My Kind of Town (Chicago Is)
The Brand Brief 10.8.25: Meet this news cycle's players in Chicago: Trump, Pritzker, Johnson, ICE, and the National Guard
Brought to you by On Brand Strategies | Written by Carly Moran and Nathan Brand
Actionable media intel to cut through the noise and keep you ahead: The Brand Brief delivers a daily snapshot of trending stories in conservative media. As the ecosystem fractures, we demystify what’s driving the right - new media and old.
You’re receiving an early access, trial version of The Brand Brief. Please share any thoughts, ideas, or criticisms. I appreciate you! - NRB
📣 Driving the Conversation…
1,324 words | 6 minute read
✍️What Matters: Trump and ICE vs. Pritzker and Johnson
🎙️ New Media Voices: FBI spying on GOP Senators
📺 Leading FOX: Chicago, Jay Jones, Latin Kings murder for hire plot
🍿 Trending and Pouncing: Katie Porter meltdown
🗞️What the Right is Writing: FBI spying on Republicans
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
Democrat Illinois Governor Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Johnson offer the perfect messaging contrast for a conservative media ecosystem focused on illegal immigration, violent crime, and the absurdity of blue-state leaders.
Johnson added fuel to the feud Tuesday with his establishment of “ICE-free Zones” in Chicago and the suggestion of “civil war” because of the illegal immigration crackdowns. Plus, Pritzker called Trump a “Nazi” again. President Trump clapped back this morning with a TRUTH post calling for the jailing of both Democrats for failing to protect ICE agents from weeks of violent attacks. It’s fair to say this story will dominate the day in the conservative media ecosystem.
To follow up on yesterday’s intel community bombshells: As we predicted, the FBI, DOJ, and CIA stories led every hour of FOX News primetime Tuesday and dominated every new media podcast. - NRB
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 10/7
Democrat leaders claim liberal SC circuit court judge Diane Goodstein’s house fire was arson despite no evidence
Kelly says Jay Jones’ violent rhetoric should disbar him from running for Virginia AG
FBI Special Counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed the phone records of numerous Republican senators, one House member
Justices Alito and Kagan say Colorado conversion therapy ban may not hold against viewpoint discrimination during strict scrutiny
Kelly calls Michelle Obama ungrateful after she says she misses her anonymity, despite actively building a public presence
The Michael Knowles Show - 10/7
VA Dem AG candidate Jay Jones not only wished death on his opponent’s children, but also law enforcement
The AP downplayed the scandal, but even MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough suggested Jones should drop out
Stephen Miller denounced any claims of racially targeted deportations
Trump says he would use the Insurrection Act to fight against blue cities’ “ICE-free zones”
The Supreme Court hears a challenge on Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy, which forces therapists to only support transitioning
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 10/7
Bari Weiss becomes editor-in-chief of CBS News after Paramount acquires her publication The Free Press
Guest Glenn Greenwald argues corporate ownership limits opportunities for full journalistic expression
Sen. Chuck Grassley released documents revealing the FBI spied on GOP senators after January 6th
Jashinsky discusses cancel culture after country singer Zack Bryan releases anti-ICE song, compares to the Dixie Chicks
Jashinsky compares Taylor Swift’s new album to her former criticism of marriage, how divorce rates have dropped since the ’80s
The Glenn Beck Program: Hour One - 10/8
The government shutdown has halted loans and payments to farmers
Sen. Chuck Schumer called out for hypocrisy after claiming he was against a shutdown back in March
The Supreme Court will review a Colorado conversion therapy ban, which may violate freedom of religion
A cylindrical object is approaching Mars, may be source of unknown signal beamed at Earth more than 40 years ago
The Morning Wire - 10/8
FBI’s Arctic Frost probe targeted the phone records of GOP senators
