A quiet milestone
The Brand Brief 3.12.26: Charlie Kirk, Forrest Frank, Zohran Mamdani, Tim Walz, Lindsey Graham, Abby Phillip, and Joy Reid
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…
1,431 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Six months since Charlie’s death
New Media Voices: Cable news criticism
Leading FOX: Christian music, college basketball, war in Iran
Trending: Mamdani’s Ramadan dinner
What the Right is Writing: Oil, drones, and rockets
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
This week marks six months since the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
What has been most surprising is how little reflection the milestone has prompted across conservative media. There are a few notable announcements, including President Trump naming Erika Kirk to a board at the US Air Force Academy, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joining Erika to announce a statewide effort to expand TPUSA chapters in high schools, and Hillsdale College announcing that Erika will be their commencement speaker.
But the broader reflection from the ecosystem Kirk helped build has been surprisingly muted. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 3/11
Kelly criticizes Sean Hannity for not pushing back as a journalist against Sen. Lindsey Graham’s heavily pro-war commentary
CNN host Abby Phillip falsely claims the ISIS-inspired NYC attack was targeted toward Zohran Mamdani
Kelly recalls Charlie Kirk’s insights on war with his friends Andrew Kolvet and Blake Neff from Turning Point USA
She uses a 2013 TODAY Show segment featuring a tour of Nancy Guthrie’s home to investigate her recent kidnapping case
Kelly gives commentary on the heated exchange between Ben Shapiro and Piers Morgan concerning views on Israel and media ethics
The Ben Shapiro Show - 3/11
Shapiro discusses the justification for the ongoing war with Iran, highlights they’ve been ramping up their missile and nuclear potential
He argues it’s an opportunity for regime change, mentions specific military operations underway, indicating significant destruction of Iranian military assets
Guest Shyam Sankar, CTO of Palantir, argues in favor of revitalizing the U.S. industrial base to maintain its global edge
Shapiro criticizes various media and political figures for spreading misconceptions regarding the conflict’s nature and purpose
The Michael Knowles Show - 3/11
Knowles discusses the unpopularity of the Iran War, highlighting it is currently the least popular war in American history compared to others like Iraq and Vietnam, polling data shows only 41% public support
He suggests President Trump will have to change public perception quickly to avoid significant midterm losses even as he achieves military objectives
He emphasizes the need for coherent messaging from the GOP to bridge the gap between reality and public perception before midterms
Knowles addresses strange behavior by Jeffrey Epstein’s prison guard before his sudden death
The Brett Cooper Show - 3/11
Cooper discusses James Talarico, a Texas Senate candidate she describes as using radical left ideas disguised as moderate positions
She criticizes Talarico’s stance on trans issues, claiming he represents a worrying trend among Democrats ahead of future elections
Cooper highlights his branding efforts, falsely portraying himself as a down-home Christian to appeal to moderate voters
Thanks to his recent primary victory over Jasmine Crockett, it places him in a prominent position among Democrats
Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 3/11
Guest Ron Simmons, a former Texas state rep, fills in for Allie today
He critiques Mayor Zohran Mandani’s comments regarding the anti-Islam protests, who labeled it as rooted in white supremacy, rather than addressing the attempted terror attack
He highlights media bias by referencing how different news outlets, like CNN, reported on the incident, emphasizing their failure to accurately describe the attackers as terrorists
Simmons addresses the SAVE America Act, which aims to strengthen voter eligibility and prevent illegal voting, and has the support of a majority of Americans despite only 50 Senate votes
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
Democrats attack War Sec. Pete Hegseth for spending millions on steak and lobster, not realizing it’s a military tradition for soldiers about to go to war
President Trump says Iran has “practically nothing left,” remaining goal is to destroy their missile capabilities
Trump visits Kentucky, Ohio to sell the affordability agenda
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz scrambles to look like he’s solving the fraud issue before his term is up, focus shifts to California hospice fraud
Shoplifters at Whole Foods get sent to their “jail” in a windowless closet
Trump gifts all his male staffers $145 black florsheim shoes
FOX & Friends
Iran hits fuel tankers in Iraq and forces a nationwide internet blackout, Iranians flee to Armenia, Hezbollah sends strikes on Israel, President Trump confirms he’s destroyed their air force and navy
Chief Aaron Edwards and Sergeant Luis Navarro speak out about how the NYPD has helped them, give thanks for the public’s support after stopping a terror plot
The Iran women’s soccer team returns to their native country, putting their lives at risk
New York Yankees President Randy Levine is interviewed ahead of baseball season
Forrest Frank is interviewed on his Christian faith at Rodeo Houston
Today marks the closing arguments in the Los Angeles social media addiction trial
FOX Newsroom
Sirens go off during live reporting in Tel Aviv, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz confirms Iran attacks two oil tankers as they implement a mine-laying strategy, Iranian refugees flee to Armenia
American healthcare company Stryker has been hit by a foreign cyber attack, PowerUS founder Brett Velicovich reacts as FBI warns Iran could strike the West Coast, but Gov. Gavin Newsom says he has not been briefed on any immediate threats
Iran’s new leader warns all US bases should close in the region, calls for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz
Guest Energy Sec. Chris Wright reports plans to retrieve 172 million barrels from the strategic oil reserve to bring down gas prices
Internal reports say Democrats have no concerns about keeping DHS employees unpaid, Sen. Katie Britt reacts
Two NYPD officers are being honored as heroes for defending the city against the attempted ISIS-inspired bombing
Rep. Jim Clyburn, 85 years old, announces his run for reelection
Former Iranian soccer player Shiva Amini is interviewed on the risk of her teammates returning to the regime
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
NY City Hall under Mamdani…. [X, End Wokeness]
Fake News CNN just aired four straight minutes of uninterrupted Iranian state TV. [X, Rapid Response 47]
NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards: I don’t want that picture to be about me. I want it to be about the day. I want it to be about what we did. [X, Daugherty]
Joy Reid says the Congo would be a “real life Wakanda” if not for White people [X, EndWokeness]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Pentagon rushes counter-drone tech as Iranian swarms strain missile defenses [FOX News]
‘Unprecedented’ agreement releases emergency oil reserves as gas prices spark concerns [FOX News]
Medical device giant hit by global cyberattack possibly linked to pro-Iranian group [FOX News]
Breitbart
Cornyn Touts Support from Pastors with Ties to Pro-Amnesty, Soros-Linked Group [Breitbart]
British Gov’t Plan to Scrap Jury Trials Clears First Hurdle [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
America’s Strategic Oil Exports [WSJ Ed]
Washington State’s Income Tax Con [WSJ Ed]
New York’s Dismal Tax Forecast [WSJ Ed]
The Administrative State Fights Back [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Top US drone expert says Iran could make deadly California strike any second: ‘We’re extremely vulnerable’ [NYP]
Here’s who and what to blame for oil skyrocketing to $120 a barrel and causing widespread panic [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Inside the Left-Wing Operation to ‘Train’ Judges About Climate Change: Free Trips to Napa Valley, Palm Beach, and Hawaii Fuel a Secret Judge Recruitment Operation [WFB]
Washington Reporter
How the GOP’s State of the Union guests showcase 2026 priorities [Reporter]
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