He’s back
The Brand Brief 1.30.26: Dan Bongino, Luigi Mangione, Don Lemon, Sydney Sweeney, Melania Trump, Logan Paul, Keith Ellison, and Nicki Minaj
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…
1,632 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (13+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Bongino returns Monday
New Media Voices: New Pretti footage
Leading FOX: Luigi Mangione and MN Democrats
Trending and Pouncing: Don Lemon latest
What the Right is Writing: Melania world premiere
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
Dan Bongino is returning on February 2nd to his daily podcast.
Before serving as Deputy Director at the FBI, Bongino was widely viewed as one of the fastest-growing voices in conservative media. His syndicated radio show took over Rush Limbaugh’s timeslot, he has 3.5 million followers on Rumble, and he was a frequent FOX News contributor and had his own FOX Nation program.
Bongino has the audience, platforms, and a proven track record. Rebuilding his media footprint won’t take long. - NRB
I would love to hear your feedback - survey here. Thank you!
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 1/29
Kelly expresses doubts about Minnesota AG Keith Ellison’s claims jails will notify ICE about criminal migrants, says Mayor Jacob Frey has given no confirmation
With the admin’s shift to prioritizing criminal illegal migrants, Kelly argues they’re capitulating to Minneapolis’ tantrum and going against the people’s vote
Will Chamberlain, senior counsel of The Article III Project, analyzes footage of Pretti kicking out an ICE vehicle’s taillight and spitting on officers just 11 days before getting shot
Kelly mocks celebrities like Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda, Giancarlo Esposito, Bruce Springsteen, and Lady Gaga for performative activism while living behind gated estates
Glenna Goldis, author of “Bad Facts” on Substack, says New York AG Letitia James suppressed any dissent on pediatric transgender treatments
The Ben Shapiro Show - 1/29
New footage shows Alex Pretti kicking out a tail light, spitting on officers, and carrying a visible pistol days before getting shot, Shapiro argues it can both be true that he was an agitator but that the shooting may be disputed
State AG Keith Ellison agreed with Border Czar Tom Homan to have jails notify ICE before releasing illegal immigrants with detainers, Mayor Jacob Frey has given no confirmation
Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, demand major ICE restrictions as a condition for passing DHS funding, threatening a shutdown
Bruce Springsteen releases a protest song titled “Streets of Minneapolis,” actor Giancarlo Esposito calls for “revolution” against ICE
Shapiro supports the Trump Accounts program to give $1,000 investment accounts to newborns
The Matt Walsh Show - 1/29
Walsh says he has changed his mind on sports betting, saying it has had a similar impact on society as marijuana and disproportionately harms young men
New footage shows Alex Pretti begging officers to “assault” him while carrying a gun and kicking out a tail light, Walsh says this destroys the media image of him being a harmless nurse
Walsh decries Bruce Springsteen’s new song as “boomer slop,” makes fun of millennials’ “get ready with me to protest” TikTok videos
Walsh calls out Piers Morgan’s wife for publicly complaining about caring for him after a hip injury, blaming the feminist rejection of self-sacrifice
A New York law bans Native American team names while still allowing other race-inspired names
The CJ Pearson Show - 1/29
Pearson argues Republicans need to stop playing defense on deportations and come out proud like Trump has been for years
Watching the new footage of Alex Pretti acting violently against agents, Pearson questions why the chaos is so unique to Minneapolis
CNN guest Leigh McGowan urges liberals to “shun” MAGA family, friends, clients, and business associates, Pearson argues the left thrives off of coercion through social exclusion, debanking, and career threats
Rapper DaBaby withdrew from performing at Pearson’s upcoming Cruel Kids Carnation Ball due to political backlash, Pearson thanks artists like Nicki Minaj for standing strong against pressure
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
President Trump jokes about reporters claiming he looked like he fell asleep at his last cabinet meeting
Border Czar Tom Homan delivers a speech explaining his plans to reign in Minneapolis chaos, new footage reveals Alex Pretti acting violently toward ICE agents days before his death
Federal air marshals in Los Angeles were mistaken for ICE agents, protesters swarmed the restaurant they ate at
Gov. Tim Walz declares he is never running for office again, the Five dub it the “Kamala curse”
Rapper Nicki Minaj pledges herself as “Donald Trump’s #1 fan” while announcing her donation toward Trump Accounts
MS Now’s Joe Scarborough says he was told by Biden’s staffers to “be nice to the president”
Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent admits he has a Dr. Pepper for breakfast each morning, says “don’t tell Mommy Kennedy”
FOX & Friends
Border Czar Tom Homan emphasizes a focus on arresting illegal migrants with a criminal history first, Democrat senators threaten another shutdown over DHS funding, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer reacts to nationwide protests coming this weekend
Melania Trump’s new film premieres in theaters everywhere today, says her life has extended beyond the runway
The judge in the Luigi Mangione case is reviewing the legality of his backpack search, a man posing as an FBI agent was arrested for smuggling Mangione a pronged fork and industrial pizza cutter
Meta has been accused of rejecting guardrails that would have prevented AI chat bots from having lewd conversations with minors
Guests Kathryn Burgum and HHS Sec. RFK Jr. react to the Great American Recovery Initiative
Trump nominates Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair
The man who sprayed apple cider vinegar at Rep. Ilhan Omar faces federal and state charges
Iran is on high alert following threats of U.S. intervention
Guest NASA administrator Jared Isaacman shares Trump’s plans to send Artemis II to the moon
A Florida couple is suing an IVF clinic for mixing up an embryo implant, giving birth to a baby that is genetically neither of theirs
Sydney Sweeney says she is not interested in being involved in politics
FOX Newsroom
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito reacts to a potential government shutdown over DHS funding
State AG Keith Ellison and Mayor Jacob Frey claim they’re not backing down following rumors of concessions to Border Czar Tom Homan, Anti-ICE activists call for a national shutdown throughout the weekend, new footage shows Alex Pretti acting violently against agents, Don Lemon is arrested for violating the FACE Act
Trump nominates Kevin Warsh as the next fed chair
With snow still frozen solid across the East Coast and south and more storms on the way this weekend, country singer John Rich reacts
A Brooklyn man has been charged with hate crimes for ramming his car into a synagogue
A judge rules Luigi Mangione will not face the death penalty
Gov. Tim Walz reveals he is never running for public office again
Mobsters are conning the Los Angeles elderly out of hospice care
FOX polling shows Democrats gaining on affordability while the GOP stays ahead on national security and immigration
Trump orders a military buildup against Iran
The new Virginia Democrat trifecta introduces taxes on deliveries, rideshares, sports betting, pet services, and more
Hunter Biden files to dismiss a contempt of court for “ghosting” his daughter
An Orlando couple is suing an IVF clinic after DNA testing revealed their baby is neither of theirs, afraid their daughter will be taken by the biological parents
Influencer and boxer Logan Paul is auctioning off a $5 million Pokemon card
A Waymo robotaxi hit a Santa Monica child during school dropoff
Laken Riley’s convicted killer is asking for a new trial
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
The message @NICKIMINAJ has for Don Lemon: C*cksucker, stop. [X, Miller]
Don Lemon arrested by federal agents in LA after recently storming a Minnesota church with anti-ICE agitators. Yes! FAFO is here! [X, Daugherty]
Newsom admits to fraud in California [X, ChiefNerd]
Tim Walz: “Did we have some people steal from us? Yes!” [X, LibsOfTikTok]
Democrat senate candidate James Talarico: Atheist more like Christ than Christians [X, Brand]
@FLOTUS: “I was in the fashion business for a long time... So, I was on the magazine covers, on photoshoots — and my mission now is much more important than to be on the covers of any magazine.” [X, Rapid Response 47]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Trump announces his pick for next Federal Reserve chairman [FOX News]
Kristi Noem reveals her message for Minnesota leaders [FOX News]
First lady premieres ‘Melania’ film at Kennedy Center event [FOX News]
Breitbart
Trump at ‘Melania’ World Premiere: First Lady ‘Loves the Country Just Like Breitbart Does’ [Breitbart]
Video Shows Alex Pretti Yell ‘F**king Assault Me’ to Federal Law Enforcement [Breitbart]
Bruce Springsteen Releases Anti-ICE Protest Song ‘Streets Of Minneapolis’ [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Tom Homan Makes a Good Offer to Minneapolis [WSJ Ed]
Lenders and the First Brands Fraud Charges [WSJ Ed]
Hamas Loses Its Last Hostage [WSJ Ed]
Orbánomics Needs European Union Subsidies [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Ex-CNN host Don Lemon arrested for Minnesota church invasion [NYP]
How Trump’s Donroe Doctrine rewrote US foreign aid playbook [NYP]
Colorado university accused of reserving scholarships for non-whites, illegal immigrants [NYP]
Donald Trump, first lady stun during black carpet for ‘Melania’ as president gushes over ‘very important movie’ [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Trump, the Great Nonproliferator? [WFB]
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