Can new media stars save a legacy outlet?
The Brand Brief 1.28.26: Bari Weiss, Nicki Minaj, Greg Bovino, Marco Rubio, Ilhan Omar, Melania Trump, Jasmine Crockett, and Natalie Portman
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…
1,560 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (14+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Bari Weiss is trying something different
New Media Voices: Leadership in Minnesota
Leading FOX: Chaos in MN continues
Trending and Pouncing: Mamdani, Minaj, and Marco
What the Right is Writing: Homan and Omar
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
Plenty of ink has been spilled about Bari Weiss’s CBS News, but it is notable that she is shaking things up by tapping contributors from new media, particularly popular podcasts and Substack.
Legacy media faces fierce competition for eyeballs and attention, so why not look beyond the newsroom for help?
Appearances from influencers and podcasters are becoming more common on cable news as well (often highlighted in the Leading FOX section below). - NRB
I would love to hear your feedback - survey here. Thank you!
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 1/27
Kelly criticizes various celebrities like Natalie Portman, Jimmy Kimmel, and Whoopi Goldberg for their performative mourning of Alex Pretti
A CNN report reveals Pretti had broken a rib after an earlier confrontation with agents, Kelly says he knew the risk
The Ruthless Podcast hosts join to discuss how Obama’s deportations drew almost zero protest, no state obstruction
MS Now appears to have used an AI-enhanced photo of Pretti to make him appear more attractive
Trump describes Pretti’s death as sad while still defending DHS Sec. Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, shifts leadership to Border Czar Tom Homan
The Ben Shapiro Show - 1/27
Shapiro guesses Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino will be demoted or removed for his PR response to Alex Pretti’s death
Press Sec. Karoline Leavitt and Trump blame local leadership for the street violence, call for safe jail handoffs and an end to sanctuary cities
While Gov. Tim Walz claims Minnesota honors detainers, the reality is the local jails routinely ignore ICE detainers and the state blocks data sharing for fraud probes
Democrats like Rep. Ilhan Omar call for abolishing ICE, while others call for a government shutdown over DHS funding
Rapper Kanye West placed a full-page Wall Street Journal ad attributing his antisemetic behavior to untreated bipolar disorder
White evangelicals are called a “cancer” by podcaster Jennifer Welch
The Matt Walsh Show - 1/27
Walsh argues Trump has no choice but to continue with his deportations or face total loss of power by taxpayer-funded NGOs obstructing ICE operations, says Greg Bovino must keep his position to not signal retreat, compares to Nixon’s landslide despite Kent State
Walsh critiques the reactions of Dave Smith, Jonah Goldberg, and the Wall Street Journal for blaming ICE, says it’s the fault of the Signal chats and local leadership for escalating chaos
Alex Honnold’s free climb of Taipei 101 is praised as a mastery over fear
Walsh mocks Jimmy Kimmel’s selective tears, makes fun of a Somali activist’s incoherent “bananas and rice” cultural comparison
The Brett Cooper Show - 1/27
The Democrat trifecta in Virginia has led to extreme bills calling for tax hikes on firearms and delivery services, eliminating mandatory minimum sentences on rape and child porn, ignoring nonprofit fraud, funding trans surgeries, assault weapon bans, and mandated racial bias training
Cooper compares Trump’s temporary executive orders to the permanent, codifying power of state laws, argues conservatives’ hesitation to use power leaves them perpetually behind Democrats
TimcastIRL - 1/27
Ohio AG candidate Elliot Forhan is running on vowing to “kill Donald Trump” via capital punishment
MS Now used a heavily photoshopped picture of Alex Pretti, giving him a tan, thicker neck, better teeth and jawline, and muscles
Some Timcast panelists say the confusion over Greg Bovino’s position is a sign of concessions, but praise Trump for positive calls with Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey
The panelists compare the left’s usage of Signal group chats and funded networks to conservatives’ fear of wielding power and focus on family over activism
Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed at a podium with an unknown liquid, the panel debates why she had such a limited reaction
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
Trump kicks off midterms season with a rally in Iowa, emphasizing economic wins
Joe Biden takes to X to claim the ICE deportations are destroying “what America is about,” the admin confirms DHS Sec. Kristi Noem is staying, sends in Border Czar Tom Homan
