Who wins? YouTube, Spotify, Apple or Amazon
The Brand Brief 5.7.26: Kim Kardashian, Katie Porter, Nick Shirley, Sabrina Carpenter, Heidi Klum, Pope Leo, Chris Pratt, and Clarence Thomas
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…
1,649 words | 7 minute read | Written to be skimmable (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: How podcasts are consumed
New Media Voices: Nick Shirley and Hasan Piker
Leading FOX: From NY to LA
Trending: Clarence Thomas and the mayoral race
What the Right is Writing: Iran, Cuba, and Disney Cruises
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
The Reuters Institute’s latest study on podcasting confirms a major shift amongst Americans: YouTube is the king of news podcasts.
A few takeaways on American podcast consumption:
The pecking order: YouTube leads with 49% of American news listeners, followed by Spotify (40%), Apple Podcasts (26%), and, surprisingly strong, Amazon Music (18%).
Video is the Discovery Engine: While programs like The Daily and The Morning Wire prove video isn’t mandatory, it’s becoming the primary discovery tool for shows (ie clips). Interestingly, 26% of users now both watch and listen, while 6% are purely visual consumers. 13% are listen only, while 55% don’t consume podcasts.
The Bottom Line: In a deeply fragmented media landscape, these numbers help clarify where the attention is. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 5/6
Kelly criticizes California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter’s temperament and past controversies, like berating her staffer and pouring boiling potatoes on her ex-husband, alongside Sohrab Ahmari of Unherd, and Sean Davis of The Federalist
Guest Justice Neil Gorsuch promotes his children’s book Heroes of 1776 ahead of America250
Kelly looks into Barack Obama claiming Trump has hurt his marriage, and discusses his legacy on foreign policy, economics, and Russiagate
She discusses negotiations with Iran, and the impact on fuel prices and Trump’s approval rating
In a culture segment, Kelly talks about Blake Lively’s Met Gala appearance following her lawsuit settlement, Kim Kardashian failing the bar exam, and an update on the JP Morgan sexual assault case
The Ben Shapiro Show - 5/6
Shapiro argues figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens have gone so far in their beliefs that they are actually leftists now
He says because they are undermining American exceptionalism and free-market capitalism, while promoting racial divisions and opposing a global U.S. role, they are liberal
He describes this “new left” as an ideological alliance with both traditional radical Democrats and geopolitical rivals such as Russia, China, Iran, and Venezuela
Shapiro advocates for American leadership in AI and criticizes opposition, which he believes cedes global advantage to China
He discusses the federal government’s lawsuit against the New York Times for alleged anti-white bias
The Isabel Brown Show - 5/6
Nick Shirley talks about how he risked detention and had his equipment seized by the Cuban communist government
Shirley says life in Cuba is characterized by a severe humanitarian crisis, including mass poverty, critical shortages of essential goods like oil and food, and widespread power outages
Brown finds the response from American socialists like Hasan Piker disgusting, as he dismisses Shirley’s journalism as propaganda
Brown’s own 2016 visit to Cuba revealed a society where official claims of universal rights contradicted the observable lack of basic freedoms, functional healthcare, and economic equity
Timcast IRL - 5/6
The FBI raid on VA State Sen. L. Louise Lucas, related to a corruption probe and redistricting, underscores the panel’s bipartisan concerns about the political weaponization of government agencies
They highlight ongoing concerns regarding electoral integrity, including unconstitutional election rule changes in the 2020 election, the refusal to hear Texas v. Pennsylvania, and the current redistricting battles
They talk to Angela McArdle of the Mises Caucus about the Libertarian Party’s strategies to address internal divisions and form alliances with ideologically diverse groups
Some panelists critique interventionist and nation-building foreign policy in regions like Afghanistan and Iraq, expressing concerns about a repeat in Iran
They talk about the future of lawfare and the “post-truth” media landscape, particularly as AI and out-of-context clips warp reality
Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 5/6
Stuckey highlights declining literacy rates using a video of a boy trying to get his classmates to read a simple sentence out loud
While less than 35% of students are proficient in many areas, she criticizes the shift away from phonics toward sight-word “guessing” methods
Stuckey argues reading is especially essential for salvation, as Christianity is a word-based faith reliant on the truth of the Bible
