What to do about that Kevin Roberts video
The Brand Brief 10.31.25: Trump and the trick-or-treaters, Kim Kardashian, Bill Gates, Kamala Harris, and Speaker Mike Johnson
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…
1,628 words | 7 minute read (11+ hours of media covered in The Brand Brief)
What Matters: Kevin Roberts, Trump, and trick-or-treaters
New Media Voices: Vance at Ole Miss, Pelosi on Christians
Leading FOX: White House Halloween, government shutdown
Trending and Pouncing: Kamala Harris and the DNC
What the Right is Writing: Shutdown politics
✍️ WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE’RE GOING…
Nathan’s quick take on where we’re headed…
There is a piece to be written about how the conservative media ecosystem shapes and refines the movement itself. From William F. Buckley’s purging of the John Birch Society to Charlie Kirk shutting down an online fringe, media leaders have often defined what it means to be a conservative. Enter Kevin Roberts’ bizarre video. I will save my thoughts for another day. But for now, the question is how it is covered by the ecosystem. FOX News is unlikely to touch it, but expect conservative new media voices and opinion writers to weigh in on Heritage’s latest.
Today’s quick take was initially meant to be lighter: a Friday/holiday nod to Trump’s ability to make folks laugh. From the classic telling a 7-year-old it’s “marginal” to believe in Santa to placing candy bars (again) last night on the heads of trick-or-treaters, Trump is a holiday hosting pro. Plus, Carly reflects on the differences between American and English Halloween. It is worth a read. - NRB
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🎙️ NEW MEDIA VOICES
The Megyn Kelly Show - 10/30
Megyn Kelly is switching to SiriusXM Channel 111, and will have Erika Kirk as a guest on her tour at her Glendale, Arizona appearance
Erika Kirk got to introduce VP Vance at a TPUSA event at the University of Mississippi, where he discussed immigration and Charlie’s faith
Kamala Harris evades questions about Biden’s health, and Nancy Pelosi mocks Christianity while denying her party’s progressive shift
Guest Allie Beth Stuckey discusses extreme pro-abortion laws in New Jersey and Colorado, as well as Glamour UK featuring trans women
Guest Jack Ciattarelli shares how his focus on “kitchen table topics” has helped him gain a competitive advantage in the NJ governor race
The Benny Show - 10/30
Sen. Chuck Grassley revealed 197 subpoenas from Jack Smith targeting 430 Republican politicians and nonprofits, including Lara Trump
Johnson talks about flying on Air Force 2 with VP Vance as a guest at the TPUSA Ole Miss event, which was attended by 10,000 students
Guest Sean Davis, an editor at the Federalist, says the probe is a larger scandal than Watergate and involved wiretapping Ted Cruz
Trump’s Asia trip concluded with a successful meeting with Xi Jinping, after making billion-dollar trade deals with Japan and South Korea
Trump finished the week alongside Melania, handing out candy to kids at the White House
The Ben Shapiro Show - 10/30
Shapiro says the Democrats continues to target white Christian males with DEI and promoting LGBTQ policies, dividing the parties further
In contrast, Shapiro also warns against right-wing DEI that would favor white men and end meritocracy, or disregard the Constitution
Nancy Pelosi mocks religious conservatives, Barack Obama calls for regulated journalism, and Elizabeth Warren claims people are politicizing too much
Shapiro says Mamdani’s campaign relies on a coalition of Muslims, atheists, and immigrants, while alienating native New Yorkers and Jews
The government shutdown is harming military families, but Trump remains busy with trade deals in Asia
The Federal Reserve is cutting rates, Shapiro compares the AI market speculation to the 1929 crash as a warning
The Michael Knowles Show - 10/30
VP Vance spoke at a TPUSA event at Ole Miss, drawing more than 10,000 attendees who asked him questions on immigration and faith
According to CNN, Republicans have benefitted from the government shutdown, predicts the shutdown will end in a week
Bill Gates says he’s no longer concerned about climate change destroying humanity, aligns with public concern at 40% since 1989
Left-wing podcasters like Jennifer Welch have celebrated Kirk’s death, calling for other liberal commentators to do the same
Pete Hegseth calls for unity over diversity in the military
A viral video of an Iraqi refugee complaining about SNAP cuts highlights entitlement abuses
📺 LEADING FOX NEWS
A look inside the FOX editorial decision-making…
The Five
In a recent interview, Newsom heaps praises on Biden, says Trump is “code red” for America, and is compared to Patrick Bateman
Harris says she was “angry and deeply disappointed” with Biden
