siblings share the story of their sister in the military reuniting with her brother at his graduation

• A great grandmother was stabbed to death on a train in Atlanta

• Karmelo Anthony could face life in prison if convicted for the murder of high school football star Austin Metcalf

• Florida lawmakers are voting on whether to increase the Homestead Exemption on property taxes

• The Alabama Department of Education weighs screens in classrooms

• Florida sues OpenAI, Sam Altman for safety lapses

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser celebrates LGBTQ pride month with a pride flag raising ceremony in our nation’s capital which she declares the “gayest city in the world.” [X, Libs of TikTok]

• Seattle spent $456,000 on four toilets for the World Cup. It didn’t even last two weeks. [X, End Wokeness]

• The bodycam footage of Henry Nowak has just been released. An 18-year-old who was stabbed five times called the police for help. His attacker told officers Henry was a racist. So they handcuffed the victim. [X, Johnson]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Republicans chase historic breakthroughs in multi-state primary elections [FOX News]

• FBI’s next move in Nancy Guthrie case could finally expose suspect [FOX News]

• Trump reportedly fumed at Netanyahu in tense phone call [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Farage: ‘White Lives Matter Too’ Outrage Builds as Police Dump Henry Nowak Handcuff Footage in Middle of Night [Breitbart]

• New Jersey Police Arrest Antifa Rioters at ICE’s Delaney Hall [Breitbart]

• Hilton: Becerra Pushed Migrant Children Into Arms of Child Sex Traffickers [Breitbart]

• Doug Burgum: Trump’s Restorations Show Squalor Is a ‘Choice [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• The Exxon Example for Corporations [WSJ Ed]

• California’s Election Month [WSJ Ed]

• Iran Gets Trump to Rescue Hezbollah [WSJ Ed]

• The High Stakes in Colombia’s Presidential Runoff [WSJ Ed]

• Democrats Promise to Wreck the Supreme Court [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Californians reveal what’s driving choices for governor and LA mayor — and change is coming [NYP]

• Graham Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, stands by her man in sexting scandal — after his campaign paid her $30K [NYP]

• Mayor Mamdani’s pals continue to unsuccessfully try and get him on ‘SNL’ [NYP]

• San Fran school ‘adult supremacy’ workshop brands teachers as oppressors [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• ‘No Regrets’: Graham Platner Admitted to Buying Cocaine, Boasted About Doing Drugs During Military Leave While ‘on the Government Dime’ [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• Platner’s problems reach Alex Vindman in Florida [Reporter]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,489 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Big things coming to The Brand Brief

2. New Media Voices: Big blue cities

3. Leading FOX: Jill Biden and Blue Origin

4. Trending: Jaxson Dart and Spencer Pratt

5. What the Right is Writing: CIA and Trump accounts

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

Happy Friday! Three quick Brand Brief updates:

1. Starting next week, no more Brand Brief newsletters on Mondays.

2. We are sad to see it go, but we will be cutting the FOX News’ America’s Newsroom section from the newsletter. It is often redundant of FOX & Friends and slows down this newsletter hitting your inbox.

3. We’ve teased it a few times now, but we’re excited for what’s ahead. More new media shows and more insight, all made easier for you. We’re still building, so stay tuned! - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/28

• Shapiro shames AOC for wearing a hijab to an Eid event with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, contrasts with feminists’ past condemnation of the practice

• He points out how candidates like Graham Platner are pretending to be working class, while James Talarico is putting up a religious front

• Former First Lady Jill Biden admits she thought Joe Biden was having a stroke, Shapiro says this contradicts her immediate post-debate praise

• He laughs at NY Gov. Kathy Hochul failing to dunk on President Trump with a nonexistent 1993 Knicks championship reference

• Shapiro disagrees with Pope Leo’s recent reflections on AI

The Matt Walsh Show - 5/28

• Walsh argues that the media’s term “teen takeovers” deliberately obscures the reality of widespread, violent riots involving large groups of young black people across eastern U.S. cities

• He contrasts today’s riots to what he describes as decades of urban violence that he says led to the creation of SWAT teams

• Walsh criticizes mainstream outlets like the New York Times and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for blaming social media instead of personal responsibility

• He argues the root cause is fatherlessness, which constitutes 80% of urban black children

• Walsh demands usage of the federal Anti-Riot Act, and prosecuting parents for contributing to delinquency

The Isabel Brown Show - 5/28

• Brown says NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to target irresponsible landlords by removing their ownership is intentionally ambiguous

• She argues his policy is a part of a broader Marxist push to move from private market housing to government-controlled housing

• Brown draws parallels to failed communist policies in the Soviet Union and Maoist China, describes it as a recycled path that does not solve the housing affordability crisis

The Brett Cooper Show - 5/28

• Cooper describes struggling with Nashville’s changing character from a distinct Music City to being homogenized due to rapid growth and tourist caricaturization

• She highlights soaring commercial property taxes, like a 45% median increase in Davidson County, forcing iconic local restaurants to close

• Cooper says walkable neighborhoods are now crowded zones filled with private equity-backed chains like Lululemon and Sweetgreen, copied across Sunbelt cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston

• She says America must preserve unique city identities like Tokyo and Paris have, arguing private equity firms and social media algorithms have ruined distinct American regional cultures, reducing them to a cliche

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• Antifa clashes with ICE agents at a Newark, NJ immigration facility

• Former First Lady Jill Biden claims she thought Joe was having a stroke at the last presidential debate

• Jimmy Kimmel decides to project, claims LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt is a narcissist looking for attention

• Beto O’Rourke backs future fellow failed candidate James Talarico for Texas senator, “the best I’ve ever seen”

• The panel debates whether it’s appropriate to go on a first date just for a free meal

FOX & Friends

• Five people are injured after a fire at Penn Station

• Spencer Pratt is closing the polling gap in the race for LA mayor

• A Texas man has been charged for threatening to bomb a TPUSA event

• Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket exploded during a ground test, all are safe

• Zohran Mamdani is the first to NYC mayor not attend the Israel Day Parade since its start in 1964

• Jill Biden admits Joe was “slowing down” despite pushing for him to remain in the race, Democrat strategist Michael Larosa reacts

• Protesters continue to clash with ICE in Newark, NJ

• Federal officials have reopened the search for Lynette Hooker off the coast of the Bahamas

• 14-year-old Shrey Parikh wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee

• President Trump weighs restarting nuclear talks, says “we have all the cards,” treasury issues new sanctions

• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson visits the Vatican after a Memorial Day weekend of murders

• Teddy Daniels, the Purple Heart veteran Graham Platner said deserved to die, speaks out with an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal

• Trump Accounts officially launch on July 4th

• Manhattanhenge returns, with beautiful views of the sun setting perfectly between skyscrapers

• High school principal Brian Muller shares his reaction to his students pranking him by showing up at his house in the middle of the night

FOX Newsroom

• A 60-day agreement is on the table for President Trump, Sen. Jim Banks reacts

• Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded on the launchpad, residents describe it as looking like the sun came up early

• NJ Gov. Mikie Sherrill tries to blame the riots at the Newark immigration facility on ICE agents, while MA Gov. Maura Healey comes out against undercover license plates for agents

• Former First Lady Jill Biden admits Joe was “slowing down”

• MI Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wavers on whether she’d run in 2028

• Ex-CIA officer David Rush has been accused of stealing $40M in gold bars, falsified some military and academic credentials

• NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani refuses to march in the Israel Day Parade, breaking a decades long tradition in protest

• A judge blocks President Trump’s $1.8B anti-weaponization fund

• Iowa GOP nominee Ashley Hinson speaks ahead of the Democrat Senate primary election

• Spencer Pratt surges in LA mayoral polls

• JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says the government should play a role in regulating AI

• The search continues for missing vacationing mother Lynette Hooker

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• Talarico in 2021: “I oppose voter ID.” Add it to the ever-growing list. [X, Lensman]

• While AOC was preaching “solidarity” in her hijab, the male-only crowd ignored her and spoke over her. [X, End Wokeness]

• Jimmy Kimmel says Spencer Pratt shouldn’t win the LA mayoral election because he doesn’t believe in “climate change” after his house burned down. [X, Miller]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• US responds to reports that an American aircraft was shot down [FOX News]

• Skeleton found near Nancy Guthrie’s home unearths new mystery [FOX News]

• Iran’s uranium stockpile becomes the make-or-break issue [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Dem Moulton: ‘No Other Option’ But ‘Negotiating America’s Unconditional Surrender to Iran’ [Breitbart]

• Criminal Investigation into Trump Accuser E. Jean Carroll Starts [Breitbart]

• Trump Cabinet: Administration Oversaw ‘Largest Drop in the Murder Rate Ever Recorded’ in 2025 [Breitbart]

• U.S., Iran Reach Ceasefire Extension Deal Pending Trump’s Final Approval [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Where the Iran Talks Stand Now [WSJ Ed]

• The Academy Rethinks the SAT [WSJ Ed]

• Britain’s Lost Generation of Workers [WSJ Ed]

• Kathy Hochul’s Get-Past-November Budget [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Why ex-CIA officer’s $40M gold bar scheme could point to a ‘large-scale cover-up’ [NYP]

• Dems enraged by Jill Biden’s book as ex-first lady puts Joe’s disastrous Trump debate back in the news [NYP]

• Kelsey Grammer hosts fireside chat with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about ‘Trump Accounts’ [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• Far-Left House Candidate Backed by AOC and Hasan Piker Said Corporate CEOs ‘Should Fry,’ Called for ‘Frequent and Swift’ Death Penalty for CEO ‘Gangs’ [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• “The Working Families Tax Cuts are already paying off”: Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling pitches Trump agenda to Florida businesses [Reporter]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,541 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: YouTube’s share of the pie

2. New Media Voices: Hasan Piker, Castro, and Spencer Pratt

3. Leading FOX: James Talarico, Jaxson Dart, and Jill Biden

4. Trending: JD Vance chestbump

5. What the Right is Writing: Texas, Iran, and the Pope

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

YouTube is huge.

According to the latest numbers from Nielsen, the major audience measuring firm, YouTube is the top distributor in watch time across broadcast, cable, and streaming.

How big? YouTube accounts for 13.2% of all TV viewing in March.

Because conservative new media and YouTube have shared a remarkably similar upward trajectory, expect the platform to play an increasingly dominant role as American viewing habits continue to fracture. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/27

• Kelly reports on Ken Paxton’s primary win, where he will now compete against Democrat James Talarico for the Senate

• She bashes Talarico for claiming there are six genders, that God is nonbinary, praising “trans children,” and running a vegan campaign

• Guest Tom Bevan of RealClearPolitics argues Paxton is heavily favored in deep-red Texas

• Guest Andrew Lownie promotes his book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, detailing Prince Andrew’s close ties to Jeffrey Epstein

• The book portrays Queen Elizabeth as overly protective of Andrew despite knowing about his misconduct, while criticizing ex-wife Sarah Ferguson’s poor judgment

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/27

• Shapiro links the DOJ’s subpoena of Hasan Piker for aiding Cuba’s communist regime to Neville Roy Singham’s alleged funding of anti-US groups

• He criticizes candidate Adam Hamawy’s alleged terror links and Democrats disrespecting Memorial Day by prioritizing George Floyd

• Shapiro points out the DNC’s 2024 autopsy admits “Bidenomics” failures, radical stances on Israel and property seizure led to their loss

• He condemns Democrats’ endorsement of Graham Platner, their Maine senate candidate with a Nazi tattoo known for disparaging combat veterans and rape victims

• Shapiro outlines his “red lines” for an Iran deal, emphasizing complete nuclear disarmament

The Michael Knowles Show - 5/27

• Knowles reports on Ken Paxton’s primary win over incumbent Texas Sen. John Cornyn

• Knowles laughs about socialist streamer Hasan Piker bragging on air about coordinating with the Cuban government for his trip, then panicking after receiving a Treasury subpoena

• He reports on a Canadian man who was approved for MAID suicide assistance outside a Tim Hortons, and a botched procedure where the patient began breathing again after being declared dead

• Knowles condemns a Memorial Day blunder by the DNC, which posted an attack blaming 13 U.S. soldiers’ deaths in Iran on President Trump

• He praises mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt’s blunt reframing of LA homelessness, ridicules an NBC reporter’s oblivious reaction to gunfire, and defends Pope Leo’s right to comment on AI

Louder with Crowder - 5/27

• Crowder argues Cuba’s profound poverty stems solely from its totalitarian communist regime under the Castro regime

• He critiques the Biden admin for undermining Cuban freedom, and hypocrisy of celebrities like Jane Fonda who romanticize Che Guevara

• Cuba is portrayed as “the head of the snake,” destabilizing Latin America and posing a U.S. national security threat via intelligence networks and spy bases, influencing figures like LA Mayor Karen Bass

• Cuban-American guests share harrowing escapes, contrasting American freedom with Cuban repression

• Crowder advocates for potential military intervention or annexation to liberate Cuba

The Brett Cooper Show - 5/27

• Cooper critiques the cultural trend on TikTok of glamorizing and normalizing mental illness, perceiving it as a trendy “accessory”

• While acknowledging men’s need to discuss mental health, Cooper contrasts Dana White’s stance on keeping things private to UFC fighters like Paddy Pimblett and Khalil Rountree who share struggles

• She criticizes Gen Z and millennials for self-diagnosing mental disorders, arguing this de-legitimizes genuine mental illness while fostering lack of accountability for regular issues

• While arguing seeking help doesn’t diminish masculinity, Cooper praises individuals like podcaster Theo Von who transparently shares struggles while actively working towards self-improvement

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• President Trump takes credit for the lowest murder rate in the country in 125 years

• Seattle residents place road blockades in an attempt to stop drive-by shootings, polling shows Americans trust Republicans on crime more than Democrats by as much as a 13-point margin

• Texas Democrat James Talarico denies vegan allegations, concedes there are only two genders

• The View attacks NFL quarterback Jaxson Dart for introducing Trump, Sunny Hostin calls him “complicit”

• “Pistols and Pilates” class in Oak Forest, IL goes viral

FOX & Friends

• The U.S. hits Iran with more self-defense strikes

• Protesters lash out against ICE agents at a holding facility in Newark, NJ, DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin reacts

• As many as 11 people are likely dead from a chemical tank implosion in Longview, WA

• James Talarico, running for Texas Senator, faces backlash for previous comments on BLM, God being nonbinary, and running a vegan campaign

• While Jill Biden claims she thought her husband was having a stroke during his debate, she never encouraged him to step down from the race

• Congress introduces the Protecting College Sports Act in an attempt to correct transfer portal drama

• A judge allows Anna Kepner’s alleged killer, her stepbrother, to remain free

• Alabama asks the Supreme Court to consider its redistricted map

• Guest Spencer Pratt shares how he outraised incumbent LA Mayor Karen Bass by ten times

FOX Newsroom

• Iran claims it targeted an American base in Kuwait, President Trump threatens Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. launches defensive strikes on Iranian drones

• Protesters pick fights outside an ICE facility in Newark, NJ, DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin threatens to end CBP service at sanctuary city airports

• HHS is investigating a national spike in autism treatment funding use, likely tied to fraud schemes

• Jill Biden claims she thought Joe was having a stroke during the presidential debates, despite claiming he did a great job, family sues to block the release of interview records

• The California governor race breaks records for outside spending, meanwhile Spencer Pratt raises ten times more funds than incumbent LA Mayor Karen Bass over a month

• The Midwest sees a reverse in Uhaul trends as city residents flee liberal policies

• As the Coast Guard reopens the search for Lynette Hooker, GPS data shows her husband’s cell phone in an area contradicting his statement

• Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico claims Ken Paxton is using his past comments as a distraction from his legal issues

