On Brand with Donny Deutsch

Hosted by Donny Deutsch

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430

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Everything is a brand. In today’s world companies, public figures, countries, institutions, and movements are brands with their own unique values, marketing, and influence. Former CEO and Chairman of Deutsch Inc., innovative political analyst and veteran TV personality, Donny Deutsch, mastered the power of branding when he built the multibillion dollar ad agency. Now, in a hyper-saturated, over-marketed world, our media landscape too often presents one-dimensional figures who are globally seen, and yet not truly known. Where the notion “perception is reality” feels truer each day, join Donny as he peels back the layers of the images we see, to understand the depths of the people who are changing our world. You won’t want to miss Donny’s candid conversations with global experts and the biggest names across entertainment, business, media, politics and more to better understand the “brands” of the moment and examine where politics, current events, and pop culture converge.

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60 recent

November 2, 202634 min

Mark Halperin on the Blue Wave, the Battle for the Democratic Party, and Trump’s Comedy Act

Political analyst Mark Halperin, host of Next Up and founder of 2WAY, joins Donny for a wide-ranging look at American politics on the eve of the midterms. Mark explains why Gavin Newsom tops his “8 for ‘28” list of likely Democratic nominees, why he doubts AOC will run, and how the outcome of Michigan’s Senate race, and Abdul El-Sayed’s rise, could reshape the party’s 2028 field. Donny and Mark dig into the Democrats’ shift on Israel and why so few party leaders have spoken up, along with the populist anger fueling both the left and the right. On the Republican side, they debate whether the controversial Vivek ad will fracture MAGA, what Donald Trump does after he leaves office, and Mark’s theory that Trump’s rally riffs work like a stand-up comic testing new material. Plus: the three things that could stop a blue tsunami, whether Texas is still fool’s gold for Democrats, the surprise races to watch in Mississippi and South Carolina, and a reason for optimism about America’s national conversation. A couple of alternate titles if you want a different angle: “Mark Halperin: Can Anything Stop the Blue Tsunami?” or “Mark Halperin on 2028, MAGA’s Future, and the Soul of the Democratic Party.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 29, 202634 min

“Protect Democracy at the Kitchen Table”: A Conversation with Nancy Pelosi

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, joins Donnie as she nears retirement after 20 terms in Congress. Fresh off a campaign swing of 80 stops across 14 states, Pelosi lays out why she thinks Democrats can pick up 30 or more House seats and win back the Senate, and how a message built on affordability, health care, and corruption is resonating with voters. She revisits January 6th from the Speaker’s chair, being pulled from the podium as rioters searched for her, and why she insisted Congress return to the House floor that night to certify the election. Donnie presses her on concerns among Jewish Democrats about the party’s direction on Israel, and Pelosi responds with the story of her father’s early advocacy for European Jews in Congress. They also discuss the Affordable Care Act as her proudest accomplishment, young voters’ views on socialism, and her husband Paul’s recovery. To close, Pelosi shares her “kaleidoscope” and “weaver at the loom” approaches to building consensus, offering practical advice for anyone trying to bring opposing sides together, plus her next chapter at the Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy at Berkeley. Her bestselling memoir, The Art of Power: My Story as America’s First Woman Speaker of the House, is now out in paperback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 28, 202623 min

Brands of the Week: Revenge of the Nerds, Gucci’s Crisis, and LEGO’s Best Year Ever

Donny Deutsch and Lou Pellegrino run through the brands shaping the zeitgeist: who’s up and who’s down. Nerds are officially cool, with 83% of Americans now calling “nerd” a compliment. Gen Z is bringing back the dinner party, fibermaxing turns out to be the rare TikTok wellness trend backed by science, and New Balance has passed Adidas as America’s number two sneaker brand. Gucci, meanwhile, is in crisis after three straight years of decline. Also on the board: wealthy shoppers turning to store brands, Ringo Starr still touring at 86, Burger King passing Wendy’s with an honest “we know we slipped” campaign, Levi’s as the quintessential American brand, Anne Hathaway’s hit streak, Houston named America’s dirtiest city, Home Depot’s 45-year stock run, padel outpacing pickleball, LEGO’s record year driven by adults, and why you’re probably waking up your dog more than it wakes you. On the downside, smartphones at age 12 are linked to eating disorders in girls, and all-day headphones are making Gen Z lonelier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 27, 202636 min

