What’s your excuse? You’ve only had 249 years to prepare
The Brand Brief 12.11.25: America 250, Golden Globes, Gold Card, Jasmine Crockett, Elon Musk, Michigan coach, Erika Kirk, and bathroom doors
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…
1,542 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: 250th planning
New Media Voices: Crockett, Globes, and Elon
Leading FOX: U of Michigan football coach and Gold Cards
Trending and Pouncing: Trans kids and white guilt
What the Right is Writing: Minnesota fraud and Wes Moore
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
In my conversations with newsrooms and executives, nearly every conservative media group is making special coverage plans for America 250 in the lead-up to July 4th. The Daily Wire is teaming up with Young America’s Foundation, The Free Press has an event series and a new newsletter, and FOX News has already done extensive coverage. Plus, the year will bring its fair share of news, particularly left-wing controversies (conservative backlash forced filmmaker Ken Burns to make a correction to his American Revolution documentary). Plus, don’t forget about Trump’s epic UFC plans in June at the White House. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 12/10
New reporting reveals the NRSC orchestrated polls to propel Rep. Jasmine Crockett into the TX Senate race, as an easier to beat candidate against incumbent John Cornyn
Guest Andrew Klavan joins to discuss the Golden Globes’ new podcast category that will naturally overlook conservative talent
Klavan encourages conservatives to build parallel infrastructure award ceremonies and production companies to support blacklisted artists
Kelly and Klavan prefer Paramount over Netflix in the Warner Bros acquisition battle, as it limits liberal programming and antitrust issues
Guest Gary Brecka, a biologist, encourages prioritizing sleep, whole foods, and daily walking over pharmaceutical solutions
The Ben Shapiro Show - 12/10
For the first time in 30 years, a Democrat, Eileen Higgins, won the Miami mayoral election
As Trump describes affordability issues as a “Democrat hoax,” Shapiro says income gains (10-15%) lag behind price increases (20-25%)
Republicans face criticism for not extending Obamacare subsidies, but Shapiro says the GOP gets blamed for the Democrats’ creation of dependencies
Shapiro promotes deregulation over tariffs, out of concern for harming farmers’ exports and rising consumer costs
An upcoming senate hearing with Sen. Joni Ernst and Daily Wire reporter Luke Rosiak will expose DEI fraud in the 8A program
The Michael Knowles Show - 12/10
Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s first policy idea since announcing her run for Texas Senate is to exempt all taxes for Black Americans
The “Wizz” app, marketed as a Tinder for teens, has led to multiple cases of minor sexual assault and rape
In response to rumors that Elon Musk, an immigrant, doesn’t pay taxes, Knowles cites data proving he pays $11-18 billion annually
In religious news, Trump put out a statement honoring the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and Elon Musk says he is a deist but has not been baptized
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene continues her attacks on Trump on CNN, meanwhile the admin rescued over 62,000 migrant children from sex trafficking and child labor
After Party with Emily Jashinsky- 12/10
Jashinsky covers how Megyn Kelly withdrew her podcast from Golden Globes consideration, citing the awards as left-wing controlled
Guest Maureen Callahan covers Sydney Sweeney’s neutral People Magazine interview, says it’s likely a move encouraged by her manager
50 Cent produces a Netflix documentary about Sean “Diddy” Combs, which accuses him of being involved in Biggie Smalls’ death
Jashinsky and Callahan speculate on why Meghan Markle delayed her note to her father Thomas after his leg amputation
Jashinsky covers Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s CNN interview where she attempts to clarify her “slave mentality” comment on Latino Trump voters
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
Trump interview on AF1 interrupted by bathroom door, says Ilhan Omar “does nothing but b—!”, and he campaigns in Pennsylvania on affordability
The New York Times says Kamala Harris isn’t ready to be written off, after she says she’ll go down in history with a marble bust in Congress
The U.S. military seizes a Venezuelan oil tanker off the coast of Cuba
Comedian David Spade slams a mall tree lighting for not using the word Christmas during the ceremony