• Filmmaker Steven Spielberg reveals he believes in alien life

• An attempted Iranian assassin had the blueprint to Ivanka Trump’s house, bragged online about conducting “surveillance” against the family

• NASCAR Driver Kyle Busch’s sudden death is attributed to a case of pneumonia progressing to sepsis

• New arrests are made in a string of pro-athletes’ home burglaries

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• Jill Biden was so concerned her husband had a stroke during the debate she started a “four more years” chant right after. [X, Failla]

• Chicago Mayor Johnson says he will fight teen takeovers by “holding social media platforms accountable.” [X, End Wokeness]

• Talarico says Mary had to give consent not to abort Jesus. There’s a word for this. The word is “blasphemy.” [X, Lee]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Iran issues blunt nuclear ultimatum [FOX News]

• Jill Biden makes admission about 2024 debate [FOX News]

• Democrats warn of ‘civil war’ in party [FOX News]

Breitbart

• DOJ Launches Criminal Investigation into Trump Accuser E. Jean Carroll [Breitbart]

• Protesters Clash with ICE Outside New Jersey Detention Center [Breitbart]

• Trump Cabinet: Administration Oversaw ‘Largest Drop in the Murder Rate’ [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Pope Leo’s AI Manifesto [WSJ Ed]

• RFK Jr.’s Hantavirus Epiphany [WSJ Ed]

• The Tax Collector’s Paradise [WSJ Ed]

• The Ken Paxton Republicans [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Mamdani’s plan to ‘transfer’ building ownership to tenants uses existing NYC programs — that have repeatedly failed [NYP]

• Mamdani’s grocery store site already got $25M in NYC taxpayer funds years ago — setting stage for $55M boondoggle [NYP]

• Spencer Pratt torches Mayor Bass for axing street repair programs as potholes plague Los Angeles [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• US Probe of Embattled UN Gaza Relief Agency Expands to 1,500 Staffers Suspected of Hamas Ties: UNRWA Could Soon Be Labeled a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organization’ [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• Doug Burgum honors his Civil War veteran great grandfather during Memorial Day Weekend visit to Gettysburg [Reporter]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,660 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Meets the moment

2. New Media Voices: Healthmaxxing, Spencer Pratt, and Britney Spears

3. Leading FOX: FIFA World Cup, Mamdani, and anti-fraud efforts

4. Trending: ICE Protests and Israel

5. What the Right is Writing: Texas and AOC

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

Pastor Josh Howerton of Texas’s Lakepointe Church has the fastest-growing YouTube channel among the 100+ largest conservative and faith shows we track.

In the past three months, the show added about 200,000 subscribers and will cross the one million mark any day now.

The evangelical megachurch pastor launched the “Live Free with Josh Howerton” podcast on the church’s YouTube channel a year ago. Not a typical church podcast, the show blends sermons, culture commentary, and political insight (he’s not a fan of James Talarico’s false teaching).

Howerton’s show meets the moment as conservative political shows look more like faith shows, and faith shows adopt the edge of political shows. Howerton is an incredible communicator, and the show is well worth watching. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/26

• Kelly and journalists Rich Lowry and Charles C.W. Cooke lambast MN Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for prioritizing George Floyd, Sen. Andy Kim for prioritizing illegals on Memorial Day over fallen troops

• They assert the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots constituted domestic terror, causing more damage than January 6th

• Kelly mocks AOC 2028 rumors for her inauthenticity and lack of knowledge, and notes the overwhelming lack of enthusiasm for Kamala Harris’ potential bid

• She condemns California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer’s use of suicide statistics to justify transgender athlete inclusion

• The panel discusses a potential Iran peace deal, contrasting it with the Obama administration’s approach and expressing hope

The Matt Walsh Show - 5/26

• Walsh critiques healthmaxxing as an obsessive fad which ultimately fosters fragility rather than genuine well-being

• He condemns Steven Bartlett and Andrew Huberman as spreading misleading exaggerations about moderate consumption

• He criticizes wearable health trackers for fostering anxiety by promoting obsessive tracking, creating self-fulfilling prophecies

• Walsh challenges the extreme pursuit of longevity, exemplified by Bryan Johnson, advocating for a balanced life and openness to risk

• Walsh contrasts modern men with historical figures like the Founding Fathers who achieved greatness despite “suboptimal health habits”

The Isabel Brown Show - 5/26

• Brown argues Spencer Pratt’s Los Angeles mayoral campaign stands out for leveraging viral videos, TikTok, and AI-generated content

• She critiques current city leadership, including Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom, for policy causing homelessness and crime

• Brown says she has evolved from a California hater to believing LA is worth saving, inspired by Pratt’s campaign

• She hopes AI can be used as a net positive, citing Pratt’s advertisements as an example, in light of Pope Leo’s Magnifica Humanitas

• Brown laughs about non-Californians voting for Pratt as a “gotcha” against Democrats’ voter ID stance

The Brett Cooper Show - 5/26

• Cooper asserts the “Free Britney” movement failed Britney Spears, whose post-conservatorship struggles, including a DUI and public knife incidents, prove she lost crucial protection rather than gained freedom

• Cooper presents Spencer Pratt’s direct approach to Los Angeles’ homelessness and mental illness crisis as a model

• New York Post columnist Bethany Mandel argues legal restrictions like conservatorships offer compassionate protection

• Cooper advocates for re-establishing asylums and strict intervention, arguing true compassion for severe mental illness and addiction requires structure

Timcast IRL - 5/26

• Pool labels New York City’s proposed property seizure plan as a consequence of policies making landlord operations impossible

• The panel reacts to Hasan Piker implicating tech company Singham as being tied to China after he was subpoenaed for a Cuba trip

• Guests Jake Rattlesnake and Adam Johnson attribute America’s societal decline to social media’s impact on youth and bad parenting

• Looking at Japan and South Korea as warnings, the panel says modern dating and girl boss culture is only further contributing to declining birth rates and Social Security’s impending insolvency

• In other news, the panel addresses Ken Paxton’s win in Texas, how woke content fails financially in Hollywood, and concerns about AI manipulating politics

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• President Trump says Iran negotiations are “proceeding nicely,” senior official reports there will be “no dust or no deal” referencing air strikes

• Protesters screamed at a Newark, NJ ICE facility over Memorial Day weekend, Sen. Andy Kim and NY Gov. Kathy Hochul joined

• Graham Platner uses the Sen. Bernie Sanders boost in his Maine campaign

• Comedian Drew Carey tries to slam LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt as a “serial scammer”

FOX & Friends

• Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn in the Texas senate runoff primary, will face Democrat James Talarico in November

• Israeli forces hit Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, President Trump hosts a cabinet meeting today on an Iranian peace deal, Iran begins restoring internet access

• Both Jewish and Muslim activists accuse NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani of promoting a radical form of Islam, meanwhile he threatens to forcibly take away property ownership of negligent landlords

• A single dose of Verve-102 under trial has proven to reduce LDL cholesterol levels by up to 62%

• VP JD Vance hosts the first antifraud roundtable, with many Democrats attorneys general refusing to attend the bipartisan meeting

• U.S. men’s soccer team members are interviewed on the release of the FIFA World Cup roster

• LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt accuses his incumbent opponent Karen Bass of campaigning within 100 feet of a ballot box

• Gold Star Wife Sharrell Anne Shaw thanks strangers on the internet for visiting her husband at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, including outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard

• Seattle resident build street barricades to fight nighttime speeding

• The USDA invests in a protein access program for poor communities

• Protesters clash at an ICE facility in Newark, NJ, including Democrat politicians like NY Gov. Kathy Hochul

• A South American group of burglars targeting professional athletes has been arrested in Argentina

FOX Newsroom

• US-Iran peace talks reach their critical stage, with the Strait of Hormuz and uranium enrichment being the main focus

• A mob attempted to prevent cars from leaving a Newark, NJ ICE facility, DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin condemns Democrat politicians for attending the protests

• Trump-endorsed Kevin Paxton wins the Texas senate primary, will face off against Democrat James Talarico in November

• VP JD Vance announces billions in stolen government benefits through the fraud prevention taskforce, Indiana AG Todd Rokita reacts

• Cuban officials try to claim Sec. of State Marco Rubio has no true evidence of their country being a threat to the U.S.

• The DOJ is suing again over past reports of antisemitism at UCLA

• Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart faces cancellation over introducing President Trump at a football game

• Seattle neighbors build barricades to protect their streets from gunfire

• Some data center protesters may be getting paid by China

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• ICE protests and blockade in NJ turn violent [X, Scooter]

• Samuel L Jackson’s endorsement of Karen Bass hits different on Skid Row. [X, Dalton]

• “We’ll transition from treating property as an individual good to a collective good. Whites especially will be impacted.” - Cea Weaver, NYC’s tenant director [X, End Wokeness]

• Reminder: Talarico missed over 800 votes while working in the Texas State Legislature. [X, RNC Research]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Cornyn falls in bitter Texas Senate Republican runoff [FOX News]

• Iran’s forces ‘lying in wait’ if Trump restarts combat [FOX News]

• Purple Heart vet rips ‘communist’ Platner after he refuses to apologize [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Trump-Backed Ken Paxton Defeats Incumbent John Cornyn in Texas Landslide [Breitbart]

• U.S. Launches Fresh Strikes on Iran Hitting Missile Sites, Minelaying Boats [Breitbart]

• Far-Left AOC May Be Moving Toward 2028 Run for President [Breitbart]

• ‘Death to America’: Khamenei Warns U.S. Forces ‘Won’t Have a Safe Haven’ [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Iran’s ‘Skirmish’ Strategy in the Strait [WSJ Ed]

• The Ken Paxton Republicans [WSJ Ed]

• A Bipartisan Housing Fiasco [WSJ Ed]

• A Union Dues Rebellion in Chicago [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Spencer Pratt launches all-out war on Karen Bass over diabolical LA roads — and exposes $100M that vanished overnight [NYP]

• Mamdani’s grocery store site already got $25M in NYC taxpayer funds years ago — setting stage for $55M boondoggle [NYP]

• Furries take over legendary warship that defeated the Japanese and recovered Apollo 11 [NYP]

• Inside luxurious, ultra-private island where Don Jr. wed — and surprising number of guests revealed [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• Harvard Gives $90,000-a-Year Fellowships to Four Anti-Israel Activists [WFB]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,480 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (10+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: The comedy wars

2. New Media Voices: Soldiers and saints

3. Leading FOX: Texas primaries and Bernie Sanders

4. Trending: Graham Platner and Tim Walz

5. What the Right is Writing: Iran and Karen Bass

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

The fallout from Netflix’s The Roast of Kevin Hart was too hot for cable news, but it has been a favorite of conservative media hosts.

The biggest target: Chelsea Handler. She was particularly angered by the performances of comedians Tony Hinchcliffe and Shane Gillis, calling their jokes offensive. This is a family-friendly newsletter, so I’m not gonna repeat the jokes here.

Right-leaning culture shows like Adam Carolla, Brett Cooper, Officer Tatum, and Emily Jashinsky all criticized Handler’s double standards about what is appropriate comedy and not. They outlined a similar message to what Kevin Hart shared today on The Breakfast Club.

Bottom line: Conservative media continues to lean heavily into cultural fights over political ones. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/25

• Kelly introduces Alan C. Mack, an Army Master Aviator and Nightstalker, whose career spanned critical operations from Desert Storm to Afghanistan

• Mack details Chinook missions, including the post-9/11 “Horse Soldiers” mission and the constant dangers of special operations aviation

• He describes the rescue of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, surviving a helicopter crash, and his personal struggles as a combat veteran

• Kelly criticizes the Biden admin’s “humiliating departure” from Afghanistan, a sentiment Mack echoes

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/25

• Guest Nick Freitas, a fellow podcaster and Army veteran, recommends remembering fallen service members by name and sharing their stories

• Freitas argues society should respect the voluntary, honorable nature of military service instead of portraying service members as victims

• They criticize media narratives that hold U.S. forces to impossible standards while excusing enemy tactics, and condemn veterans who use their service to broadly denigrate America

The Michael Knowles Show - 5/26

• Knowles strongly approves of the federal subpoena against leftist streamer Hasan Piker for violating the Cuba embargo

• He praises Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas encyclical, critically examining AI and transhumanism from a Christian perspective

• Knowles warns against AI’s inability to form genuine relationships and the dangers of “moralizing machines”

• He contrasts Christian views on work, community, and alcohol to modern “self-optimization” that prioritizes efficiency over connection

• He highlights new Revolutionary War statues, including one for his ancestor Simon Knowles

Making the Argument with Nick Freitas - 5/25

• Freitas clarifies Memorial Day’s true meaning as a solemn day to honor those who died in combat, versus Veterans Day for all who served

• He dedicates the episode to his friend, Army Sgt. 1st Class Dae Han Park, a Special Forces communications sergeant who died in Afghanistan

• Park was intensely dedicated to his role, yet also a loving “girl dad” and husband, sharing old school parenting philosophies with Freitas

• Freitas urges viewers to honor Memorial Day by remembering fallen service members by name, praying for their families, and striving daily to live worthy of their sacrifice

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• Kamala Harris threatens to run for president again, while CA Gov. Gavin Newsom tries to relate to voters by playing the dumb card and IL Gov. JB Pritzker says Trump has dementia

• The Love Story producer struggled to cast JFK, Jr., suggests masculinity crisis

• Keeping tally of your spouse’s chores can build resentment, a study shows liberal men are more likely to be gold diggers

FOX & Friends

• U.S. launches defensive strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump says Iran gets no concessions if they don’t give up uranium and asks countries to join Abraham Accords

• Sen. Bernie Sanders and Maine candidate Graham Platner team up to call for “political revolution,” promote socialism

• An 18-year-old has been charged with ramming five Chicago cops with a car

• Sen. John Cornyn and Kevin Paxton battle it out today in Texas’ Republican Senate primary runoff, Cornyn interviewed

• The NASCAR community mourns the loss of Kyle Busch

• Trump’s former COVID advisor says the U.S. is equipped to fight off the Ebola virus emerging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Democrats spend Memorial Day attacking ICE in Newark, NJ

• MT AG Austin Knudsen discusses VP JD Vance’s fraud roundtable today

• Kroger plans to slash prices on thousands of grocery items

• Parents are holding their kids back so they can be stronger student athletes than their younger peers

• Pope Leo XIV provides AI ethics guidelines in new Magnifica Humanitas

• The high-stakes Los Angeles mayoral election is one week away

• The UFC octagon begins to take shape on the White House south lawn

• Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist is interviewed on his victory just weeks after welcoming his baby into the world

FOX Newsroom

• Sec. of State Marco Rubio says there is “strong alignment” on a preliminary Iran deal, U.S. launches defensive strikes, President Trump encourages more countries to join Abraham Accords, Sen. Dave McCormick reacts

• President Trump delivered a speech, participated in a wreath laying at the Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Day ceremony

• Texas voters head to the polls for the Republican Senate runoff between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn

• Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner refuses to apologize for an old post saying a veteran deserved to die, gets Sen. Bernie Sanders’ support

• JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon encourages NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani to “grow and build” or lose jobs

• Oil is more than a dollar per gallon more expensive than a year ago

• The U.S. expands travel restrictions as Ebola outbreak grows

• Protesters confront an ICE facility in Newark, NJ

• Democrat Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson places blame on parents for “teen takeovers,” more than 20 shot this weekend

• AOC appears to hint at a 2028 bid for president

• Spencer Pratt surges in polling, fundraising one week before the Los Angeles mayoral election

• Socialist streamer Hasan Piker says tech tycoon Singham funds far-left political groups

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• Tampon Tim attended a George Floyd celebration while ditching an event for Memorial Day [X, Libs of TikTok]

• We have the money…it’s just being stolen! You wanna fix the budget? End the fraud. [X, Pratt]

• They’re making AOC SEC edits on TikTok [X, Longhorn]

• Dem Rep. Jake Auchincloss says Graham Platner’s Nazi tattoo should be “disqualifying” [X, Cohen]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• US military carries out ‘self-defense strikes’ in Iran [FOX News]

• Graham Platner embraces democratic socialism at Bernie Sanders rally [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Fresh Strikes on Iran: U.S. Hits Missile Sites, Minelayers [Breitbart]

• Dr. Gorka: USA Killed 177 Jihadis in One Weekend [Breitbart]

• Trump: Iran’s Enriched Uranium to Be ‘Immediately Turned Over’ to U.S. [Breitbart]

• Far-Left AOC May Be Moving Toward 2028 Run for President [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Will Trump Bail Out Iran’s Regime? [WSJ Ed]

• The New Big Labor GOP [WSJ Ed]

• Kevin Warsh’s Internal Opponents Fire Away [WSJ Ed]

• Trump Has Lost the Governing Plot [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• NY Dems running for House want fed funding for ‘Drag Story Hour’ as city, state spends $700K [NYP]

• Furious LA firefighters take rarely seen step in fight against Karen Bass [NYP]

• Gavin Newsom’s outrageous $20M plan to honor California’s governors just months before he leaves office [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• ‘TrackAIPAC’ Attack Account Used To Be Elizabeth Warren-Boosting ‘California for Warren,’ Raising Money for Her Presidential Bid [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• Nonprofit led by Kamala Harris ally is weighing in on U.S.-Lebanon policy, and Republicans are concerned [Reporter]

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Actionable media intel: The Brand Brief delivers a daily snapshot of the conservative media ecosystem - FOX News, podcasts, and more. | Brought to you by On Brand Strategies | Written by Carly Moran and Nathan Brand

📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,571 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Autopsies, fighting, and attention

2. New Media Voices: Thomas Massie and Raul Castro

3. Leading FOX: Ilhan Omar, Jeff Bezos, and Iran

4. Trending: Fraud and LA

5. What the Right is Writing: The Quality Learing Center

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

We love Democrat disarray, especially a Democrat autopsy. Where the DNC’s report today falls short, former Harris aide Rob Flaherty’s essay makes up for it. The most glaring is the debacle over Kamala Harris skipping Joe Rogan—an opportunity Flaherty favored as an “attention event.”

