Learning how to ballroom spin
The Brand Brief 10.23.25: Mamdani, Platner, NBA Stars, Karine Jean-Pierre, and Jen Psaki
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…
1,471 words | 6 minute read (12+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: DC Media and the White House ballroom
New Media Voices: Mamdani and illegal truckers
Leading FOX: NBA gambling crimes and NYC mayoral debate
Trending and Pouncing: Left-wing violent rhetoric
What the Right is Writing: FBI arrests
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…
Politico perfectly captured the corporate media blind spot this morning…
D.C. is obsessed with this ballroom. The story makes the front pages of the Times and the Post today. The number of cable news minutes devoted to this topic have been unimaginably high. At every D.C. drinks party, conversation turns to demolition. It’s going to dominate more of the discourse through the day.
This is why The Brand Brief exists. Yes, the new White House Ballroom has some conservative attention, but it is all criticism of how Politico, The Times, and The Post are covering it. DC corporate media may be obsessed with the ballroom, but the rest of the country is not. - NRB
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 10/22
Socialist Mamdani holds a 94% lead on Polymarket despite association with terror apologists, pressure grows for Sliwa to drop out
Republican VA AG candidate Jason Miyares now leads by 3 points in polling after Democrat candidate Jay Jones’ texting scandal
NJ Republican Ciattarelli trails Democrat Sherrill by 3 points, closing in
Democrat candidate for Maine senator, Graham Platner, has been exposed for racist Reddit posts, anti-cop sentiments, former communist views, and a Nazi tattoo in the span of just two weeks
Despite their unpopularity, Kamala Harris and Karine Jean-Pierre emphasize identity politics during their book tours
Hunter Biden accuses KJP of disloyalty, while Jen Psaki claims the press secretary role is in decline under Caroline Leavitt
The Benny Show - 10/23
Illegal immigrant trucker kills three while drunk driving, received his license from California, the only state without an English proficiency test. Could jeopardize interstate highway funding
Guest Rep. Tim Burchett says California’s lack of regulations treats American citizens as dispensable
Nine illegal immigrants were arrested in New York City Chinatown yesterday, riots on the streets followed
Guest Calley Means discusses declining birth rates and a division in values between Gen Z men and women
Guest Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, discusses the SCOTUS case to end race-preferential voting districts
The Victor Davis Hanson Show - 10/23
Hanson criticizes Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson for comparing redistricting race-based districts to the disabled
Hanson says California has been destroyed by Newsom and spending billions on the homeless, reflecting on better days under Reagan
Walmart’s CEO has noted an increase in US-made products, while the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas is reporting boosted wages
Democrat Senator John Fetterman may face a primary challenger for being pro-Israel and congenial toward Republicans
The Hoover Institute’s Strategika reports on advancements in battlefield medicine
Liberals online call Taylor Swift racist for wanting children
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 10/23
Jashinsky and guest Dave Smith analyze the NYC mayoral debate, noting Mamdani’s energy and focus on affordability
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner covered up a Nazi tattoo only after receiving backlash
Bernie Sanders’ appearance on Tim Dillon’s podcast is viewed as awkward, while Mamdani on the Flagrant podcast appears relatable
While most Republicans celebrate Trump’s drug boat strikes, libertarians like Rand Paul and Thomas Massie question the legality
Jashinsky and Smith mock MSNBC’s Morning Joe for calling misogyny in the VA gubernatorial race despite Sears being a Black woman
Anchor Savannah Guthrie apologizes to Khloe Kardashian for a question from 2012, raising questions about deference to celebrities
CJ Pearson’s Family Matters - 10/23
Pearson says he is more concerned about generational racism within the Democrat Party than a one-off Young Republicans group chat
He references Larry Elder being called “a blackface for white supremacy” by the LA Times, and the segregation sign shown to Winsome Sears
Guests Delano Squires and Michaelah Montgomery discuss how Democrats ignore the Black community’s contention with trans issues
7,000 Christians in Nigeria have been massacred in the first seven months of 2025 alone, hosts compare to Palestine’s media attention
The hosts agree Black churches need to return to focusing on families more than politics
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
Liberals continue to freak over White House ballroom renovations despite a history of presidents doing the same
Jen Psaki makes foul joke about Usha being afraid of husband JD Vance
“Dumb and Dumber” star Jeff Daniels plays a song to “own Trump” on MSNBC
New Yorkers rioted in Chinatown yesterday following the arrest of nine African illegal migrants selling counterfeit bags
Democrat strategist James Carville slams fellow liberals who support men in women’s sports, calls it a “cheap political point”
Bret Baier shares his new book about Theodore Roosevelt, To Rescue the American Spirit
FOX & Friends
Government shutdown continues into Day 23, Democrats admit to using it for “leverage” to push health care changes, Fetterman appeared on Hannity to discuss
Trump Admin warns congressional Democrats against tracking ICE agents
Roblox is facing scrutiny from Republican AGs over child safety concerns, Roblox CEO interviewed to discuss
NYC Mayoral debate featured Mamdani defending $30 minimum wage plan, Donald Trump Jr. interviewed on mayoral race, fleeing to Florida, the left meltdown over White House renovations
FBI arrests a number of NBA stars related to gambling crimes
Comedian Rob Riggle interviewed at Arrowhead Stadium about career, football, and new book
FOX Newsroom
Recap of NYC Mayoral debate, Mamdani on defense, and preview of how NYC neighborhoods are expected to vote.
Government shutdown continues, vote today on paying workers
White House crackdown on narco terrorists with drone strikes
FBI announces arrests in illegal gambling crimes focused on a number of NBA players, Michele Tafoya interviewed
Update on jewels stolen from the Louvre, DNA found
Three killed in crash involving illegal trucker, DOT addressing non-U.S. residents on the highways, LA District Attorney interviewed regarding Democrats targeting ICE agents
Senate Leader John Thune interviewed on government shutdown, vote today to pay essential workers, responds to House Dem using shutdown as “leverage”
Press conference from FBI Director Patel held on NBA illegal gambling arrests
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: highlights from the conversation on the right and what conservatives are “pouncing” on…
Texas congressional candidate Jolanda Jones makes a slitting throat motion across her neck to describe what she wants to do to Republicans [X, Price]
The protester who threatened ICE in LA has been identified as Ron Gochez, a teacher at @MayaAngelouCHS, was awarded the “human rights award” by the California Teachers Association. [X, LibsofTikTok]
LOL: Cori Bush has some ideas about how Democrats can turn things around [X, Bevan]
A trans activist stands up top of a police vehicle at the direct action demanding the end of immigration enforcement. [X, Ngo]
Mamdani says that if you’re in danger and call 911, dispatchers should first decide whether it’s appropriate to send police. [X, Yakoby]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Heat’s Terry Rozier in custody [FOX News]
Michael Wolff files lawsuit against Melania Trump after first lady forced apology [FOX News]
VP Vance responds to Psaki’s ‘disgraceful’ remarks about second lady Usha [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
FBI SWAT Teams Storm Wisconsin in Massive Cartel/Gang Bust [Breitbart]
Report: Trans Americans to Flee Country Due to ‘Most Anti-LGBTQ+ President’ [Breitbart]
Number Two House Dem: Families Suffering Under Shutdown Give Us Leverage [Breitbart]
Poll: 4 in 10 Say Illegal Immigrants Who Haven’t Committed Crimes Should Still be Deported [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Trump Strikes a Good Rare-Earth Deal [WSJ Ed]
Oops, I’ve Had a Nazi Tattoo for 18 Years [WSJ Ed]
The University Elite, Reconsidered [WSJ Ed]
About Trump’s Foreign Investment Funds [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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