About that TRUTH
The Brand Brief 4.10.26: Tucker Carlson, Zohran Mamdani, Rory McIlroy, Tim Walz, Brett Kavanaugh, 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…
1,429 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: The truth about conservative media
New Media Voices: Amnesty and doomerism
Leading FOX: Mamdani misses and George Washington
Trending: Ben Sasse has his eyes on Christ
What the Right is Writing: The ceasefire stands?
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
What exactly is conservative media? President Trump’s TRUTH post provides an unintentionally accurate answer.
While fringe, non-traditional voices may attract some right-leaning audiences, they are not inherently conservative; some are even unpopular overall on the right.
Trump recognizes modern media fragmentation, and that is why he is willing to talk to anyone from any outlet. As we noted earlier this week, the overwhelming majority of conservative shows are supportive of this President.
Bottom line: There is a worthwhile distinction between conservative shows and programs that have some right-leaning listeners. - NRB
What do you think of The Brand Brief? Let us know.
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Dan Bongino Show - 4/9
Bongino contrasts the Democrats’ perceived “central hivemind” with the MAGA movement’s diversity of ideas, referencing the recent barrage of videos by Dem lawmakers using the exact same script
He argues AI can be used for instant fact checking in the future, but could also pose major cyber attacks and grid outages
Critiquing insurance companies and access issues, Bongino says Medicaid fraud is a major factor in funding shortfalls rather than a lack of taxes
He rejects “doomerism” in light of stress about the War in Iran, says the war is necessary due to their immense threat and to hold strong to the fight
The Megyn Kelly Show - 4/9
Kelly criticizes the Dignidad Act, co-sponsored by a Republican, for offering amnesty to illegal immigrants who arrived before 2021
Kelly and guest Michael Knowles argue it’s for the benefit of business donors seeking cheap labor and swing-district Republicans
She argues it’s a failure of the justice system that DeCarlos Brown Jr. is ruled incompetent to stand trial despite more than 33 prior arrests and the on-camera murder of Iryna Zarutska
Ana Kasparian of The Young Turks argues the Israeli strikes on Lebanon causes a shaky ceasefire going into VP JD Vance’s negotiations this weekend
Kelly says she and Charlie Kirk talked about the Epstein Files and Israeli intelligence within the U.S. just two months before he died
The Michael Knowles Show - 4/9
Knowles expresses skepticism about government transparency regarding UFOs, asserts only someone like Donald Trump could achieve full disclosure
He refutes claims Christianity aligns with socialism, referencing centuries of Catholic Papal condemnations of socialist doctrines
He highlights a significant increase in Christian conversions, especially Catholic confirmations, attributing it to exhaustion with modern subjectivism.
Knowles makes fun of the recent clip showing a Canadian lawmaker reference the acronym MMIWGSLGBTQQIA+
He reveals his family link to Winston Churchill through the Mayflower
The Benny Show - 4/9
Johnson criticizes the U.S. justice system’s failure to prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr. after he murdered Iryna Zarutska on camera, attributes the breakdown of public safety and the justice system to Marxist influences and Soros-funded prosecutors
He argues much of the crime today is also due to Joe Biden’s open-border policy
He attributes the American mental health crisis to factors like easy-access SSRI prescriptions and marijuana usage
Johnson highlights recent FBI arrests, including former Fort Bragg employee Courtney Williams, for leaking classified national defense information
The Brett Cooper Show - 4/9
Cooper believes Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s controversial statements could significantly undermine her husband’s 2028 campaign
Cooper recounts her past admiration for Siebel and her own early involvement in “girl power” initiatives, which led to disillusionment
The “first spouse” rejected the gendered title of First Lady, says she controls her sons’ internet access to fight “alt-right narratives,” and raised them with dolls
Cooper argues she has a savior and superiority complex, referencing her comments about red states being racist and behind
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
Democrats push for invoking the 25th Amendment following President Trump’s string of Truth Social posts, ceasefire in Iran
VA Gov. Abigail Spanberger hits record-low approval ratings just months into her term in office, Democrats trail Republicans in overall party approval ratings
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani gives up free buses campaign pledge, says they’re aiming to achieve it again next year
A Canadian lawmaker undercut her own message about missing indigenous women by using the acronym MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+
FOX & Friends
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says the peace talks this weekend will prioritize disarming Hezbollah
VA Gov. Abigail Spanberger, facing new low approval ratings, is encouraging residents to vote yes on an extreme redistricting map
An illegal immigrant has been charged in a deadly hammer attack, Angel Families commemorate one year of the VOICE office reopening
Melania Trump’s senior advisor Marc Beckman explains why the First Lady spoke out against people linking her to Jeffrey Epstein
The Artemis II mission returns to Earth this evening
The NFL is under fire by the Dept. of Justice for its “pay-to-watch” model
The panel interviews George Washington ahead of America250
Brian Hooker, arrested by Bahaman police after his wife went missing overboard on vacation, denies all allegations of foul play
Today marks round two of the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, ME
FOX Newsroom
President Trump calls for a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz ahead of peace talks this weekend, former CENTCOM Commander David Petraeus says Hezbollah is degraded
An illegal alien has been charged in the murder of a Florida mom with a hammer
The husband of a missing woman in the Bahamas has been arrested for questioning
Artemis II will splash down in the Pacific this evening, astronaut Matthew Dominick explains the heat shield protecting the astronauts
The Consumer Price Index rose to 3.3% in March due to the cost of gas and electricity
Virginians will vote on a redistricting measure this month backed by far-left Gov. Abigail Spanberger
Joe Hathaway, a Republican congressional candidate from New Jersey, explains the radical agenda of his opponent Analilia Mejia
Rory McIlroy is looking to be a repeat Masters champion
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
The Mayor of New Haven, CT Justin Ellicker just said the mural of Iryna Zarutska is “not productive.” This is the same guy who showed up to paint a BLM mural for a career criminal who died of an overdose [X, LibsofTikTok]
Lol Mamdani is now saying there won’t be free buses this year after spending months campaigning on it. New York, you got played [X, LibsofTikTok]
It’s official: Minnesota impeachment hearings for Gov. Tim Walz are starting next week. [X, Daugherty]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Artemis II crew closes in on Earth as mission ends with Pacific splashdown [FOX News]
Hormuz choke point persists as Iran halts oil traffic despite Trump ceasefire [FOX News]
Husband of missing American woman falls overboard while being transported into custody [FOX News]
Breitbart
CorpMedia’s Iran War Disgrace: Are They Actually Rooting for the Ayatollahs to Spite Trump? [Breitbart]
Iran Blocks Traffic in Strait of Hormuz over Israeli Strikes in Lebanon [Breitbart]
Trump Considering ‘Punishing’ Disloyal NATO Allies [Breitbart]
CENTCOM Chief: ‘Iran Has Suffered a Generational Military Defeat’ [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The Truth About Medicare Advantage [WSJ Ed]
Sonia Sotomayor Profiles Brett Kavanaugh [WSJ Ed]
U.S. Fiscal Reality: Medicaid Rises 10%, Defense Only 4% [WSJ Ed]
Don’t Renew a Sanctions Break for Russia [WSJ Ed]
Washington Free Beacon
Texas Democratic Senate Hopeful James Talarico Sought To Create ‘New Generation of Climate Activists’ by Mandating Climate Change Lessons in Texas Schools [WFB]
Washington Reporter
AIPAC shifts focus to May primaries, following wins in Illinois [Reporter]
NEED HELP NAVIGATING CONSERVATIVE MEDIA?
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