“We warned you”
The Brand Brief 12.16.25: Vanity Fair, Ella Cook, Rob Reiner, Brown University, Erika Kirk, Ilhan Omar, Bondi Beach, and NYE terror plot
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…
1,470 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Conservative media and Vanity Fair
New Media Voices: Rob Reiner and Erika Kirk
Leading FOX: Brown University shooting
Trending and Pouncing: Ilhan Omar isn’t going anywhere
What the Right is Writing: (Sort of) remembering Rob Reiner
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
The Vanity Fair story has a little something for everyone.
In conversations Tuesday with conservative media friends, there is a collective refrain: “We warned you.” As one put it: “The White House let Vanity Fair inside the gates and didn’t think they’d get bit!”
The episode is yet another reminder of why conservative media matters. The ecosystem is larger, louder, and more influential than ever - reaching millions of Americans. There is no shortage of outlets willing to give the right a fair shake. Yet Washington keeps dancing with the same partner and acting surprised when it ends badly.
It’s like watching a buddy get back with his monster of an ex. We all knew it was not going to end well. - NRB
I would love to hear your feedback - survey here. Thank you!
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 12/15
Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were found stabbed to death, son Nick is the lead suspect with a history of drug addiction
Kelly expresses concern about the messy local investigation of the Brown University shooting, with limited descriptions of the suspect
A father and son killed at least 15 in an ISIS terror attack at an Australian Hanukkah celebration, owned six firearms despite strict gun laws
Be it the LAPD’s vague updates on the Reiner case, or Providence PD’s mishandling of the Brown shooting, Kelly says better action must be taken
Kelly calls for a return to positivity, referencing Erika Kirk’s forgiveness following her meeting with Candace Owens
The Ben Shapiro Show - 12/15
A father-and-son duo of radical Muslims killed 15 Jewish celebrants and injured 40 at a Hanukkah event, hero Ahmed Al Ahmed disarmed one shooter as the police took 20 minutes to respond
A gunman opened fire during a Brown University study session, killing two students, including Ella Cook, VP of the College Republicans
Shapiro calls for offering condolences transcending political differences following the murder of director Rob Reiner and his wife
Trump vows retaliation after an ISIS agent killed three Americans, including two Iowan National Guard soldiers and a civilian interpreter
In a final squeeze before the New Year, Republicans look to pass a healthcare bill, the Supreme Court weighs tariffs, and the US pressures Ukraine on peace deal
The Michael Knowles Show - 12/15
A gunman, still at large, killed two students at a Brown University study session, Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy blames Trump
Australian PM Anthony Albanese calls for even stricter gun laws after Hanukkah mass shooting, rather than acknowledging Islamic terror
Following Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife’s murder, Knowles thanks Reiner for his kind response to Charlie Kirk’s death
Knowles says Erika Kirk faced an inappropriate audience question asking her to condemn Trump’s “violent rhetoric” during Bari Weiss’ CBS interview
Chile joins a string of conservative Latin America electoral wins
UK House of Lords member Charlie Falconer supports assisted suicide
Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 12/15
A gunman fired more than 40 rounds into the Brown University engineering building, killing two students and injuring nine
Stuckey addresses how radical Islam is the cause of this weekend’s Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre, citing Australia’s strict gun laws
Charlie Kirk’s accused murderer made his first court appearance smirking and wearing a tie with trans flag colors
Stuckey encourages conservatives to avoid divisions on foreign policy and focus on the economy during midterms
Dick Van Dyke turned 100 this week, attributing his longevity to avoiding anger
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 12/15
Jashinsky thanks her followers for their support since June, celebrating the 50th episode of the “After Party” podcast
Guest Batya Ungar-Sargon says she is grateful for America’s support of Jewish citizens, in contrast to the Hanukkah terror attack in Australia
Batya advocates for massively reduced immigration rates to aid U.S. workers, saying mass migration depresses wages
