Buying friends
The Brand Brief 5.1.26: JP Morgan, Billie Eilish, Anthropic, Jasmine Crockett, Ilhan Omar, Brandon Gill, Graham Platner, Zohran Mamdani, LIV Golf, and Markwayne Mullin
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…
1,456 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Throwing money at the problem
New Media Voices: AI and church
Leading FOX: Markwayne Mullin and Mamdani
Trending: Trump and Raskin
What the Right is Writing: JP Morgan, AI, and DOJ
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
Left-wing groups are trying to buy their way into the right’s new media success.
The Democracy Alliance is pumping tens of millions into a new media fund to boost content creators and influencers, while Priorities USA is targeting voters in “conservative-adjacent YouTube niches.”
Reality check: Money is a poor substitute for message, policy, and personality. If the policy is still out of touch, no amount of "boosted" content will make younger voters buy what they’re selling. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 4/30
Guest Adam Carolla talks about receiving a Hollywood Walk of Fame star and his thoughts on Jimmy Kimmel as a comedian
A male banker accusing his boss at JP Morgan of sexual coercion and racism faces skepticism
Carolla and Kelly criticize dating advice from Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper, who encourages sex on first dates, while praising Miller Lite’s new ad featuring gymnast Olivia Dunne as a return to normal beer marketing
They cover political Ozempic allegations, Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s narcissistic “black woman first” rhetoric, Rep. Ilhan Omar’s WWII gaffe, and an Oxford lecturer with prosthetic breasts
Poet Joseph Massie promotes his new self-published book Invisible Current
The Ben Shapiro Show - 4/30
Shapiro argues America’s greatest threat is the death of its foundational institutions, including universities, media, the church, and government
He believes institutional decay has fostered a deep lack of trust among Americans, manifesting in anger and an obsession with conspiracies
Shapiro highlights initiatives like the University of Austin as models for rebuilding
The Matt Walsh Show - 4/30
Walsh asserts the “Curley Effect,” driving out wealthy residents and consolidating power among a favored demographic through high taxes and welfare, is being intentionally applied in NYC and Seattle
He extends the concept to tech companies, like Anthropic’s perceived intent to drive away customers and consolidate power
Amanda Ascal, Anthropic’s “resident philosopher,” is critiqued for her perceived “god complex” in attempting to “imbue Claude with a soul,” relating it to Google’s Gemini refusing to generate images of white people
He compares it to DEI leadership, as seen with the New Orleans jailbreak and Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s interpretation of civil rights law
The Riley Gaines Show - 5/1
Gaines and guest Michael Knowles explore the unexpected resurgence of faith among young people, critiquing the arguments of the “New Atheism” movement
They discuss hylomorphism, or the integration of immaterial soul and material body to the sacraments, and its implications for transgenderism
They raise concerns about the dehumanizing effects of virtual reality, social media, and extreme COVID lockdowns
The two react to Rep. Brandon Gill’s provocative hearing question, “What’s your favorite kind of abortion?”
They look into divergent incentives between “podcast class” commentators and politicians, and the impact of Charlie Kirk’s assassination on conservative unity
Knowles offers his hot takes on gay marriage, IVF, surrogacy, and “alien stuff”
Timcast IRL - 4/30
Suspended House primaries in states like Louisiana rattle the midterms playing field, with Republicans aiming for significant seat gains
Pool and the co-hosts criticize race-based districting, and discuss increased political polarization driven by demographic shifts from interstate migration
They react to the controversial past statements of Democrat Senate candidates Mallory McMorrow and Graham Platner and perceived media double standards toward them
The panel analyzes DOJ surveillance footage of the assassination attempt on President Trump
Other topics include a mysterious earthquake near Area 51, the nature of Scientology, critiques of certain military actions, the influence of Elon Musk, and pop culture nostalgia
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says DEI, equity, and affirmative action are now almost all gone following SCOTUS redistricting decision
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist dreams are crushed by $6B shortfall, Seattle mayor laughs at businesses leaving the city
“Abolish ICE” candidate Dr. Ala Stanford freezes up during interview when asked who would enforce immigration
Ann Arbor, MI gets rid of “city watch” signs, claiming racism
Singer Billie Eilish claims you can’t both eat meat and love animals
FOX & Friends
New footage shows the WHCD shooter sprinting past Secret Service, President Trump says he can’t wear a bulletproof vest because, “I don’t know if I can handle looking 20 lbs heavier.”
