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đŁ Driving the ConversationâŚ
1,344 words | 6 minute read | Written to be skimmable (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Villains arenât made overnight
New Media Voices: Tucker Carlson, Abdul El-Sayed, and Alaska
Leading FOX: Barack Obama, Rosie OâDonnell, and Ilhan Omar
Trending: Mike Rogers, Hasan Piker, and the UKâs free speech laws
What the Right is Writing: Israel, Texas, and voter fraud
âď¸ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WEâRE GOINGâŚ
Nathanâs quick take on where weâre headedâŚ
A year ago, I wrote that Zohran Mamdani would be a fixture of GOP ads. A year after his election, I'll humbly admit I was wrong.
Very few political ads since September have even named the socialist New York City mayor. Why? Villains aren't made overnight. They need an origin story: Pelosi spent decades as the right's go-to foil, right up to her retirement.
And better villains emerged: First came the Graham Platner episode, then the Hasan Piker appearances, but this cycle's final boss has been Abdul El-Sayed.
Bottom line: Our feeds make names famous in DC and NYC overnight. National villains take time. - NRB
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đď¸ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Ben Shapiro Show - 10/26
Shapiro argues Republicans could hold or even expand their Senate majority despite competitive midterm predictions
He accuses Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed of deceptively editing a Tucker Carlson quote to attack Mike Rogers
Shapiro criticizes Democrats for invoking Jesus to defend trans policies, and blasts Zohran Mamdani for advising illegal immigrants on evading ICE
He reacts to Kamala Harrisâ standing in early 2028 Democrat polling
Shapiro contrasts Obamaâs Iran nuclear deal with President Trumpâs military strikes, arguing Trumpâs approach better confronted Tehran
The Michael Knowles Show - 10/26
Knowles attacks Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed over his past correspondence supporting the Muslim Brotherhood
He defends bishops praying with President Trump, arguing Democrat positions on abortion and trans issues conflict with Catholic teaching
Knowles reacts to a female journalistâs ejection from a womenâs soccer game for wearing an XX chromosome shirt
He highlights Trumpâs campaign-trail comedy routine, while alleging Brazilian election irregularities favored leftist President Lula over Jair Bolsonaro
Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey - 10/26
Stuckey rejects claims Muslims love Jesus in the same sense as Christians, emphasizing Islamâs rejection of His divinity and resurrection
She criticizes Tucker Carlson and others for promoting claims about Islam and Judaism that she argued encourage anti-Jewish sentiment
Stuckey cites historic conquests, terrorist groups, and Christian persecution in Muslim-majority countries
She challenges Islamic teachings about Jesus, the Bibleâs alleged corruption, and salvation, arguing Christianityâs historical evidence supports its claims over Islamâs
LARRY with Larry OâConnor - 10/26
OâConnor shows hidden-camera footage of CA Gov. Gavin Newsom telling a young socialist voter that the system is broken
He mocks Kamala Harrisâ quirks and portrays her New Hampshire visit as preparation for another presidential campaign
OâConnor criticizes California for refusing to cross-check voter rolls against federal noncitizen records, citing federal charges against 48 alleged illegal voters
He discusses CNNâs questioning of AG Todd Blanche over an Alaska Senate ballot controversy involving a candidate with the same name as incumbent Dan Sullivan
OâConnor warns voter fraud could determine close House races, highlighting investigations into noncitizen registration in Pennsylvania
Timcast IRL - 10/26
The panel discusses new DOJ charges against James Comey over an alleged info leak, Trumpâs reward for voter-fraud information, and allegations concerning Rep. Ilhan Omarâs eligibility and finances
They examine Microsoftâs reported voluntary buyouts for 60,000 employees, warning that AI will displace white collar workers
The panel predicts a âdumbbell economy,â with wealth concentrated at the extremes and middle-class opportunities shrinking as automation accelerates and younger workers struggle to gain experience
They question the motive behind President Trumpâs directive for military bases to sustain off-grid operations for 90 days
đş LEADING FOX NEWS
The Five
President Trump and Obama hold dueling rallies ahead of the midterms in a presidential proxy war, with polls showing the GOP ranks patriotism as its top value while Democrats rank it last
Obama gets ripped for comparing the Trump White House to Saddam Hussein opening a Cheesecake Factory
Rosie OâDonnell vows to return to the U.S. if Democrats win 2028, as riots spread across Europe
A poll finds 45% of Democrats canât name a preferred 2028 candidate, as the left goes leaderless
Trump praises Nicki Minajâs super bass at a Port Huron, MI rally
Studies show teenagers are no longer racing to get their driverâs licenses
FOX & Friends
President Trump rallies in Mississippi, Michigan, and Kansas ahead of the midterms, while 2028 favorite Kamala Harris goes to Milwaukee
A crime report shows violent crime down 25% and homicide down 17% from 2024 to 2025
Anthropic files for potentially the largest IPO ever
A House GOP investigation claims NYC DAs pushed to downgrade charges for migrant criminals to prevent their deportation
Rep. Ilhan Omar brushes off a fed probe in a sit-down with Hasan Piker
The DOJ is cracking down on voter fraud in Florida and Minnesota
Israel heads to the polls in their first national election since the October 7th attacks and the start of the Iran war
Steve and Rep. Lisa McClain go live from the Four Corners Diner in Romeo, MI as Rep. John James makes his pitch for governor
đż TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrowâs news todayâŚ
Mike Rogers just dropped this fire line and the voters love it. âI have an opponent who wants to represent Palestine. I want to represent Michigan.â [X, Daugherty]
Thomas Moffitt, a conservative activist, was reportedly arrested in the UK for saying âPakiâ instead of âPakistani.â No, this isnât a joke. The UK has no free speech. [X, Libs of TikTok]
The DSA rolled up to the Hasan Piker event. This is the Democrat Party now. [X, Grage]
đď¸ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
FOX News Digital
Trump takes campaign blitz to Texas with one week until midterms [FOX News]
âDark moneyâ group accused of âschemeâ to tip election [FOX News]
Israel heads into deeply divided election as Oct. 7 reckoning looms [FOX News]
Breitbart
âTip of the Icebergâ: Feds: 405 Noncitizens Voted 1,500 Times [Breitbart]
Marxist Lula Beats Bolsonaro in Brazil Presidential Election After Unprecedented Voting Time Extension [Breitbart]
Trump Criticizes âJihadistâ El-Sayed for Portraying Himself as Doctor: âHe Should Not Be Allowed to Serve in Our Senateâ [Breitbart]
White House: Trumpâs Energy Infusing Republicans with Midterm Boost [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Anthropicâs Big IPO Gamble [WSJ Ed]
Obama Goes Socialist, Scorns Cheesecake [WSJ Ed]
Markets Donât Vote for Lula in Brazil [WSJ Ed]
Elon Musk, Starlink and Vladimir Putin [WSJ Ed]
Viktor OrbĂĄn, U.N. Secretary-General? [WSJ Ed]
New York Post
David Ellisonâs Skydance unveils employee buyout program, orders five-day return to office NYP]
Anthropicâs delay in reporting ârogue agentâ Georgia vote hack alarms government officials NYP]
Washington Free Beacon
âHeâs Literally a Rapistâ: Top Abdul El-Sayed Aide Slammed Joe Biden as âDipshitâ Who Must Be âHeld Accountableâ for Rape, Called America âCringe,â in Deleted Posts [WFB]
Washington Reporter
Daniel Turner: New Mexico is a canary in the coal mine on energy and tech policy [Reporter]
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