Sen. Marsha Blackburn condemned how the investigation only targeted Republicans, demanded further inquiry into FBI’s actions
Child murderer released early by ten years due to Kentucky’s mandatory re-entry supervision laws for non-capital offenses
Parole board claims it was due to Ronald Exantus being charged with insanity, host Matt Walsh calls for stricter parole reform
Despite being the most popular evangelical magazine, Christianity Today accepted $1M from the 2nd-largest Planned Parenthood donors
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS TODAY
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
Latin Kings gang leader placed $10k bounty on chief border patrol agent
Trump threatens Insurrection Act against anti-ICE zones
Stephen Miller jokes AOC needs her eyes checked after calling him four feet tall
AG Bondi to Padilla: “I wish you loved your state of California as much as you hate President Trump” during Arctic Frost senate hearing
Rob Reiner claims America has year left until democracy is taken away
FOX & Friends
Man arrested at Supreme Court Catholic mass had 200 explosives
TPUSA Montana State event draws crowd of thousands
Virginia Democrats keep endorsements of AG candidate Jay Jones despite his history of violent threats
Latin Kings gang member charged with murder-for-hire plot
Trump meets with Canadian PM Carney, joke about national merger
FBI Director Kash Patel visits Chicago to investigate anti-ICE attacks
Guest Sen. John Kennedy shares new book How to Test Negative for Stupid
Socialist mayoral candidate Mamdani speaks at NYC Business Forum
FOX Newsroom
Texas National Guard arrives as backup in Chicago ICE operation
Illinois Gov. Pritzker claims Trump is “paving the way to militarize cities”
Sec. of Homeland Security Noem visits Portland, speaks to detainees
Senate to vote for sixth time today on government funding
Hunter Biden attempted to sell land around U.S. embassy in Romania
Ohio governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at packed TPUSA event at Montana State
VA Democrat Senator Kaine says apology is enough to continue to support Jay Jones for his state’s attorney general
CA Democrat governor candidate Katie Porter lashes out in leaked interview
Man arrested for hundreds of explosives outside of Supreme Court Catholic mass
Mamdani faces criticism for tasteless Oct 7th post, never mentions antisemitism, instead focuses on Gaza
GOP senators demand answers for FBI phone surveillance
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: Additional highlights from the conversation on the right and what Republicans are “pouncing” on today…
CA Candidate for Governor Katie Porter has interview meltdown [X, RightAngleNews]
Man With 200 Explosives And Leftist Manifesto Arrested Outside Supreme Court Event At Church: Police [Daily Wire]
Democrat senate candidate in Michigan fundraises off of October 7th, says it’s the day that Netanyahu invaded Gaza [X, Wu]
Pro-Palestine protestor in NYC calls for another October 7th [X, Caster]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Social media erupts after top Dem candidate ends interview over specific questions [FOX News]
Man arrested with ‘large cache’ of bombs at cathedral ahead of SCOTUS event [FOX News]
Comey pleads not guilty in court after indictment on alleged false statements, obstruction [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Chinese Government Records List Left-wing Billionaire Neville Roy Singham as Corporate Officer for Thoughtworks Beijing [Breitbart]
Jack Smith, Biden DOJ Tracked Phone Calls of GOP Senators, Congressman [Breitbart]
Chicago Mayor Brandon Jonson Creates ‘ICE-Free Zones’ to Impede Immigration Arrests [Breitbart]
Katie Porter, Democrat Candidate for California Governor, Gets Testy, Threatens to Flee Interview [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
The FBI, Senate Phone Records, and Jan. 6 [WSJ Ed]
What Is the Price of Gold Telling Us? [WSJ Ed]
The Politics of ObamaCare Subsidies [WSJ Ed]
For Cases of Beer, the Plane Was Seized [WSJ Ed]
SAY HELLO
Let us know what you think by reaching out to Nathan (@NathanBrandWA on X or Nathan@OnBrandStrategies.com) and Carly (@realCarlyMoran on X or Carly@OnBrandStrategies.com).
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