Democrats force the DHS bill to exclude ICE and border patrol funding
Saudi Arabia pulls funding on the LIV Golf
The FBI is reexamining the Nancy Guthrie case
Schools are closed nationwide for “May Day” protests advocating for socialism, as the Seattle mayor waves goodbye to business
Florida police officer Antonio Richardson shares the story of saving a man from suicide
Trump expands access to retirement account savings
Graham Platner is set to face incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, after Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the Maine Democrat primary
Iran’s economy is collapsing, with reports of 2 million jobs lost, a 98% currency loss, and 67% inflation rate, Sen. Bill Hagerty is interviewed on the Iran War hearing, which grilled War Sec. Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine
Gov. Ron DeSantis is interviewed on the new Florida redistricting map, could give GOP four more seats
NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry explains community plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Punxsutawney Phil “throws” the first pitch at a Pirates game
Jason Aldean is interviewed about his new album Songs About Us
FOX Newsroom
The U.S. blockade is suffocating the Iranian economy
Radical Graham Platner is poised to be the Democrat nominee for Maine’s Senate seat
DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin is interviewed on the partial shutdown ending after nearly 80 days, reacts to WHCD Secret Service response
The FBI interviewed a Wisconsin brewery owner posting threats against President Trump
Trump promises gas prices will drop soon, as national gas price averages reach $4.39 but other aspects of economy bounce back
Commercial flights resume to Venezuela after a seven-year blockade
About three out of four Chicago students are below proficiency in both math and reading, yet their teachers are protesting today
TX AG Ken Paxton sues CCP-backed “birth tourism” center
President Trump heads to The Villages, FL for a rally
The House GOP probes companies using AI products made in China
The Tunnel 2 Towers tour will honor 25 years since 9/11
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
We went from outrage over the OK hand gesture and Pete Hegseth’s tattoo to the actual Nazi SS tattoo being no big deal. [X, Erickson]
Democrat Jamie Raskin: “The Supreme Court has been gerrymandered” [X, Breitbart]
Trump takes a question from Brian Glenn, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s fiancee: “He’s a great guy — even though I don’t live his girlfriend too much.” [X, Johnny MAGA]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
DOJ releases haunting images from WHCA Dinner attack [FOX News]
Groups mobilize 3,000 May Day protests [FOX News]
Trump slams US ally as ‘absolutely horrible’ [FOX News]
Breitbart
Sec. Duffy Marks One Year of Trump’s Trucking Crackdown [Breitbart]
U.S. Supreme Court Voids Race-Based Redistricting Map in Louisiana [Breitbart]
Seth Moulton: Hegseth ‘Guilty’ of War Crimes Like Nazi Submarine Captains [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
AI Saves the Trump Economy [WSJ Ed]
New York Demands a Climate Sacrifice [WSJ Ed]
Charges of a Covid Coverup [WSJ Ed]
The Board of Peace Speaks Up About Hamas [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Bombshell JPMorgan sex harassment suit that went viral branded ‘complete fabrication’ as John Doe is unmasked [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
‘Reparations, Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation Network’ Gets $500K From NYC Racial Equity Commission Amid City Budget Crisis [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Tim Scott, Scott Turner, and Bill Pulte revamp credit score models using Scott’s legislation [Reporter]
NEED HELP NAVIGATING CONSERVATIVE MEDIA?
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