About that tattoo
The Brand Brief 10.22.25: Jen Psaki and Usha Vance, Tump's ballroom and Obama's library, and plenty of ICE
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…
1,780 words | 7 minute read (13+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: The tattoo
New Media Voices: Left-wing hypocrisy re: the Trump ballroom
Leading FOX: ICE, Israel, and November elections
Trending and Pouncing: Jen Psaki and Joy Behar
What the Right is Writing: Safe streets and blue cities
You’re receiving an early access version of The Brand Brief. I would love to hear your feedback. Thank you! - NRB
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
We focus primarily on the conservative media ecosystem, but it is worth noting a story that has unleashed an intense civil war on the left: Graham Platner.
While the conservative media ecosystem watches their implosion with glee, the left is dealing with existential crises of how to reach men, establishment vs. socialist-wing, and a generational divide.
The Platner story has it all: Nazi tattoos, vile comments, pro-transgender militias, and now a local TV interview today done shirtless. Expect this to get a little attention on the right, mostly out of pure amusement or to highlight the left's hypocrisy. - NRB
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Ben Shapiro Show - 10/22
Democrat candidate for Maine Senator Graham Platner is facing backlash for his Nazi tattoo and resurfaced racist Reddit posts
Republicans withdraw support for Office of Special Counsel nominee Paul Ingracia after saying he had a “Nazi streak,” said racial slurs
Democrats refuse to budge on the government shutdown, Sen. Fetterman suggests getting rid of the filibuster to end the shutdown
The White House renovations to add a ballroom addition have started, facing backlash from liberals like Hillary Clinton
VP JD Vance visits Israel to help disarm Hamas, warns of total obliteration if they are uncooperative
Shapiro interviews former hostage Elli Sharabi, who shares his 491 days of torture and starvation while in captivity
The Megyn Kelly Show - 10/21
Former Biden press secretary KJP claims she left the Democrats because of how they treated Biden, while also claiming Trump has dementia
Multiple “No Kings” protesters mocked Charlie Kirk’s death, including a Chicago Public Schools teacher, who may face disciplinary action
Kelly defends the White House ballroom addition as a practical move for larger events, while liberals like Hillary Clinton shame the decision
The Ninth Circuit Court has ruled in favor of a National Guard deployment to protect Portland ICE agents against Antifa rioters
Guest Rep. Jeff Van Drew thanks President Trump for halting offshore wind turbine development due to their harm to whales and fisheries
TimcastIRL - 10/21
A video appears to show Portland police defending Antifa rioters from DHS agents; the National Guard is expected to deploy to Oregon following a Ninth Circuit ruling in favor
Despite historical precedent for renovations, liberal politicians like Hillary Clinton have criticized the White House Ballroom addition
Tim and his cohosts discuss whether it will become necessary to invoke the Insurrection Act in places like Portland and California
Homeowners in Richmond, Canada could lose their property following a court ruling that declares certain properties as K’ómoks land
Tim also covers the “trans kids” controversy, Japan’s declining birth rate, the government shutdown, and Liquid Death Water’s legal issues
The Benny Show - 10/22
A migrant rammed a DHS vehicle in Los Angeles yesterday, gunshots ensued
As petitions are being floated around California to institute voter ID, Johnson reflects on 2024 voter fraud in California, Michigan, Wisconsin
Johnson compares Obama’s Presidential Library to liberal tears over Trump’s White House ballroom renovation
Guest Sen. Rand Paul says he is fighting against government surveillance on citizens, reflects on “the largest error in modern medicine” by Dr. Fauci
Mamdani poses with 9/11 terrorist sympathizers, wants to “tax richer and whiter neighborhoods”
The Michael Knowles Show - 10/21
The “No Kings” protests were attended mainly by boomers, with many in attendance waving foreign flags or wearing Antifa shirts
A Chicago school teacher mocked Charlie Kirk’s assassination at one protest, with many now demanding she be fired
Young people now attend church more often than Boomers on average; Knowles guesses this stems from a desire for cultural stability
More than 16 million American adults now live alone; Knowles says the fear of dying alone may encourage younger people to have families
Guest and pro-life activist Seth Gruber discusses the eugenicist roots of Planned Parenthood, which he exposes through his “1916 Project”
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
Sen. Barrasso says Democrats would have enough votes to end the government shutdown if they weren’t “terrified of getting the guillotine”
Trump’s approval rating is up despite the shutdown
Bernie Sanders on the “On With Kara Swisher” show claims Trump owns the media
Colombian President Petro calls for “removing Trump” as Trump ramps up narcotic boat strikes with 32 traffickers killed so far