Bill O'Reilly on Trump, the Midterms & What Has to Change in America

Bill O'Reilly returns to talk about his new book, Confronting America: What Has to Change, co-written with Josh Hammer. It's his 20th #1 New York Times bestseller. We cover the values he says America has drifted from: work ethic, family, personal responsibility, and patriotism. He also shares the deathbed promise he made to his father that drove his career. Then we turn to politics. With the midterms two weeks away, Bill explains where Republicans went wrong and what Trump learned from James K. Polk. He also says Trump isn't fading away after his term ends. We debate whether the far right is a real threat compared to the organized, well-funded far left. Bill explains why he thinks unrest like France's is coming to U.S. cities, and why so many young Americans now favor socialism. Plus: Israel's upcoming election and Netanyahu, Bill's Singapore-inspired approach to drugs and homelessness, Bezos vs. Buffett on generosity, and whether Stephen A. Smith will run for office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 22, 202639 min

Quietly Erased: Jonathan Greenblatt on Antisemitism in the Arts, the DSA, and What You Can Do

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt returns to talk about where things stand six months after his last visit, and his answer is that the alarm hasn't subsided. He and Donny dig into the ADL's new State of the Arts report, which looked at 40 of America's top museums, including the Met, MoMA and LACMA. None of them included Jewish identity in their diversity commitments. Only six formally recognized Jewish American Heritage Month, and five of those dropped it after October 7th. Greenblatt calls it a "quiet erasure" of Jewish and Israeli artists. They also cover Robert Kraft's decision not to host Macklemore at Gillette Stadium, questions surrounding Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan campaign, why Greenblatt sees the DSA as a driving force behind left-wing antisemitism, and what's really happening on the streets of France. Greenblatt pushes back on the idea that antisemitism is about Netanyahu. He explains how polarization, conspiracy thinking, and manipulated platforms like Wikipedia and TikTok are spreading it, especially among young people. He also responds to President Obama's recent remarks in Belfast and makes the case for a two-state future despite everything. He closes with three things anyone can do to fight back: speak up, share facts, and show strength. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 15, 202627 min

David Rubenstein on Trump, Iran, AI & Why He Bought the Orioles

Billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein (Carlyle Group co-founder, Baltimore Orioles owner, and host of Bloomberg's The David Rubenstein Show) talks about Trump's future, the war with Iran, AI, and his new book, Speaking of America: Great Conversations at the Library of Congress. Rubenstein explains why he bought the Orioles as a gift to his hometown, and why tripling the payroll didn't buy a winning season. He talks about his "patriotic philanthropy," from repairing the Washington Monument to sending replicas of the Declaration of Independence to every governor and U.S. embassy for America's 250th. He also covers his path from Jimmy Carter's White House to private equity to the Giving Pledge. From the book, he shares stories from his bipartisan dinners for members of Congress: Michael Beschloss on wartime presidents (the U.S. hasn't formally declared war since 1941), Eric Schmidt and Henry Kissinger on artificial intelligence, Beverly Gage on J. Edgar Hoover's secret files, and Chris Wallace on how the 1960 Kennedy–Nixon debate created modern TV politics. On current events, he discusses the end of the post-WWII world order, how the Iran conflict might end, rising antisemitism since October 7, early 2028 contenders like Andy Beshear and J.D. Vance, and whether MAGA can outlast Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 8, 202635 min

