Cunningham's common sense
The Brand Brief 7.23.26: Sophie Cunningham, Christopher Nolan, Jasmine Crockett, Roy Cooper, Mark Zuckerberg, and AOC
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…
1,440 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: The right’s favorite hoopster
New Media Voices: Therapists, the Smithsonian Institution, and The Odyssey
Leading FOX: Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Smith, and Mike Rogers
Trending: Rubio and AOC
What the Right is Writing: Mamdani, Ossoff, and New Jersey
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
The WNBA isn’t popular in conservative media, but Sophie Cunningham is a star.
Conservative voices across the board have rallied around Cunningham following backlash over her comments on protecting women’s sports:
“I think that I am here to extend love,” said Cunningham. “But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
To Cunningham’s credit, she even doubled down last night after the media backlash: “I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense.”
It may seem like conservative media is divided these days, but keeping men out of girls’ sports has universal consensus on the right. It’s no surprise conservative voices were quick to welcome a new hero for the cultural cause. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 7/22
Kelly argues the tragic drowning of 18-year-old Nolan Wells raises serious questions about the involvement of friends and local authorities
Caitlyn Becker, host of NY POSTcast, explains how Benjamin Crump and Al Sharpton have tried to involve race in the story, podcasters Dave Aronberg, Matt Murphy, and Arthur Aidala react
Kelly points out the implications of a disputed audio tape, and how there is limited evidence it’s a murder and not a simple drowning
She also reacts to Karmelo Anthony’s attorneys attempting a second trial, Sunny Hostin’s son getting handcuffed, and actor Timothy Busfield denying sexual misconduct toward minors
The Michael Knowles Show - 7/22
Knowles celebrates President Trump’s victory, after endorsed candidate Andy Biggs wins the Arizona gubernatorial primary
He points out how Democrats continue to alienate themselves by promoting socialist candidates and woke policies
Knowles expresses frustrations about the length of the War in Iran ahead of midterms, but points out the hypocrisy of Democrats not wanting to support troops in the Gulf while spending $195B on Ukraine
He reacts to therapists telling people to cut off their family, and how teachers’ unions influence ideology
Knowles condemns the Smithsonian Institution for conveying an anti-American view of history
The Matt Walsh Show - 7/22
Walsh slams Christopher Nolan for his adaptation of The Odyssey, arguing that it strayed too far from the original text
He says diverse casting choices distracted from historical accuracy, alongside contemporary accents and a failure to emphasize the divine
Walsh contrasts the film’s feminist themes against storytelling seen in works by Mel Gibson, Robert Eggers, and the Coen brothers
Making the Argument with Nick Freitas - 7/22
Freitas argues the GOP, despite controlling Congress and the White House, has failed to deliver on its promises ahead of midterms
He criticizes Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mitch McConnell for their inaction on the SAVE America Act
Freitas argues Joe Biden’s open border policy undermined federal law enforcement, leading to half the problems we see today
He calls out European nations for their dependency on the U.S. military while adopting socialist policies, encouraging a reevaluation of alliances while celebrating Latin America’s turn away from the ideology
Freitas calls on the DOJ to create a new task force to investigate voter fraud
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 7/22
Jashinsky argues the New York Times ignoring Bill Gates’ connections to Jeffrey Epstein reflects a troubling media bias
The columnist, Nicholas Kristoff, has been exposed by Semafor’s Max Tani for having undisclosed ties to Gates
Guest Mark Halperin points out the alarming election scandal in New Jersey, where 400 noncitizens illegally voted, as well as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s declining support in 2028 and Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health issues
Jashinsky praises WNBA player Sophie Cunningham standing strong in defending women’s sports
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
During his rally in Georgia, President Trump says everything communism touches “turns to sh*t”
Jon Stewart argues on The Daily Show that enthusiasm for socialism is economic populism, as the DSA targets the highly educated with low income
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani backs down from claiming he’ll arrest Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Republicans make up ground ahead of the midterms, per polling
WNBA player Sophie Cunningham, known for the pointing meme, defends biological women against having to play against trans people
Rep. Jasmine Crockett tries to claim it’s racist to have rooted for Argentina over Spain in the FIFA World Cup Final
FOX & Friends
President Trump says the U.S. will destroy one piece of Iranian infrastructure anytime they shoot at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia come to a nuclear agreement
AOC takes the lead ahead of Pete Buttigieg, Gavin Newsom, and Kamala Harris in New Hampshire polling
Former DOJ official Jack Smith receives a criminal referral for lying to Congress
Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers is interviewed ahead of the Michigan primaries, hoping to flip the seat this November
A manhunt is underway for a woman convicted in the murder of the father of her children
Mark Zuckerberg launches an “AI Optimism” ad campaign
A new study shows children are developing resistance to antibiotics
WNBA player Sophie Cunningham supports biological women after soccer player Megan Rapinoe tries to defend trans people in women’s sports
Dr. Evan Antin explains how Wonderdog can track pet health with AI
Two men are interviewed on discovering they were switched at birth nearly 40 years later
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
AOC is now leading the 2028 Democratic primary in New Hampshire at 22%, closely trailed by Pete Buttigieg at 21%. Other Democrats can’t even hit double digits. [X, Daugherty]
SECRETARY RUBIO: “We have lunatics and crazies involved in the ICC.” [State]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Voters want major change amid economic and political discontent [FOX News]
Prosecutor who relentlessly hunted Trump now faces criminal referral [FOX News]
Southern state shatters records, among the world’s top GDPs [FOX News]
Breitbart
Houthis Claim Two Attacks on Red Sea Saudi Oil Tankers as U.S. Completes 12th Night of Strikes [Breitbart]
Employees at Migrant Detention Center Say Rioters Have Harassed Them [Breitbart]
Cyprus Energy Minister: Trump ‘Energy Security’ ‘Vital’ to West [Breitbart]
Trump Begins Rally with Epic Troll: ‘I Am Here to Announce My Candidacy’ [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Operation GOP Military Rescue [WSJ Ed]
A Lettuce Lesson in Big Government [WSJ Ed]
Saudi Nuclear Enrichment Is a Mistake [WSJ Ed]
New Jersey’s 400 Noncitizen Voters [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Mamdani plans pressure campaign to push for slew of tax hikes — including one that could squeeze black homeowners [NYP]
Pentagon asked for ‘gain of function’ research proposals years before COVID-19 pandemic, top virologist tells Congress [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Jon Ossoff Spends Thousands on ‘Makeup Services’ From Artist Who Worked on Hollywood Blockbusters Like ‘The Notebook’ [WFB]
Meet Sophie Cunningham, the WNBA Superstar and Scrappy Feminist Standing Up for Women’s Sports [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Trio of brutal sex criminals among the 3,500 criminals Roy Cooper released early from prison [Reporter]
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