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đŁ Driving the ConversationâŚ
1,200 words | 5 minute read | Written to be skimmable (9+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Conservative media saw it coming
New Media Voices: Midterms, Ron DeSantis, and JD Vance
Leading FOX: Control of Congress, Byron Donalds, and the Palm Beach jet
What the Right is Writing: The Learjet, Trump, and Muslims
âď¸ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WEâRE GOINGâŚ
Nathanâs quick take on where weâre headedâŚ
DeSantis lets loose, Vance reflects, and the shows look ahead to 2028.
The post-election regrouping, reorganizing, and retooling of the Republican Party and conservative media is already underway. In the coming months, expect new show launches, media consolidation, and reshuffled lineups.
As I noted before polls closed Tuesday, the dip in ratings and shift in focus may have been an early election warning. Conservative media moved beyond politics in 2026, leaning into faith, murder trials, and cultural commentary. As Tuesday nightâs results showed, these shows were simply keeping up with their audiences. The shows will continue to adapt, and Republicans must do the same. - NRB
See the latest YouTube, Apple, and Spotify rankings for The Brand Briefâs Top 50 Conservative Podcasts here.
đď¸ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Ben Shapiro Show - 11/4
Shapiro argues Republicans lost the 2026 midterms because voters saw President Trumpâs second term as defined by unaffordability, not granular policy failures but an overall negative feeling
He blames tariffs and the execution of the Iran War for spiking costs, noting exit polls showed 49% cited living expenses as critical
Shapiro calls out corruption optics, citing Alina Habbaâs alleged $50 million pardon scheme and Trump-branded business ventures
He criticizes Trumpâs imperviousness to criticism as a fatal flaw, pointing to threats against the Fed chair and Truth Social rants
Shapiro contrasts Trumpâs $2.2 billion net worth increase and billionaire White House access, including Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, with voter anger over cost of living
The Michael Knowles Show - 11/4
Knowles calls the 2026 midterm results a âbrutal nightâ and âblue tsunamiâ as Democrats seize the House and Senate
He attributes Republican losses primarily to the Iran warâs impact on oil prices and inflation
Knowles warns Democrats winning the Texas governorship threatens southern border enforcement, though he notes Trump retains veto power
He compares 2026 to 1994, when Bill Clinton recovered after Newt Gingrichâs midterm wave, suggesting Trump could rebound by 2028
Knowles highlights wins in Florida while national Republicans collapsed, positioning Gov. Ron DeSantis as âTrump but betterâ
He celebrates ballot proposition victories on transgender sports bans and voter ID as a silver lining, while California rejected a 5% billionaire wealth tax
The Trish Regan Show - 11/4
Regan slams President Trumpâs decision to strike Iran as catastrophic for the midterms, blaming him for spiking oil prices above $4 per gallon and tanking his approval ratings
She points out FL Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly broke with Trump over the Iran war, criticizing the military actionâs impact on fuel prices and positioning himself as a fiscal conservative focused on AI development
Regan calls out Ken Paxtonâs flawed Texas candidacy, Trumpâs poor endorsement strategy, and the partyâs weak early voting ground game
She reacts to Rep. Robert Garcia threatening sweeping investigations into the âTrump crime familyâ upon becoming House Oversight Committee chairman
Regan defends Elon Musk against Scott Gallowayâs âtraitor to the Westâ attacks and Kara Swisherâs threats of prosecution
Keeping It Real with Jillian Michaels - 11/4
Michaels and guest Bill OâReilly argue the 2026 midterms were defined by vicious attack ads and voter disgust with both parties
OâReilly slams President Trump for breaking promises on deportation, the SAVE America Act, and dragging America into Iran
They warn against socialist policies including universal healthcare, rent freezes, and free college, that would cost $7 trillion annually
OâReilly predicts Democrats will weaponize investigations against Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Marco Rubio to paralyze the admin
OâReilly insists Republicans can win in 2028 with populists like VP J.D. Vance or Rubio if they deliver economic relief and cut healthcare costs
RealClearPolitics- 11/4
Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon analyze Democratsâ sweeping 2026 midterm victories, with Democrats winning both the House and Senate
Exit polls reveal only 25% of voters identified as MAGA and voted 96% Republican, but the remaining 75% of voters broke 71% for Democrats
VP JD Vance suggests Republicans lost because voters prioritized ending wars and affordability, signaling a potential 2028 run
Nikki Haley argues Republicans must return to traditional policies of economic freedom and national security
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries will become Speaker of the House, while Rep. Robert Garcia will take over the House Oversight Committee
đş LEADING FOX NEWS
FOX & Friends
Democrats take control of Congress for President Trumpâs final two years, as far-left Troy Jackson, James Talarico, Josh Turek, and Adam Hamilton flip historically red seats
Alaska continues to count votes, with the real Dan Sullivan slightly ahead, as the legal probe into Decoy Dan continues
The DSA shares a far-left 2027 wishlist of government-run healthcare, abolishing ICE, and an arms embargo on Israel
Byron Donalds becomes Floridaâs first Black governor, as Ashley Moody holds the Senate seat
Members of Congress are already pushing to investigate Trump, with Oversight Democrats telling him to lawyer up
Guest Brett Cooper backs the fight to protect girlsâ sports as Arizona and Nebraska vote to ban trans athletes from womenâs leagues
A 911 call captures the moment an Oregon dad fought against a school shooter
The National Transportation Safety Board reports the Palm Beach jet was breaking up in air before crashing
Dating experts say the âNovember theoryâ shows holidays put relationships to the test
đď¸ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Blue wave sweeps Democrats into House, Senate majorities [FOX News]
President Trump pledges to veto âinsaneâ Dem bills [FOX News]
US stock futures mixed as Dems score key election wins [FOX News]
Breitbart
Election Night LiveWire: Blue Wave or Bust for Democrats, America Votes as Both Chambers of Congress in Flux [Breitbart]
Muslims Push for Maximum Turnout: âIt Is Our Ethnic Dutyâ [Breitbart]
Trump Delivers Closing Midterm Message on National Mall [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The Trump Reckoning Arrives [WSJ Ed]
The Many Varieties of Medicaid Fraud [WSJ Ed]
The End of U.S. Aid to Israel? [WSJ Ed]
Sending Away the Next Elon Musk [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Hochul to head to Puerto Rico political junket, with plans to avoid pol who backed Blakeman [NYP]
Learjet expert reveals crucial mistake pilots made before horrific crash [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Welcome to the Madhouse: âItâs worse than anyone thoughtâ [WFB]
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