The pink bouncy ball
The Brand Brief 3.5.26: Markwayne Mullin, Michelle Obama, James Talarico, Mark Carney, Roger Stone, John Thune, Abigail Spanberger, and Gavin Newsom
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…
1,619 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (13+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Embracing new media
New Media Voices: Next steps in Iran and Texas
Leading FOX: Continued strikes in Iran, DHS funding, and Texas runoff
Trending: Capitol Hill protestor identity revealed
What the Right is Writing: Iran timeline
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
Markwayne Mullin is everywhere.
Senators joke that he can always be found in front of a TV camera. While that may be true (especially today), the real reason he seems omnipresent is that he has embraced new media tools more effectively than any Republican Senator.
From TikTok to Substack (here), and from FOX News to Benny Johnson’s podcast, Mullin floods the zone to share his message. The best part is that he clearly enjoys it - offering a behind-the-scenes look at life in Washington, family updates, explainers on complicated legislation, and even a whole video dedicated to his pink bouncy ball. - NRB
What do you think of The Brand Brief? Let us know.
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 3/4
Kelly discusses developments in America’s bombing campaign against Iran, the ongoing debate about if we’re at war, and allegations against her of antisemitism
She provides commentary on the Democratic Senate primary in Texas, focusing on Jasmine Crockett’s loss to James Talarico alongside guest Glenn Greenwald, who argues Democrats like Pete Buttigieg aren’t appealing to everyday people
They address Michelle Obama’s complaints on the Conan O’Brien Show
The Ben Shapiro Show - 3/4
Shapiro discusses a coalition he perceives as cowards and liars for opposing the United States’ actions in Iran
He criticizes Canadian PM Mark Carney for his claims about international law against Iran, argues Canada is irrelevant in military terms
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamani made comments about it being better for Iran to be without the Ayatollah while opposing military intervention
Shapiro says Gov. Gavin Newsom is pandering to anti-Israel sentiments, while Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren lie about the details of US military involvement in Iran
He criticizes the remarks of Texas Senate candidate James Talarico
The Michael Knowles Show - 3/4
Knowles discusses the first major upsets in the 2026 primaries, highlighting Dan Crenshaw’s defeat by Steve Toth, backed by Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson, as well as the runoff between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton
He argues there’s been a shift toward more radical candidates among the GOP base seeking a double down on Trump’s policies
While making fun of Jasmine Crockett, Knowles argues James Talarico is a radical candidate who postures himself under the guide of Christianity
Trump expresses doubts about Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as the next leader of Iran
Knowles discusses recent hype about aliens, how people are using drugs to try to speak to non–human entities
Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 3/4
Stuckey discusses the implications of the recent conflict in Iran and what it might mean for the end times according to Christian beliefs, presents various viewpoints on the justification of war from a Christian perspective, contrasting her views with those of Pope Leo
She addresses the mass shooting in Austin committed by a Senegalese man with an Iranian flag, shirt with “Property of Allah”
She celebrates the overturning of some California trans student policies
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 3/4
Rep. Thomas Massie comments on how the War Powers Resolution relates to Iran, saying it is Congress’s constitutional duty to vote on war, says the powers need to be reevaluated in light of modern warfare
Political consultant Roger Stone focuses on the JFK files, giving his thoughts on the Bay of Pigs and his assassination
Jashinsky contrasts Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico’s campaign styles and funding sources in the Texas Senate race
She argues a Virginia mother never should have been stabbed at a bus stop by an illegal migrant, who had a clearly violent, criminal history
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
The Iraqi Kurds launch an attack on Iran, Sec. of War Pete Hegseth lauds the military for hitting 2,000 targets without boots on the ground, Press Sec. Karoline Leavitt says Iran is “paying in blood”
The Senate doesn’t have the votes to pass a War Power Resolution, limiting Trump’s abilities in the Middle East, California Gov. Gavin Newsom compares Israel to an “apartheid state”
Jasmine Crockett concedes to James Talarico in the Texas Senate Democrat primary
In a House fraud hearing, Rep. James Comer calls out Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison for ignoring years of Minnesota fraud