But Kamala wasn’t built for it. She suffers from the same issue plaguing most politicians: being trained for FOX News or MSNBC hits, but struggling in freewheeling arenas that expose conventional talkers.

Meanwhile, 2028 Democrats have already taken note (Newsom is always picking fights). The takeaway is that fighting drives attention, but not everyone is built for it. Everyone watches the NFL, but few are talented enough to take the field. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/20

• Kelly criticizes the “obscene” influence of pro-Israel money, citing the nearly $20 million spent against Thomas Massie

• She questions Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton in Texas, highlighting the potential for Trump’s actions to alienate senators

• She condemns the DOJ’s $1.88 billion settlement with Trump over leaked tax returns, views it as a politically motivated payout

• Retired tennis player Patrick McEnroe laments the influx of older, international professionals unfairly displacing American high school grads

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/20

• Shapiro celebrates Thomas Massie’s decisive defeat by Ed Gallrein in Kentucky, viewing it as a critical victory against the “woke right”

• He highlights President Trump’s continued influence over “normie” Republicans despite Massie’s online support

• Shapiro argues Massie’s loss stemmed from his embrace of anti-Israel rhetoric, which he links to commentators Nick Fuentes and Cenk Uygur

• He criticizes the Democrats’ radicalization, citing congressional candidates like Chris Rabb and Morena Galindo

• He reviews a new $1.776 billion federal fund, established after Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS, intended to compensate individuals for government “weaponization and lawfare”

The Matt Walsh Show - 5/20

• Walsh argues nostalgia, once considered a physical illness, has reached “catastrophic pandemic levels” today, particularly among millennials

• He contends this widespread nostalgia isn’t for the products themselves, but the lost monoculture—a shared cultural experience that unified society before its fragmentation

• Walsh argues the breakdown began around 2007 with smartphones and the Great Recession, when algorithms began replacing human cultural programmers and destroying decade-long aesthetics

• He says historical media influence could cause figures like Richard Nixon to be taken down by coordinated efforts, unlike Trump today

Timcast IRL - 5/20

• Guest host Jack Posobiec opens the show by arguing the Raul Castro indictment is the U.S. playbook for intervention in Cuba

• Guest Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring expresses concern over high-potency cannabis, linking its use to rising psychosis and schizophrenia

• Posobiec discusses Thomas Massie’s challenge to the Republican establishment and the Democratic Party’s leftward shift, noting Sen. John Fetterman’s unique position and Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2028 ambitions

• Posobiec warns of mass unemployment from AI and corporatocracy, laments the decline of family-friendly institutions

Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 5/20

• Stuckey critiques “Call Her Daddy” podcaster Alex Cooper’s hypocrisy for promoting “sex-positive” advice while personally embracing traditional marriage and pregnancy

• She asserts women inherently desire protective men, citing reactions to actor Dylan Sprouse’s care toward his pregnant wife

• Stuckey also critiques commercial surrogacy, echoing FL AG James Uthmeier’s argument that it resembles slavery, commodifies children

• She criticizes Netflix for undisclosed LGBTQ+ themes and advocates for transparent FCC ratings

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• Trump-backed Ed Gallrein beats incumbent Thomas Massie

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calls for black student athletes to boycott SEC schools after redistricting, says “we have to break” MAGA’s spirit

• Texas congressional candidate Maureen Galindo says Zionists should go to prison, while Maine senate candidate Graham Platner dodges questions on his past Reddit comments

• Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos fires back at AOC billionaire comments

• NY Gov. Kathy Hochul puts out an embarrassing video “passing the mic to bad*ss women of New York”

• A new study shows the dad bod is dead, women want a lean man again

FOX & Friends

• A new Iran peace proposal triggers a tense call between President Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Khamenei demands uranium stay in Iran

• The alleged Minnesota fraud mastermind will be sentenced today, Rep. Ilhan Omar claims she had no knowledge of Feeding Our Future

• An illegal immigrant truck driver is arrested in a hit-and-run

• A grandmother died after falling into an uncovered NYC manhole, an MTA car exploded in a fireball near Wall Street, and a runway has been closed at LaGuardia Airport due to a massive sinkhole

• Cuban dictator Raul Castro is indicted, former Miami Mayor Francis Suarez reacts

• LA Mayor Karen Bass blames “bureaucratic barriers” for homeless crisis

• Failed actor Alec Baldwin does a Trump impersonation skit with NY Gov. Kathy Hochul

• HHS Sec. RFK, Jr. encourages kids to unplug, lower screentime

• Polling shows 49% of Democrats think the WHCD shooting was staged

• Cities across the country are being looted by teen takeovers

• Jeff Bezos says the bottom 50% of earners should pay zero income tax

• Meta cuts 8,000 jobs in expectation AI will replace their capabilities

• Ebola screenings begin at most major US airports

• Retired soccer player Alexi Lalas says the 2026 World Cup roster will be unveiled next week

• President Trump tells Coast Guard Academy graduates to “never give up” and “think big”

• Congressmen Democrat Jared Moskowitz and Republican Tim Burchett talk about teaming up to combat antisemitism

• 45 million Americans are expected to travel Memorial Day weekend

• Father and son evangelism duo Stuart and Cliffe Knechtle are interviewed on speaking on college campuses

FOX Newsroom

• The Middle East waits for Trump to make a move on Iran, 60% of Americans oppose the war

• Today is expected to be the busiest day of Memorial Day Weekend travel

• Maine senate candidate Graham Platner stirs up controversy with resurfaced Reddit posts saying a veteran deserved to die

• The House Judiciary Committee investigated the SPLC yesterday over an alleged $3 million toward hate groups, Rep. Jim Jordan interviewed

• The Simi Valley, CA fire forces thousands to evacuate, Palisades Fire arsonist appears before court

• Six arrested in Long Branch, NJ in the most recent string of teen takeovers

• Mass protests take place across the UK over the migrant crisis

• A Cuban refugee celebrates the DOJ indictment of Raul Castro

• President Trump uses primary wins to pressure the Senate

• Texas Democrat candidate Maureen Galindo says Zionists should be arrested

• A car caught on fire and exploded in lower Manhattan

• Jeff Bezos responds to AOC, says taxing billionaires won’t solve anything

• GOP candidate Caroline Shinkle is looking to flip a deep-blue NYC congressional district

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• Minnesota fraudster is charged for childcare fraud. Fahima Mahamud received $3.67 million dollars for her “daycare” and tried to escape America prior. This is the same daycare where the $250 million dollar “feeding our future” scam took place. [X, Shirley]

• Watch: @spencerpratt explains why he became a Republican: “When I was a hated reality star, I got so many death threats… The only people that supported a CCW was the Republican.” [X, LaValley]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• $4M in attack ads hammer Dem candidate’s obscene history [FOX News]

• DOJ to announce Minnesota fraud action [FOX News]

• Vannesa Trump’s stunning medical news rocks the family [FOX News]

Breitbart

• 2028: Gavin Newsom Tries Another Pivot! Cosplays as Populist… Trump & Bernie ‘Right on the Diagnosis’ [Breitbart]

• Himes on Raul Castro: He Might Have Broken Law, Trump Did ‘Illegal Actions’ on ‘Drug Runners’ [Breitbart]

• US indicts former Cuban President Raúl Castro over 1996 downing of planes [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Trump Reaches an Iran Crossroads [WSJ Ed]

• Is Raúl Castro the Next Maduro? [WSJ Ed]

• Germany’s Slow Industrial Suicide [WSJ Ed]

• Susan Collins Hits 10,000 Votes in a Row [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Minnesota’s ‘Quality Learing Center’ raked in $215K federal payout — senator demands receipts [NYP]

• Concerned bystanders called 911 to report open NYC manhole where grandma fell into hatch — 2 weeks before her horrific death [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• Zohran Mamdani Paid Multiple Visits to Holocaust-Denying Sheikh Who Claimed Jewish Death Toll ‘Was Exaggerated’ and ‘Done By Zionists,’ Called for More ‘Study’ [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• GOP senators want to reform INA to align with Trump’s immigration policies [Reporter]

NEED HELP NAVIGATING CONSERVATIVE MEDIA?

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,557 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: The Graham Platner takeover

2. New Media Voices: Massie, Colbert, and Cooper

3. Leading FOX: Zohran Mamdani, Mark Cuban, and election results

4. Trending: Cuba up next

5. What the Right is Writing: TrumpRx, El-Sayed, and Massie

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

The latest round of Graham Platner headlines from FOX News, The Washington Free Beacon, The Daily Wire, and Townhall have captured the full attention of the conservative media ecosystem (he did what in a porta-potty?!).

Platner is unhinged and dangerous. Conservative media is treating him as such, and legacy media should follow suit. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/19

• Shapiro argues the celebration of Luigi Mangione’s murder signifies a dangerous escalation of violence fueled by a “permission structure,” critiques the criminal justice system for being too protective of perpetrators

• He condemns Congressman Thomas Massie for allegedly being a Holocaust denier, calls him an obstructionist “Ron Paul figure”

• Shapiro introduces his concept of “Homicidal Empathy,” distinguishing it from guest Gad Saad’s “Suicidal Empathy,” to explain how excessive empathy for one group can lead to murderous hatred against another

• He criticizes the media for mislabeling Nazi violence as “right-wing”

• Shapiro critiques the “luxury beliefs of the Left,” exemplified by Alex Cooper, who promotes promiscuity over having a family

The Isabel Brown Show - 5/19

• Brown argues abortion is modern-day genocide, driven by a “god of self” and the false promises of second-wave feminism

• As chemical abortion pills account for 70% of abortions, she explains their risks like undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies and Rh incompatibility

• Guest Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, reveals anti-progesterone metabolites from abortion pills and aborted fetal remains are contaminating drinking water, leading to ecological damage and rising infertility rates

• She condemns the Biden admin for removing critical safety regulations and refusing to enforce the Comstock Act, circumventing state abortion bans

• Brown says the Republican Party must do more to defund Planned Parenthood, champions the emerging Gen Z pro-life generation

Timcast IRL - 5/19

• The panel asserts Thomas Massie’s election defeat confirms President Trump’s continued power as Republican kingmaker

• Steve Friend and Scott Pressler talk about an explosive being thrown at a Pennsylvania voting site

• Pool critiques excessive campaign spending in “safe” Republican primaries, arguing it diverts funds from crucial midterm races

• He also opposes Minnesota’s prediction market ban, views marijuana legalization as a poverty tax, and calls for the SAVE America Act

• Pool advocates for mass deportations, self-deportations, overhauling birthright citizenship

• He targets Sen. John Thune for his “Never Trumper” stance, calls to primary him if the SAVE Act isn’t passed

After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 5/19

• Jashinsky critiques the impending farewell to traditional late-night television, says Stephen Colbert’s last stand is nichified, partisan content catering to resistance boomer wine moms

• Former ambassador Sam Brownback expresses concern over China’s war on faith, viewing communism as an atheistic ideology seeking total domination and control

• Jashinsky argues Alex Cooper’s pregnancy is hypocritical, saying while feminist narratives promote consequenceless sex, these ideals make marriage and family more challenging

• Geoffrey Cain shares his book Steve Jobs in Exile, highlighting how Jobs’ period of failure after being pushed out of Apple, coupled with the grounding influence of family, were crucial in shaping him into a visionary

• Jashinsky frames declining birth rates, financial struggles of traditional media, and tensions with China as elements of a broader Western civilizational struggle

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• VP JD Vance subs in for Press Sec. Karoline Leavitt, leads task force to root out national fraud

• CA Gov. Gavin Newsom visits DC ahead of his likely 2028 run

• Michelle Obama says you can’t “pigeonhole” Trump voters as racist, economic hardship drove Americans conservative

• Whoopi Goldberg tries to compare President Trump to Biden over his more quirky Truth Social posts

• The Five talk about how no one socializes with their neighbors anymore

FOX & Friends

• Trump-backed Ed Gallrein beats incumbent Thomas Massie in the Kentucky primary race, Trump endorses Ken Paxton for Texas senator

• Iran issues new threats to expand the war beyond its current borders, VP Vance says the U.S. remains ready to strike if talks fail

• The DOJ confirms the Southern Poverty Law Center funneled $3M to white nationalist groups

• The View rips into businessman Mark Cuban for aiding President Trump in lowering drug costs

• XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey shares the continued fight for fairness in women’s sports

• CA Gov. Gavin Newsom says Democrats have been “too timid”

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the NAACP call for Black college athletes to boycott southern schools due to redistricting

• A grandmother dies after falling into an open NYC manhole

• The daughter of the mosque security guard killed in the San Diego shooting speaks out in memory of her father

• The Simi Valley, CA wildfire explodes to 1,700 acres

• A new study shows marriage rates have dropped 19.9% over the past 50 years

• Steve visits the Ark Encounter in Kentucky

• Maine senate candidate Graham Platner said a soldier wounded four times by the Taliban deserved to die, in a resurfaced Reddit comment

• WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu says he is “deeply concerned” about the speed of the most recent Ebola outbreak

• New NTSB footage shows the engine flying off the Kentucky UPS plane from November

• Seattle business exodus fears grow as taxes go up and Starbucks expands southern presence

• Country singer Clint Black is interviewed on his memoir Killing Time

FOX Newsroom

• The IRGC issues new threats, President Trump said he was an hour away from striking Iran, Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent calls on G7 allies to defund terror, Israeli Ambassador Dr. Michael Leiter reacts

• Andy Barr wins the GOP Kentucky senate primary, while Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein beats incumbent Thomas Massie, former speaker Kevin McCarthy reacts

