Actionable media intel to cut through the noise and keep you ahead: The Brand Brief delivers a daily snapshot of trending stories in 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…

1,584 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)

What Matters: Let’s chat about Epstein (maybe?)
New Media Voices: Epstein, Fetterman, and Crockett
Leading FOX: Antifa, Checks for TSA, Schumer downfall
Trending and Pouncing: Crumbs, Michelle Obama, Hasan Piker
What the Right is Writing: Vance, SNAP, Seattle mayor

✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…

Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…

A divide worth watching: who in the conservative media ecosystem is talking about Jeffrey Epstein?

Megyn Kelly and Ben Shapiro spent time on their shows discussing the latest developments, and criticized Democrats and the media for their selective coverage (see below). The WSJ Editorial Board also shared its thoughts in today’s paper.
FOX News has stayed away from the topic (nothing to see below, because no mention in today’s morning news programs). But on the opinion side, Jesse Watters ran a segment last night titled Epstein Hoax Falls Flat which Trump shared this morning.
The latest and what’s next? President Trump himself weighed in on TRUTH, and the House will be voting on the public release of documents on Monday.

Epstein 101. For those who have not followed the Epstein story or need a refresher, this Ross Douthat interview with Julie K. Brown is a good crash course. Brown was the Miami Herald investigative reporter whose work led to Epstein's re-arrest. - NRB

Subscribe now

You’re receiving an early access version of The Brand Brief. I would love to hear your feedback - survey here. Thank you!

🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES

The Megyn Kelly Show - 11/13

Kelly criticizes corporate media for attempting to tie Trump to Epstein’s crimes in newly subpoenaed emails despite no evidence, says it detracts from the victims
Kelly predicted there were unreleased tapes of Epstein speaking, which came true when Michael Wolff shared tapes of him criticizing Trump
Epstein calls Trump a “friendless man,” a serial cheater, and to blame for his legal troubles
Tapes reveal Epstein, Michael Wolff, Steve Bannon, and former Obama counsel Katherine Rummler attempting to fix Epstein’s image after the Miami Herald exposé
Additional emails reveal continued connections to figures like Larry Summers, Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew

The Ben Shapiro Show - 11/13

Democrats only released three emails selectively tying Epstein to Trump, Republicans retaliated with 20,000 showing no tie to sex crimes
A petition to release additional files passed the House with 218 votes, but Shapiro says it is likely to fail in the Senate
Trump ended the 43-day government shutdown after Democrats achieved no bargains, funds the government through January 30th
As some inflation continues and the public fears an AI market bust, Trump’s fiscal ratings have dropped to 39%
Shapiro critiques MTG and Massie for siding with Democrats, the next socialist Seattle mayor, and Michelle Obama’s new book

The Michael Knowles Show - 11/13

Due to high deportations the U.S. is on track for the first net negative migration in 50 years, White House supports H-1B visas
Knowles says Michelle Obama’s claim that Black beauty is uniquely powerful and requires education is just another way of being racist
Knowles warns that an AI stock crash would devastate both the economy and Republican midterms
Sen. John Fetterman said in a CNN interview that the far left is more violent than the right, giving examples of his own death threats
Other topics include white men dominating podcasts, JFK’s grandson running for Congress, trans bathroom use, and a gay couple getting confirmed by a priest

Family Matters with C.J. Pearson - 11/13

Pearson criticizes white liberals for self-degradation, like progressive radio host Stephanie Miller kissing Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s feet
Pearson says Crockett tries to “act hood” despite her elite history, hopes she runs for Texas Senator because it would be a Republican sweep
Trump ends the longest government shutdown in history thanks to Democrats prioritizing healthcare for illegals over hungry Americans
Pearson argues disillusionment over race-baiting by the left will drive more Black celebrities to the right, such as Nicki Minaj and Rick Ross
A lesbian singer, Tish Hyman, confronted California politician Scott Wiener over his trans bathroom policy after she was harassed by a man claiming to be female at her gym locker room

📺 LEADING FOX NEWS

A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…

The Five

After Mamdani’s win, Seattle’s next mayor Katie Wilson also a socialist
AOC says she “fully welcomes” Trump voters to join the socialist movement
Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews says Democrats have lost all working class appeal, while Sen. Fetterman says on CNN the left is more violent than the right
Various Democrats claim the shutdown fight was to improve Americans’ lives despite stripping people of jobs, pay, flights, and SNAP
Tish Hyman, who was harassed in an LA Gold’s Gym, presses state senator Scott Wiener on his trans bathroom policy
Harris claims she played “3D chess” against Trump on her book tour

