Why Nick Shirley plays by different rules
The Brand Brief 1.12.26: Bradley Cooper, Shawn Ryan, Jerome Powell, Ilhan Omar, Elizabeth Warren, Nikki Glaser, Budweiser, and the Supreme Court
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…
1,291 words | 5 minute read | Written to be skimmable (20+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: What Nick Shirley understands better than others
New Media Voices: Shirley makes the rounds
Leading FOX: The Fed, SCOTUS, and the Golden Globes
Trending and Pouncing: Warren, Frey, and Peltola
What the Right is Writing: Iran, Amherst, and DOJ
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
When Nick Shirley’s viral video dominated the news for two weeks over the holidays, what followed was instructive about the future of conservative media.
The 23-year-old made only limited appearances on FOX News and none in legacy media. Instead, he’s lived on X, YouTube, and podcasts. In the last two weeks, he has appeared on the biggest new-media shows, including Shawn Ryan, Nelk Boys, PBD, All-In, Iced Coffee Hour, and Chris Williamson.
New media first isn’t new, but it’s quickly becoming the norm. - NRB
I would love to hear your feedback - survey here. Thank you!
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Joe Rogan Experience
Comedian Kurt Metzger talks mind control, SNL, the reasons for invading Venezuela, Candace Owens, and the MIT professor murder
Actor Bradley Cooper discusses his time filming A Star is Born and American Sniper, the rise of the sitcom, and David Goggins
Comedian Whitney Cummings talks about being a mother, what cell phones used to be like, Somali fraud, and the Manson murders
This Past Weekend with Theo Von
Comedian and political commentator Dave Smith shares his thoughts on the Somali fraud scandal and the ousting of Nicolas Maduro
The Tucker Carlson Show
Conservative social media personality Mike Cernovich gives his opinion on the capture of Maduro, Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and spiritual warfare
Political commentator Megyn Kelly argues corporate media plays a role in selling a war to the public, and explains “loyalty tests” within politics
Florida governor candidate James Fishback says Gov. Ron DeSantis is attacking free speech, expresses concerns about Rep. Byron Donalds
Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark
Conservative radio host Glenn Beck says America is at the point of reckoning, referencing the spread of radical Islam in the West
Tiffany Belanger, founder of Cosleepy, argues mothers cosleeping with their baby, when done safely, is beneficial for their health
The Tim Dillon Show
Dillon expresses his frustrations following the Minnesota ICE shooting, but that law enforcement is necessary, and covers the capture of Maduro
The Shawn Ryan Show
UN ambassador Mike Waltz shares his journey from childhood adversity to becoming a Special Forces Green Beret, congressman, and founder of Metis Solutions intelligence firm
Nick Shirley explains how he was able to uncover $9 billion in Somali daycare fraud as a 23-year-old LDS kid with a camera
The Full Send Podcast
Nick Shirley gives the story of how he was able to get Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to retire with one video, and his meeting with Elon Musk
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
FOX & Friends
Trump says Iran is beginning to “cross the red line” after pledging his support to anti-regime protesters dying in the streets of Tehran
The DHS is sending hundreds of additional agents to Minneapolis following a mix of protests and riots over the death of Renee Good, Rep. Ilhan Omar claims ICE is “disappearing” citizens
The House Oversight Committee is asking Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison to testify, will be subpoenaed if they don’t comply
Timothee Chalamet won best actor at the Golden Globes awards
A new poll says 64% of parents are in favor of a youth social media ban
An Ohio man has been arrested in connection to the murder of his ex-wife and her new partner
Fed Chair Jerome Powell is under investigation by federal prosecutors
Brian Kilmeade tours an American military base in Germany
Trump calls for a 1-year credit card interest cap, Bill Ackman says a 10% interest cap would be a big mistake
After his parents died in the DC plane crash last year, Maxim Naumov has made Team USA for ice skating in the 2026 Winter Olympics
Nearly 15,000 nurses are on strike in New York City
Former senator Kyrsten Sinema says AI could fix the affordability crisis
Budweiser celebrates 150 years of brewing in St. Louis, Missouri
Wegovy launches the first pill-based GLP-1 to assist in weight loss
FOX Newsroom
Former Trump NSC chief of staff Alex Gray and State Dept. spokesman Tommy Pigott say Trump is weighing his options in Iran, say Cuba is in a weak financial position, a U-haul truck plowed through a crowd of Iranian protesters in Los Angeles
Guest DHS senior advisor Ron Vitello says hundreds of additional federal agents are being sent to Minneapolis, Alpha News journalist Liz Collin reacts
Fed Chair Jerome Powell says he is under investigation by federal officials
Democrats express frustration over the HHS changes to the current vaccine schedule
Guest former speaker Kevin McCarthy discusses Democrats threatening a shutdown over deportations
Guest former college athlete Brooke Slusser expresses hope as the Supreme Court will hear a case on biological men in women’s sports
Golden Globes host Nikki Glaser roasts Leonardo DiCaprio and CBS News in her speech
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
Elizabeth Warren lays out plans to run for president… doubling down on left-wing policies [X, RNCResearch]
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey finally admits there is fraud in Minnesota [X, LibsOfTikTok]
Look at the training “MN Ice Watch,” which Renee Good belonged to, gives: They train activists to assault law enforcement, to swarm, pressure, and open their car doors. [X, Whitlock]
Democrat Chris Murphy threatens another government shutdown over defunding ICE. [X, RNC Research]
Dan Bongino is making his grand return to the airwaves on Feb. 2 at 10AM ET after departing the FBI [X, Daugherty]
Mary Peltola announces for senate, video resurfaces of her saying: “I think that Joe Biden’s mental acuity is very, very on. He’s one of the smartest, sharper people I’ve ever met in D.C.” [X, NathanBrandWA]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Trump says Iran ‘starting to’ cross US red lines [FOX News]
U-Haul truck drives through Iran protest crowd in Los Angeles [FOX News]
DHS releases new video in Minneapolis ICE shooting [FOX News]
Breitbart
DOJ Probes Powell, Fed Renovations Under Microscope [Breitbart]
Trump Boosts Iranian Protesters in Rapid Posts — ‘USA Stands Ready to Help’ [Breitbart]
Singer Dave Matthews: Renee Good ‘Murdered in Cold Blood’ [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The Supreme Court and Girls’ Sports [WSJ Ed]
The Debt of Saks Fifth Avenue [WSJ Ed]
About That ‘Disappearing’ Middle Class [WSJ Ed]
Breads Lines in Mamdani’s New York [WSJ Ed]
Alaska Dumps Some Trial Lawyers [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
The 2026 Golden Globes flatlined after 10 minutes [NYP]
Black New York homeowners blast Mamdani’s radical tenant advocate: ‘White supremacy? I’m not white’ [NYP]
Dog attack at buzzy NYC bakery Birdee sparks debate about pooches in restaurants [NYP]
Slow release of security video in Christmas Day slay of LI CVS worker prompts proposed law [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Amherst College Demands Free Beacon Edit Photos, Videos of Students Performing in Official Sexual Ceremony [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).