PA Gov. Josh Shapiro says his claims about the Kamala campaign weren’t made out of spite, after The View bashes him
Trump says to the California Post “he’s amazed” CA Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to run for president, calls him “incompetent”
FOX & Friends
Border Czar Tom Homan met with Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, National Review writer Noah Rothman reacts to Democrats’ call for a shutdown over DHS funding
At his Iowa rally, Trump warns voters that a midterm loss of the Republican trifecta would derail his policy agenda
The NTSB says the midair collision over the Potomac River one year ago could have been completely avoidable, blames years of FAA ignorance
Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown liquid at a Minnesota town hall
The jury selection is underway in a social media addiction lawsuit against Meta, YouTube, and TikTok
A funeral was held for the final Israeli hostage Ran Gvili, after his remains were returned from Gaza
Guest Sen. Dave McCormick reacts to Trump’s armada heading to Iran
Guest reality TV star Spencer Pratt discusses his run for Los Angeles mayor after incompetent rebuilding efforts from the Palisades Fires
According to the Capitol Police, threats against lawmakers have escalated from 9,474 in 2024 to 14,938 in 2025
FOX interviews Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent on Trump Accounts for newborns
Former astronaut and teacher Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger reflects on the 40th anniversary of the Challenger explosion
FOX Newsroom
A man sprayed Rep. Ilhan Omar with an unknown liquid during a town hall
The White House works with Gov. Tim Walz and other Minnesota officials to tone down the chaos, NYC Mayor Mamdani praises anti-ICE agitators who vandalized a hotel
The Treasury Dept. hosts a summit on Trump Accounts, Trump to give a speech
Trump signs an executive order to take over the rebuilding efforts from the California wildfires
Melania Trump rings the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange days before the premiere of her documentary
Trump touts affordability, foreign policy wins at his Iowa midterms rally
U.S. airports report 808 flight cancellations today, with Dallas, Chicago O’Hare, and D.C. experiencing the worst weather-related delays
A suspected human trafficker has been caught in Pima County, AZ following a shootout with federal agents
Multiple social media companies are on trial for allegedly contributing to teen internet addiction
Sec. of State Marco Rubio testifies live on the capture of Maduro, says oil sanctions will be used to stabilize Venezuela
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
“Can I pray for you real quick?” “Absolutely—come on!” Iowa man prays for @POTUS before he heads to deliver a speech near Des Moines. [X, Rapid Response 47]
Nick Shirley: How I Exposed Fraud, ended Tim Walz and proved MSM is dead [X, Shirley]
Janet Mills’ legacy as Maine’s governor? Higher taxes, struggling schools, dangerous streets. No thanks, Janet. [X, NRSC]
Nicki Minaj praises Trump at summit in DC: “President’s #1 fan” [X, LibsOfTikTok]
Zohran Mamdani announces tax increases [X, ChiefNerd]
Marco Rubio embarrasses Democrat Senator Tammy Duckworth [X, Daugherty]
Support ICE? Fired. Mock Charlie’s ass*ssination? Celebrated. Welcome to Democrat-run Chicago schools. [X, LibsofTikTok]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Trump launches midterm push in Iowa with crucial warning [FOX News]
Ilhan Omar sprayed by unknown substance after man charges her at town hall [FOX News]
Secretary Rubio testifies on Venezuela strategy after Republican vote flip [FOX News]
Breitbart
House Democrat: Nazi-ICE Comparisons Are Fair, Left Pushes More Deadly Confrontations [Breitbart]
White House: Trump Wants Minnesota ‘Resistance and Chaos to End Today’ [Breitbart]
Top Gun Expert: Kyle Rittenhouse’s Situation ‘Completely Different Animal’ Than Alex Pretti Shooting [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
A Big Social-Media Shakedown [WSJ Ed]
America’s Immigration Labor Shock [WSJ Ed]
Mikie Sherrill’s New Jersey Power Play [WSJ Ed]
Keir Starmer Goes to China [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
I was swarmed by an anti-cop mob screaming, ‘Are you scared yet?!’ [NYP]
Nicki Minaj pledges cash to support Trump accounts for ‘Barbz’ babies [NYP]
Bari Weiss lays out vision for CBS News, responds to ’60 Minutes’ allegations [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Palestinian Authority Promised Terrorists More Than $200 Million in ‘Pay-To-Slay’ Payments After it ‘Scrapped’ Program, State Department Tells Congress [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Op-Ed Daniel Turner: Winter Storm Fern shows the importance of fossil fuels [Reporter]
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