FOX & Friends

After Trump’s controversial calls for 50-year mortgages and more H1-B visas, Vance doubled down on affordability through mass deportations
Inflation is outpacing wage growth for both low-income and middle class families
Katie Couric tried to get Sen. Fetterman to call Trump undemocratic, denounce Charlie Kirk
The White House advances its fight against Antifa abroad, looks into combatting AI hacking attacks by China
BBC issues an apology after Trump threatened a lawsuit over a doctored clip of his January 6th speech
Trump Admin to lower tariffs on banana, coffee imports
In Vance’s Hannity interview, he argues Chuck Schumer destroyed his own career, discusses his friendship with Marco Rubio
Sec. of Homeland Security Kristi Noem awards $10,000 bonuses to TSA agents who worked through the shutdown without pay
Homeschooling numbers continue to grow even after COVID, with 6% of American families opting for the alternative schooling option
Senator Elizabeth Warren and mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani held a private meeting to discuss the cost of his socialist policies
High school students are interviewed on why they’re starting a TPUSA chapter despite teachers pushing against it
The body of a West Virginia miner, 42-year-old Steve Lipscomb, was discovered in a flooded tunnel after last seen rescuing his coworkers
New “Abandoned Paradise” documentary reveals Newsom, Bass’ incompetence during the LA fires disaster
Melania Trump introduces husband’s executive order to strengthen foster care system
Flight reductions still at 6% as airports recover from the shutdown

FOX Newsroom

Lara Trump supports Sen. Fetterman standing behind Charlie Kirk
USS Gerald Ford approaches Venezuela as a part of the recent fight against narco-terrorism, labeled Operation Southern Spear
14 charged in another sports betting scheme, this time in New Jersey
Antifa-associated foreign groups are now labeled terror groups by the White House
Trump threatens billion-dollar lawsuit against BBC for editing J6 speech
Sec. of Homeland Security Kristi Noem issued $10,000 bonuses to TSA employees who worked through the shutdown without pay
NYC mayor-elect Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji’s art features anti-Israel messaging, called it a genocide just a month after October 7th
Country singer Chris Janson says AI songs are “theft” against musicians
A federal judge demands the release of 600 Chicago ICE detainees
A SF Bay Area high school football coach has been shot in Oakland
Larry Kudlow talks about how the admin will fight the housing crisis
Socialist Katie Wilson wins the Seattle mayoral race
Numerous Democrats call for Chuck Schumer to step down
DNC union staffers express outrage over returning to in-person work
Blue Origin rocket successfully launches Mars mission rocket

🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING

Tomorrow’s news today: highlights from the conversation on the right and what conservatives are “pouncing” on…

More weird dancing at ICE protests [X, FOX News]
Elitist Democrats call No Tax on Tips “crumbs” [X, Martinez]
Michelle Obama: Whites are “trapping black people” in “hair standards” that harm their capability to do work [X, End Wokeness]
Jack Schlossberg, Democrat candidate for Congress and Kennedy family member does nazi salute [X, Levine]
Hunter Biden launches *horrific* attack on @mirandadevine, who covered his scandals [X, Cohen]
Hasan Piker glossy Variety profile mocked, especially for his attacks on Gal Gadot [X, Variety]

🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING

Leading FOX News Digital

Vance says why the left is willing to ‘burn down’ America [FOX News]
President Trump’s sweet Oval Office moment goes viral [FOX News]
Pop star collapses mid-performance, sparking concern [FOX News]

Top of Breitbart

Rollins: We’re Going to Make ‘Everyone Reapply’ for SNAP to Ensure Integrity [Breitbart]
Trump Signs Bill to Reopen Government After 43 Days of Democrat Shutdown [Breitbart]
Chicago Judge Orders Release of 100s of Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE [Breitbart]
Marlow Warns GOP on H-1B Embrace: Not ‘America First’ [Breitbart]

Wall Street Journal Editorials

The Epstein Follies Return [WSJ Ed]
Climate Reality Hits Nantucket [WSJ Ed]
Yes, We Want No Banana Tariffs [WSJ Ed]
Seattle Elects Mamdani West [WSJ Ed]

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE NEWS?

On Brand Strategies would love to help you craft your message, drive a news cycle, or navigate the world of new media and conservative press. Learn more at OnBrandStrategies.com.

Say hello to Nathan (@NathanBrandWA on X or Nathan@OnBrandStrategies.com) and Carly (@realCarlyMoran on X or Carly@OnBrandStrategies.com).

Share The Brand Brief

Who is (not) talking about Jeffrey Epstein?