New York prepares itself for a likely Mamdani win, Cuomo says the far-left will destroy the Democrats
VP Vance answers student questions at TPUSA Ole Miss event
Jamie Lee Curtis walks back her support of Charlie Kirk, says she was only admiring his faith in God
Failed actress Jennifer Welch celebrates Kirk’s death, calls on all Democrats to do the same
Trump and Melania host trick-or-treaters on the White House lawn after a successful week of trade deals with Xi Jinping
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson claims ICE is zip-tying children
FOX & Friends
The Washington Post reports that more people believe Republicans are to blame for the government shutdown, but CNN says the GOP has benefitted.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is interviewed on U.S. airlines endorsing the Republican Clean CR bill, the Venezuelan drug boat strikes. Washington Post and CNN polling on shutdown, and Trump calls for end to fillibuster
Trucker drivers are interviewed about the federal crackdown on illegal truck driving licenses
A DC teen has been charged with murder for killing an intern and teen girl
Dept. of War Sec. Hegseth joined soldiers in Malaysia to exercise
Trump and Melania passed out candy at the White House last night
A Fox News poll reports Sherrill as up 7 points in the NJ governor race
CNN anchor Jake Tapper says Gen Z will be more conservative
A retired four-star general is interviewed on Trump restarting nuclear testing, Venezuelan drug boat strikes
Sec. of Transportation Sean Duffy issues a statement denying Kim Kardashian’s moon landing conspiracies
Hollywood actor Zachary Levi is interviewed about Newsom’s personality issues, hatred of Trump
Lawmakers like Ted Cruz urge the Trump Admin to declare Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to the ongoing Christian massacre
FOX Newsroom
Trump urges an end to the filibuster to fight the government shutdown and Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy is interviewed about travel delays due to the shutdown, no pay for transportation employees
Sec. of Transportation Sean Duffy is interviewed on California truck drivers unable to speak English
Sec. of DHS Kristi Noem continues immigration crackdown despite IL Gov. Pritzker’s complaints
NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo is interviewed on Mamdani’s “Islamophobia” pitch, the future of the Democrats
As the NJ governor’s race enters its final weekend, Republican candidate Ciattarelli remains competitive
After celebrating successful deals with China, Japan, and South Korea, Trump handed out candy with Melania to trick-or-treaters
Kamala Harris says Biden was “fully competent to serve” while claiming he betrayed her
Speaker Johnson calls out the hypocrisy of Democrats originally calling the shutdown “dangerous,” but now extending it indefinitely
Sec. of Agriculture Brooke Rollins gives a speech on the dangers of cutting off SNAP benefits
The DOJ investigates Black Lives Matter for financial fraud
The lead suspect in a DC intern’s murder has been charged for a second killing
Trump calls for a return to nuclear testing, Vance says it’s vital for national security
🍿 TRENDING AND POUNCING
Tomorrow’s news today: highlights from the conversation on the right and what conservatives are “pouncing” on…
Kamala Harris: “I think we should reduce the voting age to 16.” [X, Cohen]
Chair of the DNC: It’s okay to write “Hey, fascist, catch” on a bullet if that’s how you really feel. [X, CLF PAC]
Jon Stewart *stunned* as Kamala Harris claims she believes Biden “was fully competent to serve” [X, Cohen]
Sen. Fetterman: “I’m apologizing that we can’t even get our s— together and just open up our government.” [X, Raju]
🗞️ WHAT THE RIGHT IS WRITING
Leading FOX News Digital
Ex-Mossad chief says Trump ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear sites, has advice for Tehran [FOX News]
Teachers union boss ‘panicking’ as government shutdown exposes education system truth [FOX News]
Trump calls on GOP to play their ‘Trump card’ as government shutdown drags on [FOX News]
Top of Breitbart
Poll: Farage More Trusted to Lead Country as PM Than Starmer for First Time [Breitbart]
Rand Paul: Odd We’re Not Charging Survivors of Boat Strikes for Drug [Breitbart]
Himes: MAGA Cheering Trump Illegal Killings Won’t Like Who Pres AOC [Breitbart]
WATCH: Chicago’s Pro-Migrant Mobs Throw Rocks, Shoot Fireworks, Harass Law Enforcement Officers [Breitbart]
Wall Street Journal Editorials
Bill Gates Rethinks Climate Catastrophe [WSJ Ed]
The Truth About ObamaCare Costs [WSJ Ed]
Lessons From Trump’s China Trade War [WSJ Ed]
Hamas, Free Speech and Arizona University [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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