Former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre continues false claims on her book tour that Biden was mentally well in office
Kamala Harris hints at a 2028 run for president, potential primary fight against fellow Californian Gov. Gavin Newsom
The View, MSNBC, and Hillary Clinton lose their minds over the East Wing ballroom renovation
FOX & Friends
VP Vance meets with Israeli President Herzog to discuss Phase Two of the peace deal after Hamas threatens to ruin progress on a ceasefire
NYC mayoral candidates to hold last debate tonight, as Sliwa refuses to drop out of the race and Cuomo slams Mamdani for his antisemitism
More than 3,500 students attend the Indiana University TPUSA event
A Chicago Public Schools teacher mocks Charlie Kirk’s death during a No Kings protest
The DNC is still paying off Harris’ campaign debt one year later, as their cash reserves remain a measly $12 million versus the RNC’s $86 million
Far-left Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner releases the primary suspect tied to a pageant queen’s murder
Obama to headline rallies for struggling Democrat candidates in New Jersey and Virginia
Democrats express disdain for the White House ballroom renovations, despite it being fully self-funded by Trump
Chicago Public Schools’ union boss has been promoted despite low test scores
Statistics show Gen Z is embracing marriage more than previous generations
The prices of eggs and gas are down, while credit card APRs, coffee and steak are up
Trump says he will only meet with the Democrats after the government shutdown ends
Jen Psaki claims Usha Vance is afraid of her husband
Guest Ron DeSantis says Florida is looking to fight antisemetic hate crimes, that they expect many New Yorkers to move to their state
The Louvre reopens following the 7-minute raid of priceless jewels
Trump plans to meet with the NATO Secretary General this week
Amazon to replace more than 600,000 employees with AI by 2033, Travis Kelce investing $200 million to save Six Flags
FOX Newsroom
A migrant known for TikTok videos showing ICE raids rammed his car into federal vehicles
Ron Gochez of Union del Barrio responds by saying “ICE aren’t the only ones with guns” and Manhattan ICE raid targets Chinatown vendors
Guest ICE Director Tom Lyons says the DHS is looking to shut down all ICE tracking apps
Trump says he will not meet with Sen. Schumer until after the government shutdown
Obama and Rep. Byron Donalds to campaign for governor candidates in VA and NJ, races remain close just two weeks until election
TPUSA events continue to have full attendance in memory of Charlie Kirk
Jen Psaki claims JD Vance could be a “scarier” president than Trump, that Usha Vance is afraid of her husband
Guest Energy Sec. Chris Wright says 35 states now have average gas prices below $3 per gallon
VP Vance visits Israel to assist with ceasefire, says there is a “difficult road ahead”
Anti-immigration protests grow across Europe in response to high migrant crime rates
Trump breaks ground on the White House ballroom renovations
A street brawl in Cincinnati has led to the police chief being removed from her position, her attorney calls her a “political scapegoat”
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: highlights from the conversation on the right and what conservatives are “pouncing” on…
Joy Behar wouldn’t let a Trump supporter give her the Heimlich if she was choking [X, OutKick]
Anti-ICE Protestors: “not the only ones with guns.” [X, FOX]
Unhinged Jen Psaki is now smearing JD Vance, suggesting that his wife, Usha, wants to leave her husband and offers to “save” her. [X, Libs of TikTok]
Rep. Clark on shutdown: “Of course there will be families that are going to suffer... but it is one of the few leverage times we have.” [X, Rapid Response]
VA Dem Gov candidate Abigail Spanberger just gave a six minute answer to a question about where she stands on men in women’s sports. [X, Guest]
Dems are about to create a “master ICE tracker” on an official government website [X, Daugherty]
Ha. A Clinton would never defile the White House. [X, Pfeiffer]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Democrat slams ‘leftist’ city council allowing migrant gangs to take over streets [FOX News]
Cheerleader dies after being shot at high school bonfire, remembered for having ‘spunk to her step’ [FOX News]
University professor urges White allies to mirror mass murderer in activism [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
From ‘No Kings’ to ‘Yes Nazi’: Meet Graham Platner, Running to Unseat Susan Collins [Breitbart]
Chicago-Area Judge Rules ICE Agents Can Be Arrested at Courthouses [Breitbart]
Desperate Dems and Media Say Trump’s ‘Destroying’ White House [Breitbart]
Trump Wins Again: 9th Circuit Says He Can Send National Guard to Portland [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
About Trump’s Foreign Investment Funds [WSJ Ed]
Paul Ingrassia’s ‘Nazi Streak’ [WSJ Ed]
China’s Big London Spy Platform [WSJ Ed]
Vindication for Uribe in Colombia [WSJ Ed]
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Nathan (@NathanBrandWA on X or Nathan@OnBrandStrategies.com) and Carly (@realCarlyMoran on X or Carly@OnBrandStrategies.com).
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