Maduro, Mamdani, and the Marxists
The Brand Brief 1.6.26: Nicolas Maduro, Zohran Mamdani, Nick Shirley, Hilton Hotels, the CDC, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, transgender athletes, and celebrities stranded in the Caribbean
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…
1,458 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: The failures of socialism
New Media Voices: Praise for Trump’s move in Venezuela
Leading FOX: All Maduro
Trending and Pouncing: Transgender athletes
What the Right is Writing: Celebrities stranded in the Caribbean
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
This news cycle continues to expose the failures of socialism, and conservative media is taking note. From Maduro’s failed Marxist experiment in Venezuela, to Mamdani’s “warmth of collectivism,” to the Walz fraud scandal highlighting the folly of big government - this news cycle has a clear pattern. Conservatives are right to press, celebrate, and restate the principles of free markets that define the movement. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 1/5
Kelly says the capture of Nicolas Maduro is a part of the “Donroe Doctrine,” a 21st century expansion of the Monroe Doctrine that asserts American control over the Western Hemisphere
While happy about the effectiveness of the takeover, Kelly expresses concern over civilian deaths and the potential for a second Afghanistan-esque situation
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will not run for a third term after facing backlash for fraud, guest Walter Kern highlights journalist Nick Shirley’s work while condemning corporate media’s approach to the story, and state AG Keith Ellison for covering Walz’s inaction
The Ben Shapiro Show - 1/5
Operation Absolute Resolve used Delta Forces to capture dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, allowing the U.S. to choose their ideal leadership and take Venezuelan oil
Shapiro says 2026 will be a year when “veils fall” to reveal their character on foreign policy, especially with tensions between China and Taiwan, Russia and Ukraine, and now the reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz dropped out of the governor’s race following a video by Nick Shirley exposing billions in federal benefits fraud
The Michael Knowles Show - 1/5
The U.S. military deposed Nicolas Maduro in just 88 minutes, using 150+ aircraft and sustaining no American casualties
Knowles supports the move, saying the Monroe Doctrine-style maneuver is different from Afghanistan due to it being short-term and against a widely-considered illegitimate leader while maintaining the existing government structure
Trump has warned Colombia and Cuba that they could be next, while reiterating interest in taking Greenland for national security purposes
Knowles mocks Kamala Harris and other Democrat politicians for protesting the capture after advocating for it for years
Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 1/5
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani was sworn in on the Quran, delivered an inaugural address contrasting the “warmth of collectivism” over “rugged individualism”
Stuckey says the Bible would oppose socialism, as it is not voluntary generosity and has a history of replacing God with government, while also warning that Islam is a conquest-driven religion
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is no longer running for reelection after being exposed for turning a blind eye to benefits fraud, Stuckey says his corruption was enabled by toxic empathy
Stuckey says it’s important for Christians to remain firm in their belief to orient themselves through confusing times
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 1/5
Nicolas Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty in New York, while claiming he remains the legitimate president of Venezuela
Guest left-wing journalist Ryan Grim says hacked emails reveal Jeffrey Epstein played a role in advancing Israeli interests as a “fixer” for global elites
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he will no longer run for a third term, pitting blame on “right-wing YouTubers” rather than those who committed fraud
Mamdani-appointed tenant rights director Cea Weaver described home ownership as a “white supremacist project” in leaked videos
Jashinsky says the new TLC/HBO documentary on Pentecostal abuse creates a moral question due to its claims of potential ongoing abuse
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife plead not guilty to federal drug and weapon charges, Democrats protest the raid
Trump says Colombia, Cuba, Greenland, and Mexico should stay aware in the wake of the Venezuela operation
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will no longer run for reelection following allegations of fraud
FOX & Friends
Ousted dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty in a New York court yesterday
Trump assures we are not at war with Venezuela, but will control all their oil assets, briefs lawmakers such as guest Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Democrats protest the arrest of Maduro, despite encouraging it for years under Joe Biden
Guest MN gubernatorial candidate Kristin Robbins discusses how Gov. Tim Walz is no longer running for reelection following fraud allegations
Mississippi begins a similar welfare fraud trial against a former WWE star, guest MS auditor Shad White explains
Idaho Four murderer Bryan Kohberger had a heroin addiction, sister had warned him about there being a “psycho killer” on the loose
Trump plans on meeting with House GOP leaders today to discuss this year’s midterms at the Kennedy Center
Rob Reiner’s son will be arraigned tomorrow
A Hilton hotel refused to host border patrol and ICE agents
New video shows person of interest in the murder of an Ohio dentist and his wife
FOX Newsroom
Following his meeting with Trump, Speaker Johnson says we are not at war with Venezuela and instead this is a brief military operation, Delcy Rodriguez sworn in as interim president
Guest Sen. Markwayne Mullin shames Democrats for protesting the capture of Nicolas Maduro, despite advocating for it for years
A suspect is in custody after smashing the windows of VP J.D. Vance’s Cincinnati home
The CDC is switching from universal vaccination scheduling to customization options for children
Gov. Tim Walz has dropped out of the Minnesota governor race after being exposed for turning a blind eye to billions in social services fraud
Today marks the first day of a Mississippi fraud scheme case allegedly committed by a former WWE star
Guest DEA Administrator Terry Cole says the U.S. seized more than 221,000 kilograms of cocaine in 2025 alone
California Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa has died at the age of 65
NYC Mayor Mamdani’s new tenant director wants to seize private property, while the new Seattle mayor is looking to halt drug arrests
Trump addresses the House GOP today at the Kennedy Center to discuss how to win the midterm elections
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
@POTUS on his imitation of “trans athletes” in women’s sports: “My wife HATES when I do this.” [X, Rapid Response 47]
Trump on Maduro protesters: “These people are a mess. Where do they find these people?! They are the worst looking people I’ve ever seen!” [X, Daugherty]
Hilton removes hotel from franchise after they lied about allowing ICE agents to stay there following Nick Sortor’s video exposing them. [X, Libs of TikTok]
One year ago today, Harris made history and became the first black woman to certify a president… her own loss. [X, End Wokeness]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
AG says ‘nothing is off the table’ after dictator, wife have first court appearance [FOX News]
Maduro and Flores both pleaded not guilty in a federal court [FOX News]
Journalist who exposed Minnesota daycare fraud faces leftist backlash [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Out of the Blue: Corrupt Klobuchar Mulls Campaign to Replace Walz as Minnesota Gov [Breitbart]
Democrats Fundraise in Protest of Maduro Capture [Breitbart]
Disgraced Gov. Tim Walz Drops out of Governor’s Race [Breitbart]
A Hilton Hotel Refuses Rooms to DHS Officers [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The ‘International Law’ Illusion in Venezuela [WSJ Ed]
Welfare Fraud Takes Out Tim Walz [WSJ Ed]
The Kelly-Hegseth Grudge Match Helps No One [WSJ Ed]
Your Regular Russian Saboteurs [WSJ Ed]
New York Post Exclusives
Tatiana Schlossberg remembered by Kennedy family, Joe Biden and more at private NYC funeral [NYP]
NYC Wegmans storing shoppers’ facial scans and biometric data to ID customers, boost security [NYP]
Trump’s Venezuela operation leaves stars, socialites and nightlife gurus stranded in the Caribbean [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Democrat Graham Platner Marched with Somali Activist Tied to Nonprofit Accused of Fraud [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).
