Bad Bunny is good fodder
The Brand Brief 2.2.26: The Grammys, Punxsutawney Phil, Billie Ellish, Jelly Roll, Nicki Minaj, Epstein, The Kennedy Center, and Savannah Guthrie’s mom
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…
1,274 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (18+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Super Bowl week
New Media Voices: Bongino, Rogan, Von, and Ryan
Leading FOX: Weather, crime, and Iran
Trending and Pouncing: Political Grammys
What the Right is Writing: Grammys, Kennedy Center, and ice cream
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
It’s Super Bowl week for some (Go Seahawks). For conservative media, it’s Bad Bunny week.
Sports, culture, and politics - it’s the perfect conservative media storm. Between his Grammy’s antics, his past political remarks, and questions about him wearing a dress to the big game, Bad Bunny is poised to dominate conservative media airtime this week. But it won’t just be complaints this year: conservatives are rolling out their own alternative halftime show, featuring Kid Rock. - NRB
I would love to hear your feedback - survey here. Thank you!
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
Monday means long-form interview shows...
The Dan Bongino Show
He’s back: Bongino recounts stories from his year as Deputy Director of the FBI, uncovers media bias, gives a shoutout to Charlie Kirk, and President Trump calls in to talk ICE in Minnesota and the drop in DC crime
The Joe Rogan Experience
The Crucible host Andrew Wilson shares his thoughts on forest cryptids, Democrats’ past support of ICE, and “suicidal empathy”
Comedian Bert Kreischer talks about his upcoming Netflix show “Free Bert,” Gen X, Miss Rachel and Instagram Threads, Richard Nixon, and AI
Comedian Greg Fitzsimmons discusses Las Vegas, pop culture, comedy clubs, and ICE raids
This Past Weekend with Theo Von
Actor Jason Momoa shares stories of his time in Iowa community college, rock climbing, and his work conserving the beauty of Hawaii
The Tucker Carlson Show
Stockbroker Peter Schiff says gold has outperformed the S&P, and argues why healthcare and college have gotten so expensive
Journalist Michael Shellenberger and Carlson condemn the lack of accountability against anti-ICE politicians
Young Turks co-host Cenk Uygur discusses all things Israel and Venezuela in the wake of foreign intervention and money sent abroad
The Shawn Ryan Show
The Four-Hour Work Week author Tim Ferriss gives advice on mental toughness, lucid dreaming and bioelectric tech, and the art of saying no
Following his podcast interview, Ferriss joins Ryan at the range to talk pistol shooting fundamentals
LIS Technologies CEO and NANO Nuclear Energy founder Jay Yu uncovers the future of nuclear power with “micro reactors”
Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark
Evangelist Ray Comfort discusses true repentance, salvation, and how to help those who are “spiritual but not religious”
Clark’s chiropractor Dr. Mike Pierce shares how to transform your health as a beginner within 30 days
The Tim Dillon Show
Dillon expresses concerns over a civil war as the Minneapolis situation unfolds, the danger of AI surveillance, and puts on a wig to impersonate Bari Weiss
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
FOX & Friends
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin reports freezing conditions across the South, his goals as “LA Permitting Czar” following Palisades Fires
Punxsutawney Phil reports six more weeks of winter
The Senate remains on a partial government shutdown over DHS funding while the House votes on the Senate-approved plan
Grammy stars use the stage to smear ICE while they hide behind their gated homes
Iran prepares for nuclear discussions in Turkey, Trump urges Cuba to strike a deal with the U.S.
Trump warns midterm election losses would derail his policy agenda
Washington, DC reports its lowest crime rate in 30 years, a 26% drop since 2025
The jury selection begins today in the New Mexico social media trial
NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mom has been missing in Arizona since Saturday
HHS announces a mental health “Action for Progress” initiative today and new studies reveal grandchildren slow cognitive decline in the elderly
FOX Newsroom
The government shutdown will go at least through tomorrow over DHS funding, Democrats demand body cameras and no masks for ICE agents, guest Rep. Buddy Carter reacts
The southeast has been hit with another bout of snowfall, low temps
Trump says he is open to a deal with Iran, announces plans to renovate the Trump-Kennedy Center for the next two years
Grammy winners use their acceptance speeches to condemn ICE, say “no one is illegal on stolen land,” anti-ICE protests continue in Minneapolis, NY Gov. Kathy Hochul introduces legislation to cut ICE’s partnership with local law enforcement
Trump says he is amassing a midterms war chest, GOP receives more donations in 2025 than Democrats, after a blue win in Texas
NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mom is reported missing in Pima County, AZ
Virginia democrats threaten to pull Virginia Military Institute funding over racism allegation claims
Bitcoin plunged this weekend, alongside gold prices
A detransitioner just won a $2 million malpractice suit, detransitioning advocate Chloe Cole reacts
Trump believes Kevin Warsh will receive Democrat support as next Fed chair
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
Jelly Roll to The Grammys: “I want to tell y’all right now, Jesus is for everybody.” [X, CollinRugg]
Our media thinks a founding pine tree flag at a vacation home is more damaging to the Supreme Court’s reputation than a SCOTUS justice giving standing ovations to celebrities saying the country is on stolen land. [X, Miller]
Students at a high school in Brentwood, California staged a walkout to protest ICE and ran into the streets blocking traffic. They also allegedly threw things at cars and kicked them. [X, Libs of TikTok]
Dan Bongino just got back on the air and is reminiscing on Charlie Kirk. “We love you, Charlie. Charlie was the bridge, man. He knew everybody, made everybody feel like a friend!” [X, Daugherty]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Trump announces two-year closure of Trump Kennedy Center [FOX News]
House panel moves to consider criminal referrals for the Clintons [FOX News]
Jelly Roll sends a political message while accepting his Grammy award [FOX News]
Breitbart
Trump Threatens to Sue ‘Total Loser’ Trevor Noah over Epstein Island Joke [Breitbart]
Boston Mayor Wu Claims ‘Every Single Human’ Has ‘Legal Right’ to Come to US [Breitbart]
Brett Ratner Gives First Lady ‘All the Credit’ for ‘Melania’ Success [Breitbart]
Former Ben & Jerry’s Cofounder Debuts ‘Maxi Hearts of Minneapolis’ Ice Cream [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The Medicare Advantage Ambush [WSJ Ed]
A Texas Election Jolt to the GOP [WSJ Ed]
The Blue State Population Bust [WSJ Ed]
The Chicago Teachers’ Mystery Audits [WSJ Ed]
Kevin Warsh Is the Right Choice for the Fed [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Inside the star-studded, MAGA-packed wedding of Trump’s podcast guru [NYP]
Ken Griffin, Stephen Ross bankroll $10M campaign to attract other CEOs to South Florida: ‘Only place a founder can scale’ [NYP]
Don Lemon gets standing ovation, support from Pelosi, others at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy bash after arrest [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
NFL Stars Fundraise for Islamic Charity Tied to Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future Fraud Scandal [WFB]
Washington Reporter
SCOOP: Trump administration rolls Trump Accounts out as “the antidote to socialism” [Reporter]
NEED HELP NAVIGATING CONSERVATIVE MEDIA?
On Brand Strategies can assist you in getting booked on shows, placing op-eds, and navigating the conservative media. Learn more at OnBrandStrategies.com.