It's all Minnesota
The Brand Brief 1.7.26: Minnesota news, Congressional fraud hearing, Cea Weaver, Gavin Newsom, Palisades fire, CDC, Tim Walz, and Brown University
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…
1,503words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Minnesota
New Media Voices: Mamdani and Cea Weaver
Leading FOX: Fraud, Palisades fire, and health announcements
Trending and Pouncing: Newsom and Walz
What the Right is Writing: LA Fires and Brown University
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
Minnesota fraud. Minnesota ICE. Minnesota protests. Minnesota illegal immigrants. Minnesota elections. Minnesota Congressional hearings. Minnesota Somalis. Minnesota YouTubers.
Nothing rhymes with Minnesota, but every story runs through it. - NRB
I would love to hear your feedback - survey here. Thank you!
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 1/6
Kelly criticizes a New York Times interview with Idaho Four murderer Bryan Kohberger’s sister for painting a sympathetic picture of the family
Guests Glenn Greenwald and Rich Lowry debate Trump’s capture of Nicolas Maduro, with Greenwald calling it an unauthorized regime change, and Lowry saying it is justified under the Monroe Doctrine
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s new Tenant Director Cea Weaver is exposed for posts calling home ownership white supremacy
James Zimmerman, a clarinetist, is filing a lawsuit against the Knoxville Symphony for allegedly rejecting him after winning a blind audition for his opposition to DEI
The Ben Shapiro Show - 1/6
After pleading not guilty, Nicolas Maduro and his wife are expected to attend their next hearing on March 17
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president, while some key military figures remain wild cards for Venezuela
Shapiro says the success of this military operation, and the redistribution of oil away from China and Iran, could signify the end of “Iraq War Syndrome,” and mocks the United Nations for sending a strongly worded letter against Trump
In other news, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will not be running for a third term, a trans person vandalized VP J.D. Vance’s Cincinnati home, and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani advocated for the “warmth of collectivism”
The Matt Walsh Show - 1/6
Walsh argues NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani should have his citizenship revoked for his socialist policies and divisive rhetoric
Mamdani appointee Cea Weaver says homeownership is a “weapon of white supremacy,” wants to make private property a “collective good”
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is working to end all drug-related arrests
The U.S. has been granting “extraordinary ability” O-1B visas to sex workers and social media influencers
A long-term Singaporean study reveals infants who spent more than 1-2 hours on screens a day had increased anxiety at puberty and slower decision-making skills
The Brett Cooper Show - 1/6
Cooper expresses support for the removal of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, but expresses concerns about Trump’s plans to “run the country” during the rebuild period, comparing it to the regime change and oil acquisition of Iraq and Afghanistan
Cooper also condemns Democrats such as Kamala Harris for 180ing their views, previously raising a $25 million bounty against Maduro but now calling Trump’s actions unlawful as real Venezuelans celebrate his capture
Timcast IRL - 1/6
Trump sends 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis following mass allegations of government assistance fraud
Gov. Tim Walz’s daughter recently appeared on a podcast, admitted there is “enough truth” to the allegations of Somali daycare fraud
The White House has threatened to denaturalize and deport Rep. Ilhan Omar for marrying her brother to enter the U.S.
