New Media, Old Time Religion
The Brand Brief 4.2.26: FOX News viewers, Artemis II, UFOs, Pam Bondi, Khamenei, Scott Bessent, Abigail Spanberger, and John Thune
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…
1,677 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (13+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: A praying audience
New Media Voices: Artemis II, UFOs, and demons
Leading FOX: Iran, Bondi, and the rise of Christianity among young people
Trending: Ballroom and Democrat-run state fraud
What the Right is Writing: Epic Fury, Kristi Noem, and Artemis II
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
You cannot write about conservative media without recognizing its inherent religiosity - a reality often overlooked by legacy outlets.
The data: Ryan Burge, a leading analyst of religion statistics, noted this week that FOX News consistently dominates with Christian audiences.
This data backs up a number of recent Brand Brief posts on the intersection of conservative media and faith:
2028 will start in church: What JD Vance’s upcoming book reveals about the movement
Legacy media and heresy: Why media outlets fail to grasp Christian orthodoxy
Conversations about something more important: Christian apologist Wes Huff is drawing millions of views on programs like Joe Rogan and The Diary of a CEO
A pious drinking game: How conservative media capitalizes on legacy outlet’s ignorance of Christianity
When the shoe doesn’t fit, try heels: When Charlie Kirk was murdered, the movement turned to gospel-centered voices like Allie Beth Stuckey
To summarize my point about this current moment in new media: Many of these hosts aren’t conservatives talking religion; they’re Christians talking politics. - NRB
What do you think of The Brand Brief? Let us know.
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 4/1
Kelly notes Justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh appear skeptical of the administration’s position on birthright citizenship
Legal analysts Mike Davis and Dave Aronberg debate the 14th Amendment’s “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” clause and its application to children of diplomats, Native Americans, and slaves
They highlight the Wong Kim Ark case, which upheld citizenship for children of legal Chinese residents, and whether its reasoning extends to undocumented immigrants
The panel debates the elimination of the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act, mandating voter ID in federal elections
They also discuss the Daily Mail’s misleading headline on the firearm used in Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and the role Tyler Robinson’s text messages with his boyfriend will play in the case
The Michael Knowles Show - 4/1
Recording live from the launch site, Knowles reflects on how Artemis II is the first crewed mission to leave low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972, frames the ultimate goal of a moon base as a new space race with China
He explains the mission goal is to fly around the moon, achieve a further distance than Apollo 13, and complete the fastest reentry ever
He argues NASA lost momentum after Apollo due to the end of the Cold War and budget cuts, expresses optimism that private sector assistance will sustain long-term efforts
As Artemis II launched, Knowles cites the Psalm that all creation revels in the glory of God, and that exploration stems from a desire to know God’s works
Matt Walsh joins the livestream, and they joke about moon landing conspiracy theories and aliens
The Dan Bongino Show - 4/1
Bongino thanks his listeners for his high podcast rankings, complaining about “bot armies” used by other commentators
President Trump deflects reporter Jeff Mason’s questions, Bongino says the media has an uninformed approach to information warfare, tying it into The Daily Mail misreporting details surrounding Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Guest Ed Gallrein, running against Thomas Massie, explains his campaign platform
Bongino scrutinizes various Democrat policies, such as a wealth tax and the DHS shutdown
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 4/1
Jashinsky and Billy Hallowell, CBN host, discuss President Trump’s address on the War in Iran
Hallowell shares his documentary “Investigating the Supernatural: Angels and Demons,” in light of the Artemis II launch and VP JD Vance suggesting aliens could be demons
They review an article from The Atlantic and polling data on the potential stabilization in the decline of Christianity among younger generations
Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 4/1
Stuckey criticizes “The View” for its reaction to podcaster Isabel Brown’s conservative call for more children
She counters claims by Whitney Cummings, arguing her reasons for not having children are superficial, such as assuming you can’t afford it
Stuckey disagrees with Pope Leo’s recent statement that God rejects the prayers of those who wage war, and praises Franklin Graham for his letter to Donald Trump
She calls for prayer as Christians are persecuted in Nigeria, and commends NBA player Jaden Ivey for condemning Pride Month
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
The panel reflects on the War in Iran, the calls to leave NATO ahead of President Trump’s primetime address to the nation, expects war to be over in 2-3 weeks
The Supreme Court heard arguments on birthright citizenship, with Trump becoming the first president to attend a SCOTUS hearing
California Gov. Gavin Newsom brings the waterworks at a speech
Democrats plan to subpoena Trump allies after the midterms
Just minutes before launch, the panel celebrates Artemis II
FOX & Friends
President Trump addressed the nation last night on the War in Iran
A man convicted in the murder of an NYPD officer avoids top charge
Iraqi milita offers to negotiate the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson
The Supreme Court reviews arguments made on birthright citizenship, based on an interpretation of the 14th amendment
New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia is interviewed on Newark Public Schools’ mishandling of Covid relief spending
Anne Wilson is interviewed on performing the National Anthem before liftoff
Guest Florida AG James Uthmeier says Meta plans to comply with the state’s age verification law
Pulse Evangelism founder Nick Hall is interviewed on the rise in Christian faith among young adults
FOX Newsroom
Last night, President Trump gave updates on the War in Iran, confirms an end to the operation in 2-3 weeks and calls on allies to assist
Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent says DHS employees will get tax filing benefits for their time unpaid, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is interviewed on his joint funding plan with Speaker Mike Johnson
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger is under fire just months into her term for migrant-linked murders following her sanctuary orders
The NYPD union expresses outrage after Guy Rivera was acquitted of first degree murder in the killing of a police officer
New Jersey lawmakers are saying there was no accountability over a school district’s abuse of Covid funding
Michigan senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says he remained silent on the death of Khamenei because it upset some of the state’s muslims
Politico claims there’s a 15% chance a Republican could win the California governor’s race
The DC City Council delays a vote on a teen curfew ordinance
Artemis II is now in orbit, on its way to circle the moon
The federal government cracks down on hospice fraud in California
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
20 hotels in California were caught for a huge birthright citizenship fraud scheme, where people illegally come from China just to give birth. [X, Daugherty]
Justice KBJ: “If I steal a wallet in Japan, I am subject to Japanese laws…in a sense, it’s allegiance.” Her case for birthright citizenship. [X, End Wokeness]
No Kings Protestor: Trump is making it a crime to be trans... he’s deporting people who were born here. [X, Libs of Tiktok]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Trump says Iran ‘no longer a threat’ after 32 days - outlines next phase of war [FOX News]
Artemis II crew makes history with deep space moon launch [FOX News]
Breitbart
Trump Says U.S. Will Exit Iran in 2-3 Weeks [Breitbart]
Listen to Supreme Court Debate Birthright Citizenship [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Trump Says He Will Finish the Job in Iran [WSJ Ed]
Bomb Iran but Blow Up NATO? [WSJ Ed]
The NFL Tests Its Antitrust Exemption [WSJ Ed]
NASA Heads Back to the Moon [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Kristi Noem’s husband’s cross-dressing fetish leak sparks wild speculation in DC — including a shocking theory [NYP]
Gen Z Catholic influencers make church look cooler than ever — snapping up hundreds of thousands of followers [NYP]
How a giant tools seller on Amazon allegedly solicited a ‘contract killing’ in a bizarre feud with a US warehouse owner: lawsuit [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
‘Yield Positions of Power to Those Otherwise Marginalized’: Mamdani’s Cash-Strapped Parks Department Trains Leaders on ‘Becoming Anti-Racist’ [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Under Chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC is “applying the law in a fair way” [Reporter]
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