• The DOJ is expected to indict Cuban dictator Raul Castro, former Miami Mayor Francis Suarez reacts

• NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani meets with business leaders after his tax the rich threats causes investments to flee the city

• President Trump says both VP JD Vance and Sec. of State Marco Rubio “did good” as press secretary before traveling to give the commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy

• The House Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on the SPLC funding neo-Nazi groups, potential of the Biden admin knowing

• The Charlie Kirk assassination case defense team says an open hearing could prejudice the jury

• CA Gov. Gavin Newsom encourages Democrats to fight fire with fire

• Colorado River waters remain dangerously low

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• Sec. Marco Rubio just broke out into full Spanish mode, ripping the Communist Cuban regime and sending a message directly to the people. [X, Daugherty]

• There is literally zero incentive to work if you’re a homeless person in California. This is the brand new $9 million dollar luxury apartments of Melrose in Los Angeles. [X, Wall Street Apes]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Kentucky voters deliver verdict on Thomas Massie [FOX News]

• Iran’s supreme leader’s fiery anti-US posts spark warnings of ‘jihad’ [FOX News]

• Prince William, Kate Middleton US trip could make royal history [FOX News]

Breitbart

• E.U. Finally Strikes Deal on U.S. Trade Pact Ahead of Tariff Hike Deadline [Breitbart]

• Trump Admin Creates $1.7 Billion Fund to Compensate Allies Prosecuted Under Biden [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Britain’s Labour Party Pains [WSJ Ed]

• Trump’s $1.776 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• JPMorgan exec sues ex-banker for defamation over ‘sex slave’ allegations [NYP]

• NY students defiantly paint huge, lasting Chiefs message in defiance of Gov. Hochul: ‘Always a Chief’ [NYP]

• Shocking manifesto reveals teen shooters’ vile motivations behind San Diego mosque shooting [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• Michigan’s El-Sayed Endorsed ‘Reparations’ for ‘Indigenous Peoples’ in Deleted Tweet Attacking Thanksgiving [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• TrumpRx expands to generics; Sen. Tom Cotton calls move a “huge deal” for lowering costs for Arkansans [Reporter]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,604 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Daily Wire still standing

2. New Media Voices: Cuba, Mamdani, Platner, and DINKs

3. Leading FOX: San Diego shooting, Charlie Kirk’s shooter and Mangione in court

4. Trending: Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, and fixing the parks

5. What the Right is Writing: Trains, shootings, and porta-potties

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

The left, legacy media, and rival podcasters pounced on recent news of layoffs at The Daily Wire.

While workforce reductions have become the norm in a rapidly shifting media landscape, The Daily Wire’s core lineup continues to dominate. Apart from FOX News, no conservative media group matches the Spotify, Apple, and Amazon chart dominance of The Daily Wire’s flagship shows.

Ben Shapiro shot back at critics Friday in a must-watch video addressing the state of both The Daily Wire and conservative media. They’re not dead yet! - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/18

• Kelly expresses skepticism over alleged Cuban drone threats, arguing their infrastructure collapse makes high-level military actions impossible, podcaster Ryan Grim and Curt Mills of The American Conservative warn action in Cuba could create a migrant crisis

• She criticizes Axios for publishing leaked, unverified government documents, says the intelligence community uses it to create pretext for war

• Kelly and podcaster Mark Halperin discuss how President Trump continues to influence elections despite low polling, as seen with Sen. Bill Cassidy’s and Rep. Thomas Massie’s primaries

• Guest Jonathan Alpert, author of Therapy Nation, explains how “Trump Derangement Syndrome” can become an actual mental illness

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/18

• Shapiro argues Democrats’ reliance on woke ideology in response to political setbacks signals escalation if they regain control

• He uses examples like Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and socialist NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani

• Shapiro cites the UK’s trajectory toward socialized medicine and open borders, Iran’s alliance with China and Russia, and Cuba’s growing threat as warning signals for America to step up on the global stage

• Arguing national security isn’t just about the military budget, Shapiro encourages American investment in AI to beat China’s advancements

• He reflects on comedian Bill Maher’s recent monologue on growing antisemitism among Democrats

The Matt Walsh Show - 5/18

• Walsh criticizes CNN for lack of practical insight into a unanimous Supreme Court decision on freight broker negligence, compared to a truck driver’s common sense assessment

• He asserts this ruling has led to freight brokers refusing “red flag” carriers, disproportionately impacting foreign truckers linked to higher fatalities and road rage incidents

• Walsh argues that the new demand for English-speaking, competent drivers is increasing freight costs and exacerbating economic hardships

• He exposes the Biden admin for expanding the Federal Housing Administration program to non-citizens, including illegal aliens, which forces American citizens to subsidize their homes and drives up housing prices

Louder with Crowder - 5/18

• Crowder references a viral video of a DINK couple using paid promotions to highlight travel over having kids, expressing alarm over America’s record-low birth rate and cultural shift

• He critiques government initiatives to study biological fertility factors, arguing pervasive societal programming is the primary driver of declining birth rates

• Crowder argues increased female workforce participation post-1970 led to wage depression, and has ironically resulted in decreased happiness

• He emphasizes that raising a family ironically provides more choice in life, and creates deeper memories than travel or luxury products

The Liz Wheeler Show - 5/18

• Wheeler asserts Rep. Ilhan Omar played a central role in the $250 million Feeding Our Future Somali fraud scheme by introducing the MEALS Act, which removed oversight for food programs during COVID

• She links the convictions of Aimee Bock and Salim Said to Omar’s alleged actions, gives a summary of the congresswoman’s suspicious net worth adjustment and nonexistent winery

• Wheeler raises questions about Omar’s U.S. citizenship, citing alleged fraudulent asylum claims by her father and marriage to her brother

• She defends Erika Kirk against Candace Owens, comparing her videos to “leftist formulas” of making salacious claims without evidence

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• San Diego law enforcement provides live updates on a mosque shooting, three victims killed alongside both shooters

• Kamala Harris claims the GOP push to redistrict southern states is “backdooring racism”

• Actress Chelsea Handler claims Spencer Pratt is an illegitimate “straight white male” running for office, meanwhile incumbent mayor Karen Bass claims solar panels lights could fix copper theft

• The parents of teenagers who fought each other in a DC Navy Yard Chipotle could face charges for letting their kids destroy property

• Chinese-born American actress Poppy Liu rages against capitalism, the very system that made her famous

FOX & Friends

• Three adults killed along with two teen shooters in San Diego mosque shooting, mother reported missing firearms hours before attack

• President Trump delays attacks on Iran for “two or three days”

• DC mayoral candidates say they’d refuse to prosecute teen violence, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro reacts

• Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin is due in court today

• Luigi Mangione supporters appear outside court, saying United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson deserved to be murdered

• Convicted fraudster Aimee Bock says Rep. Ilhan Omar, other Minnesota leaders knew about Feeding Our Future scam

• LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt releases a viral campaign ad spoofing The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

• A California woman has been charged with paying homeless people to register to vote

• AG Todd Blanche will testify on Capitol Hill for the first time since his appointment

• More than 131 are dead from an Ebola outbreak in Africa, one American evacuated to be quarantined in Germany

• Rep. Nancy Pelosi endorses Connie Chan as her successor

• Coach Bill Belichick receives support from President Trump and Tom Brady over NFL Hall of Fame snub

• NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani announces a second city-run grocery store

• Steve visits the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY

• MTA strikes ended after unions reached an agreement with NY Gov. Kathy Hochul

• Nate Bargatze talks about creating comedy the entire family can enjoy

• Taiwan invests $250B in American semiconductor chip production

FOX Newsroom

• U.S. cancels Iran attacks, Israel and surrounding region on high alert

• Charlie Kirk’s accused assassin is due in court today

• A fire in Simi Valley, CA threatens thousands of homes little more than a year after the Palisades disaster

• The San Diego police are investigating the deadly mosque shooting as a hate crime, mother of one of the shooters reported firearms missing from home hours before tragedy

• U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro threatens to prosecute the parents of DC teens repeatedly destroying businesses, inciting violence in streets

• Zohran Mamdani agrees to meet with NYC CEOs amidst tax the rich controversy

• Tonight’s Kentucky race against incumbent Thomas Massie is the most expensive House primary in history, early voting begins in Texas runoff primary between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Ken Paxton

• Rep. Ilhan Omar is under a new investigation, not for her brother or winery, but now due to ties to COVID fraud, guest Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy explains his plan to combat Medicaid fraud

• Acting AG Todd Blanche testifies live before the Senate

• President Trump takes live questions on DC monument restorations, White House ballroom construction

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• MSNBC host ridiculously asks: Is this Mike Johnson putting God above the Declaration of Independence? [X, Price]

• Democrat House Leader Hakeem Jeffries says he wants to “break the spirit” of voters who support President Trump. [X, RNCResearch]

• Democrats are in utter shock after learning how easily and quickly President Trump fixed and beautified the dilapidated fountains at Meridian Hill Park in DC. [X, Daugherty]

• Michigan State Rep. Mai Xiong (D) who was born in Thailand, calls USA “garbage,” mocks Erika Kirk and the English language, and ridicules Americans. [X, LibsofTikTok]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Unearthed posts show Dem Senate hopeful praising vulgar graffiti, making crude porta potty admission [FOX News]

• ‘Very big discussions’ with Iran underway, Trump says [FOX News]

• Mom called police before deadly mosque shooting [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Trump Admin Creates $1.7 Billion Fund to Compensate Allies Prosecuted Under Biden [Breitbart]

• Spanish Socialists Suffer Historic Election Defeat in Andalucía Vote [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• The Proxy Advisers Strike Back [WSJ Ed]

• The Railroad Union’s New York Blackmail [WSJ Ed]

• Trump Bugs Out on Poland [WSJ Ed]

• Why Colleges Are Slashing MBA Prices [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Heroic security guard named as ‘protector’ after dying in San Diego Islamic Center shooting [NYP]

• Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson to wed over Memorial Day [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• ‘Some Things Are Just Not Forgivable’: Hamawy Is Denounced by 1993 World Trade Center Bombing Survivors Who Are Appalled a Friend of the Blind Sheikh May Soon Be in Congress [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• Trump’s AI framework wins broad bipartisan support, poll shows [Reporter]

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Actionable media intel: The Brand Brief delivers a daily snapshot of the conservative media ecosystem - FOX News, podcasts, and more. | Brought to you by On Brand Strategies | Written by Carly Moran and Nathan Brand

📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,415 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Peak faith influence

2. New Media Voices: Moms, Murdaugh, and Mamdani

3. Leading FOX: China and South Carolina

4. Trending: Trump and Xi

5. What the Right is Writing: Taiwan, AOC, and Farage

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

A recurring theme at The Brand Brief is the profound influence of faith on conservative new media. New Pew Research data underscores why:

• Growing Influence: 37% of Americans say religion is gaining influence—a 19-point jump in just two years and the highest level Pew has ever recorded.

• The Partisan Gap: 75% of Republicans view religion as a net positive for American life, nearly double the 38% of Democrats who feel the same.

Looking ahead: This Sunday’s Rededicate 250 event on the National Mall will draw a massive crowd of conservative leaders and faith figures. Expect a heavy presence from everyone from FOX News to the biggest stars in new media.

Bottom line: Faith is a pillar of the Right, and conservative new media is leaning into that reality. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/13

• Kelly reports on the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously reversing Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions for killing his wife Maggie and son Paul

• Dr. Deborah Soh, author of Sextinction attributes a global decline in sex among young adults with porn, SSRIs and toxins lowering libido, and mental health

• Kelly argues women’s rising success clashes with DEI policies suppressing male achievement, while social media creates unrealistic standards

• Referencing Michael Jackson’s grooming allegations, Kelly sheds light on the importance of protecting your kids

• Kelly shames cases like Bryon Noem favoring his sex life over the dignity of his children and defending the country

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/13

• Shapiro defends President Trump’s comments on the American economy and the Iran war, interpreting it as a strategic message to Iran regarding denuclearization

• He contrasts the negative public sentiment on inflation and cost of living to polls showing greater trust in the GOP over Democrats

• Shapiro criticizes NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s fiscal mismanagement and policies proposed by California gubernatorial candidates like Xavier Becerra

• He condemns celebrity political activism, analyzes HBO’s Euphoria as a cautionary tale about OnlyFans, and questions historical narratives surrounding MLK Jr.

The Michael Knowles Show - 5/13

• Knowles criticizes Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey adaptation for casting Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and trans actor Elliot Page as Achilles

• He makes fun of LA Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed free prosthetic teeth for homeless drug addicts

• Knowles highlights AOC’s surprising lead over establishment figures like Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris, while also discussing Republican contenders like JD Vance and Marco Rubio

• He dissects how propaganda can intercept American coverage of war, criticizing media outlets for misrepresenting President Trump’s statements on Iran, and reaffirms the admin’s opposition to “replacement migration”

After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 5/13

• Jashinsky expresses concern over the SPLC’s federal fraud indictment, guest Gad Saad explores his concept of “suicidal empathy”

• She and guest Joe Weil dive into the politicization of Big Tech and the mission of Unplugged to offer privacy-focused alternatives against pervasive surveillance

• Jashinsky highlights data harvesting through commercial purchases, and the potential for “kill switch” technology in cars

• She criticizes the censorship of the COVID-19 lab leak theory, which increasingly appears to have been suppressed by government agencies

Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 5/13

• Stuckey acknowledges the positive aspects of President Trump’s new Moms.gov initiative, which aims to support expectant mothers with pregnancy care centers, but expresses disappointment with its promotion of IVF

• She argues IVF is immoral for discarding human embryos, and argues the ability to choose based on traits is a form of eugenics

• She criticizes both the Biden admin for removing in-person doctor visit requirements for the abortion pill, and the Trump admin for failing to reverse these changes

• While frustrated, Stuckey notes Republicans are still significantly better at promoting pro-life policy than Democrats

• She extends the conversation to a broader disdain for the TikTok-ification of relationships, assigning arbitrary rules to the unquantifiable process of finding your spouse

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• President Trump says “I have a great relationship with Xi,” is greeted with flag-waving students in Beijing, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer claims Trump will concede to China

• CNN warns Democrats could be facing an uphill battle for November, Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed called himself a physician without proof of credentials

• Spencer Pratt says he’ll bring an end to pooping on the street in LA, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass promises free dentures to homeless

• University of Central Florida graduates boo pro-AI commencement speaker out of fear new tech will take entry-level white collar jobs

• Subscription fatigue is setting in as Americans have to pay multiple companies for just a few show options

FOX & Friends

• President Trump arrives live at the Beijing state banquet, Xi Jinping offers a toast to being partners not rivals, China calls Taiwan the biggest risk to an alliance with America

• VP JD Vance says the US is making progress toward peace with Iran, says fraud is not a “red state or blue state issue” ahead of his visit to Maine

• Alex Murdaugh, a powerful South Carolina attorney charged with killing his son and wife, will get a second trial after a court clerk was accused of tainting the jury, his defense team is interviewed

• Rep. Jim Jordan is interviewed on Virginia prosecutor Steve Descano being accused of favoring illegal immigrants over justice

FOX Newsroom

• President Trump announces Xi Jinping will visit America in September, hold a two hour policy meeting, Bill explores the Beijing subway system, Rep. John Moolenaar interviewed on foreign relations, Jimmy Lai’s son demands his release

• The Senate confirms Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chairman

• The South Carolina Supreme Court overturns Alex Murdaugh’s double murder conviction, will go to retrial

• Hundreds of electronically-monitored criminals have gone missing in Chicago

• CIA whistleblower James Erdman testified on a COVID lab leak coverup yesterday

• A ship seizure escalates tensions in the Strait of Hormuz

• A plane crashes off the coast of Florida, all 11 passengers survive

• VP JD Vance heads to Maine to look into $45M in alleged fraud

• Education Sec. Linda McMahon testifies before Congress live on chronic absenteeism and low test scores

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• They had the People’s Liberation Army military band play the YMCA at the end of the State Banquet. [X, Hou]

• Bernie Moreno teased for spending bitcoins when they were worth $3,000 [TFC]

• This is hilarious. They have literally changed Rubio’s name to get around the fact that he remains sanctioned (and therefore barred from) China. [X, Pulford]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Trump, Xi align on key points in conflict with Iran [FOX News]

• Iran tightens grip on key oil route, bringing traffic to ‘total halt’ [FOX News]

• GOP senators demand Fauci indictment after explosive hearing [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Nigel-Mentum! Report: Reform U.K. Would Oust Five Cabinet Ministers, over 110 Labour MPs in Election [Breitbart]

• Poll Shows AOC Leading Field of Potential 2028 Democrat [Breitbart]

• Doug Burgum: ‘Energy Island’ California’s Policies Increase National [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• The Truth About Hamas [WSJ Ed]

• Pennsylvania’s New Education Hope [WSJ Ed]

• Colorado Joins the Tax Increase Line [WSJ Ed]

• Taiwan’s Advance on Self-Defense [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Taiwan becomes flashpoint of Trump-Xi summit as Rubio warns Beijing of ‘repercussions’ for invasion [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• A Texas Military Vet Dropped Out of Penn State Law School Rather Than Submit to Its Mandatory Anti-Racism Course [WFB]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,446 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (10+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Fraud in focus

2. New Media Voices: China, pharmaceuticals, and redistricting

3. Leading FOX: China and Los Angeles

4. Trending: Marco Rubio and Spencer Pratt

5. What the Right is Writing: Fraud, energy, and the 51st state

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

Government fraud has long been a staple of conservative media coverage, but the issue was supercharged by Nick Shirley’s videos in December. Now Vance is carrying the administration's torch.