Erika Kirk addresses disrespectful conspiracies surrounding Charlie’s death
FOX & Friends
Erika Kirk rips into disrespectful conspiracies surrounding Charlie’s death; the judge in the murder case weighing whether to ban courtroom cameras
Trump introduces $1 million “Gold Card” citizenship visas
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will meet with the EU today, plans to give a revised peace plan to Trump, says he is open to an election during wartime
The Senate votes today on a revised GOP healthcare plan
Multiple teen boys have committed suicide after falling victim to sextortion scams
Florida deputies bust a $1 million sneaker heist ring when one suspect stopped at a Wawa gas station for an energy drink
An ex-University of Michigan football coach has been jailed after being fired for assault allegations
Guest former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema discusses the importance of AI data centers for national security
A police officer testifies on reading Miranda Rights, taking Luigi Mangione’s backpack without a search warrant
Guest Sec. of Interior Doug Burgum says AI is a force that will help people with their jobs and national security
DHS is purchasing a fleet of Boeing 737s for deportation purposes
FOX Newsroom
The U.S. military seizes a Venezuelan oil tanker off the coast of Cuba
Rep. Michael McCaul interviewed before DHS Sec. Kristi Noem’s hearing on global terror threats; protesters interrupt Noem’s hearing
Charlie Kirk’s murder suspect makes first appearance in court; Erika Kirk demands cameras in courtroom “to expose evil for what it truly is”
In Florida, 4 men were charged in a million dollar sneaker heist
University of Michigan’s head coach was fired for sexual misconduct, arrested just weeks before bowl game
Trump was bumped by the AF1 bathroom door during gaggle
Guest Sen. Majority Leader John Thune explains the vote today on dueling partisan healthcare plans
The Trump admin launches $1 million “Gold Visa” cards
The Federal Reserve cuts interest rates again by 0.25%
A biotech company testing a vaccine cure to combat the deadly effects of fentanyl
Guest Hugh Hewitt discusses how Gavin Newsom has finally admitted his border failures under Biden
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
Sec. Kristi Noem to Rep. Shri Thanedar: “I will consider your asking me to resign as an endorsement of my work.” [X, Rapid Response 47]
Rep. Bennie Thompson refers to the terrorist attack against two National Guardsmen in DC as an “unfortunate accident.” [X, Price]
NCTC Director Joe Kent: “18,000 known and suspected terrorists the Biden administration let come into our country.” [X, Daugherty]
Kentucky Rep. Sarah Stalker says white children need the opportunity to feel bad about their skin color in K-12 educational settings [X, Cooperrider]
Newsom: “I want to see trans kids… There’s no governor that’s done more pro-trans legislation than I have.” [X, RNC Research]
Seattle’s next mayor: “I believe you should be able to raise a family in an apartment, as I am. And that the city should be your living room, & the park should be your backyard.” [X, Elliott]
Luxury cars and private villas: See how Minnesota fraudsters spent millions intended for hungry kids [CBS News]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Erika Kirk blasts conspiracy theories surrounding husband Charlie Kirk’s death [FOX News]
Trump administration captures sanctioned oil vessel in rare military operation [FOX News]
Millions of illegal immigrants leave the US in record-breaking year under Trump [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
U.S. Trade Deficit Lowest Since 2020: $10B Beneath Expectations [Breitbart]
Data: 81% of Somali Households in Minnesota Are on Taxpayer-Funded Welfare [Breitbart]
U.S. Seizes Cuba-Bound Oil Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Trump Says Chips Ahoy to Xi Jinping [WSJ Ed]
Europe Is Failing Ukraine on Military Aid [WSJ Ed]
A Divided Fed Cuts Rates Again—but Why? [WSJ Ed]
Nation-Building in Gaza—for Hamas [WSJ Ed]
The New York Post Exclusives
Ilhan Omar’s flamboyant ‘dirty dandy’ second husband surfaces in S. Africa as Trump accuses duo of being siblings [NYP]
Restaurant owned by famed NYC news anchor robbed of $2.5M by brazen staffer who used cash to buy house [NYP]
The Washington Free Beacon
Wes Moore Won a Key White House Post Claiming He Was ‘Touted as a Foremost Expert’ on Radical Islam and Was Studying for an Oxford PhD—But His Thesis Is ‘Missing’ and There’s No Evidence He Was Ever a Doctoral Student [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).