Producer Bri joins the show to review designs from the Met Gala “Fashion is Art” theme
The two love Emma Chamberlain’s paint-drip dress, Sabrina Carpenter’s film-strip gown, and Heidi Klum’s statue look, while rating Sam Smith and Bad Bunny poorly
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
Barack Obama describes Zohran Mamdani as an “extraordinary talent”
Trump-backed primary challengers defeat majority of Indiana incumbents
During a promotion of the Presidential Fitness Exam, President Trump teaches kids how to do the Trump Dance
During California gubernatorial and LA mayoral debates, candidates advocate for free healthcare and voting rights for illegals
Bret Baier shares his new book The Case for America
FOX & Friends
The U.S. fires on an Iranian tanker that attempted to evade the blockade, President Trump remains optimistic about a deal before his China trip
Sec. of State Marco Rubio visits the Vatican today to hold a one-on-one talk with Pope Leo
The FDA allows for some fruit-flavored e-cigs for adults
Forty passengers left the hantavirus cruise ship after one of the first passengers had already died
California gubernatorial candidates Democrat Katie Porter and Republican Chad Bianco sparred over immigration on the debate stage
Democrat nominee for Maine’s senator Graham Platner blames military PTSD for his Nazi tattoo, belittles rape victims, and is a self-described socialist
Border Czar Tom Homan vows to flood New York with ICE agents
13 DC police officers have been placed on leave for allegedly manipulating crime stats to make the capital city look safer, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro reacts
During the LA mayoral debate, the moderator tried to say Chris Pratt was name-calling for calling his opponent a liar
The DOJ opens a probe into a Fairfax County prosecutor for repeatedly dropping violent charges, not pursuing child predator cases
Democrats urge Kamala Harris to not run in 2028, remain divided on a nominee as she speaks in Nevada today
FOX Newsroom
President Trump remains optimistic about an Iran peace proposal before his China trip, disables Iranian oil tanker, Energy Sec. Chris Wright explains Iran’s trade situation
An illegal immigrant was caught on film attempting to steal a car with people in it in Garland, TX
VA Democrat State Sen. L. Louise Lucas’ house is raided by the FBI
A Los Angeles drug raid leads to 18 arrests
Commencement speakers have canceled at Rutgers and Georgetown, while the University of Michigan had to issue an apology about theirs
As many as 40 hantavirus cruise passengers left the ship, disease has eight-week incubation period
President Trump hosts Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul fires back at Border Czar Tom Homan for threatening to send ICE to the Empire State
Los Angeles mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman dodge questions on noncitizens voting
The National Education Association union has been accused of antisemitism
Fairfax County prosecutor Steve Descano will testify before a House judiciary subcommittee for not prosecuting illegal immigrants
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
Look at Spencer Pratt’s reaction. He has the “it” factor. If anyone can pull off an upset in LA, it’s Pratt. [X, End Wokeness]
Justice Clarence Thomas on the importance of the Declaration of Independence [X, Daugherty]
23 hantavirus cruise passengers returned home to ‘all corners,’ including to the US - and one is already sick [X, NYP]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
US rival orders firms to ignore US Iran sanctions [FOX News]
Armed father turns tables on alleged illegal immigrant carjacker [FOX News]
Everyone’s moving to Texas and Florida, but one red state is growing even faster [FOX News]
Breitbart
Trump Hints Agreement with Iran May Be Close, Pauses Project [Breitbart]
U.S. and Iran Working on Memo to End War & Nuclear Plans: Report [Breitbart]
Rick Scott Rips Dems After Rep. Jayapal Says She Is Trying to Aid Cuba [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The Deal With the Iranian Regime [WSJ Ed]
Trump’s Hollow Indiana Victory [WSJ Ed]
Mamdani and the Antisemites [WSJ Ed]
Mass Deportation and American Jobs [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
Hochul set to announce deal on NYS budget with a little more help for Mamdani, NYC [NYP]
Wall Street giant Apollo aims to open ‘second headquarters’ outside NYC — in latest fallout from Mamdani’s war on the wealthy [NYP]
Disney cruise ship staffers among 28 arrested in massive child porn operation [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Justice Department Finds UCLA Medical School Discriminated Based on Race in Wake of Explosive Free Beacon Reports [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Gov. Greg Gianforte talks leading Big Sky Country, RGA, EU’s regulatory overreach, and business development [Reporter]
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