Shirley didn’t happen by chance; the environment was primed for it. The biggest recent factor has been Elon Musk; from his work with DOGE to his relentless posting on X, Musk has fixed a national spotlight on government waste, fraud, and abuse. X clips drive the conservative news cycle, and no one is more prolific at posting them than Elon Musk himself. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/12

• Ahead of President Trump’s visit, Shapiro asserts China is actively engaging in extensive espionage, intellectual property theft, and infiltration of American academic and political institutions

• He says the U.S. is economically vulnerable due to its dependence on Chinese debt and internal divisions, exacerbated by the welfare state and conspiracism

• Shapiro says China’s “War on Faith” and its export of digital authoritarianism is exemplified by platforms like TikTok

• He discusses Iran’s alliance with Pakistan, and U.S. Treasury sanctions targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ oil sales to China

• Shapiro criticizes legacy institutions and the UN for their facilitation of “replacement migration,” advocates for the U.S. to recognize it is “at war”

The Isabel Brown Show - 5/12

• Brown criticizes the mainstream media for falsely portraying HHS Sec. RFK, Jr. as anti-science for questioning antidepressant medications, arguing that Kennedy is actually trying to help Gen Z escape lifelong dependence on SSRIs

• She argues selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are massively overprescribed to young people

• Brown shares several alarming personal accounts, including Ella Emhoff’s decade-long SSRI use starting at age 11

• She says pharmaceutical companies, like Eli Lilly, have knowingly concealed the severe and permanent side effects, such as chemical castration, emotional numbness, and altered fetal brain development in babies exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy

Human Events Daily with Jack Posobiec - 5/12

• Posobiec says President Trump’s strategic trip to China will work to reshape trade imbalances, technology theft, and ownership of U.S. assets

• He criticizes China’s ascension to the World Trade Organization, advocating for aggressive measures to protect U.S. manufacturing, technology, and prevent Chinese acquisition of farmland

• He highlights the impact of the Strait of Hormuz bottleneck on fuel prices, supports the immediate suspension of the federal gas tax

• Posobiec criticizes Wall Street banks and large institutional investors for driving up housing costs by buying single-family homes, advocating for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to protect first-time home buyers

• Reflecting on the ongoing war in Ukraine, he criticizes Barack Obama’s “reset” with Russia

Timcast IRL - 5/12

• Despite their initial skepticism, the panel celebrates the Supreme Court redistricting decisions favoring Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama

• Pool expresses concern over mass immigration, arguing policies like the Hart-Celler Act have failed to promote cultural assimilation

• He critiques the rise of authoritarianism through US government surveillance, the threat of foreign influence, and calls for banning dual citizenship for public officials

• The panel explores the ongoing “info war,” suggesting Big Tech algorithms exacerbate societal divisions

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• The panel cites the shooting in Massachusetts, a multi-offender killing an elderly man; former victim of Rhamell Burke said “maybe I don’t want to put another black man in jail”

• Democrat Sen. Warnock says they’re still trying to determine a party strategy for talking to men, Sen. John Fetterman says his party focuses too much on saying “F— Trump”

• Incumbent Karen Bass and Nithya Raman pull out of the next LA mayoral debate after Spencer Pratt destroyed them in the first one

• A group of late night comedians team up during Stephen Colbert’s final days on air

FOX & Friends

• President Trump lands in China, says the Beijing trip will focus on trade more than Iran, travels with more than a dozen CEOs, former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema gives her thoughts on the AI cold war, Sen. Bernie Moreno expresses concerns about foreign surveillance in American cars

• Officials identify the Frontier Airlines suicide victim as a homeless man with multiple criminal convictions, including attempted murder

• In the Senate primaries, Cindy Burbank wins the Nebraska Democrat race, while incumbent Shelly Moore Capito wins the West Virginia Republican race

• Democrat California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra crashes out when asked real questions during an interview with local station KTLA

• A Loudon County, VA student is under investigation for allegedly filming students of the opposite sex in the bathroom

• LA mayoral candidate Nithya Raman calls her opponent Spencer Pratt “mini Trump”

• Prosecutors have been granted access to Tiger Woods’ prescription drug history in his DUI case

• A judge denies Blake Lively’s request to submit additional briefs

• Speaker Mike Johnson is interviewed over the battle to fund ICE, border patrol

• The University of Nebraska quarantine director is interviewed on the procedures to keep the Hantavirus contained

• Chase for Business CEO Ben Walter talks about inflation reaching its highest point in three years, shares American Dream Initiative

• House Republicans host a vigil on the steps of the Capitol in honor of National Police Week

FOX Newsroom

• President Trump arrives at his two-day China summit, expected to discuss Taiwan weapon sales as the Iran deal remains on “life support”

• Two illegal immigrants committed a deadly shooting in Dallas, TX

• Whistleblower Paul Erdman III testifies live on COVID-19 coverups before Congress today, says CIA hid the lab origins of the pandemic

• Speaker Mike Johnson joined Fox & Friends to talk about redistricting’s effects on winning the midterm elections

• Sec. of State Marco Rubio goes viral for copying Nicolas Maduro’s Nike tech suit look aboard Air Force One

• Americans from the Hantavirus cruise ship are quarantining in Nebraska

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• @POTUS proceeds down the red carpet in Beijing — briefly giving his signature fist pump to the assembled Military Honor Guard and Chinese youth flag wavers. [X, Rapid Response 47]

• TN Speaker of the House just stripped every Democrat lawmaker who acted like thugs and trashed the chamber during redistricting of ALL their committee assignments. [X, Eagleman]

• LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt says it was surreal to meet Mayor Karen Bass because it was the first time he had been near a real-life monster. “This is out of a scary movie!” [X, Rugg]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Trump heads to Beijing for high-stakes Xi talks [FOX News]

• Minnesota fraud issues go from bad to worse [FOX News]

• Manufacturer fleeing Dem-run state after nearly 50 years [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Feds Indict Indian Company and Crewman for Francis Scott Key Bridge Disaster [Breitbart]

• VA Dems Seek Supreme Court’s Help over VA Supreme Court [Breitbart]

• Doug Burgum: ‘Energy Island’ California’s Policies Increase National Costs [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Jerome Powell’s Inflation Legacy for Kevin Warsh [WSJ Ed]

• The 51st State of Venezuela [WSJ Ed]

• The ‘Civic Life’ Success at UNC [WSJ Ed]

• Keir Starmer Steels Himself [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Bucks billionaire’s alleged blackmailer has deep ties to China — and a politically connected benefactor [NYP]

• ‘AI babies’ are being conceived in ‘previously impossible’ ways — all about the new IVF tech [NYP]

• Nancy Guthrie’s close friend rages about probe, begs for answers as investigation hits 100 day mark [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• ‘It’s Hamas Propaganda’: New York Times Writer Nicholas Kristof’s ‘Sexual Violence’ Column Caps a Career of Corrections, Retractions, and Apologies Going Back 25 Years [WFB]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,607 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: China trip

2. New Media Voices: Dr. Fauci and Spencer Pratt

3. Leading FOX: Arcadia and Iran

4. Trending: AOC and Indiana Football

5. What the Right is Writing: Nancy Guthrie and Hunter Biden

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

While the Right doesn’t always see eye to eye on foreign policy, their stance on the CCP is clear: they are an adversary and rival. President Trump’s upcoming trip is expected to be a unifying moment for conservatives.

That unity stands in sharp contrast to leftist Hasan Piker, who drew heavy criticism for his gushing praise of the CCP during and after a trip to the communist country. While in China, Piker admitted, “I don’t have any patriotism in my heart for America.” - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/11

• Kelly criticizes CBS News allegedly editing interviews with Benjamin Netanyahu and Spencer Pratt

• She argues the Israeli government has caused thousands of civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon

• Kelly condemns the proposed Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Mandates as disproportionately benefiting mega-stores like Walmart and Target

• Guest Michael Knowles discusses President Trump’s negotiation strategy, while critiquing the Democrats’ extremism

• They both express disbelief regarding a sexual harassment lawsuit against JPMorgan, and condemn actor Jerry O’Connell’s cowardly stance on trans individuals in women’s bathrooms

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/11

• Shapiro asserts President Trump possesses a strong negotiating hand against China due to their internal economic and population crises, describing their government as an “autocratic, economically fascist one-party state”

• He criticizes “multi-polarity,” championed by China and Russia, as a dangerous and hypocritical attempt to diminish US global power

• Shapiro argues dominance in AI, superior military technology, and leverage over Iran will give the U.S. an advantage during Beijing talks

• He underscores strong private sector job growth and a resurgence in high-skilled manufacturing under the Trump administration

Tony Kinnett Cast - 5/11

• Kinnett reacts to Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang pleading guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the People’s Republic of China

• He says Pakistan was reportedly caught harboring Iranian military aircraft, and is criticized for serving as China’s mouthpiece

• Kinnett argues Supreme Court rulings on racially gerrymandered districts will help maintain Republican control of the House

• He says AOC’s controversial policies, alongside internal Democrat concerns over antisemitism, reveal deeper critiques of the progressive agenda

• Kinnett highlights potential bias in the DOJ’s handling of the Hunter Biden case, and looks into U.S. funding for biolabs abroad

• He addresses global oil market volatility and growing concerns about corporate mergers in key industries like media and tech

Timcast IRL - 5/11

• Tim Pool and guest Libby Emmons of The Post Millennial react to recent Supreme Court rulings on redistricting and efforts to protect figures like Lindsey Graham

• The panel debates the erosion of individual liberty and free speech, the dangers of state control over information, and the breakdown of classical liberalism

• They scrutinize the COVID-19 pandemic in light of the Hantavirus making headlines

• The group discusses transhumanism, the self-serving agendas of powerful elites, and the implications of tech for human well-being

Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 5/11

• Jashinsky and guest Dr. Drew Pinsky discuss the looming deadline for Dr. Anthony Fauci’s indictment, as well as the settlement in the Alex Berenson v. Biden case

• Pinsky critiques mainstream media’s role in creating public anxiety over health scares like the Hantavirus

• They highlight Spencer Pratt’s shocking performance against Karen Bass and Nithya Raman as he fights homelessness, addiction, and crime

• The two critique MD Gov. Wes Moore’s stance on gender transitioning minors

• Jashinsky looks into Bumble’s potential removal of the “swipe” feature due to dating app fatigue

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• President Trump describes the Iranian peace deal as “on life support,” Sen. Cory Booker calls him an embarrassment on the world stage

• AOC claims the American Revolution was against billionaires, while Maine senate candidate Graham Platner says corporations aren’t paying their fair share

• A left-wing ad attacking LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt backfires, highlighting his fight against homelessness and drug addiction

• Joe Rogan says people are programmed with Trump Derangement Syndrome, while a third of Democrats believe the assassination attempts were staged

• Studies show anxious people may live longer

FOX & Friends

• 18 Hantavirus passengers have returned to the US, with one testing positive, one showing symptoms, and the remaining 16 isolating in Nebraska

• President Trump is set to meet with President Xi Jinping Thursday to discuss AI, tariffs, Iran, and Taiwan, as China surpasses America as South America’s top trade partner, Interior Sec. Doug Burgum reacts

• The United Arab Emirates has been secretly conducting strikes on Iran, Trump weighs restarting Project Freedom amid stalled negotiations

• The admin weighs suspending the gas tax to combat surging prices

• Career criminal Tyler Brown opens fire on cars near Harvard University

• Gov. Josh Shapiro and AOC’s fight over primary candidates represents broader party divisions, says Axios

• Arcadia, CA Mayor Eileen Wang admits to being an actor for the CCP

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testifies in the Elon Musk v. OpenAI trial

• War Sec. Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine testify live on the defense budget

• Pro-Palestine protesters yell out antisemetic remarks outside a synagogue

• 57% of young adults say it’s a bad time to find a job

FOX Newsroom

• President Trump departs today for his Beijing Summit, brings a delegation of 17 CEOs including Elon Musk, Tim Cook of Apple, Larry Fink of Blackrock, and Dina Powell McCormick of Meta; US Ambassador to China David Perdue explains

• Former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang admits to assisting the CCP, Sen. Ron Johnson reacts

• Iran stands defiant against peace talks, Kuwait claims the regime launched an attack against one of their islands, President Trump poses pausing the national gas tax

• More than 25 have been charged in a Tren de Aragua takedown

• Two critically injured following a Cambridge, MA shooting, assailant taken down by a state trooper and a Marine vet with concealed carry

• 16 Hantavirus evacuees are isolating at a Nebraska hospital

• Anti-Israel protesters and counterprotesters clash in NYC, with more than 4,000 antisemetic harassment claims filed in 2025 alone

• Sen. John Fetterman says the Democrats have become anti-men, GOP now sees an advantage against Democrats in the midterm elections

• Tiger Woods’ attorney appears in court today for a subpoena hearing

• The search for Nancy Guthrie reaches the 100 day mark

• Liberal justices condemn the Alabama redistricting ruling

• An audit shows 38% of Ohio Medicaid funds go to Columbus’s county alone

• China attempts to control Panama Canal through land purchases

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• AOC slanders law enforcement officers enforcing immigration laws as “Jim Crow.” [RNC Research]

• Trump shares Declaration of Independence with the Indiana football team [Daugherty]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Trump reportedly eyes renewed military action as Iran negotiations break down [FOX News]

• Hantavirus watch spreads to at least 7 states as passengers quarantined [FOX News]

• Nancy Guthrie missing 100 days as sheriff says ‘nothing new’ and volunteer groups are shut out of search [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Virginia Democrats Seek Supreme Court’s Intervention over VA Supreme Court Gerrymander Ruling [Breitbart]

• ‘Totally Unacceptable’: Trump Rejects Iran Reply – ‘Laughing No Longer’ [Breitbart]

• ‘Harnessing American Power’ Breitbart Speaks with Doug Burgum [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Affordability Brainstorms, Good and Bad [WSJ Ed]

• The U.S. Postal Service Is Going Bust. Blame Congress [WSJ Ed]

• Iran Thinks Trump Is Bluffing [WSJ Ed]

• Gavin Newsom Offers Diaper Service [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Dead voters’ signatures appear on Dem candidate’s forms: ‘Our democracy nowadays’ [NYP]

• Moment wide-eyed Hunter Biden panics over plea deal in leaked clip from new documentary [NYP]

• DOJ weighing new criminal case against Dr. Fauci — despite Biden’s autopen pardon and statute of limitations running out [NYP]

• ‘Emotional’ Savannah Guthrie has been tearing up off-camera at ‘Today’ as search for missing mom Nancy continues [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• Abigail Spanberger’s Faceplant [WFB]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,308 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: The litmus test

2. New Media Voices: Democrat enabled fraud

3. Leading FOX: Hantavirus and redistricting

4. Trending: UFOs and liberal white women

5. What the Right is Writing: Tariffs, fraud, and Nancy Guthrie

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

Note: No Brand Brief this coming Monday. Big updates are coming, so stay tuned!