Harlan Coben on Writing, Writer's Block & His Father's Last Words

Bestselling thriller author Harlan Coben reveals his writing process, how to beat writer's block, and the heartbreaking story behind his father's last words. With more than 100 million books sold and hit Netflix series like Fool Me Once, Harlan Coben is one of the world's most popular mystery writers. Donny Deutsch talks with his longtime friend about his new memoir, Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft, which is part memoir and part writing guide. Harlan explains why he always knows the ending before he starts (his "GPS theory"), why rewriting matters more than writing, and why he believes "plot is character." He talks about imposter syndrome and creative self-doubt, why boredom is good for creativity, and why he needs to leave the house to write. He also shares how losing both parents young led him to write about missing people, and tells the story of a hotel key found in his father's pocket. There are lighter moments too: his childhood Nerf basketball league, the "scary" children's book Are You My Mother?, being named a Jewish All-American at Amherst, his view on AI and books, and "The Boys," the friend group that includes Michael J. Fox and George Stephanopoulos. If you're an aspiring writer, a Harlan Coben fan, or love stories about creativity, friendship, and grief, this conversation is for you. 📖 Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft by Harlan Coben is available now wherever books are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 2, 202617 min

Brands of the Week: Malls Are Back, Everyone's Exhausted, and Taco Bell Wants You to Check In

This week Donny Deutsch and Lou Pellegrino run through who's up and who's down in American culture. They start with a CDC report finding that most U.S. adults are running on empty, then compare notes on five o'clock naps and why sleep has become a $100 billion industry. From there it's senior TikTok creators talking openly about sex and intimacy, the University of Chicago banning AI and laptops from its core courses, and the dictionary's newest additions, including "parasocial," "cuffing season," and "Sunday scaries." A new Gallup finding that adults under 35 are now the loneliest Americans leads into one of the week's most surprising brand ups: the comeback of the American mall. Donny and Lou trade Queens Center and Roosevelt Field memories along the way. They also check in on Taco Bell's new branded hotel in Palm Springs, question some of Ad Age's picks for 2026's hottest brands, and look at pickleball's fourth straight year as America's fastest-growing sport. Rounding out the list are the fitness shift from weight loss to strength and longevity, "DivorceTok" as a content category, social saunas as Gen Z's new third place, and the milestone of fewer than half of married women taking their husband's name. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 1, 202633 min

Anthony Scaramucci: The 3 Catastrophic Decisions That Gave Us Trump

Anthony Scaramucci joins Donny Deutsch to break down his new book, All the Wrong Moves: How Three Catastrophic Decisions Led to the Rise of Trump, a sharp and surprisingly self-critical look at how America got here. The SkyBridge founder and co-host of The Rest Is Politics: US walks through the three turning points he believes set the stage for MAGA: letting China into the WTO without checking its rise, the post-9/11 wars funded by tax cuts that blew up the deficit, and a 2008 bailout that rescued the banks but left Main Street behind. As Scaramucci puts it, Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party "had a baby, and they named it baby MAGA." Donny and Anthony also get into the fixes: restoring pay-as-you-go budgeting, ending Citizens United, and open primaries to break the two-party duopoly. They discuss Trump's fight with Canada and why Scaramucci predicts a deal is coming, the odds of a blue wave in the midterms, whether the Democrats can win back the center, and the Shapiro vs. Ossoff vs. Newsom debate. Plus, what happens to the Republican Party after Trump, why MAGA may not survive him, and whether "The Mooch" would ever run for office himself. 🎙️ Subscribe to On Brand with Donny Deutsch for more unfiltered conversations on politics, media, marketing, and culture with the biggest names shaping the national conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

September 24, 202633 min

Dana Bash on Elections That Changed History, MAGA Without Trump, and Why the Center Isn't Dead

CNN's Dana Bash joins Donny to talk about her new bestseller, The Elections That Changed the World: 15 Pivotal Moments That Shaped How We Live — from Hitler's rise through a democratic vote to the small-town election that launched Martin Luther King Jr. into the civil rights movement. Dana shares her own sixth-grade run for school president and how it shaped her instinct for fairness and truth-telling. Then she and Donny dig into the moment we're in now: the midterms, gerrymandering and the vanishing swing district, whether the Democratic Party's future runs through its left flank, if MAGA can survive without Trump, dark-horse 2028 contenders on both sides, and the unsettling question of AI outpacing human control. Be sure to check out the ⁠⁠⁠On Brand with Donny Deutsch YouTube page⁠⁠⁠. 🎙️ Subscribe to On Brand with Donny Deutsch for more unfiltered conversations on politics, media, marketing, and culture with the biggest names shaping the national conversation. ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices