May I meet you at McDonald’s?
The Brand Brief 11.18.25: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Michelle Obama, Olivia Nuzzi, Sunny Hostin, Bill Ackman, and ICE agents
Actionable media intel to cut through the noise and keep you ahead: The Brand Brief delivers a daily snapshot of trending stories in 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…
1,775 words | 8 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: McDonald’s and conservative media
New Media Voices: Epstein, Nuzzi, and Texas’ Muslims
Leading FOX: McDonald’s, Epstein Files, and the Saudis
Trending and Pouncing: Sunny Hostin, Mamdani, and Crockett
What the Right is Writing: Trump rally gunman and internet outage
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
President Trump has a well-known affinity for McDonald’s. From speaking at the McDonald’s Impact Summit on Monday to serving burgers and fries on Trump Force One and at White House events, he clearly loves the Golden Arches.
While Trump has an eye for the viral and authentic, his most iconic 2024 moment - working a shift as a fry cook - is a powerful reminder of the influence of the conservative media ecosystem. The event was a direct response to The Washington Free Beacon’s reporting on Kamala Harris’s lie about working at the chain, which prompted Trump’s viral, apron-donning appearance. We’re lovin’ it! - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 11/17
Kelly will conclude her tour in Bakersfield, Anaheim, and Glendale with guests Charlie Sheen, Jack Psobiec, Steve Hilton, and Jillian Michaels
The NYP’s Miranda Devine and Tucker Carlson both report Thomas Crooks was a furry, used they/them pronouns, became violent in 2020
Guest Glenn Greenwald questions the FBI’s involvement in hiding these details, as well as Kash Patel’s defense of the investigation
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s push for the Epstein Files to be released led to Trump calling her a traitor, for her to be primaried
Kelly suggests the Tucker Carlson drama could be a foreshadowing of Sen. Ted Cruz’s attempt to battle VP JD Vance in the primaries
The Ben Shapiro Show - 11/17
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s feud with Trump escalated over the weekend, after she repeatedly pressed him on the Epstein Files
Shapiro argues the files fight is a part of a broader splinter of the conservatives, involving other conflicts like Israel and Nick Fuentes
Shapiro says the affordability crisis could be helped with free market policies, such as ending tariffs while deregulating Obamacare
Michelle Obama complained about racism against black women, how America wasn’t ready for a female president
In other news, Hunter Biden compares Trump to Hitler, Thomas Crooks was a furry, and New York politicians prepare to resist ICE
The Matt Walsh Show - 11/17
Walsh doubles down on his “America Only” philosophy, saying it reflects the foreign policy views of the founders
As a Catholic, Walsh condemns U.S. bishops for shaming Trump’s immigration enforcement while ignoring Biden’s abortion policies
A group of protesters performed an aerobics class routine outside a Portland ICE facility
Walsh says Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s appearance on CNN was an act of cowardly apologizing while failing to condemn the left’s violence
Feminists have coined the term “mankeeping” for the “unpaid emotional labor” for men, Walsh says a marriage can never be 50/50
Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 11/17
The Islamic-run Epic City planned community, featuring more than 1,000 homes, had rebranded as The Meadow to avoid public scrutiny
Texas’ Muslim population of more than 420,000 people and 330 mosques could pose a risk of Sharia Law, Stuckey argues
Stuckey compares the rise in Muslim immigration to the 10-year anniversary of the 2015 Paris attacks, which killed 132, injured over 600
Christian music is growing in popularity, with artists like Forrest Frank and Brandon Lake surpassing 2 billion streams
Kelsea Ballerini’s song “I Sit in Parks” expresses regret for prioritizing her career over family, reflecting a poll that says 12th-grade girls are less likely to want marriage compared to boys
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 11/18
Jashinsky pokes fun at Olivia Nuzzi’s upcoming memoir American Canto, which touches on her unrequited affair with RFK Jr.
Trump switches his opinion, urging House Republicans to release the Epstein Files, which may contain ties to Bill Clinton and Larry Summers
NYP reporter Miranda Devine, Tucker Carlson’s documentary reveal Thomas Crook’s shift from support to anti-Trump extremism in 2020
Guest Evita Duffy-Alfonso says the FBI must clarify the causes behind assassinations, referencing the trans and furry identities of both Trump and Kirk’s shooters
Scott Galloway argues that remote work and less alcohol usage hinders young people from making friends
Red Scare podcaster Dasha Necrasova’s agency fired her for her podcast episode featuring Nick Fuentes
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
Barstool Sports founder David Portnoy says Dems have branded white men as the bad guy, as the party scrambles to reach the key demographic
An NYU professor encourages young people to drink more on Real Time with Bill Maher
Trump changes his tune, calls for the House to release the Epstein Files
Democrat Rep. Plaskett texted Epstein during the Cohen hearing
Rioters harass ICE agents in Charlotte, NC with whistles and expletives, while Portland protesters do aerobics outside a holding facility
Michelle Obama says Harris lost because America isn’t ready for a woman president
Famed hedge fund manager Bill Ackman shares his pickup line, “May I meet you?”
FOX & Friends
Biden’s FBI hid the Butler shooter’s nonbinary, furry online identity
Guest Miranda Devine, a NYP journalist, explains Thomas Crooks was pro-Trump until rapidly shifting to violent, liberal views during COVID
Trump jokes in his speech about being the first McDonald’s employee to become president at the company’s DC summit
The House votes today to release the Epstein Files, after evidence revealed a Democrat Rep texted him during the 2019 Cohen hearing
One officer has been injured in a hit-and-run on a Charlotte ICE raid
A NYC manhunt is still underway for a Jets player’s shooter
TPUSA is coming to the University of Chattanooga tonight with women’s sports activist and swimmer Riley Gaines
Former President George W. Bush joined Monday Night Football ManningCast
Trump promises $2,000 tariff checks in mid-2026
A teen was found dead, stuffed under a bed on a Carnival cruise
Guest Rep. Fitzpatrick calls for a bipartisan solution to Obamacare
Rapper Nicki Minaj will speak at a UN event today on the massacre of Nigerian Christians
During the Saudi prince’s D.C. trip, rumors spread of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, expanding business with the U.S.
The first hearing on the Broadview, Illinois ICE facility is today
Trump says he is open to speaking to Venezuelan dictator Maduro about the drug strikes
Billionaire Bill Ackman’s dating advice “May I meet you?” goes viral for its odd phrasing
A mother shares her story of an AI chatbot turning her autistic son against her, told him to self-harm
100 companies have moved to Dallas since 2018, with the rise of “Y’all Street”
FOX Newsroom
Trump greenlights an F-35 deal for Saudi Arabia to defend their oil against Iran
The House votes on the Epstein Files today, after texts between a Democrat rep and Epstein during the Cohen hearing were leaked
Guest and Border Czar Tom Homan announces plans to increase sanctuary city ICE operations, including in NYC
Trump seeks to end the affordability crisis with new housing solutions
Guest Sec. of Homeland Security Kristi Noem says ICE is prioritizing deporting violent criminals first
A new Gallup poll reveals Americans are divided on trans people in sports, and changing gender on government documents
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is under fire for appointing a female-identifying biological man to the state women’s commission
The Biden DOJ hid evidence that Thomas Crooks identified as nonbinary, posted violent comments for years on YouTube
A gunman abducted 25 Nigerian schoolgirls
RFK Jr. is looking into the cause behind the rise in food allergies
Speaker Johnson says the Democrats could have released the files four years ago, using as a political weapon
Trump says he plans to meet with NYC mayor-elect Mamdani
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: highlights from the conversation on the right and what conservatives are “pouncing” on…
Sunny Hostin: “This is a country based on racism and slavery and misogyny! There’s a reason why this country has only had one black male president!” [X, The Blaze]
Since Epstein had Stacey Plaskett’s ear someone needs to ask what other Democrat members of Congress was he controlling? [X, Burchett]
Joy Reid: “If I saw a penis in the ladies’ locker room, I would freak out!” [X, Cohen]
In 2023 Stacey Plaskett was taking calls on C-SPAN and a caller asked her about her relationship with Epstein. Plaskett: “He wanted to make contributions to the Democrat party.” [X, MAZE]
Democrat Elissa Slotkin disses party’s leadership suggesting they need more “alpha energy.” [X, RNC Research]
Hakeem Jeffries flat-out said it: “We have a BROKEN healthcare system!” [X, Daugherty]
Texas Dem Jasmine Crockett — who refused to condemn Charlie Kirk’s assassination and regularly calls Republicans “fascists” — blames President Trump for political violence. [X, RNC Research]
Zohran Mamdani declares that New York is a “city of international law.” [X, Price]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Trump to meet with Saudi crown prince at the White House [FOX News]
Trump rally gunman acted alone, FBI says - but questions about motive persist [FOX News]
China’s nuclear arsenal grows 20% as Pentagon faces ‘war footing’ threat [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Cloudflare Outage Causes Widespread Internet Disruptions [Breitbart]
Trump Calls for House Republicans to ‘Vote to Release’ Epstein Files [Breitbart]
Khanna: Trump ‘Losing His MAGA Base’ over Epstein Files [Breitbart]
U.N. Security Council Resolution on Gaza Passes [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The Corporate Proxy Flight From ESG [WSJ Ed]
Identity Politics, Seattle Edition [WSJ Ed]
Why Ford Can’t Find Mechanics [WSJ Ed]
Trump Rallies the Security Council on Gaza [WSJ Ed]
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE NEWS?
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Say hello by reaching out to Nathan (@NathanBrandWA on X or Nathan@OnBrandStrategies.com) and Carly (@realCarlyMoran on X or Carly@OnBrandStrategies.com).