Pool and the panel question whether the invasion of Venezuela was just over oil, after Trump confirms 30-50 million barrels will be seized
Pool criticizes political influencers like Candace Owens, saying they are paid to promote divisive narratives to split the conservative movement
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
During his midterm strategy speech to the House GOP, Trump makes fun of Free Maduro protesters and thanks military for their efforts
Gov. Tim Walz blames everyone but himself for Minnesota fraud
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s tenant director is exposed for describing home ownership as white supremacy
FOX & Friends
The House Oversight Committee is holding a hearing today on the Minnesota fraud scandal, Gov. Tim Walz says he would resign “over my dead body,” Guest Riley Gaines talks about hosting journalist Nick Shirley
Guest California Post opinion editor Joel Pollack says one year after the LA fires, only 500 of the 16,000 destroyed structures have been rebuilt, and an audit reveals millions in mismanaged funds
Today marks the opening statements in the trial against former WWE star Ted DiBiase, Jr., accused of embezzling millions of Mississippi welfare dollars
A Florida sex offender has been arrested with a missing boy in his car
Guest ICE Director Todd Lyons discusses how Hilton cut ties with the Minnesota hotel that refused service to ICE agents
Nick Reiner is due in court for his arraignment, could face the death penalty for stabbing his parents to death
During his speech to the House GOP, Trump warns he’ll get impeached if they do not win the midterms
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani releases a statement defending an appointee who described home ownership as white supremacy
A video confession has been discovered in the storage facility where the Brown University & MIT shooter killed himself, while the testimony of a former Uvalde police officer has been canceled
Guest former Sec. of State Mike Pompeo addresses the U.S. obtaining millions of Venezuelan oil barrels and Iranian protests
The CDC lowers the number of recommended vaccines for children
FOX Newsroom
Guest Rep. Dan Crenshaw reports on U.S. forces overtaking a Venezuelan oil tanker
Iran deploys security forces as opposition protesters take to the streets
Nick Reiner will be arraigned in court today, facing charges of murdering his parents
Today marks one year since the deadly Palisades Fires, victims speak out as 74% remain in temporary housing
Guest MN Speaker Lisa Demuth speaks before live coverage of the congressional hearing today on state fraud, state AG Keith Ellison is under speculation
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
Gov. Tim Walz, the “very stupid, Low IQ Governor” — whose problems have only just begun. [X, Rapid Response 47]
Mehdi Hasan’s response to undeniable systematic fraud committed by the Somali community in Minnesota: Here are a bunch of white people who committed fraud too, therefore you should ignore Somali fraud. [X, Pavlou]
Somalia Parliament Member and former Somalia security advisor Abdullahi Kulane owns a… healthcare company in Minnesota. He is listed as the “maneger.” He’s also a former DEI coordinator at the St Cloud Area School District in MN. [X, Libs of TikTok]
One year later and Gavin Newsom still has yet to help all the Palisades and Eaton fire victims who’ve lost everything! 70% are still unhoused and still trying to get permits to rebuild. 40% of land has been sold off to “investors!” [X, Eagleman]
Iranians just stunned the world by renaming a street in Tehran to “President Trump Street” because 47 demanded the regime stop attacking demonstrators. [X, Daugherty]
The most balanced political take came from an 18-year-old Trump. [X, Nawfal]
Head of Portland Public Schools Sarah Lentz announces that all staff will receive training to obstruct and resist federal immigration officials. [X, The Maine Wire]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Congress holds hearing into Minnesota fraud allegations [FOX News]
‘Squad’ rep’s felon husband smacks phone from reporter [FOX News]
Trump announces Venezuela will ‘immediately’ hand oil over to US [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
One Year Later: Palisades Fire Families Hit L.A., California with Wrongful Death Lawsuits [Breitbart]
Homeland Security: Hilton Hotels Refusing Rooms to DHS Officers [Breitbart]
Corrupt Klobuchar Mulls Campaign to Replace Walz as Governor of Minnesota [Breitbart]
Trump: Venezuela to Turn over 30-50 Million Barrels of Oil to U.S. [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Invade Greenland? Why? [WSJ Ed]
Free Venezuela’s Political Prisoners [WSJ Ed]
There RFK Jr. Goes Again . . . [WSJ Ed]
The Rent-Control Slums of New York [WSJ Ed]
New York Post Exclusives
LA fire victims have just bills and broken promises 1 year after Palisades blaze: ‘They let us burn’ [NYP]
Warner Bros. Discovery rejects latest takeover bid from Paramount Skydance [NYP]
Hochul admin downgrades crimes committed by NY inmates, bombshell memo shows [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Brown University Taps DEI Official To Restore ‘Sense of Physical Security’ on Campus [WFB]
NEED HELP NAVIGATING CONSERVATIVE MEDIA?
On Brand Strategies would love to help you navigate the conservative media ecosystem. Learn more at OnBrandStrategies.com, or connect with Nathan (Nathan@OnBrandStrategies.com) and Carly (Carly@OnBrandStrategies.com).
