How do Americans watch TV?
The Brand Brief 5.28.26: Jill Biden, Hasan Piker, James Talarico, Spencer Pratt, Theo Von, Kyle Busch, and Zohran Mamdani
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…
1,541 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: YouTube’s share of the pie
New Media Voices: Hasan Piker, Castro, and Spencer Pratt
Leading FOX: James Talarico, Jaxson Dart, and Jill Biden
Trending: JD Vance chestbump
What the Right is Writing: Texas, Iran, and the Pope
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
YouTube is huge.
According to the latest numbers from Nielsen, the major audience measuring firm, YouTube is the top distributor in watch time across broadcast, cable, and streaming.
How big? YouTube accounts for 13.2% of all TV viewing in March.
Because conservative new media and YouTube have shared a remarkably similar upward trajectory, expect the platform to play an increasingly dominant role as American viewing habits continue to fracture. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/27
Kelly reports on Ken Paxton’s primary win, where he will now compete against Democrat James Talarico for the Senate
She bashes Talarico for claiming there are six genders, that God is nonbinary, praising “trans children,” and running a vegan campaign
Guest Tom Bevan of RealClearPolitics argues Paxton is heavily favored in deep-red Texas
Guest Andrew Lownie promotes his book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, detailing Prince Andrew’s close ties to Jeffrey Epstein
The book portrays Queen Elizabeth as overly protective of Andrew despite knowing about his misconduct, while criticizing ex-wife Sarah Ferguson’s poor judgment
The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/27
Shapiro links the DOJ’s subpoena of Hasan Piker for aiding Cuba’s communist regime to Neville Roy Singham’s alleged funding of anti-US groups
He criticizes candidate Adam Hamawy’s alleged terror links and Democrats disrespecting Memorial Day by prioritizing George Floyd
Shapiro points out the DNC’s 2024 autopsy admits “Bidenomics” failures, radical stances on Israel and property seizure led to their loss
He condemns Democrats’ endorsement of Graham Platner, their Maine senate candidate with a Nazi tattoo known for disparaging combat veterans and rape victims
Shapiro outlines his “red lines” for an Iran deal, emphasizing complete nuclear disarmament
The Michael Knowles Show - 5/27
Knowles reports on Ken Paxton’s primary win over incumbent Texas Sen. John Cornyn
Knowles laughs about socialist streamer Hasan Piker bragging on air about coordinating with the Cuban government for his trip, then panicking after receiving a Treasury subpoena
He reports on a Canadian man who was approved for MAID suicide assistance outside a Tim Hortons, and a botched procedure where the patient began breathing again after being declared dead
Knowles condemns a Memorial Day blunder by the DNC, which posted an attack blaming 13 U.S. soldiers’ deaths in Iran on President Trump
He praises mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt’s blunt reframing of LA homelessness, ridicules an NBC reporter’s oblivious reaction to gunfire, and defends Pope Leo’s right to comment on AI
Louder with Crowder - 5/27
Crowder argues Cuba’s profound poverty stems solely from its totalitarian communist regime under the Castro regime
He critiques the Biden admin for undermining Cuban freedom, and hypocrisy of celebrities like Jane Fonda who romanticize Che Guevara
Cuba is portrayed as “the head of the snake,” destabilizing Latin America and posing a U.S. national security threat via intelligence networks and spy bases, influencing figures like LA Mayor Karen Bass
Cuban-American guests share harrowing escapes, contrasting American freedom with Cuban repression
Crowder advocates for potential military intervention or annexation to liberate Cuba
The Brett Cooper Show - 5/27
Cooper critiques the cultural trend on TikTok of glamorizing and normalizing mental illness, perceiving it as a trendy “accessory”
While acknowledging men’s need to discuss mental health, Cooper contrasts Dana White’s stance on keeping things private to UFC fighters like Paddy Pimblett and Khalil Rountree who share struggles
She criticizes Gen Z and millennials for self-diagnosing mental disorders, arguing this de-legitimizes genuine mental illness while fostering lack of accountability for regular issues
While arguing seeking help doesn’t diminish masculinity, Cooper praises individuals like podcaster Theo Von who transparently shares struggles while actively working towards self-improvement
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
President Trump takes credit for the lowest murder rate in the country in 125 years
