“A new wave of this old evil”
The Brand Brief 7.21.26: Andrew Tate, Christopher Nolan, Don Lemon, Shane Gillis, Sunny Hostin, Ashley Webb, and James Talarico
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…
1,372 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Rubio on violent far-left political terrorism
New Media Voices: Andrew Tate, Christopher Nolan, and the Maine Senate race
Leading FOX: Taylor Farms and Chinese-owned AI software
Trending: Spain, ICE, and Minnesota
What the Right is Writing: Iran and the Clintons
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
In 2026, viral clips are everywhere; viral speeches are rare.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered an address last week - widely praised by conservative media - addressing the resurgence of violent far-left political terrorism.
“Today we face a new wave of this old evil here in the United States: the share of left-wing terrorist attacks and plots has risen to levels not seen in decades.”
Unfortunately, his words reflect an ongoing reality: Tuesday’s anti-ICE arson attack on a federal office in NYC, the two-year mark since the assassination attempt on President Trump, and the ongoing trial of Charlie Kirk’s killer.
Conservative media sounded the alarm. Reality brought the proof. Rubio delivered the message. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 7/20
Kelly questions Kamala Harris’ viability as nominee for 2028, while highlighting AOC’s appeal, drawing parallels to Barack Obama’s 2007 campaign style
She points out how Joe Biden is facing scrutiny both for his new book and for his apology tour regarding foreign policy
Kelly reacts to The View host Sunny Hostin using “Harvard privilege,” which she argues exemplifies the disconnect between elite education and real-world issues
She criticizes the Democratic Socialists of America and their housing policies for exacerbating the homelessness crisis in New York City
The Ben Shapiro Show - 7/20
Shapiro argues the arrest and extradition of Andrew and Tristan Tate to the UK shows the consequences of unchecked moral decay
He criticizes far-right influencers like Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson for their defense of the Tates, saying their societal allure exploits women and promotes harmful ideologies through TikTok
He also condemns communist streamer Hasan Piker for dressing up like Mao Zedong at a College Democrats event
Shapiro emphasizes the need for conservative values to combat the chaos stemming from sin, calling to protect children and uphold virtue
The Matt Walsh Show - 7/20
Walsh makes fun of the emergency Democrat Senate debate in Maine, arguing Graham Platner’s withdrawal due to a rape allegation is indicative of the party’s moral failures
He mocks transgender candidate Ashley Webb for a lack of qualifications and incoherent statements
He references an incident involving a trans person at the University of Central Florida as a cautionary tale about how identity politics undermines safety
Walsh argues that the concept of demographic replacement, particularly in the context of the World Cup, reflects the left’s dangerous ideology and its implications for national identity
He condemns the rise of socialism in urban areas, while referencing the historical failures of socialist policies, including the Bolshevik Revolution
Walsh criticizes Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s visit to Rikers Island prison and the leniency shown toward criminals
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 7/20
Jashinsky criticizes the media’s handling of the mass graves hoax in Canada and the violence against Catholic churches that ensued
Guest John Daniel Davidson of The Federalist argues Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey reflects a broader disconnect in storytelling and representation in the modern era
They condemn Don Lemon for comparing MAGA voters to Nazis and question his viability as a presidential candidate
They also argue Democrat James Talarico’s political campaign lacks authenticity and a total misunderstanding of Texan and minority voters
Jashinsky congratulates Shane Gillis for breaking comedy records despite being previously canceled
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries confronts Bernie Sanders, telling him to stop meddling in Democrat primaries, Bill Maher says he stands against a communist America
President Trump vows vengeance for the American soldiers killed by Iran, while Democrat Sen. Mark Warner says the country can’t be bombed into submission
AOC is mocked for using a fake southern accent in Memphis, TN
Don Lemon compares the MAGA movement to Nazis
FOX & Friends
A Greek oil tanker has been struck off the coast of Oman
President Trump will host the leader of Lebanon today
Sen. Darline Graham says she plans on running for the full term, “I feel an inner peace about it,” wants to run on kitchen table issues
President Trump imposes a 50% tariff on most Canadian goods following unfair trade and their wildfire smoke covering the U.S.
A new study claims 3-5 cups of coffee a day could reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke
Far-left candidate Kai Newkirk seeks to take the position of Democrat incumbent Rep. Greg Stanton in the Arizona primaries today
Taylor Farms may not actually be responsible for the Cyclospora outbreak due to a false positive, but the FDA stands by its claims
An anti-ICE rioter in New York City who set fire outside a federal building also had two axes, a hammer, and a machete in his bag
A New York school will be the first to use a humanoid robot to teach high school students
The Trump administration is weighing a ban on Chinese-owned AI software
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
Ferran Torres (scorer of Spain’s World Cup-winning goal yesterday) is making waves and infuriating the libs at the victory parade in Madrid by wearing a red “Make Spain Great Again” hat. [X, Zarathustra]
Tom Homan just got emotional about violence against ICE then stormed off from the press. “I can’t even get a carton of milk at a grocery store without a security detail! Why? Because I’m enforcing laws. It’s pathetic and it’s disgusting.” [X, Daugherty]
“My name is Dina Nina. Trans woman, live in poverty, and I want to legalize weed!” (Real campaign ad) [X, End Wokeness]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
US military hits Iran in push to degrade regime’s ability to target ships in Strait of Hormuz [FOX News]
Trump says first call with new UK PM Burnham went ‘very well,’ pledges US support [FOX News]
Breitbart
SBA Admin Loeffler: America Hits All-Time Record for Business Formation, Over Half a Million — Every Month! [Breitbart]
U.S. Launches Strikes to ‘Punish’ Iran After Troops Killed [Breitbart]
Trump Imposes 50 Percent Tariff on Variety of Canadian Goods [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
How a Veterans Reform Blew Up [WSJ Ed]
Maine Democrats Go Left Again [WSJ Ed]
Meet the New Bargain Patriot Missile [WSJ Ed]
A Climate Coup at the National Academies of Science [WSJ Ed]
Trump, Iran’s Assassins and John Bolton [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Treasury stopped nearly $100M in taxpayer money from going to dead people after new gov’t measure implemented [NYP]
Inside Bill and Hillary Clinton’s Italian power lunch with media titan [NYP]
Most American voters have favorable view of AI — despite media focus on controversies: poll [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
It’s All in the Family: Abdul El-Sayed’s Radical Sister Called for a ‘Stateless, Communized Society’ and Was Arrested for Spitting on Cop [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Senate GOP poll shows voters aware and concerned about Democrats’ socialist turn [Reporter]
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