Rock it like Crockett
The Brand Brief 12.8.25: Jasmine Crockett, John Cena, Jensen Huang, Qatar, Melania Trump, Mamdani, Bessent, EU vs X, and Tim Walz
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…
1,244 words | 5 minute read | Written to be skimmable (15+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Crockett prepares to launch
New Media Voices: Jensen Huang, Milo, and Sydney Sweeney
Leading FOX: Mamdani, Bessent, and the Kennedy Center
Trending and Pouncing: Ilhan Omar, Jennifer Welch, and Richard Levine
What the Right is Writing: The Kennedy Center and ICE
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
2025 has been a banner year for the emergence of new left-wing villains.
The familiar fixtures of the conservative media ecosystem delivered (Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Ilhan Omar, and Nancy Pelosi), but the new faces have shone through as well (Hello, Zohran Mamadani). And if you’ve been reading The Brand Brief, you have already seen her name discussed: Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett.
She is expected to jump into the U.S. Senate race on Monday, which will help solidify her rising star status and guarantee waves of new material for the ecosystem. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
Monday means long-form interview shows...
The Joe Rogan Experience
Derek, host of the More Plates More Dates YouTube channel talks about nootropic formulas, the history of supplements, trans medical issues, and the UFC
NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang explains how Trump saved the AI boom, how it’s the next space race, and the need for more energy
John Cena shares the highs and lows of trying to bring the WWE to China, his transition to acting, and the importance of optimism
This Past Weekend with Theo Von
“Unspeakable Things” comedian Leanne Morgan talks about her wild years at the University of Tennessee, how her husband encouraged her career, and country singers
The Tucker Carlson Show
John Rich talks about demons walking among us, his work with the DHS to take down child predators, and the rise in abortion rates
Milo Yiannopoulos claims being gay is primarily a social condition rather than something engrained in one’s DNA
British MP Rupert Lowe explains the downfall of multiculturalism and the free speech crisis in the UK
Carlson interviews at the Doha Forum Qatar’s prime minister on how he established a foreign policy deal with Trump, his country’s relations with Israel
Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark
Natural Funeral CEO Mike Reagan argues the modern funeral industry is built for profit and why embalming is optional
The Tim Dillon Show
Dillon covers all things Venezuela, Sydney Sweeney’s Tonight Show appearance, and a Long Island murderer
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
FOX & Friends
Trump will start his affordability tour tomorrow in Pennsylvania
The NYT finally reports that the Biden administration ignored the border surge
The Kennedy Center has nearly doubled its fundraising efforts under Trump compared to the previous administration
A survey reveals many sports fans spend more on their team than on Christmas
Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent discussed lowered interest rates and his prediction of fixed inflation in 2026 on CBS’s Face the Nation
As Democrats accuse the Pentagon of war crimes, Republicans accuse Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz of ignoring $1 billion in COVID benefits fraud
As a Russia-Ukraine peace deal stalls, Trump says he is disappointed in Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
The U.S. Naval Academy football team unveils its new uniform honoring the USS Constitution for America’s 250th birthday
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani produces a video explaining to New Yorkers how to resist ICE
Guest Cheryl Hines, HHS Sec. RFK Jr.’s wife, explains how her husband only received hate after years of work as an environmental attorney
Rep. Ilhan Omar releases multiple videos defending her Somali community rather than investigating Minnesota fraud
A water leak damages $100 million in books at the Louvre just weeks after the jewel heist
A paleontologist found 18,000 dinosaur tracks in a Bolivia national park
FOX Newsroom
The suspect from a secondary train stabbing in Charlotte goes to court today
Guest former DHS Secretary Chad Wolfe unpacks mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s video encouraging NYC residents to resist ICE
Trump takes his affordability messaging on the road to Pennsylvania tomorrow to do what he does best: rally
Rep. Ilhan Omar defers blame for Somali fraud to Minnesota state agencies on CBS’s Face the Nation, calls Jewish White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller a Nazi
New trial evidence reveals Luigi Mangioni used a bus to get to NYC, bought his tickets under a pseudonym
The panel says disgraced comedian Rosie O’Donnell is seeking attention for still talking about Trump after moving to Ireland
The Pentagon’s double-tap strike of a Venezuelan drug cartel boat continues to divide lawmakers
Rep. Jasmine Crockett plans to announce her run for Texas senator this week
Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent takes to cable news to report positive fiscal news
The HHS building now displays the Biden administration’s transgender assistant secretary’s “dead name” Admiral Richard (Rachel) Levine
A State Department memo says to not allow foreign nationals who suppressed American free speech to obtain a visa
The Trump administration shames the European Union for fining Elon Musk’s X platform
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: highlights from the conversation on the right and what conservatives are “pouncing” on…
Rep. Ilhan Omar tried to convince Margaret Brennan that the real victims of Minnesota’s $1 billion Somali fraud scheme were....Somalis [X, Overton]
Trump admin changes name of transgender health official Levine to birth name of Richard on official portrait [X, Daily Caller]
Liberal podcaster Jennifer Welch says Erika Kirk should be “kicked to the curb” [X, Foster]
A whopping 39% of Jewish college students have had to hide their identities on campus while 62% said they have been directly blamed for Israel’s military action in Gaza. [NYP]
Nick Fuentes’ hate boosted by foreign bots. [X, Guest]
Melania Trump carries a child around during Toys for Tots event [X, RR47]
Democrat Minneapolis Mayor says local police won’t work with federal law enforcement [X, RNC Research]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
NYC mayor-elect tells residents how to resist ICE agents [FOX News]
Lenient judges ignore red flags, release repeat offenders [FOX News]
Trump works red carpet before hosting Kennedy Center Honors [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
More Nicaraguans Deported in Trump’s First 9 Months than All of 2023-2024 [Breitbart]
‘We’re Not Backing Down’: Owner of Pro-ICE Idaho Bar Undeterred by Threats [Breitbart]
Trump Honors Kennedy Center Honorees: ‘Some of the Greatest of All Time’ [Breitbart]
‘Weapons Are Our Honor’: Hamas Chief Defies Trump Gaza Plan, No Disarmament [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
ObamaCare Is a Mecca for Fraud [WSJ Ed]
Jimmy Lai’s Birthday Gift—to China [WSJ Ed]
How the Supreme Court Can Improve American Politics [WSJ Ed]
Europe’s Foolish War on X.com [WSJ Ed]
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE NEWS?
On Brand Strategies would love to help you craft your message, drive a news cycle, or navigate the world of new media and conservative press. Learn more at OnBrandStrategies.com.
Say hello by reaching out to Nathan (@NathanBrandWA on X or Nathan@OnBrandStrategies.com) and Carly (@realCarlyMoran on X or Carly@OnBrandStrategies.com).
