Super Bowl prep
The Brand Brief 2.6.26: Bad Bunny, Nancy Guthrie, Scott Bessent, Russ Vought, the Clintons, Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, and Kid Rock
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…
1,245 words | 5 minute read | Written to be skimmable (13+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Go Seahawks
New Media Voices: Guthrie, and the Vought Assassination attempt
Leading FOX: Antifa arrests, Clintons
Trending and Pouncing: Guthrie, ICE, and Epstein
What the Right is Writing: Wall to wall Guthrie
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
First, go Seahawks.
Second, Sunday and the early part of next week will be dominated by clips, hot takes, and reactions to the biggest TV event of the year - the game, the ads, and of course, the Bad Bunny halftime show.
This is not a wild prediction, but this year’s game has drawn extra intrigue from conservative media. - NRB
I would love to hear your feedback - survey here. Thank you!
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 2/5
Multiple ransom letters demand billions in Bitcoin for Nancy Guthrie by 5 PM today, no proof of life provided or persons of interest, Brian Entin of NewsNation reacts
Former FBI agents and profilers Jim Fitzgerald and Jonathan Gilliam analyze the family ransom video as professionally guided to humanize Nancy and seek proof of life without triggering a captor
Actor Kelsey Grammer discusses how he overcame the murders of his father and sister, being a conservative in Hollywood
The Ben Shapiro Show - 2/5
Shapiro mocks the Washington Post layoffs, arguing the paper is a failing business rather than a charity for activist journalists
He supports Border Czar Tom Homan’s decision to withdraw federal agents, guest Gene Hamilton, President of America First Legal, joins to defend the legality of administrative warrants
Shapiro highlights Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent’s congressional testimony, praising his defense of Trump-era economic growth against attacks from Reps. Maxine Waters and Stephen Lynch
Shapiro warns that despite positive economic indicators, the ballooning national debt remains an ignored existential threat
The Michael Knowles Show - 2/5
Knowles mocks Minnesota liberals for establishing community checkpoints, arguing they inadvertently reinvented border patrol
He praises VP JD Vance for refusing to apologize to a leftist agitator, highlighting the effectiveness of rejecting false premises, analyzes President Trump’s reaffirmed support for a Vance-Rubio ticket
Knowles calls the MTA’s Rosa Parks tribute a “secular religious ritual” while contrasting it with underreported vandalism of a Catholic school
The episode concludes with Prince Andrew’s eviction and the Polish Prime Minister’s claim that Jeffrey Epstein acted as a spy
The Isabel Brown Show - 2/5
Brown warns Virginia is becoming a “test lab” for authoritarian policies, citing proposed legislation involving aggressive taxes and gun bans
Brown highlights a bill that would classify “Islamophobia” as assault and battery, others eliminate mandatory sentences for violent crimes
Former VA State Delegate Nick Freitas joins to confirm the reality of these proposals, urges conservatives to stop ignoring state-level politics
Timcast IRL - 2/5
Guest Chrissie Mayr joins the panel to discuss the attempted assassination of OMB Director Russ Vought, 26-year-old Colin DeMarco was obsessed with Luigi Mangione and possessed a “body disposal guide” and a loaded .357 Magnum
The panel mocked the ineffective barricades of anti-ICE rioters, the arrest of Kyle Wagner for threatening to dox and kill agents
A New York jury awarded $2 million to a detransitioned woman who underwent a double mastectomy at age 16, panelists called it a landmark case that could fight against child abuse
Jonathan Perkins, UCLA’s former Director of Race & Equity, is suing for getting fired for publicly celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Panelists question what could happen if the Iran denuclearization talks go wrong, theorize on whether military action will be necessary
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
Pima County law enforcement say they believe Nancy Guthrie is still alive, but have no persons of interest, first ransom note deadline is today
President Trump says he feels younger than he is, everyone is screaming “GOAT, GOAT” at him in NBC interview
Kamala Harris revives her campaign headquarters account
Rep. Maxine Waters throws a fit during the Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent hearing
California Rep. Jared Huffman goes barefoot on the House floor in a tribute for deceased Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir
FOX & Friends
The Nancy Guthrie case continues with no video footage or persons of interest, doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 AM and her fitness watch disconnected at 2:28 AM, father of JonBenet Ramsey reacts
The US and Iran hold joint nuclear talks in Oman
The Seahawks and the Patriots gear up for Super Bowl Sunday
Dr. Mehmet Oz explains how the admin was able to substantially drop prescription drug prices
The family of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe shares his recovery journey after getting shot by a terrorist while on patrol in DC
Bill and Hillary Clinton demand a public hearing in Jeffrey Epstein investigation
Kid Rock is interviewed ahead of his “All American Halftime Show” hosted by TPUSA
FOX Newsroom
The Guthrie family makes a plea to Nancy’s captor as the first ransom deadline is at 5 PM tonight, FBI offers a $50k award for information
Peace talks begin in Oman, discussing the denuclearization of Iran
The White House announces a discount drug website titled TrumpRx to offer most-favored-nation drug prices
The alleged leader of the Benghazi attacks has been arrested, Trey Gowdy reacts as the FBI conducts a live press conference
A self-described Antifa member has been arrested in Minnesota for making death threats against ICE officers
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
Terrifying sight as NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani calls on America to look to Islam and the “Prophet Muhammad” to support a pro-mass migration stance. [X, Daugherty]
Jaw-dropping report finds Rep. Rashida Tlaib is tied to known terror groups. [X, Daugherty]
Liberals are now calling to put conservatives into reeducation camps. [X, LibsofTikTok]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Nancy Guthrie’s son sends captors message after alleged ransom note deadline [FOX News]
Second deadline in alleged Nancy Guthrie ransom demand ‘far more consequential’ [FOX News]
Authorities share new details in Nancy Guthrie disappearance as FBI offers $50K reward [FOX News]
Breitbart
Invisible Coup’ Author Peter Schweizer: Defeating Weaponized Immigration Is ‘Battle Over the Future of Our Country’ [Breitbart]
Top Democrats Demand ICE Shutdown in DHS Budget Battle [Breitbart]
Rand Paul: ICE Agents Wearing Masks Is ‘Inappropriate’ [Breitbart]
Trump Responds to Savannah Guthrie Mother Disappearance [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Trump’s Call to ‘Nationalize’ Voting [WSJ Ed]
Gerrymander Vindication for Chief Justice John Roberts [WSJ Ed]
The ‘Iranian Lobby’ and the Rights Watch [WSJ Ed]
Virginia Gov. Spanberger Enters Stage Left [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
‘No contact’ culture is ripping apart families as Beckham drama brings clashes to light [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Palestinian Authority To Pay $315 Million to Terrorists and Their Families Across Middle East in 2026, Watchdog Report Reveals [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Sen. Tom Cotton unveils legislation to withhold funds from sanctuary states [Reporter]
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