FOX & Friends
Iranian missile launches have dropped by 86% after U.S. strikes, the military took out Iran’s most powerful warship with missiles
The Democrat vote on a War Powers Resolution fails in the Senate, the House will vote today, Sen. Dave McCormick reacts
Gov. Gavin Newsom calls Israel an apartheid state
Thousands of Americans are stuck in the region, the State Department reports more than 17k citizens have safely returned
The state of Nebraska is pursuing legal action against the video game company Roblox for allegations of sexual exploitation of children
The black gloves in the Nancy Guthrie case are traced back to a restaurant employee with zero ties to the investigation
Famed football coach Lou Holtz died yesterday at the age of 89
The man who stabbed a Virginia woman to death at a bus stop was an illegal immigrant with a multi-offense violent criminal history
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellision testified before Congress yesterday on the state’s pervasive fraud issue
The Florida Captiva Islands are still recovering from a series of three hurricanes as Spring Break approaches
Texas Senate candidate James Talarico says our border should have a “big welcome mat,” Trump will endorse John Cornyn or Ken Paxton soon, TIME Magazine claims Texas is in play
The House and Senate will vote on a DHS funding bill, as some agents and employees go on without pay
The CDC is helping Greenville, SC contain a measles outbreak
A federal judge blocked a Virginia law that would have limited minors’ usage of social media to under an hour a day
A Texas judge refuses to close Camp Mystic, one girl’s body is still missing
Mississippi is looking to make NIL payments for athletes tax-exempt
A man was shot by officers near El Paso, TX in a border shootout
FOX Newsroom
The U.S. uses precision strike missiles for the first time in Iran operation, IDF intensifies attacks on Beirut and Tehran, State Dept. mobilizes evacuation flights for American citizens, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs says the Iraqi Kurds are assisting the U.S., ally Azerbaijan’s international airport hit
UK PM Keir Starmer says they are sticking to clean energy despite war
An assassination suspect is in court after saying he was recruited by the Iranian government to take out President Trump, Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley
Senate Majority Leader John Thune reacts to the failed passage of the War Powers Act, the House votes on the act today
Rapidan Energy Group President Bob McNally reports on spiking oil prices, U.S. navy may begin aiding oil tankers
Former White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove reacts to the Texas Senate race, warns about James Talarico, Trump says he’ll pick a GOP nominee soon
Savannah Guthrie visits the Today Show set more than a month since her mother’s disappearance
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger refuses to assist ICE with deporting the illegal migrant who stabbed a mother to death at a bus stop
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison were pressed on their involvement in covering up the state’s fraud scandal since 2019
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
It was just confirmed that Trump has a higher approval rating than both Barack Obama and George Bush at this point in their 2nd terms — RealClearPolitics [X, Daugherty]
Brian McGinnis — the protestor who resisted Capitol Police and got hauled out — has been exposed as an ardent pro-Islam, pro-Hamas and pro-illegal alien mouthpiece [X, Daugherty]
Kate Couric walks through brutal California stats in front of Gavin Newsom [X, Cohen]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
US-Israel blitz cripples Iran as uncontested airspace nears [FOX News]
UK reverses course on Iran strikes as suspected drone hits British base [FOX News]
$4.2M US torpedo detonates under Iranian warship in historic ‘No Mercy’ strike [FOX News]
Breitbart
Azerbaijan Latest Country Hit by Iran Drones [Breitbart]
Zelensky Worried World Could Forget About Ukraine Because of Iran [Breitbart]
Dem to Angel Families: Sorry, But Americans are More Violent than Illegals [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The Washington Iran War Pessimists [WSJ Ed]
Gavin Newsom’s Climate Tax Hike [WSJ Ed]
Ominous Texas Signals for Republicans [WSJ Ed]
Vance’s German Friends Are Wrong on Iran [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
The dark secret behind the furious Bad Bunny Superbowl performance controversy that divided America [NYP]
Cartel boss El Mencho’s daughter found running a California coffee shop — inside her shocking family history [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Kennedy Scion Jack Schlossberg Had No ‘Earned Income’ in 2025 But Has Four Trust Funds, Disclosures Show [WFB]
NEED HELP NAVIGATING CONSERVATIVE MEDIA?
On Brand Strategies can assist you in getting booked on shows, placing op-eds, and navigating the conservative media. Learn more at OnBrandStrategies.com.