Seattle residents place road blockades in an attempt to stop drive-by shootings, polling shows Americans trust Republicans on crime more than Democrats by as much as a 13-point margin
Texas Democrat James Talarico denies vegan allegations, concedes there are only two genders
The View attacks NFL quarterback Jaxson Dart for introducing Trump, Sunny Hostin calls him “complicit”
“Pistols and Pilates” class in Oak Forest, IL goes viral
FOX & Friends
The U.S. hits Iran with more self-defense strikes
Protesters lash out against ICE agents at a holding facility in Newark, NJ, DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin reacts
As many as 11 people are likely dead from a chemical tank implosion in Longview, WA
James Talarico, running for Texas Senator, faces backlash for previous comments on BLM, God being nonbinary, and running a vegan campaign
While Jill Biden claims she thought her husband was having a stroke during his debate, she never encouraged him to step down from the race
Congress introduces the Protecting College Sports Act in an attempt to correct transfer portal drama
A judge allows Anna Kepner’s alleged killer, her stepbrother, to remain free
Alabama asks the Supreme Court to consider its redistricted map
Guest Spencer Pratt shares how he outraised incumbent LA Mayor Karen Bass by ten times
FOX Newsroom
Iran claims it targeted an American base in Kuwait, President Trump threatens Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. launches defensive strikes on Iranian drones
Protesters pick fights outside an ICE facility in Newark, NJ, DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin threatens to end CBP service at sanctuary city airports
HHS is investigating a national spike in autism treatment funding use, likely tied to fraud schemes
Jill Biden claims she thought Joe was having a stroke during the presidential debates, despite claiming he did a great job, family sues to block the release of interview records
The California governor race breaks records for outside spending, meanwhile Spencer Pratt raises ten times more funds than incumbent LA Mayor Karen Bass over a month
The Midwest sees a reverse in Uhaul trends as city residents flee liberal policies
As the Coast Guard reopens the search for Lynette Hooker, GPS data shows her husband’s cell phone in an area contradicting his statement
Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico claims Ken Paxton is using his past comments as a distraction from his legal issues
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg reveals he believes in alien life
An attempted Iranian assassin had the blueprint to Ivanka Trump’s house, bragged online about conducting “surveillance” against the family
NASCAR Driver Kyle Busch’s sudden death is attributed to a case of pneumonia progressing to sepsis
New arrests are made in a string of pro-athletes’ home burglaries
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
Jill Biden was so concerned her husband had a stroke during the debate she started a “four more years” chant right after. [X, Failla]
Chicago Mayor Johnson says he will fight teen takeovers by “holding social media platforms accountable.” [X, End Wokeness]
Talarico says Mary had to give consent not to abort Jesus. There’s a word for this. The word is “blasphemy.” [X, Lee]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Iran issues blunt nuclear ultimatum [FOX News]
Jill Biden makes admission about 2024 debate [FOX News]
Democrats warn of ‘civil war’ in party [FOX News]
Breitbart
DOJ Launches Criminal Investigation into Trump Accuser E. Jean Carroll [Breitbart]
Protesters Clash with ICE Outside New Jersey Detention Center [Breitbart]
Trump Cabinet: Administration Oversaw ‘Largest Drop in the Murder Rate’ [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Pope Leo’s AI Manifesto [WSJ Ed]
RFK Jr.’s Hantavirus Epiphany [WSJ Ed]
The Tax Collector’s Paradise [WSJ Ed]
The Ken Paxton Republicans [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Mamdani’s plan to ‘transfer’ building ownership to tenants uses existing NYC programs — that have repeatedly failed [NYP]
Mamdani’s grocery store site already got $25M in NYC taxpayer funds years ago — setting stage for $55M boondoggle [NYP]
Spencer Pratt torches Mayor Bass for axing street repair programs as potholes plague Los Angeles [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
US Probe of Embattled UN Gaza Relief Agency Expands to 1,500 Staffers Suspected of Hamas Ties: UNRWA Could Soon Be Labeled a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organization’ [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Doug Burgum honors his Civil War veteran great grandfather during Memorial Day Weekend visit to Gettysburg [Reporter]
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