Stars around the table
The Brand Brief 12.2.25: Trump’s team, Tim Walz, Venezuelan drug boats, Jasmine Crockett, election day in Tennessee, and Noem’s travel ban
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…
1,591 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: The TV Cabinet
New Media Voices: Seditious Six, Tim Walz, Venezuelan drug boats
Leading FOX: TN Election Day and Jasmine Crockett
Trending and Pouncing: Trump’s cabinet meeting highlights
What the Right is Writing: Noem calls for a broader travel ban
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
While every Cabinet carries clout, Trump’s “made-for-TV” roster is in a league of its own. As the former anchors (Hegseth, Duffy) and media-savvy veterans (Rubio, Vance, Bondi) gather today, this crew guarantees ratings (and clips). Even the more unique voices like Tulsi and RFK Jr. fit right into the conservative media ecosystem. They are daily fixtures of FOX News primetime and even the centerpiece of a new Breitbart fireside chat series, hosted by Matthew Boyle.
Trump cabinet meetings are always must-see TV, but these appointees can stand on their own. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 12/1
Kelly starts the show with guest Mark Halperin discussing their favorite Christmas show specials
Corporate media has tried to justify the Seditious Six video by retroactively citing alleged unlawful Venezuelan drug boat strikes
Kelly and Halperin question if Sen. Cory Booker’s marriage is a political one, used to make him advantageous in 2028
Internal Republican discontent has led to Trump’s sudden drop in approval ratings, with concerns over midterm losses and the economy
Somali immigrants in Minnesota used autism assistance money to fund luxury goods, travel, and potentially an underground terror ring
The Ben Shapiro Show - 12/1
Trump pledged to permanently pause migration from third-world countries, deport non-citizens who are a security risk, and end their federal benefits
An Afghan national, a former CIA-backed zero unit member, shot two National Guard members after entering the U.S. under Biden
A federal investigation revealed more than $1 billion in fraudulent use of autism social programs, which the Minnesota government had ignored out of racism allegations
Democrat Senators, led by Slotkin and Kelly, now claim their “disobey illegal orders” video was about the Venezuelan drug boat strikes
Trump escalates against Venezuela with airspace closures, increased naval presence, and ultimatums for Maduro to resign
The Matt Walsh Show - 12/1
Walsh argues it’s far past time to denaturalize radical migrants, and to end immigration from third-world countries
A Fairfax County, Virginia shooting this year was covered up by the media, where a Muslim cited allegiance to the Taliban before shooting at multiple cops
Sen. Mark Kelly blames his Seditious Six video on Trump’s Venezuelan drug boat strikes, ignoring Obama’s years of drone strikes abroad
The union for the Minnesota Department of Human Resources goes rogue against Gov. Tim Walz, blaming him for the Somali fraud case
Rep. Jasmine Crockett claims white supremacists commit crimes at a higher rate than immigrants
Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 12/1
Responding to hit pieces by Axios and Salon who claim she is anti-empathy, Stuckey explains Christian love aligns with truth over feelings
Stuckey says the shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. can be blamed on poor immigration vetting, placing toxic empathy for migrants over the safety of Americans
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz did nothing in response to Somali nonprofits stealing taxpayer autism funding
Stuckey says an Aftyn Behn win tonight would represent the progressive overhaul of the Nashville suburbs
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 12/1
The Federalist CEO Sean Davis joins Jashinsky to discuss the recent Somali autism funding fraud case in Minnesota
They compare the Somali’s behavior to the Afghan man who shot the National Guard, the NYT’s Wajahat Ali’s rant, and Palestinian protests at Christmas events
Other news includes Jennifer Welch’s attacks against Stephen and Katie Miller, the Cracker Barrel CEO’s interview with Glenn Beck, and The Federalist’s report confirming Jack Smith spied on Republicans
Jashinsky says the Nuzzi-Kennedy sex scandal represents the moral decay of media elites
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
Rep. Jasmine Crockett claims white supremacists commit more crimes than immigrants in response to the Afghan terrorist shooting the National Guard
The DHS confirms more than 5,000 Afghan refugees from the Biden administration in 2021 have been flagged as a terror threat