In response to Bari Weiss’ comments about social media brainrot, they discuss the divide between content creators and kitchen-table issues
Jashinsky welcomes Kamala Harris’ potential 2028 run as entertainment, discusses class diversity in Congress, “sweet spot” on immigration, and healthcare policy
Jashinsky reflects on Trump’s post on Rob Reiner, reflects on his “All in the Family” show’s legacy
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
At least 15 killed in Bondi Beach, Australia Hanukkah terror attack
Providence, RI police release new footage pertaining to the Brown University shooter
Rob Reiner’s son is booked with murder charges, no bail based on evidence he stabbed his parents to death
FOX & Friends
The Brown University shooter is still armed and on the loose
Ahmed al Ahmed, the hero who tackled one of the Bondi Beach shooters, remains in the hospital, guest former Sec. of State Mike Pompeo talks Islamic extremism
Nick Reiner is expected in court, charged with parents’ murders
The army identifies Sgts. William Nathaniel Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar as the two soldiers killed by ISIS in Syria
Guest Sen. Dave McCormick talks about VP Vance visiting Pennsylvania to continue Trump’s message of affordability
SpaceX is seeking Wall Street advisors for their IPO
Brian Walshe has been found guilty of murdering his wife
Erika Kirk and Candace Owens say they plan on sharing more public details soon, but had a successful 4 ½ hour meeting
The FBI averted a pro-Palestine Los Angeles NYE terror plot that planted five IED explosions across the city
The November unemployment rate was up to 4.6%
FOX Newsroom
Rob Reiner’s son Nick is scheduled to appear in court this morning
Surveillance footage shows the Brown University shooter walking through Providence, RI, guest Ella Cook’s friend Phoebe Peus shares memories
Guest former DOJ prosecutor Jim Trusty explains how a Los Angeles NYE terror attack was thwarted by the FBI
Erika Kirk says she had a fruitful meeting with Candace Owens, after addressing Owens’ conspiracies surrounding Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Focus on affordability as November job numbers released, VP Vance travels to Pennsylvania and Speaker Johnson holds press conference
Rise of antisemitism fueled Australia attacks, Ayaan Hirsi Ali from Hoover Institute and NYP’s Miranda Devine interviewed
The House takes up a vote on healthcare this week, while the Senate held a classified briefing on the Venezuelan drug boat strikes today
Gen Z turns to faith, interview with a New York City priest
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
Ilhan Omar claims investigations into her marrying her brother are “sick” [X, LibsOfTikTok]
Rubio on Capitol Hill: Cartel strikes will continue [X, Daugherty]
Republican Club VP Ella Cook was killed on campus 3 days ago and officials still know “nothing.” [X, End Wokeness]
Minnesota State Rep Alex Falconer is operating a “resistance network” against ICE [X, Libs of TikTok]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Reiner family neighbor reveals son’s troubled past [FOX News]
Brown University shooting timeline reveals hours of fear [FOX News]
Erika Kirk shares update after meeting with Candace Owens [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Private Sector Added Jobs in October and November Even As Government Payrolls Shrank [Breitbart]
Trump Doubles Down on Rob Reiner’s Death: ‘Wasn’t a Fan at All’ [Breitbart]
Whoopi Goldberg: Trump’s Comments on Reiner’s Death Shameless, Low [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The GOP’s Better Healthcare Ideas [WSJ Ed]
A New Journal Opinion Offering [WSJ Ed]
After the Jimmy Lai Verdict [WSJ Ed]
Ford Learns a Brutal EV Lesson [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Inside Candace Owens’ ‘sadistic and dangerous’ world monetizing baseless conspiracies [NYP]
Behind the scenes Inside Rob Reiner’s other Hollywood — the one that ran California politics [NYP]
US education group instructs teachers on ‘neopronouns,’ ‘xeopronouns’ and battling conservative ‘villains’ [NYP]
HHS probes whether billions in taxpayer money sent to Minnesota was fueled ‘illegal and mass migration’ [NYP]
The Washington Free Beacon
Abdul El-Sayed Proposed Commuting All Sentences for Juveniles Facing Life in Prison [WFB]
NEED HELP NAVIGATING CONSERVATIVE MEDIA?
On Brand Strategies would love to help you navigate the conservative media ecosystem. Learn more at OnBrandStrategies.com, or connect with Nathan (Nathan@OnBrandStrategies.com) and Carly (Carly@OnBrandStrategies.com).