It hardly needs saying, but many in legacy media still insist on treating former Republican officials as authoritative conservative voices. The worst offenders are those affiliated with The Bulwark and the creeps at the Lincoln Project.

While there is healthy debate over what “conservative media” actually is - a topic I discussed with The Hill this week regarding “alternatives to the alternatives” - it is perfectly clear what it is not.

The first test is simple: if a host urges listeners to vote for a Democrat, they are not airing a conservative show. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/7

• Kelly and guest Tucker Carlson examine the potential US-Iran peace deal, express concerns about censorship and the weaponization of “hate speech” accusations

• They discuss current market indicators, criticize Ben Shapiro and AIPAC, and give thoughts on Islam

• Guest Mark Lynch, senate candidate in South Carolina, talks about his plan to defeat Sen. Lindsey Graham in the primaries

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/7

• Shapiro argues Barack Obama is orchestrating the radicalization of the Democrats, leveraging his talent for deceptive communication

• He says Obama laid the groundwork for figures like AOC and Rep. Ilhan Omar, calls out his hypocrisy in calling for a “kinder, gentler” Republican Party

After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 5/7

• Jashinsky and guest Daily Caller reporter Luke Rosiak argue Minnesota DFL Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz, AG Keith Ellison, and Rep. Ilhan Omar have failed to adequately address rampant fraud

• Jashinsky praises guest Liz Collin of Alpha News for fearlessly exposing fraud and corruption, contrasting sharply with legacy media outlets

• They explain how New Media exposed Gov. Tim Walz’s connections to China, as well as how it has elevated Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt’s campaign

Timcast IRL - 5/7

• Pool and his co-panelists, Ian Crossland, Libby Emmons, Carter Banks, and Auron MacIntyre, discuss the Hantavirus panic, viewing it as exaggerated and a distraction

• They look at Star Wars actor Mark Hamill’s deleted tweet calling for President Trump’s death

• The panel explores anarcho-tyranny and managerialism theories, suggesting elite factions strategically leverage crises and mass immigration to consolidate power

• They discuss the potential for AI surveillance, technocracy, and governmental control over personal property and data through smart appliances and data centers

• Pool and his friends dissect political messaging within pop culture, such as in The Boys and Star Wars

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• Leftist streamer Secular Talk smears MAGA supporters as “demented”

• About 66% of Democrats polled say they have ended a relationship over politics

• Spencer Pratt slams the homeless policies of his LA mayoral opponents

• Rep. Ilhan Omar refuses to hand over records with ties to fraud to the MN legislature, could face congressional hearing

• UFC President Dana White makes fun of “toxic masculinity” claims

FOX & Friends

• The U.S. strikes Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas, and the Kargan Naval Checkpoint

• Sheridan Gorman’s family begs the government to “choose my American child” over illegal immigrants, Katie Abraham’s father interviewed

• AOC claims billionaires create the “myth” of earning money

• The judge in the Tyler Robinson case will decide if media is allowed in the court room

• Border Czar Tom Homan reports that NY Gov. Kathy Hochul is forcing the federal government to fly illegals out of state before deporting them, state sanctuary law bans ICE masks

• Cruise ship passengers with the Hantavirus returned to California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, and Virginia, WHO emphasizes this is not the next pandemic

• Tennessee approves its congressional redistricting map, Republicans could now pick up 14 seats

• The Boulder, CO synagogue attacker pleads guilty, faces life in prison

• Chief of Staff Susie Wiles receives a Woman of Valor award as she battles breast cancer while still working full-time

• The government releases a batch of UFO files

• Sec. of State Marco Rubio is interviewed on Islamic attacks on Christians in Africa following his meeting with Pope Leo

• Podcaster Riley Gaines is interviewed on the declining birth rate, blames it on affordability and a culture that devalues motherhood

FOX Newsroom

• President Trump describes Iran’s first strikes on the U.S. Navy in a month as just a “trifle,” reaffirms he is still going to China

• The Pentagon releases previously classified UFO files, with documents about mysterious flying objects even during the Apollo missions

• Border Czar Tom Homan battles it out with NY Gov. Kathy Hochul over sanctuary laws, Sheridan Gorman’s family speaks out about violence committed by illegal aliens

• Guest National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett says the U.S. economy added 115k jobs in April, unemployment is at 4.3%

• Education platform Canvas is hit by a cyberattack during finals week

• The 2024 presidential election autopsy report has become a point of contention as Kamala Harris threatens to run again

• AOC claims billionaires don’t earn their own wealth

• Five states are monitoring cruise ship passengers exposed to the Hantavirus

• About 32,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked into a Maryland creek

• Agriculture Sec. Brooke Rollins is interviewed on new SNAP guidelines

• The Virginia Supreme Court rules the redistricting measure unconstitutional

• Slain Chicago Officer John Bartholomew is laid to rest today

• UK election results show major support for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• Liberal white woman circles Virginia supreme court screaming [X, Englander]

• Department of War releases first tranche of UFO files, as part of Trump’s executive order on UFO disclosure at [X, Disclose]

• Trump honors Angel Moms at White House [X, Sortor]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Trump says Iran will see ‘a lot of pain’ if nuclear deal isn’t signed [FOX News]

• Omar camp breaks silence on fraud probe, blames Walz, Trump as new claims clash with earlier statements [FOX News]

• Mexico theory in Nancy Guthrie case raises questions [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Farage Kills The Two Party System: Reform Dominates in ‘British Midterms’ [Breitbart]

• Homan: Trump Is Being Lobbied by Cabinet Members to Grant Labor [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• The Great 340B Healthcare Grift [WSJ Ed]

• Rule of Law 2, Trump’s Tariffs 0 [WSJ Ed]

• Hong Kong’s Spy Campaign Is Exposed [WSJ Ed]

• Race and the Tennessee Gerrymander [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Minnesota GOP state lawmaker pushes House Oversight panel to subpoena Rep. Ilhan Omar [NYP]

• Lewd painting that hung over Epstein’s desk in NYC townhouse appears to hit eBay for staggering sum [NYP]

• Illegal migrant freed by Biden and accused of killing innocent dad cowers in court [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• New York Times Pulitzer-Winning Photographer Calls Hamas and Jihadist Militants ‘Martyrs’ and ‘Resistance,’ Criticizes Israel for ‘War on Gaza’s Children’ [WFB]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,649 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: How podcasts are consumed

2. New Media Voices: Nick Shirley and Hasan Piker

3. Leading FOX: From NY to LA

4. Trending: Clarence Thomas and the mayoral race

5. What the Right is Writing: Iran, Cuba, and Disney Cruises

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

The Reuters Institute’s latest study on podcasting confirms a major shift amongst Americans: YouTube is the king of news podcasts.

A few takeaways on American podcast consumption:

• The pecking order: YouTube leads with 49% of American news listeners, followed by Spotify (40%), Apple Podcasts (26%), and, surprisingly strong, Amazon Music (18%).

• Video is the Discovery Engine: While programs like The Daily and The Morning Wire prove video isn’t mandatory, it’s becoming the primary discovery tool for shows (ie clips). Interestingly, 26% of users now both watch and listen, while 6% are purely visual consumers. 13% are listen only, while 55% don’t consume podcasts.

The Bottom Line: In a deeply fragmented media landscape, these numbers help clarify where the attention is. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/6

• Kelly criticizes California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter’s temperament and past controversies, like berating her staffer and pouring boiling potatoes on her ex-husband, alongside Sohrab Ahmari of Unherd, and Sean Davis of The Federalist

• Guest Justice Neil Gorsuch promotes his children’s book Heroes of 1776 ahead of America250

• Kelly looks into Barack Obama claiming Trump has hurt his marriage, and discusses his legacy on foreign policy, economics, and Russiagate

• She discusses negotiations with Iran, and the impact on fuel prices and Trump’s approval rating

• In a culture segment, Kelly talks about Blake Lively’s Met Gala appearance following her lawsuit settlement, Kim Kardashian failing the bar exam, and an update on the JP Morgan sexual assault case

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/6

• Shapiro argues figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens have gone so far in their beliefs that they are actually leftists now

• He says because they are undermining American exceptionalism and free-market capitalism, while promoting racial divisions and opposing a global U.S. role, they are liberal

• He describes this “new left” as an ideological alliance with both traditional radical Democrats and geopolitical rivals such as Russia, China, Iran, and Venezuela

• Shapiro advocates for American leadership in AI and criticizes opposition, which he believes cedes global advantage to China

• He discusses the federal government’s lawsuit against the New York Times for alleged anti-white bias

The Isabel Brown Show - 5/6

• Nick Shirley talks about how he risked detention and had his equipment seized by the Cuban communist government

• Shirley says life in Cuba is characterized by a severe humanitarian crisis, including mass poverty, critical shortages of essential goods like oil and food, and widespread power outages

• Brown finds the response from American socialists like Hasan Piker disgusting, as he dismisses Shirley’s journalism as propaganda

• Brown’s own 2016 visit to Cuba revealed a society where official claims of universal rights contradicted the observable lack of basic freedoms, functional healthcare, and economic equity

Timcast IRL - 5/6

• The FBI raid on VA State Sen. L. Louise Lucas, related to a corruption probe and redistricting, underscores the panel’s bipartisan concerns about the political weaponization of government agencies

• They highlight ongoing concerns regarding electoral integrity, including unconstitutional election rule changes in the 2020 election, the refusal to hear Texas v. Pennsylvania, and the current redistricting battles

• They talk to Angela McArdle of the Mises Caucus about the Libertarian Party’s strategies to address internal divisions and form alliances with ideologically diverse groups

• Some panelists critique interventionist and nation-building foreign policy in regions like Afghanistan and Iraq, expressing concerns about a repeat in Iran

• They talk about the future of lawfare and the “post-truth” media landscape, particularly as AI and out-of-context clips warp reality

Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 5/6

• Stuckey highlights declining literacy rates using a video of a boy trying to get his classmates to read a simple sentence out loud

• While less than 35% of students are proficient in many areas, she criticizes the shift away from phonics toward sight-word “guessing” methods

• Stuckey argues reading is especially essential for salvation, as Christianity is a word-based faith reliant on the truth of the Bible

• Producer Bri joins the show to review designs from the Met Gala “Fashion is Art” theme

• The two love Emma Chamberlain’s paint-drip dress, Sabrina Carpenter’s film-strip gown, and Heidi Klum’s statue look, while rating Sam Smith and Bad Bunny poorly

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• Barack Obama describes Zohran Mamdani as an “extraordinary talent”

• Trump-backed primary challengers defeat majority of Indiana incumbents

• During a promotion of the Presidential Fitness Exam, President Trump teaches kids how to do the Trump Dance

• During California gubernatorial and LA mayoral debates, candidates advocate for free healthcare and voting rights for illegals

• Bret Baier shares his new book The Case for America

FOX & Friends

• The U.S. fires on an Iranian tanker that attempted to evade the blockade, President Trump remains optimistic about a deal before his China trip

• Sec. of State Marco Rubio visits the Vatican today to hold a one-on-one talk with Pope Leo

• The FDA allows for some fruit-flavored e-cigs for adults

• Forty passengers left the hantavirus cruise ship after one of the first passengers had already died

• California gubernatorial candidates Democrat Katie Porter and Republican Chad Bianco sparred over immigration on the debate stage

• Democrat nominee for Maine’s senator Graham Platner blames military PTSD for his Nazi tattoo, belittles rape victims, and is a self-described socialist

• Border Czar Tom Homan vows to flood New York with ICE agents

• 13 DC police officers have been placed on leave for allegedly manipulating crime stats to make the capital city look safer, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro reacts

• During the LA mayoral debate, the moderator tried to say Chris Pratt was name-calling for calling his opponent a liar

• The DOJ opens a probe into a Fairfax County prosecutor for repeatedly dropping violent charges, not pursuing child predator cases

• Democrats urge Kamala Harris to not run in 2028, remain divided on a nominee as she speaks in Nevada today

FOX Newsroom

• President Trump remains optimistic about an Iran peace proposal before his China trip, disables Iranian oil tanker, Energy Sec. Chris Wright explains Iran’s trade situation

• An illegal immigrant was caught on film attempting to steal a car with people in it in Garland, TX

• VA Democrat State Sen. L. Louise Lucas’ house is raided by the FBI

• A Los Angeles drug raid leads to 18 arrests

• Commencement speakers have canceled at Rutgers and Georgetown, while the University of Michigan had to issue an apology about theirs

• As many as 40 hantavirus cruise passengers left the ship, disease has eight-week incubation period

• President Trump hosts Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

• NY Gov. Kathy Hochul fires back at Border Czar Tom Homan for threatening to send ICE to the Empire State

• Los Angeles mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman dodge questions on noncitizens voting

• The National Education Association union has been accused of antisemitism

• Fairfax County prosecutor Steve Descano will testify before a House judiciary subcommittee for not prosecuting illegal immigrants

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• Look at Spencer Pratt’s reaction. He has the “it” factor. If anyone can pull off an upset in LA, it’s Pratt. [X, End Wokeness]

• Justice Clarence Thomas on the importance of the Declaration of Independence [X, Daugherty]

• 23 hantavirus cruise passengers returned home to ‘all corners,’ including to the US - and one is already sick [X, NYP]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• US rival orders firms to ignore US Iran sanctions [FOX News]

• Armed father turns tables on alleged illegal immigrant carjacker [FOX News]

• Everyone’s moving to Texas and Florida, but one red state is growing even faster [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Trump Hints Agreement with Iran May Be Close, Pauses Project [Breitbart]

• U.S. and Iran Working on Memo to End War & Nuclear Plans: Report [Breitbart]

• Rick Scott Rips Dems After Rep. Jayapal Says She Is Trying to Aid Cuba [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• The Deal With the Iranian Regime [WSJ Ed]

• Trump’s Hollow Indiana Victory [WSJ Ed]

• Mamdani and the Antisemites [WSJ Ed]

• Mass Deportation and American Jobs [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Hochul set to announce deal on NYS budget with a little more help for Mamdani, NYC [NYP]

• Wall Street giant Apollo aims to open ‘second headquarters’ outside NYC — in latest fallout from Mamdani’s war on the wealthy [NYP]

• Disney cruise ship staffers among 28 arrested in massive child porn operation [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• Justice Department Finds UCLA Medical School Discriminated Based on Race in Wake of Explosive Free Beacon Reports [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• Gov. Greg Gianforte talks leading Big Sky Country, RGA, EU’s regulatory overreach, and business development [Reporter]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,642 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Obama is back

2. New Media Voices: Red Scare and the Met Gala

3. Leading FOX: Indiana and Ohio primaries

4. Trending: Melania Trump draws laughs

5. What the Right is Writing: Iran and the City of Angels

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

A new wave of Democrats is emerging ahead of 2028, but conservative media remains fixated on the household names that refuse to leave the stage: Obama, Biden, and Harris.

