Why the media disruptors became the disrupted
The Brand Brief 1.26.26: Latest in Minnesota, Seahawks' Super Bowl, Bernie Sanders, Joe Rogan, Tim Walz, The California Post, Sean Duffy, New Gaza, and Tom Homan
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…
1,199 words | 5 minute read | Written to be skimmable (16+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Jonathan Martin vs. Greg Price
New Media Voices: Rogan, Von, and Dillheon
Leading FOX: Storm response and Minneapolis
Trending and Pouncing: Unrest in Minneapolis
What the Right is Writing: Walz and Trump
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
Politico’s Jonathan Martin suggests we’re gonna miss traditional media because of a Greg Price tweet pointing out how radical Democrats in Virginia have become. On X, Martin writes:
“Been saying this for a while, but serious people who work in politics are gonna miss traditional media more than they wanna admit”
The reality is the future of political media will feature more Gregs, and fewer Jonathans. It’s worth remembering that Politico launched 15 years ago to challenge the DC media status quo. Today, it looks and acts more like a legacy outlet it once set out to disrupt. - NRB
I would love to hear your feedback - survey here. Thank you!
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Joe Rogan Experience
Conservationist Paul Rosolie talks about visiting the Amazon, trying to speak animals’ languages, and the chances of Bigfoot’s existence
Kickboxers Benny “The Jet” Urquidez and William “Blinky” Rodriguez share MMA stories with Joe Rogan
Comedian Ehsan Ahmad discusses how 2026 is already highly political, ancient history coverups, and the difference between Austin and LA
Engineer Filippo Biondi says he discovered unusual signal patterns underneath the Pyramids of Giza using radar technology
This Past Weekend with Theo Von
Sen. Bernie Sanders explains his thoughts on the two party system, universal healthcare, and the recent ICE operations
The Tucker Carlson Show
Peter Brimelow discusses his arguments with William F. Buckley over immigration, the white working class, and demographic changes
Tucker Carlson argues the attacks on ICE are an attack on Christians and white Americans
Muckraker CEO Anthony Rubin uncovers the mass migration route of Africans, how NGOs play a role
The Shawn Ryan Show
Elizabeth Phillips exposes alleged sexual abuse at Camp Kanakuk and her fight to pass Trey’s Law, which bans NDAs from silencing minor abuse victims
Editor-in-Chief of the Maine Wire Steve Robinson shares his experience uncovering tax money fraud in Maine and how politicians support it
The Four-Hour Work Week author Tim Ferriss says influencers can be warped into becoming their persona by audience praise
Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark
Orange County midwife Lindsey Meehleis explains the reality of c-sections, and why some parents are declining birth certificates
Pastor Emeal “EZ” Zwayne gives advice on what to do if your child or spouse has a porn addiction
The Tim Dillon Show
Tim Dillon discusses the Beckham family drama, his concerns over Jared Kushner’s “New Gaza,” the Minneapolis protests, and food delivery robots
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
FOX & Friends
Winter Storm Fern wreaks havoc across the eastern U.S., with more than 3,500 flights canceled this morning alone, Trump extends emergency declaration for 12 states, guests Tennessee Gov. Mike Lee and Sen. Jim Justice discuss how 800,000 Americans are without power
Border Czar Tom Homan will go to Minneapolis tonight, guest Deputy AG Todd Blanche encourages further video review of the shooting of Alex Pretti before classifying the case
A private jet carrying eight passengers in Bangor, Maine crashed Sunday evening
Guest Cities Church Pastor Jonathan Parnell and his attorney discuss a potential lawsuit against the protesters who mobbed his church service
Guests editor-in-chief of The California Post Nick Papps and opinion editor Joel Pollack announce the paper’s launch today
The IRS announces today is the first filing day of the 2026 season
FOX Newsroom
Guest Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy addresses the 36,000 flight disruptions, encourages travelers to give airline employees grace
Evidence reveals the man shot by border patrol was armed, Gov. Tim Walz compares the ICE arrests to the Holocaust, Border Czar Tom Homan will travel to Minneapolis tonight, Alpha News journalist Liz Collin reacts
Guests Oxford, MS Mayor Robyn Tannehill and TN Emergency Management Agency Director Patrick Sheehan explain how heavy ice has devastated southern utilities and transportation
Multiple U.S. ships deploy to the Middle East, Iran issues warning
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy claims there is a U.S. security deal “100% ready to sign”
Guest businessman Kevin O’Leary addresses the state of the economy as Republicans discuss affordability midterms strategy
Israel recovers the remains of their final hostage in Gaza
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today…
Anti-ICE protesters destroy the sign of Home2Suites Hotel in Minneapolis, where they believe ICE is staying. [X, Breaking911]
Minnesota church pastor stormed by Don Lemon and the agitators tells the leftists and Tim Walz to find God. “Turn from your sin, trust in Jesus Christ, and be saved. He is our only hope.” [X, Daugherty]
Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba gives all the glory to God after winning NFC Championship game [X, Jon Root]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
The far-left network that helped put Alex Pretti in harm’s way, then made him a martyr [FOX News]
Trump confirms federal review of Minneapolis shooting that killed nurse [FOX News]
Deadly winter storm blasts America with catastrophic ice, extreme snow [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Leavitt Torches Walz: Has ‘Spread Malicious Lies About Federal Law Enforcement Officers’ [Breitbart]
Chief: Deceased Man Was ‘A Lawful Gun Owner with a Permit to Carry’ [Breitbart]
Chaos Erupts in Minneapolis After Border Patrol Shooting as Crowds Clash With Federal Agents [Breitbart]
Federal Agent’s Finger Bitten Off by Alleged Minneapolis Rioter [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Time for ICE to Pause in Minneapolis [WSJ Ed]
Thank Heaven for Coal Power in the Cold [WSJ Ed]
What Paris Pays to Keep Le Pen at Bay [WSJ Ed]
A Serious Defense Budget, at Last [WSJ Ed]
New York Post Exclusives
Maria Corina Machado says democracy can turn Venezuela into Trump’s ‘Berlin Wall’ moment [NYP]
Dems need to ‘tell celebrities to just shut the f–k up — Hollywood isn’t doing the party any favors’: Bill Maher [NYP]
Junkies booted from park didn’t go away — they just relocated [NYP]
Golden State’s housing crisis laid bare as sky-rocketing prices force Californians to flee in record numbers [NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
Solar Companies Scramble To Hide China Ties As Trump Readies Rules Barring Chinese-Owned Green Energy Firms From Receiving Taxpayer Funds [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Rep. Darrell Issa explains how Judiciary Committee Republicans “expos[ed] the truth about Jack Smith and the Biden DOJ” [Reporter]
Sen. Bill Cassidy on leading Republicans in protecting unborn life [Reporter]
Eric Wessan: It is time to end the American Bar Association monopoly [Reporter]
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