50th Edition of The Brand Brief
The Brand Brief 11.5.25: RNC pipe bomb arrests, The YMCA, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Melania Trump, Ssgt. Andrew Wolfe, Pam Bondi, and anti-ICE protestors
Actionable media intel to keep you ahead: 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…
1,618 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: 50th edition of the Brand Brief
New Media Voices: Pipe bomb suspect, relationship advice, and Somalis
Leading FOX: Anti-ICE protesters, pipe bomb, and affordability
Trending and Pouncing: Somalian food, Melania Trump, and narco terrorists
What the Right is Writing: Minnesota Democrats and new car rules
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
Welcome to the 50th edition of The Brand Brief!
We have enjoyed bringing you the highlights from the conservative media ecosystem over the last three months. We’re just getting started, and we really appreciate all the feedback. Feel free to share the newsletter with friends and encourage them to subscribe. Expect a few upgrades coming in the new year.
We will leave you with President Trump dancing to YMCA this afternoon at the Kennedy Center. Have a great weekend! - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 12/4
Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old from Woodbridge, Virginia, has been arrested as the main suspect in the 2021 pipe bombing attempt
While the case was ignored during the Biden administration, FBI Director Kash Patel solved it in a few months with preexisting evidence
Guests Julie Kelly discusses how if Cole is left-leaning, it could unravel major elements of the J6 narrative
Guest Michael Knowles explains how corporate media lied about the Venezuelan drug boat “double-tap”
NYT columnist Wajahat Ali claims white people “lost” by letting more immigrants come in, Trump calls for a referendum on Somali migration
The Benny Show - 12/5
Johnson reads Brian Cole, Jr.’s affidavit, which includes his license plate driving to Capitol Hill, his shopping history, and cell phone data
Cole’s alleged ties to Antifa and anarchist ideologies suggests it was an attempt to kill January 6th protesters
Guest Sen. Markwayne Mullin discusses a report that a former intelligence head in Venezuela says Maduro is actively weaponizing cocaine, attempted to rig American elections
Guest David Freiheit wonders if Cole was radicalized by intelligence agencies to cause further chaos during the vote count
The Ben Shapiro Show - 12/4
Free Press journalist Leor Sapir uncovers evidence of doctors conducting experimental treatments like “nullification” surgeries for nonbinary patients
A widely-cited study by Leon Wenz predicting a 62% chance of decline in global output due to climate change has been debunked
Trump announces the end of Biden-era CAFE standards, lowering the required vehicle fuel economy to protect jobs and lower costs
After the private sector hired 32,000 less people in November, Democrats are advising on an affordability focus over social issues
Shapiro also covers how Ukraine may compromise to Russia, and that healthcare costs have risen by 30% since Obamacare
The Matt Walsh Show - 12/4
Walsh argues the quality of everything, be it Google results, housing, or air travel, have all deteriorated due to cost-cutting, high material costs, and industry consolidation
While outlets like a Minneapolis ABC affiliate try to cite Somali financial contributions to American society, they fail to acknowledge their welfare usage outweighs any economic output
Walsh cites that of the 80,000 Somalis in Minnesota, they contribute $800/person in state and local taxes, 10 times below the average, and generate up to $12,000 in annual income, less than half the U.S. average, while costing billions in fraud and welfare
In reference to Travis Kelce claiming he has never argued with Taylor Swift, Walsh says while fights are a red flag, never having a calm disagreement is a sign of relational apathy or fear
C.J. Pearson’s “Family Matters” - 12/4
Pearson criticizes Black community members who accuse others of “acting white” for dressing professionally, such as wearing a quarter-zip
He argues liberalism has fostered government dependency, and that hating on formal clothing only perpetuates a white supremacy narrative
Guest Austin Broughton shares his journey of entering into conservative activism after the pandemic, and how his beliefs empower individuality
Pearson discusses the future of Black America potentially becoming a “swing race,” the importance of forcing competition for a vote to bring back power and a voice to a community
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