While fresh less familiar faces like Pritzker and Buttigieg are easy targets, nothing stirs the base like the “old guard.” From Obama’s library-opening “lecture tour” to Biden’s primary meddling and Harris’s recently wrapped book circuit, these figures remain the ultimate engagement drivers.

For conservative audiences, deep-seated familiarity breeds immediate contempt—placing these three at the top of every conservative topic list. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/5

• Kelly critiques Blake Lively’s and Meghan Markle’s public relations strategies, and offers advice on handling negative media.

• She argues the 2026 Met Gala theme was underwhelming, notes the declining quality of attendees and “out of touch” fashion choices

• Guests from the Red Scare podcast Dasha Nekrasova and Anna Khachiyan talk about being “canceled” for interviewing Nick Fuentes

• Kelly provides an update on the JP Morgan sexual harassment lawsuit, expressing skepticism about its credibility

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/5

• Shapiro views the Met Gala as a manifestation of the secular left’s hypocrisy and decadence

• He highlights The Daily Wire’s investigative journalism exposing Medicaid fraud in Ohio, underscoring the unchecked growth of the welfare state that leads to national debt and lack of responsibility

• Shapiro throws his support behind Vivek Ramaswamy in the Ohio gubernatorial primary

• He warns that left-wing rhetoric creates “permission structures” for political violence

• Shapiro advocates for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and increasing economic pressure against Iran

The Matt Walsh Show - 5/5

• Using a Daily Wire investigation, Walsh alleges widespread Medicaid fraud in the home healthcare industry, even in red states like Ohio

• He argues both Republican and Democrat-run governments can suffer from severe lack of government oversight, and the Somali culture’s dependency on government services contributes to the prevalence of fraud schemes

• Walsh says accusations of racism are frequently employed to deflect inquiries into fraud, which are facilitated by programs like the Office of Refugee Resettlement and CCAP

• He calls for the mass deportation of Somalis, citing the negative ratio of limited contributions to the economy while taking billions in tax dollars

The Brett Cooper Show - 5/5

• Cooper celebrates Emma Chamberlain, Gracie Abrams, and Mona Patel as the best-dressed at the Met Gala

• She criticizes Karlie Kloss, Heidi Klum, and Cardi B for uninspired or visually displeasing outfits that failed the “fashion is art” theme

• She particularly calls out a trio of unflattering red dresses worn by Lena Dunham, Alysa Liu, and Serena Williams

• Cooper concludes by calling Aaron Rose Philip the “most oppressed person in America”, as a black quadriplegic trans person

The Riley Gaines Show - 5/5

• Gaines hears Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ career journey from White House Press Secretary to Arkansas Governor

• Sanders outlines Arkansas’s conservative policy successes, including tax cuts, border security, pro-life initiatives, and universal school choice

• They discuss the “Razorback Ready 2026” fitness challenge, reducing screen time, and the positive impact of the “Bell to Bell No Cell Bill”

• The two agree there is a bright future for women and mothers within the Republican Party, especially for those who balance home and work

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• Sec. of State Marco Rubio says if Iran had a nuke they’d use it to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage

• CA Gov. Gavin Newsom claims President Trump is exploiting the WHCD shooting to get his ballroom

• Kamala Harris endorses incumbent Karen Bass for LA mayor

• IL Gov. JB Pritzker asserts Trump has dementia, when he should be more worried about his diet

• Barack Obama admits Trump is causing “genuine tension” in his marriage

• The internet is trying to popularize “rage workouts,” and it’s primarily middle aged women participating

FOX & Friends

• Five President Trump-backed candidates beat incumbents who voted against the Indiana redistricting map, Vivek Ramaswamy will go against Amy Acton in the Ohio gubernatorial race

• Trump pauses Operation Freedom in a push for a peace deal with Iran

• During his day subbing as press secretary, Marco Rubio said the world is “not ready for my DJ name,” referencing his viral wedding appearance

• Steve visits Lenexa, KS on his America250 roadtrip

• Multiple cruise ship passengers test positive for the deadly Hantavirus, after three already passed from the disease

• Barack Obama praises socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an “extraordinary talent”

• Country singer Ella Langley is up for seven ACM awards this year

• WHCD shooter Cole Allen is indicted on an additional federal charge, could face life imprisonment

• Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton are tied in polling as the crowded California gubernatorial race gives Republicans an unlikely edge

• “Looksmaxxing” is popular among young men looking to maximize their attractiveness using methods as extreme as bonesmashing

• OH Gov. Mike DeWine denies allegations of state medicaid fraud

• Socialist Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson blames CCTVs for racism rather than two delinquents who attacked a 77-year-old man

• The U.S. hiring rate increased to 3.5% in March

• Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright defends the restaurant’s diminishing portion sizes

FOX Newsroom

• President Trump pauses Operation Freedom, citing peace talk progress with answers expected within 48 hours, says Iranians want to protest but don’t own guns, Iran’s foreign minister is meeting in Beijing

• Two airplanes come within 500 feet of each other at the JFK airport

• VP JD Vance shares midterm messaging in Des Moines, IA, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy reacts

• Barack Obama praises Zohran Mamdani on CBS

• FBI Director Kash Patel calls out the incompetence of Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos

• Three passengers with the deadly Hantavirus have been evacuated from the ill-fated cruise ship off the coast of West Africa

• Pro-Palestine protesters swarm a Manhattan synagogue, following multiple antisemitic vandalism attacks across the city

• IL Gov. JB Pritzker blames President Trump’s tone for the assassination attempts against him, while Rep. Brendan Boyle claims he is focused on the ballroom over the needs of Americans

• Tennessee and Alabama will hold redistricting votes before midterms

• Trump revives the Presidential Physical Fitness Award in an effort to get kids off their screens and outside, while the Army introduces a new combat field fitness test

• CNN founder Ted Turner passes away at 87 years old

• California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter defends her wicked temperament in the primary debates last night

• More than 30 states have banned cell phone usage in classrooms

• Cornell University’s president was harassed by students after a debate

• The looksmaxxing trend takes over social media

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) announces she has been working with foreign countries to supply oil to Cuba, in defiance of President Trump. [X, Breitbart]

• President Trump’s smirk as Melania discusses his “empathy” is amazing content. [X, Johnny]

• Becerra: “The Trump campaign in 2024 talked about ‘lost kids’ when there were no lost kids.” The Biden DHS’ own Inspector General found that over 300,000 migrant children went missing under their watch. [X, Price]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Trump announces temporary pause of ‘Project Freedom’ amid progress toward Iran deal [FOX News]

• Former Dem senator ousted in 2024 wins primary in rebound bid that could flip majority [FOX News]

• Patel accuses FBI of lying to obtain warrants to illegally spy on Trump’s 2016 campaign [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Trump Hints Final Agreement with Iran May Be Close: Project Freedom on Pause [Breitbart]

• Karen Bass: Fire Victim Spencer Pratt ‘Exploiting Grief’ of Fire Victims [Breitbart]

• U.S. Becomes World’s Biggest Oil Producer During Strait of Hormuz [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Another Marty Makary Mistake [WSJ Ed]

• Trump Halts the Blockade of U.S. Ports [WSJ Ed]

• Justice Alito’s Intriguing Footnote [WSJ Ed]

• Voters Get No Say on a Washington State Income Tax [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Trump tells The Post it’s ‘too soon’ to prep for Iran peace signing after reports deal near [NYP]

• Jew-hating violence hits all-time high in LA as ‘most violent’ year exposes California’s shame [NYP]

• GOP lawmakers urge Trump administration to defund ‘woke’ National Academies [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• ‘Antiracist Critical Pedagogy’: Penn State Law School’s New Strategic Plan, Devoted to ‘Antiracism,’ Raises Legal Questions [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• Conservative organizations put Europe in the trade hot seat, saying that Trump is ready to end the regulatory assault on U.S. companies [Reporter]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,466 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Covering a movement

2. New Media Voices: Bongino, Tucker, and FISA

3. Leading FOX: LA and NYC

4. Trending: DJ Rubio and Trump’s workout plan

5. What the Right is Writing: Strait of Hormuz and 2028

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

Covering conservative media is a tall order; covering the entire conservative movement is even tougher. Emily Brook’s The Movement newsletter does exactly that—and does it well.

Today marks one year since the launch of her weekly briefing, which provides essential insights into the right’s think tanks, advocacy groups, and key media voices driving the conversation. Balanced coverage of the American right is rare, but Emily delivers. Congrats on a year of success! - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/4

• Kelly celebrates the Kentucky Derby victory of underdog Golden Tempo

• Guest Emily Jashinsky analyzes Tucker Carlson’s New York Times interview, including his perceived regrets about Nick Fuentes, the media’s representation of his views, and how the “uni-party” narrative shapes public discourse

• They discuss the ongoing Iran conflict, negotiation efforts, and ramifications of oil prices on the midterms

• Kelly argues “mission creep” and its heavy pro-Israel stance led to the decline in viewership of The Daily Wire and its subsequent layoffs

• They dive into the Blake Lively v. Justin Baldoni lawsuit, the role of media epistemology, and the power of foreign and military lobbying groups

The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/4

• Shapiro announces a Daily Wire investigation into Medicaid fraud in Ohio

• He defends free markets, using Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy and the debate over government intervention to critique antitrust theory

• He critiques Tucker Carlson as an anti-capitalist and demagogue, drawing comparisons to Hasan Piker’s anti-establishment viewpoints and antisemitism, explaining his broader “grievance party” theory

• Shapiro supports President Trump’s firm stance against Iran’s aggression while briefly touching on AI’s societal implications

Making the Argument with Nick Freitas - 5/4

• Freitas dissects ongoing controversy surrounding Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), arguing its reauthorization poses a threat to the Fourth Amendment

• He recalls abuses exposed by the Church Committee and Watergate scandal, argues the FISA court’s secrecy and near-unanimous approval could permit similar infringements

• Freitas champions the Government Surveillance Reform Act, which would mandate warrants for searching American data and block agencies from acquiring info from data brokers

• He criticizes Congress for not implementing adjusted safeguards, and encourages the public to develop boundaries especially with AI complicating surveillance further

The Dan Bongino Show - 5/4

• Bongino praises Rudy Giuliani’s legacy as NYC mayor as he remains sick in the hospital, contrasting his “broken windows” policing and leadership during 9/11 to Zohran Mamdani’s failures

• He analyzes footage from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, explaining Secret Service protocol

• Bongino criticizes the Biden Admin’s DOJ for spying on Christians and misusing prosecutorial discretion, based on new documents

• He argues the media and progressives have systematically rewritten history, misrepresenting the GOP and the true nature of ideologies like national socialism and communism

After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 5/4

• Jashinsky delves into America’s growing political violence, using Professor Robert Pape’s research on populist violence driven by structural changes

• Jashinsky promotes Spencer Pratt’s unconventional mayoral campaign in Los Angeles, which utilizes new media to criticize existing approaches to homelessness and incumbent Mayor Karen Bass

• She highlights radical Graham Platner’s run in Maine against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, and the role of cultural issues in contemporary politics

• She reacts to comedian Michael Rapaport’s recent attack on podcaster Joe Rogan for alleged antisemetic jokes, and discusses the broader debate on free speech within comedy

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• President Trump warns Iran will be “blown off the face of the Earth” if they interfere with the Strait of Hormuz reopening, RI Sen. Jack Reed says the US is giving Iran a “more reasons to push for a nuke weapon”

• CA Gov. Gavin Newsom tried to dress up as a construction worker, Bill Maher questions his record on cost of living and the train to his face

• Sen. Bernie Sanders says the Democrats are unpopular because they’re not standing up for American issues

• The Trump admin says Joe Biden and former Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg are to blame for the death of Spirit Airlines

• Anti-ICE mob attacks the NYPD outside a hospital

• Sec. of State Marco Rubio goes viral for DJing at a family wedding

FOX & Friends

• Two U.S. Navy cruise destroyers made it through the Strait of Hormuz last night, Sec. of War Pete Hegseth gives live updates

• A federal judge apologizes to the WHCD shooter for supposed mistreatment in jail, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro fires back on X, 85% of Americans agree motivated violence is increasing

• Meta faces $3.7B in penalties over New Mexico lawsuit

• The MV Hondius cruise has been infected with hantavirus, three dead off the coast of West Africa

• LA Mayor Karen Bass accuses opponent Spencer Pratt of “exploiting grief” of Palisades victims, despite losing his own home to the fire

• Alabama and Tennessee look to join Texas, Florida in redistricting to add red seats

• Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settle their It Ends With Us lawsuit

• Tiger Woods’ DUI case is back in court

• Numerous popular peptides lack FDA approval

FOX Newsroom

• Two American ships dodge Iranian fire in the Strait of Hormuz

• The federal judge overseeing the WHCD shooting case apologized to Cole Allen for his supposed “poor treatment” in jail

• NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani doubles down on his sanctuary city policy following anti-ICE attacks on the NYPD, New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman reacts

• FOX investigates hospice fraud in Los Angeles

• Bret Baier shares his new book The Case for America

• Five NYC locations were tagged with antisemetic vandalism, including a synagogue, Jewish community center, and private home

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the new redistricting map into law

• Kamala Harris refuses to endorse anyone for California governor

• Travel influencer Jake Rosmarin shares an emotional video trapped aboard a cruise ship infected with hantavirus off the coast of Africa

• A “migration of wealth” is flooding to the South thanks to its better taxes

• The suspected Palisades Fires arsonist was inspired by Luigi Mangione, Spencer Pratt condemns incumbent Mayor Karen Bass’ claims that he is using victims to promote his campaign, when he lost his own home

• Starbucks CEO defends a cup of coffee costing $9 for the “premium experience”

• It Ends With Us costars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni end their lawsuit

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• Your DJ name? … Marco Rubio: You’re not ready for my DJ name. [X, FOX News]

• Trump teaches a group of kids the “Trump dance” [X, RR47]

• LA is worth saving. Vote Spencer Pratt. [X, Curran]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Trump opens Strait of Hormuz with ‘Project Freedom’ [FOX News]

• Trail cam captures Special Forces-trained fugitive as feds join rural search [FOX News]

• Judge apologizes to suspect accused of attempting to assassinate Trump [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Breitbart News to Host Policy Event with Secretary Doug Burgum on Harnessing American Power [Breitbart]

• Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Guide’ Stranded Ships Through Strait of Hormuz [Breitbart]

• Trump: Iranian People Need Guns, ‘I Think They’re Getting Some’ [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Iran’s Regime Ends the Cease-Fire [WSJ Ed]

• Making Public Unions More Accountable [WSJ Ed]

• GameStop, eBay and the Bet on Debt [WSJ Ed]

• How to Make Vladimir Putin’s Year [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• The rise of the manosphere divorce: Meet the women ditching Joe Rogan- and Clavicular-influenced hubbies [NYP]

• DeSantis making moves for 2028 White House bid — but will MAGA embrace Trump’s former foe? [NYP]

• Massive moving memento of 9/11 reaches Long Island: ‘You can feel the weight of that day’ [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• Georgetown ‘Islamophobia’ Initiative Required To ‘Consult’ With Qatar on Guest Speakers, University Contract With Qatari Regime Reveals [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• Path clears for Rep. Andy Barr to win Senate primary [Reporter]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,192 words | 5 minute read | Written to be skimmable (14+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Emerald City embarrassment

2. New Media Voices: Shane Gillis, Theo Von, and Alex Clark

3. Leading FOX: Strait of Hormuz and Spirit Airlines

4. Trending: Astronauts and the SPLC

5. What the Right is Writing: Spirit and Iran

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

Conservative media loves a struggling blue-city mayor.

Heading to my neck of the woods, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson made headlines this weekend for laughing off and waving goodbye to tax-weary residents, watching Starbucks exit the city, and awkwardly cutting an interview short.

