Don’t mess with the Zohran
The Brand Brief 10.15.25: Peace deal, Charlie Kirk, Kamala Harris, and Magazine covers
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…
1,483 words | 6 minute read (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Zohran Mamdani is here to stay
New Media Voices: Trump praised for peace deal
Leading FOX: Charlie Kirk, ICE, and TIME Magazine
Trending and Pouncing: Kamala book tour, and Christianity on the rise
What the Right is Writing: Newsom, Pritzker, and state-level news
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…
With Zohran Mamdani walking into the heart of the conservative media ecosystem on Wednesday with a sit-down interview at FOX News, it’s worth reflecting on the fixture he’s become on the right.
His past pro-communism clips went viral. Conservative podcasters have had no shortage of material. FOX News runs a segment on him nearly every hour (see previous issues of The Brand Brief). Trump loves to contrast with him. And Democrat leaders have awkwardly embraced him. Now, he is weeks away from being elected mayor of the media capital of the world.
Love him or hate him, Zohran Mamdani is a mainstay in the conservative media ecosystem and will be for years to come. - NRB
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 10/14
Following Trump’s peace deal, the president hopes to rebuild Gaza both for the Palestinian people and to prevent mass migration to the West
When meeting European leaders, Trump chose a firm handshake with French President Macron and ignored British PM Starmer
Guest Will Kingston highlights how Muslims now represent 6% of the British population, leading to a surge in terrorism and sexual crimes
Kelly compares the rise in the British Muslim population to Dearborn, MI and Minneapolis, MN’s rejection of Western values
Kingston argues it’s important to ignore cries of “islamaphobia” in favor of defending Christianity, free speech, and women’s rights
The Benny Show - 10/14
Even Democrats like Schumer, Harris, and the Clintons had to give Trump credit for his Israeli peace deal
While some Democrats choose to thank the president, others like Rep. Crockett and Antony Blinken credit the Biden Admin
Guest Eric Trump praises his father’s humility about entering Heaven, teases the Trump Library will have a “fake news wing”
Benny Johnson encourages all listeners to pray for Joe Biden following his terminal cancer diagnosis, emphasizes we are all God’s children
Johnson asks when The View’s Alyssa Farah Griffin will wear a MAGA hat, after she promised to wear one if Trump ended the war in Israel
The Michael Knowles Show - 10/15
A university study reveals trans identification has plummeted by 3% and non-heterosexual identification by 10% among American youth
Cheryl Hines defended her husband RFK Jr. on The View by noting how 90% of past HHS secretaries didn’t have doctoral degrees either
An American patient received a heart transplant from a 38-year-old Canadian, who died from assisted suicide, Knowles states this pressures the vulnerable
Knowles wonders if this will be the longest government shutdown ever, interviews Rep. Pfluger, worries military won’t receive next paycheck
Charlie Kirk was honored posthumously yesterday with a Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been his 32nd birthday
The Glenn Beck Program: Hour One - 10/15
Yesterday, Erika Kirk accepted her husband’s Presidential Medal of Freedom in the White House Rose Garden
Trump designates Charlie Kirk’s birthday as a national day of remembrance, hosted the event on 36 hours of no sleep
Beck notes how world leaders in Egypt lined up for one-on-one photos with the president, showing deference to American power
Amidst the recent Young Republican text leaks, Beck encourages Gen Z to channel frustration into hope and productivity, like Charlie Kirk did
The Morning Wire - 10/15
Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the Rose Garden yesterday. The ceremony featured music, both Charlie’s parents and Erika attended
NY AG Letitia James, already indicted for mortgage fraud, has now been caught harboring her grand-niece, wanted for a probation violation
Despite her charges against Trump, James claims she’s facing political prosecution
England is requiring digital IDs to combat illegal immigration, but many argue it will do little to stop migration and erodes freedom
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS TODAY
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
The Five watch live as Trump awards Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been his 32nd birthday
Trump says if Hamas chooses to not disarm, “we will disarm them”
Controversial Time Magazine cover of Trump features angle showing his aged neck, sunlight hides his iconic hair making him appear bald
Trump announces that Phase 2 of the Gaza peace deal has begun
FOX & Friends
Hamas releases the bodies of 3 additional deceased hostages, executed men accused of working with Israel
Trump threatens Hamas, “They will disarm or we will disarm them”
Charlie Kirk is awarded posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been his 32nd birthday
Actor Alec Baldwin hits a tree in New York, claims he had to swerve after a truck cut him off in traffic
As Gaza rebuilds, the West looks to deradicalize mosques and schools
Trump confirms $20 billion lifeline to Argentina, floats a trade deal
CA Democrat governor candidate Katie Porter can’t say if she’ll snap on her staffers again, but says she’ll “hold herself to a higher standard”
DOJ fights online doxxing attacks against ICE officers
Democratic Socialists of America platform supports closing ICE facilities, giving health insurance to illegal migrants
FOX Newsroom
Trump says Charlie Kirk was a “visionary” and one of the greatest figures of his generation
Guest Border Patrol Commander Bovino says the lethality of assaults on ICE agents is increasing, as are doxxing threats
Holes in California ballot envelope reveal if you vote “no” on redistricting
ICE vehicles and road barricades have replaced the ICE facility fencing the City of Chicago forced to be removed last night
Trump demands Hamas return all deceased hostages to Israeli families
On Day 15 of the government shutdown, Johnson says Dems are “playing games with paychecks”
Rep. Jim Jordan calls for former DOJ special counsel Jack Smith to testify on January 6th phone tapping
Rep. Ilhan Omar endorses fellow far-left Somalian Omar Fateh for Minneapolis mayor
Democrat Mark Penn argues Zohran Mamdani should not fall under their party label
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: highlights from the conversation on the right and what conservatives are “pouncing” on …
Kamala: “Some people have said I was the most qualified candidate ever to run for president.” [Lensman, X]
VA Gov. candidate Abigail Spanberger says she supports assisted-suicide [Price, X]
SCOTUS Judge Jackson compares being unable to create Black-majority congressional districts to being disabled [Price, X]
The Democrats won’t reopen the government “until planes fall out of the sky.” [RepublicanStudy, X]
Studies reveal Christianity surging in the U.S. [Daugherty, X]
Democrats complain about troops getting paid during shutdown [Jackson, X]
Christian country singer Cole Swindell inspired by Charlie Kirk’s outspoken bravery [Brown, X]
Teens who jumped ex-DOGE staffer Edward ‘Big Balls’ Coristine avoid jail, sentenced to probation [NYP]
Poll finds more people are starting to blame Democrats for shutdown [The Hill]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
SCOTUS case over trans athletes advances after judge makes major ruling [FOX News]
Trump is using the government shutdown to do something no president has ever done [FOX News]
Georgia highway tragedy leaves 8 dead, including five children, suspect arrested [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Obama Goes All-in on Newsom Gerrymandering Scheme [Breitbart]
J.B. Pritzker Suggests Democrats May Try to Prosecute ICE Agents [Breitbart]
Trump, Middle Eastern Leaders Sign Peace Agreement in Historic Egypt Summit [Breitbart]
IDF: One of the Bodies Returned by Hamas Terrorists Is Not a Hostage [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The United Nations Is About to Tax You [WSJ Ed]
Gavin Newsom’s Blow to Antisemitism [WSJ Ed]
Tricolor and Treasury’s Seal of Approval [WSJ Ed]
France’s Pension Surrender to the Left [WSJ Ed]
SAY HELLO
Nathan (@NathanBrandWA on X or Nathan@OnBrandStrategies.com) and Carly (@realCarlyMoran on X or Carly@OnBrandStrategies.com).
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