Giving credit where it's due
The Brand Brief 6.3.26: Blake Lively, Jill Biden, Bill Pulte, Hasan Piker, Jaxson Dart, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Scott Bessent
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…
1,424 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Anyone can build on YouTube
New Media Voices: Crime, AI, and Baby Yoda
Leading FOX: Spencer Pratt and Marco Rubio
Trending: Bessent, Mullin, and Rubio on Capitol Hill
What the Right is Writing: Mamdani, Platner, and Bass
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
We don’t normally highlight Democrat successes, but Senator Raphael Warnock’s rapid YouTube growth offers a clear lesson. In just a few months, his channel skyrocketed from 7k monthly views to over a million.
The strategy shift comes down to simple math: 84% of American adults use YouTube. Compare that to the 71% of Americans on Facebook, 50% on Instagram, and just 21% on X.
Bottom line: YouTube is the dominant platform and can’t be treated as an afterthought. From Warnock to Mullin, the tools for growth are available to anyone willing to use them. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 6/2
Jury selection in the Carmelo Anthony murder trial has raised concerns by Kelly about racial bias, the MK True Crime team reacts
Kelly reacts to disturbing footage showing young British man Henry Novak dying while handcuffed, draws comparisons to the George Floyd
She explains Blake Lively’s new legal battle against Justin Baldoni, raising questions about California’s Speak Your Truth Act on defamation claims related to sexual harassment
Kelly discusses the Mackenzie Sharilla murder case featured on Netflix, and the influence of parental behavior on juvenile offenders
The Ben Shapiro Show - 6/2
Shapiro compares the death due to police negligence of white Brit Henry Novak to George Floyd, with Novak being framed as racist by his killer while he bled out
He argues the UK’s barring of Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur shows the complicated intersection between policing antisemitism and free speech
Shapiro says Sen. Bernie Sanders’ proposals for government ownership of AI companies raise concerns about wealth generation, free speech
He criticizes Candace Owens and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for their stances on Iran, Jewish people, and conspiracy theories
Shapiro argues the rise of Democrat candidate Graham Platner challenges classical liberal values, the concept of unlimited tolerance
The Michael Knowles Show - 6/2
Knowles expresses concerns that Israel’s military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon creates friction, potentially escalating conflict, but acknowledges Iranian missiles being used against Kuwait
He condemns Pride Month, noting its subdued nature this year but criticizing organizations like the Yankees for its continued promotion
He jokingly calls for a return to 1220 AD, arguing liberal rationalism has failed, creating a vacuum filled by either demon worship or traditional faith
Knowles supports Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart for introducing President Trump and not bending the knee to backlash
He uses porn star Bonnie Blue’s orgie baby shower to illustrate the “limits of politics,” advocating for state intervention
The Brett Cooper Show - 6/2
Cooper celebrates Gen Z’s disruption of Hollywood, as young creators like Kane Parsons and Curry Barker achieve indie box office success
Their low-budget films, Backroom and Obsession, signal a new era for audience-driven content
She contrasts this with “recycled lazy crap,” citing Disney’s failing Star Wars sequels like The Mandalorian and Grogu
Cooper attributes Hollywood’s paralysis to political correctness, while independent filmmakers leverage social media and take creative risks
The Dan Bongino Show - 6/3
Bongino celebrates Bill Pulte as acting DNI, emphasizing the need for strong leadership after Tulsi Gabbard’s sad departure
He highlights the importance of voting in-person on election day, particularly in California
Bongino criticizes a federal appeals court ruling on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces, arguing such policies undermine military effectiveness
Guest Gad Saad discusses his book Suicidal Empathy, which critiques the left’s approach to societal issues, and Bongino compares it to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ hypocrisy on economics and merit
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
Spencer Pratt makes his final pitch before the Los Angeles mayoral election
Jill Biden claims she expected Kamala Harris would win, publishes new book to keep the cash coming
Democrat candidate Graham Platner thinks all you need to be a man is muscles and guns, not fidelity as sexting scandal rocks his campaign
Jimmy Kimmel dodges blame for the slow death of late night television
FOX & Friends
Karen Bass advances to an LA mayoral runoff, likely against Spencer Pratt, while in the California gubernatorial primary, Republican Steve Hilton sees a slight advantage over Xavier Becerra
Iran fires missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain, while Sec. of State Marco Rubio says there are indications the Iranian Supreme Leader is engaging more in concessions
A man is holding people hostage in a Bakersfield, CA bank
A sex offender’s indictment has been thrown out by a Virginia judge
Bill Pulte has been chosen as the next acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard caring for her sick husband
Three men are caught on camera entering NYC manholes
A 66-year-old grandmother was stabbed up to 20 times in Atlanta, Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones reacts
The City of Newark, NJ expands its lawsuit against ICE
New Jersey Democrat primary winner Adam Hamawy has ties to Al-Qaeda, was a defense witness in a terror trial
More than half of young adults return back home after initially moving out, per a recent study
Long Island teen Ryan Martino is interviewed on beating cancer, graduating with a 4.0 and a $125k scholarship
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
A Democrat Congresswoman just STORMED OUT of Marco Rubio’s hearing, as Rubio clowned on her.. “Wait, why is she leaving?! …Well, thank you for coming! [X, Sortor]
THANEDAR: When will you stop spreading bigoted and racist words? MULLIN: It’s INTERESTING … YOUR party is the one supporting a guy with a NAZI TATTOO on his CHEST in Maine! [X, Dougherty]
Democrats just nominated a guy who served as a defense witness for the World Trade Center bomber and who worked for an Al Qaeda front group. [X, Bonchie]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Karen Bass to face runoff election amid challenge from Spencer Pratt [FOX News]
Trump-endorsed candidate concedes in primary upset [FOX News]
Kash Patel warns ‘we’re just getting started’ [FOX News]
Breitbart
Squad-Endorsed Democrat Adam Hamawy, Linked with Al-Qaeda and Blind Sheikh, Wins NJ Primary [Breitbart]
Jones: Dems Sticking with Platner Because Collins Won’t Stop [Breitbart]
Trump Administration Forgoes Gay Pride Propaganda Second Year in a Row [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Republicans Can Kill Trump’s Retribution Fund for Good [WSJ Ed]
The Real Problem With Graham Platner [WSJ Ed]
Now Jill Biden Tells Us [WSJ Ed]
An ObamaCare Fraud Update [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Trump tells ‘Pod Force One’ Graham Platner is a ‘major sleaze bag,’ but James Talarico is worse [NYP]
Trump doesn’t rule out tapping DeSantis as his attorney general: ‘Ron’s very good’ [NYP]
Trump predicts meeting with Iran’s probably gay Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei: ‘Getting along quite well’ [NYP]
Mamdani’s top City Hall spox raked in more than $50K consulting for Graham Platner’s Maine Senate campaign [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
‘What a Cool Pic’: Totenkopf-Tattooed Graham Platner Admired ‘German Helmets’ in WW2 Photo of Nazi-Allied Troops, Deleted Post Shows [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Labor Secretary Sonderling points to apprenticeship programs like Ford’s as manufacturing wins [Reporter]
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