Trump will hit the road next week on an “affordability tour” after scrapping Biden-era fuel regulations and announcing Trump Accounts
Admiral Frank Bradley says there were no “kill them all” orders in the Venezuela drug boat strike
Actress Halle Berry refuses to endorse California Gov. Gavin Newsom for president at the same NYT conference he was speaking at
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce claim they have never gotten into a fight
FOX & Friends
Pipe bomb suspect Brian Cole Jr. allegedly bought galvanized pipes, battery connectors, kitchen timers, and other bomb-making materials
Guest AG Pam Bondi discusses the pipe bomb suspect, as well as a Somali migrant who raped and kidnapped multiple women
Trump will go on tour to promote his affordability agenda
Border Czar Tom Homan tells a TPUSA event protester to “grow a spine,” anti-ICE protesters attend a New Orleans city council meeting
Following the Supreme Court overturning a district court decision, Texas will be able to use its new electoral map
The Luigi Mangione pre-trial may extend into next week due to evidence usage challenge
Trump ordered all flags to be raised to half-staff in honor of Sarah Beckstrom, hosted Ssgt. Andrew Wolfe’s family at the White House
A new Harvard Youth poll says the majority of young people believe the U.S. is heading in the wrong direction
The NYT critiques Pantone’s color of the year choice, Cloud Dancer White, as a reference to white supremacy
The DHS has arrested dozens of illegal migrants in New Orleans
Guest Gov. Ron DeSantis explains his plan to eliminate property taxes
FOX Newsroom
Pipe bomb suspect Brian Cole, Jr. has been charged and will go to trial today
Trump pays tribute to the two National Guardsmen who were shot by an Afghan national terrorist with flags at half-mast
AG Pam Bondi says they were able to determine the pipe bombing suspect with phone signals and height analysis
Anti-ICE protesters raid a New Orleans city council meeting
Guest Rep. Rick Crawford defends the “double tap” of the Venezuela drug boat
The Small Business Administration director Kelly Loeffler says she plans on cracking down on the Somali benefits fraud case
Trump begins his affordability tour in Pennsylvania on Tuesday
Guest National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett says one of Trump’s main goals for 2026 is to tackle any remaining Biden-flation
Lara Trump says her father-in-law’s presence has reenergized the GOP for good, must consider how to carry the torch after 2028
A new poll reveals 62% of Americans believe military force against drug traffickers is a net positive
During Russian President Putin’s visit to see Indian PM Modi, he threatened to take Ukraine’s Donbas region
Washington state robbers used a stolen truck in an attempted ATM heist
Republican California governor candidate Steve Hilton says Gov. Gavin Newsom is gaslighting Americans on Palisade Fire relief efforts
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: highlights from the conversation on the right and what conservatives are “pouncing” on…
Democrat Maine State Rep. Deqa Dhalac says her mission is to get the US to help Somalia “build back.” [X, Libs of TikTok]
The owner of a restaurant who held Rep. Ilhan Omar’s 2018 election victory party is a Somali convicted of fraud. [X, Daugherty]
Ssgt. Andrew Wolfe has no blood clots, and can open both eyes. [X, Townhall]
Democrat Rep. Adam Smith thinks it’s okay for narco-terrorists to smuggle drugs into the U.S. because it’s only cocaine. [X, RNC Research]
The mayor of of Minneapolis Jacob Frey struggles to eat a Somali meal [X, CatchUp]
Little girl at Children’s hospital runs up to give Melania Trump huge hug at Christmas event [X, Daugherty]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro reveals insight into personal life of suspected DC pipe bomber [FOX News]
Cruise death mystery shifts as legal expert cites rare family dynamic ahead of hearing [FOX News]
Mamdani says NYPD commissioner apologized after her brother called him ‘enemy’ of the Jewish people [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Minnesota Dems Took Campaign Ca$h from Somali Scammers [Breitbart]
Sen. Warner: ‘Uniformed Military May Help Save Us from This President’ [Breitbart]
Omar: When Trump Demonizes an Ethnic Group, There’s Danger of Violence [Breitbart]
Top UK Gov Figure Ran ‘Secret Campaign’ to Destroy Breitbart: Report [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The Great Entitlement State Grift [WSJ Ed]
A Hamas Rival Falls in Gaza [WSJ Ed]
Hegseth’s Order and the Admiral [WSJ Ed]
Making Cars More Affordable Again [WSJ Ed]
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The journey continues!