Silly season shutdown
The Brand Brief 10.2.25: And the late night political pause didn’t last long
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…
983 words | 4 minute read
🎙️ New Media Voices: Kimmel and Colbert in focus
📺 Leading FOX: Shutdown leads, ICE coverage in Chicago and Portland
🍿 Trending and Pouncing: Joy Reid does her thing
🗞️ What the Right is Writing: Shutdown politics
✍️ What Matters: Silly season shutdown
🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 10/1
Democrats insist on continuing shutdown over handouts for illegals
Megyn Kelly says the Dems’ tactics are becoming theatrical, unfocused
Trump shares AI video of Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer in sombreros, the Left is outraged
Kelly says Kimmel and Colbert’s self-victimization drives a disconnect between the media and its viewership
Kelly denies rumors that she is joining CBS News
The Ben Shapiro Show - 10/1
Polling shows majority of Americans against the Schumer Shutdown
President Trump and Sec. of War Hegseth’s address to military leaders emphasized the need for additional readiness, warfighting culture
Hillary Clinton, Zohran Mamdani keep pushing anti-white male rhetoric
Bad Bunny chosen for the Halftime Show and Jimmy Fallon playing victim shows disconnect between media and average Americans
The Michael Knowles Show - 10/1
Knowles claims the shutdown could be an attempt by Dems to shift attention to healthcare to increase their polling numbers
New York Times/Sienna poll shows only 27% of Americans support the shutdown
Trump takes advantage of shutdown, calling for thousands of layoffs
ICE raid in Chicago targets 30 suspected Tren de Aragua members
Democrat Jamaal Bowman claims the n-word causes heart disease
After Party with Emily Jashinsky - 10/1
Kimmel and Colbert feign neutrality as they face declining viewership
Dems are attempting to rally attention around healthcare with shutdown, a policy they typically poll higher on than Republicans
Jaskinsky compares Jeffries’ meme war to AOC and Sanders’ more focused attacks on the Trump admin
Jane Fonda’s Committee for the First Amendment called out as hypocritical after years of cancel culture
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS TODAY
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
Trump threatens shutdown layoffs, trolls Dem leaders with sombrero memes and 2028 hats
The Five weigh what healthcare coverage would be cut by Clean CR
Chicago mayor claims Trump is “terrorizing people of color”
Portland ICE facility rioters getting arrested nightly
Night show hosts Kimmel, Colbert, Myers team up to slam Trump
Joy Reid says fascism means no income tax, keeping your money
Sen. Hawley calls out Biden staffer for “safe space for two-spirits” policy
FOX & Friends
Shutdown enters day two as Dems demand free healthcare for illegal immigrants
Trump calls for firings during shutdown to eliminate waste spending
Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen says healthcare for illegals “red herring”
Attack upon Jewish synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur
Republican candidate for NJ Gov. Ciattarelli campaigns to save NJ farms
FOX Newsroom
Dems won’t budge on shutdown as Trump threatens mass firings
Karoline Leavitt says Dems have “chance to reverse course”
Trump issues Gaza peace deal deadline, Hamas must agree by this weekend
Speaker Johnson says 44 Democrats voted “no” for third time on the Clean CR
Shelby County Mayor Harris calls for resistance to Memphis Safe Taskforce
NYC Mayoral candidate Mamdani claims he’s changed views on defunding police
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: Additional highlights from the conversation on the right and what Republicans are “pouncing” on today…
Joy Reid: “It’s not a land of opportunity for people like us” [EndWokeness, X]
Jeffries pressed on free healthcare for illegals [Price, X]
White House confirms layoffs could be in the thousands [X, Daugherty]
Iryna’s Law sits on NC governor’s desk for 9+ days [X, Daugherty]
Yes, Senate Democrats Have Shut Down the Government Over Giving Health Care to Illegal Aliens [Heritage Foundation Report]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Professors at Ivy League school applauded action plan involving potential violence [FOX News]
Trump eyes cuts to ‘Democrat agencies’ he views as ‘political scams’ [FOX News]
Pelosi clashes with reporter about AOC directing shutdown negotiations for Dems [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Yom Kippur Attack at Manchester Synagogue in Mass Stabbing, Vehicle Ramming… 2 Dead, 3 Wounded [Breitbart]
Schumer Shutdown Begins With No End in Sight [Breitbart]
Democrats Demanding $200 Billion for Illegal Aliens Over a Decade to Reopen Government [Breitbart]
Mike Johnson Blasts Democrats’ Government Shutdown Hypocrisy with Their Own Words [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
America’s Pharmacist in Chief [WSJ Ed]
The Supreme Court Gives Lisa Cook a Reprieve [WSJ Ed]
Our Friends the al-Thanis of Qatar [WSJ Ed]
The Government Shutdown Stakes for the GOP [WSJ Ed]
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
It’s politics, so it is always silly season. And shutdown politics are no exception. The difference now is that the Left and the corporate media were so offended by Trump’s memes. Yet, hours later, they are attempting to meme themselves.
Shutdowns aren’t newsy, so expect a number of individuals and organizations to try “stunts” to garner attention. Some funnier than others. - NRB
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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