Trump plans to end immigration from 19 “crime-ridden countries”
Gov. Tim Walz is under fire from the Minnesota Department of Human Services union for ignoring Somalis’ fraudulent usage of autism funds
Tennessee congressional candidate Aftyn Behn is shockingly close behind Republican Mark Van Epps, causing alarm for midterms
Democrat strategist James Carville encourages his party to stop focusing on social issues in 2026
Hollywood actor Josh Brolin says his friendship with Trump before the presidency proves his character, does not see him as a dictator figure
FOX & Friends
National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe shows signs of lucidity by moving his toes and giving a thumbs up
The Trump admin will reevaluate current visa policies at meeting today, may ban immigration from 19 “crime-ridden” countries
The admin proposes Trump Accounts which would give children early investments in the stock market at birth, function as an IRA at 18
Guest Majority Whip Tom Emmer shames Gov. Tim Walz for refusing to take responsibility for the autism fraud case
The Department of Transportation reports up to 44% of U.S. trucking schools are not in alignment with federal law
Nigeria’s defense minister resigns following numerous kidnapping events, anti-Christian violence
Pope Leo concludes his trip to Lebanon after visiting the Beirut explosion site and hosting a 120,000-person mass
Former Sec. of State Mike Pompeo says Trump’s Venezuelan strikes are necessary, compares to Obama’s Middle East drone strikes
Guest Nashville congressional candidate Matt Van Epps calls out his opponent on her hatred of the city, police, and families
A Texas A&M student was found dead just hours after a football tailgate party
Guest actor Chris Pratt shares his Christian faith
FOX Newsroom
Today’s cabinet meeting will address Venezuelan drug boat strikes, the potential for immigration and travel bans
Socialist Janeese Lewis George launches her campaign for D.C. mayor
The U.S. Treasury is investigating whether Somalis used $1 billion in stolen Minnesota autism funds toward the Al-Shabab terror group
Thousands of troops have been deployed to the Caribbean under Operation Southern Spear in a show of power against narco terrorists
Guest Sen. Markwayne Mullin says Sen. Mark Kelly is looking for attention, not real accountability for military actions
The Luigi Mangione pre-trial hearing confirms he used a 3D-printed handgun in the murder of the United Healthcare CEO
The World Health Organization plans to release guidelines on weight loss drugs like GLP-1 shots
Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy threatens to revoke $30 million from Minnesota for distributing illegal trucker’s licenses
Guest Rep. Tim Burchett says 45% of evangelicals and 35% of gun owners won’t go to the polls today in Nashville
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff meets with Russian PresidentPutin today
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: highlights from the conversation on the right and what conservatives are “pouncing” on…
President Trump says he believes the income tax will be abolished for most people. [X, Daugherty]
The Biden regime set up a hotline for unaccompanied migrant children, 65,000 calls went unanswered. [X, Libs of TikTok]
Jennifer Welch makes unhinged comments about Stephen and Katie Miller’s kids [X, Foster]
Could some of the money stolen in one of Minnesota’s fraud cases have gone to a terrorist group? That’s what the federal government is now investigating. [X, Rapid Response 47]
Vance gets animated during a cabinet meeting about mass immigration's impact on home affordability [X, Daugherty]
NYT on Minnesota fraud: “It was like someone was stealing money from the cookie jar and they kept refilling it.” [X, Grage]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Noem calls for ‘full travel ban’ on countries ‘flooding’ US with immigrants [FOX News]
Trump admin investigating Minnesota tax dollars allegedly funding terrorists [FOX News]
Trump, AOC blitz campaign trail in must-win special House election [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Noem Previews Sweeping Travel Ban [Breitbart]
Rosie O’Donnell Says Her Child Believes Trump Forced Them to Leave U.S. [Breitbart]
Trump: Rep. Omar Should Be Thrown ‘The Hell Out’ Of U.S. [Breitbart]
White House Releases ‘Perfect’ Trump MRI Results, Shaming Democrats [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Can the U.S. Trust AI With National Security? [WSJ Ed]
New Jersey Attacks a Pregnancy Center’s Religious Liberty [WSJ Ed]
What Comes After Maduro Falls [WSJ Ed]
Trump Defies the Democrat-Media Cartel [WSJ Ed]
Trump’s Tweaks Will Help Endangered Species [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).
