In search of an off-ramp
The Brand Brief 10.14.25: Democrats praise Trump on Israel, Charlie Kirk honored, Obama has thoughts, Mamdani in focus
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…
1,353 words | 6 minute read (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
✍️What Matters: Democrats’ shutdown off-ramp, Israel coverage
🎙️ New Media Voices: Praise for Trump’s Israel Peace Deal
📺 Leading FOX: Hostages freed, Mamdani comments
🍿 Trending and Pouncing: Obama mocked
🗞️What the Right is Writing: Israel, political violence
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…
Democrats are expected to keep the government shutdown for another week until after the October 18th No Kings rally in DC. Schumer and Co. need to show “fight,” and this rally may offer the opportunity they’re looking for and the off-ramp they desperately need.
Otherwise, much of the conservative media ecosystem remains focused on Trump, Israel, and peace in the Middle East. Additionally, here are a few storylines to keep watching this week: Trump vs. Pritzker; ICE vs. weirdos in Portland; Harris and Obama media tours; and all things Mamdani and the upcoming elections in NYC, VA, and NJ. - NRB
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 10/13
All 20 living Israeli hostages have been released, with some reactions going viral, such as Matan Zangauker’s and Evyatar David’s families
Kelly attributes the peace deal to Trump’s pressure on neighboring countries such as Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to influence Hamas
While Israel’s Knesset gave Trump a standing ovation, some corporate media outlets like CNN downplayed the president’s credit
Where the Biden administration relied on traditional State Department strategy, Trump used business negotiation skills
Guest Cheryl Hines, RFK Jr.’s wife, shares the backlash her family faced when her husband entered the political arena
The Ben Shapiro Show - 10/13
Shapiro reports live from Jerusalem, where Israel’s “national nightmare is over”
Trump, alongside Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and Ivanka Trump negotiated the release of the hostages and IDF’s withdrawal from Gaza
Israel currently controls 53% of Gaza, looking to weaken Hamas’ control before retreating further east
Trump’s Knesset speech earned him 50 standing ovations, while Israeli citizens celebrated at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv
Trump aims to demilitarize Gaza, disarm Hamas, and build upon the preexisting Abraham Accords to rebuild the Middle East
The Michael Knowles Show - 10/13
Despite not winning the Nobel Prize, this year’s winner, Venezuelan activist Maria Corina Machado, dedicated her award to Trump
Knowles says Trump’s peace in the Middle East deal subverts corporate media claims that the president is a “war-mongerer”
A Christian couple in Massachusetts lost their foster children because they refused to sign an LGBTQ affirmation statement
CA Gov. Newsom is instituting an office to administer slavery reparations, despite the state never allowing slave ownership
Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” - 10/13
Guest Ron Simmons, former Texas state representative, criticizes flight issues during the shutdown
Active-duty military, federal law enforcement, Border Patrol, FDA food inspectors, Treasury employees, and federal courts continue to operate during government shutdown
Senate Democrats continue to push for illegal immigrant healthcare subsidies, pushing the shutdown into the end of Week 2
After Hamas released the 20 living and 28 deceased hostages, Israel freed 250 life sentence prisoners and 1,700 detainees
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 10/13
Trump praised Marco Rubio as potentially the greatest Sec. of State in U.S. history, while Rubio called the deal the most significant in 50 years
Various Democrat politicians, such as Joe Biden, celebrated the release of the hostages without giving credit to Trump
On Tim Dillon’s podcast, Marjorie Taylor Greene broke from the party consensus and questioned Trump’s immigration policies
VP JD Vance teased Elizabeth Warren on X by wishing her a Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Peter Thiel hosts Silicon Valley talks on the antichrist and the “katechon,” Jashinsky wonders how faith and tech can be reconciled
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS TODAY
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
Trump’s peace deal in the Middle East heralded as historical
Obama criticizes National Guard presence in Chicago, says Trump is “politicizing the military”
Clip of Harris slurring words, “I am not president,” criticizing Trump on book tour, goes viral
VP JD Vance roasts ABC News host George Stephanopoulos for focusing on “bogus” Tom Homan story
FOX & Friends
Even Chuck Schumer, Kamala Harris, and the Clintons have praised Trump for his diplomacy in the Middle East
As dozens of families welcome home hostages, a crowd in Gaza celebrates the return of Palestinian prisoners
Trump to honor Charlie Kirk with Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been his 32nd birthday
The government shutdown enters Day 14, as furloughed employees prepare for a third week of backpay
Despite the agency employing Oct 7th terrorists, NYC candidate Mamdani fundraises for UNRWA
So far, Hamas has only returned 4 of the 28 dead hostages to families
Meta will use AI on Instagram to moderate what minors can see
FOX Newsroom
President Trump returns to White House early this morning following historic peace deal tour of Israel, Egypt
The 20 living Israeli hostages spend their first night at home with their families
Former hostage Omri Miran interviewed on FOX about reuniting with his wife and daughters, who were just babies when he was captured
Today would have been Charlie Kirk’s 32nd birthday, Trump to award posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom
Guest Allie Beth Stuckey talks about Charlie Kirk Remembrance Day
IL Gov. Pritzker warns “tables will turn on ICE” as Operation Midway Blitz continues
Trump placed a new 100% tariff on Chinese tech on Friday
Saturday marked the sharpest single-day drop in crypto value
The government shutdown enters Day 14, stalemate continues
Zohran Mamdani and NY AG Letitia James slam President Trump at a rally
With 3 weeks to go, NJ governor’s race is at a dead heat
On a podcast appearance, Obama shames Hispanic voters who support President Trump
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: highlights from the conversation on the right and what conservatives are “pouncing” on …
Obama’s brutalist presidential library is widely mocked, expected to open in Chicago next year [Gutenschwager, X]
The View’s Alyssa Farah promised to wear a MAGA hat if Trump freed the Israeli hostages (surprise: she didn’t) [Rugg, X]
FIRE study reveals trans identification among youth is free falling [Kaufmann, X]
In honor of Charlie Kirk’s 31 years on Earth, here are 31 ways to live like him [TPUSA, X]
Jay Jones wanted to divest from police & pull cops from schools [Just the News]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Gov Shapiro speaks after home arson suspect pleads guilty [FOX News]
Blue city streets erupt as 100-plus rioters turn drag race into all-out war on cops [FOX News]
IDF troops forced to ‘open fire’ after Gaza suspects defy multiple warnings [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Tim Walz ‘Special Guest’ for ‘Embrace China’ Arts Fest [Breitbart]
Portland: Hundreds of Naked Bike Riders Join Protest Outside of ICE Facility [Breitbart]
Donald Trump, Middle Eastern Leaders Sign Peace Agreement in Historic Egypt Summit Flanked by World Leaders [Breitbart]
Trump Proclaims Peace in Jerusalem: ‘Beginning of the Age of Faith and Hope’ [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
A Supreme Court Reckoning for Racial Gerrymanders [WSJ Ed]
Trump’s Hostage Triumph in Jerusalem [WSJ Ed]
Europe Joins the Steel Tariff Game [WSJ Ed]
Cuba’s José Daniel Ferrer Makes It To Miami [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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