And House GOP calls on DOJ to prosecute former CIA Director John Brennan |

VIEW IN BROWSER

MSNBC DAILY

Understand today's news

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025

THE LATEST

Alternate text

Can the White House's flood-the-zone social strategy win the shutdown?

By Akayla Gardner

Can the White House's flood-the-zone social strategy win the shutdown?

By Akayla Gardner

White House digital staffers have unleashed a social media strategy full of taunting memes and fake videos, following President Donald Trump’s lead in a bid to bolster his base as the government shutdown drags on.

 

The amped-up tactics are meant to mock Democrats for their proposal to reverse recently passed restrictions on Medicaid, which the GOP falsely claims pays for health care for undocumented immigrants. The memes include a recurring stunt of placing animated sombreros atop images of Democratic leaders.

 

Democrats, for their part, have not responded in kind on social media. Instead, they have mostly stuck to sharing their segments on cable news, and posting explainer videos on the health care tax credits they’re pushing to extend in negotiations. They’ve also continued to criticize the president’s social media activity.

 

Which approach wins out in the minds of voters and vulnerable lawmakers could help determine how long the shutdown continues and which party ultimately gets more of what it wants.

 

This is a preview of Akayla Gardner's latest article. Read the full article here. 

TOP STORIES

Alternate text
Older woman with a bag of fruit

ZEESHAN ALEEM

How Trump is exploiting the looming food stamps crisis 

The stakes of the shutdown will increase dramatically in November. The Trump administration is trying to make the most of it. Read more.

Paul Ingrassia

MYCHAEL SCHNELL AND AKAYLA GARDNER

Trump nominee withdraws from confirmation hearing after racist texts

Paul Ingrassia’s nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel looked doomed even before he withdrew. Read more.

Kris Mayes and Mike Johnson

ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES

Mike Johnson won't swear in Adelita Grijalva. So we're suing.

Arizona's attorney general explains how Johnson is using the newly elected Democrat as a pawn in his shutdown fight, and keeping the Epstein files secret. Read more. 

'No Kings' protests

ROBYN AUTRY

Why so many Black Americans felt no obligation to chant 'No Kings'

Within the Black community, one heard lots of comments suggesting that the “No Kings” protest was not something we should bother with. Read more.

 
 

 TOP VIDEOS

Alternate text
John Brennan and Jim Jordan

MORNING JOE

House GOP calls on DOJ to prosecute former CIA Director John Brennan

WATCH NOW
 Hakeem Jeffries