The Brand Brief has frequently noted similar attention paid to Mamdani in New York, Fry in Minneapolis, Johnson in Chicago, and Wheeler in Portland.

Bottom line: These mayors are often media amateurs driven even further left by wacky local activists, resulting in terrific clips. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Joe Rogan Experience

• Wu-Tang Clan founding member RZA talks about martial arts and anger management

• Comedian Brian Simpson shares health emergency and pet ownership anecdotes, and the challenges of urban living

• Ari Shaffir gives his thoughts on international travel, societal views on drugs, and the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on public health

• Comedian Shane Gillis talks about the WHCD shooting, streamer culture, Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged suicide note, and UFC stories

This Past Weekend with Theo Von

• Sal Vulcano explains what he’s loved about raising a family, the journey to return a lost wedding tape, and his time executive producing

• Comedian Fahim Anwar talks about Gen Z slang, his weekend in Iowa, and learning about the fears of his comedy heroes

The Shawn Ryan Show

• Retired U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Andy Lowery gives his thoughts on drone threats, microwave usage by the military, and his time at Epirus

• Neurophysiologist Louisa Nicola warns viewers about the dangers of black market peptides, and explains healthier ways for athletes to maintain mental strength

Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark

• Leah Plunkett, Harvard Law faculty, argues how AI and online predators complicate posting photos of your child on social media

• Jason Karp, CEO of HumanCo, explains the corruption behind the food industry that’s leaving Americans overweight and sick

The Tim Dillon Show

• Dillon gives his theories behind the push to release UFO files, believes Trump has no easy way out of Iran, and analyzes the WHCD shooting

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

FOX & Friends

• A truck driver sustained minor injuries after his semi got clipped by a landing United flight in Newark, NJ, while Spirit Airlines is grounded for good, Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy reacts

• The US returns a seized Iranian ship, Navy guides ships out of Strait of Hormuz under Project Freedom

• Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani is hospitalized

• 3 cruise ship passengers are dead after a hantavirus outbreak

• US Attorney Jeanine Pirro reports buckshot used by the WHCD shooter was found lodged in a Secret Service agent’s vest, suspect due in court

• Crews are working to contain a wildfire outside Phoenix, AZ

• New York is set to pass some of the most radical sanctuary city policies, protesters clash violently with NYPD

• UFC fighter Michael Chandler teaches FOX boxing moves

• MI Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed calls to defund the police and abolish ICE, while ME candidate Graham Platner defends rape

• An alleged illegal immigrant is charged with the murder of two people at a Nassau County, NY Wendy’s restaurant

• Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accuses opponent Spencer Pratt of exploiting the grief of fire victims, despite his own family losing their home and living out of a trailer

• A family is suing OpenAI for its chat bot assisting a Canadian school shooter

• Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch shares his children’s book on the American founding, Heroes of 1776

FOX Newsroom

• President Trump launches Operation Freedom to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent says two ships have safely made it through so far, gives details on the upcoming China trip

• Dashcam footage shows the United Airlines flight crashing into a semi truck in Newark, NJ, travelers are left in limbo after Spirit Airlines shuts down mid-transit

• The WHCD Trump assassin is due in court today, could face additional charges for hitting a Secret Service agent

• An anti-ICE mob assaulted NYPD officers Saturday night, Mayor Zohran Mamdani calls ICE inhumane, New York expands sanctuary laws, federal agents crack down on fraud

• Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow is facing backlash for a deleted tweet, and for voting in California elections even after moving

• Sen. Bernie Sanders stands by Graham Platner, a Maine Senate candidate that excused rape and has a covered Nazi tattoo, former RNC Chairman Reince Priebus reacts

• Pop star Britney Spears is arraigned on DUI charges

• Cuban Ambassador Ernesto Soberon Guzman is interviewed on expanded Cuba sanctions

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• The SPLC literally opened up bank accounts in the name of fake photography businesses to pay people in hate groups -- it is absolute textbook financial fraud. [X, Hemingway]

• Democrat McMorrow doubles down on comparing Trump America to Nazi Germany [X, RNCResearch]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• Iran issues threat after Trump announces ‘humanitarian gesture’ [FOX News]

• Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani hospitalized [FOX News]

• Mass shooting at lake party leaves multiple victims [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Trump Announces ‘Project Freedom’ to Escort Ships Out of Hormuz [Breitbart]

• Polish Prime Minister Tusk Warns NATO Alliance Faces ‘Disintegration’ [Breitbart]

• Trump: There Could Be Future Where U.S. Energy Companies Operate in Iran [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• Trump Has an IRA to Sell You [WSJ Ed]

• Spirit Airlines and the Antitrust Left [WSJ Ed]

• The Triumph of Clarence Thomas [WSJ Ed]

• How Russia Helps Iran [WSJ Ed]

• Trump’s Resolve on Iran at 60 Days [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Ex-JPMorgan banker spotted in NYC street-fashion vid before bizarre sex-harass claims — as his dad addresses scandalous lawsuit [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• New Jersey Dem Congressional Candidate Testified on Behalf of Terror Mastermind ‘Blind Sheikh’ [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• EXCLUSIVE: Senate GOP focused on costs, immigration ahead of midterms, poll shows [Reporter]

NEED HELP NAVIGATING CONSERVATIVE MEDIA?

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,456 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: Throwing money at the problem

2. New Media Voices: AI and church

3. Leading FOX: Markwayne Mullin and Mamdani

4. Trending: Trump and Raskin

5. What the Right is Writing: JP Morgan, AI, and DOJ

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

Left-wing groups are trying to buy their way into the right’s new media success.

The Democracy Alliance is pumping tens of millions into a new media fund to boost content creators and influencers, while Priorities USA is targeting voters in “conservative-adjacent YouTube niches.”

Reality check: Money is a poor substitute for message, policy, and personality. If the policy is still out of touch, no amount of "boosted" content will make younger voters buy what they’re selling. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 4/30

• Guest Adam Carolla talks about receiving a Hollywood Walk of Fame star and his thoughts on Jimmy Kimmel as a comedian

• A male banker accusing his boss at JP Morgan of sexual coercion and racism faces skepticism

• Carolla and Kelly criticize dating advice from Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper, who encourages sex on first dates, while praising Miller Lite’s new ad featuring gymnast Olivia Dunne as a return to normal beer marketing

• They cover political Ozempic allegations, Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s narcissistic “black woman first” rhetoric, Rep. Ilhan Omar’s WWII gaffe, and an Oxford lecturer with prosthetic breasts

• Poet Joseph Massie promotes his new self-published book Invisible Current

The Ben Shapiro Show - 4/30

• Shapiro argues America’s greatest threat is the death of its foundational institutions, including universities, media, the church, and government

• He believes institutional decay has fostered a deep lack of trust among Americans, manifesting in anger and an obsession with conspiracies

• Shapiro highlights initiatives like the University of Austin as models for rebuilding

The Matt Walsh Show - 4/30

• Walsh asserts the “Curley Effect,” driving out wealthy residents and consolidating power among a favored demographic through high taxes and welfare, is being intentionally applied in NYC and Seattle

• He extends the concept to tech companies, like Anthropic’s perceived intent to drive away customers and consolidate power

• Amanda Ascal, Anthropic’s “resident philosopher,” is critiqued for her perceived “god complex” in attempting to “imbue Claude with a soul,” relating it to Google’s Gemini refusing to generate images of white people

• He compares it to DEI leadership, as seen with the New Orleans jailbreak and Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s interpretation of civil rights law

The Riley Gaines Show - 5/1

• Gaines and guest Michael Knowles explore the unexpected resurgence of faith among young people, critiquing the arguments of the “New Atheism” movement

• They discuss hylomorphism, or the integration of immaterial soul and material body to the sacraments, and its implications for transgenderism

• They raise concerns about the dehumanizing effects of virtual reality, social media, and extreme COVID lockdowns

• The two react to Rep. Brandon Gill’s provocative hearing question, “What’s your favorite kind of abortion?”

• They look into divergent incentives between “podcast class” commentators and politicians, and the impact of Charlie Kirk’s assassination on conservative unity

• Knowles offers his hot takes on gay marriage, IVF, surrogacy, and “alien stuff”

Timcast IRL - 4/30

• Suspended House primaries in states like Louisiana rattle the midterms playing field, with Republicans aiming for significant seat gains

• Pool and the co-hosts criticize race-based districting, and discuss increased political polarization driven by demographic shifts from interstate migration

• They react to the controversial past statements of Democrat Senate candidates Mallory McMorrow and Graham Platner and perceived media double standards toward them

• The panel analyzes DOJ surveillance footage of the assassination attempt on President Trump

• Other topics include a mysterious earthquake near Area 51, the nature of Scientology, critiques of certain military actions, the influence of Elon Musk, and pop culture nostalgia

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

The Five

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says DEI, equity, and affirmative action are now almost all gone following SCOTUS redistricting decision

• NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist dreams are crushed by $6B shortfall, Seattle mayor laughs at businesses leaving the city

• “Abolish ICE” candidate Dr. Ala Stanford freezes up during interview when asked who would enforce immigration

• Ann Arbor, MI gets rid of “city watch” signs, claiming racism

• Singer Billie Eilish claims you can’t both eat meat and love animals

FOX & Friends

• New footage shows the WHCD shooter sprinting past Secret Service, President Trump says he can’t wear a bulletproof vest because, “I don’t know if I can handle looking 20 lbs heavier.”

• Democrats force the DHS bill to exclude ICE and border patrol funding

• Saudi Arabia pulls funding on the LIV Golf

• The FBI is reexamining the Nancy Guthrie case

• Schools are closed nationwide for “May Day” protests advocating for socialism, as the Seattle mayor waves goodbye to business

• Florida police officer Antonio Richardson shares the story of saving a man from suicide

• Trump expands access to retirement account savings

• Graham Platner is set to face incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, after Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the Maine Democrat primary

• Iran’s economy is collapsing, with reports of 2 million jobs lost, a 98% currency loss, and 67% inflation rate, Sen. Bill Hagerty is interviewed on the Iran War hearing, which grilled War Sec. Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine

• Gov. Ron DeSantis is interviewed on the new Florida redistricting map, could give GOP four more seats

• NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry explains community plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Punxsutawney Phil “throws” the first pitch at a Pirates game

• Jason Aldean is interviewed about his new album Songs About Us

FOX Newsroom

• The U.S. blockade is suffocating the Iranian economy

• Radical Graham Platner is poised to be the Democrat nominee for Maine’s Senate seat

• DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin is interviewed on the partial shutdown ending after nearly 80 days, reacts to WHCD Secret Service response

• The FBI interviewed a Wisconsin brewery owner posting threats against President Trump

• Trump promises gas prices will drop soon, as national gas price averages reach $4.39 but other aspects of economy bounce back

• Commercial flights resume to Venezuela after a seven-year blockade

• About three out of four Chicago students are below proficiency in both math and reading, yet their teachers are protesting today

• TX AG Ken Paxton sues CCP-backed “birth tourism” center

• President Trump heads to The Villages, FL for a rally

• The House GOP probes companies using AI products made in China

• The Tunnel 2 Towers tour will honor 25 years since 9/11

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today…

• We went from outrage over the OK hand gesture and Pete Hegseth’s tattoo to the actual Nazi SS tattoo being no big deal. [X, Erickson]

• Democrat Jamie Raskin: “The Supreme Court has been gerrymandered” [X, Breitbart]

• Trump takes a question from Brian Glenn, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s fiancee: “He’s a great guy — even though I don’t live his girlfriend too much.” [X, Johnny MAGA]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

FOX News Digital

• DOJ releases haunting images from WHCA Dinner attack [FOX News]

• Groups mobilize 3,000 May Day protests [FOX News]

• Trump slams US ally as ‘absolutely horrible’ [FOX News]

Breitbart

• Sec. Duffy Marks One Year of Trump’s Trucking Crackdown [Breitbart]

• U.S. Supreme Court Voids Race-Based Redistricting Map in Louisiana [Breitbart]

• Seth Moulton: Hegseth ‘Guilty’ of War Crimes Like Nazi Submarine Captains [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

• AI Saves the Trump Economy [WSJ Ed]

• New York Demands a Climate Sacrifice [WSJ Ed]

• Charges of a Covid Coverup [WSJ Ed]

• The Board of Peace Speaks Up About Hamas [WSJ Ed]

New York Post

• Bombshell JPMorgan sex harassment suit that went viral branded ‘complete fabrication’ as John Doe is unmasked [NYP]

Washington Free Beacon

• ‘Reparations, Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation Network’ Gets $500K From NYC Racial Equity Commission Amid City Budget Crisis [WFB]

Washington Reporter

• Tim Scott, Scott Turner, and Bill Pulte revamp credit score models using Scott’s legislation [Reporter]

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📣 Driving the Conversation…

1,421 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

1. What Matters: TV still rules

2. New Media Voices: King Charles III, WHCD shooter, and James Comey

3. Leading FOX: Artemis II and the WHCD attacker

4. Trending: Seattle and Los Angeles

5. What the Right is Writing: Quality Learing Center

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

The Media Insight Project with the Associated Press just released a thorough study about news consumption.

Some interesting nuggets: 57% of Americans said they avoid national politics news. Even more, 69%, say they avoid news on social media. Even in the era of New Media, only 28% said they listen to podcasts to get their news.

While the shift is coming to alternative platforms - especially among younger viewers - television remains the dominant medium for older Americans. - NRB

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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 4/29

• Kelly and guest Tristan Harris of the Center for Humane Technology discuss the need to protect humanity against AI’s potential for autonomous self-preservation and hacking

• She analyzes the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey for threatening President Trump via an 86-47 post, raises concerns about Secret Service failures and the influence of inflammatory rhetoric

• Kelly describes selective justice between January 6th versus the Black Lives Matter riots

• Guest Victor Davis Hanson discusses a potential deal with Iran, OPEC’s role in global oil prices, and gives an update on his cancer diagnosis

The Ben Shapiro Show - 4/29

• Shapiro criticizes King Charles III as hypocritical, arguing Great Britain’s decline is due to its embrace of pacifism, socialism, and open borders

• He argues left-wing rhetoric is fueling violence against President Trump, as seen in Cole Allen’s manifesto

• Shapiro contends the United States’ economic blockade and actions against Iran’s shadow banking are superior to past foreign policy

• He blames academic decline at American universities to foreign funding and antisemitism, calls for legal reform

• Shapiro weighs the effectiveness of FCC action against ABC over Jimmy Kimmel, arguing in favor of social ostracization

The Michael Knowles Show - 4/29

• Knowles argues the mainstream left has normalized or justified violence, exemplified by Cole Allen and a jihadist’s plot against a Taylor Swift concert

• He aligns with President Trump’s emphasis on American heritage being rooted in British connections rather than solely an abstract idea, lamenting the decline of intellectualism and historical literacy

• Knowles emphasizes the necessity of executive power to reestablish order, touching on issues ranging from January 6th to Iran

Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 4/29

• Stuckey raises concerns about influencer Neeza Powers’ retransitioning narrative, after months of claiming a conversion to the Catholic faith

• She condemns the “soul sickness” exhibited by self-proclaimed Christians who mocked Erika Kirk’s distress at the WHCD shooting

• Stuckey critiques a viral trend of mothers influencing their sons’ childhood in an attempt to make them grow up to be gay

• She stresses the significance of Christian heritage for Western nations in light of King Charles III’s visit from the UK

After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 4/29

• Jashinsky and guests Scott Jennings of CNN and Ryan Grim of Drop Site debate American immigration and citizenship

• She cites concerns about Biden’s handling of an open border, unmanageable surges in human population, and increases in human trafficking

• The panel references contentions over ICE, the extent of free speech for international students on visas, and the belief in American exceptionalism

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS