Welcome to #VIRAL, The Newsletter from Girl and the Gov®, sharing need-to-know content trends and concepts for Dem social media, digital, and comms professionals. Dive into this week’s picks below.
EDITOR’S NOTE: There will be no new issue of #VIRAL next week due to the holiday. Fresh content trends will drop into inboxes and on the inter-webs the following week. If you need evergreen ideas, audios, and so on, check #VIRAL’s vast library of issues here. See you after Thanksgiving - Sammy :)
Email forwarded your way? Subscribe here.
TikTok Content Trends
Give these a whirl (and post them on Reels & Shorts too)
→ “Who are you rooting for” Audio: This interview audio from DWTS, where these two are asked about “who they’re rooting for,” is useable for a situation where the principal [creator] can’t say who they’re supporting in a primary – this could be an org or a party that doesn’t endorse or uplift a candidate in primaries. Ideally, the TikTok would include two people and mimic the interview-style of the OG video.
→ “Fuck Donald Trump” Audio: This isn’t your average FDT audio – this is the audio of these two Northeast dads with beers cheer-sing to giving a big “F U” to the current president. The most seamless use case for the audio, are two electeds, two candidates, or even two thought leaders that enjoy a cold one making their own rendition of the video… perhaps with a Bud Light?
→ “Melania Xmas Clip Remix” Audio: This remixed audio brings together two Melania Trump audio clips surrounding Christmas and Christmas decoration duties as FLOTUS – good cop v. bad cop. It’s camp. It’s absurd. And, importantly, it can be saved for use alongside what will likely be video of whatever garish holiday festivities come out of the White House this year; the captioning or verbiage added to the video can point to the “let them eat cake” attitude the Admin has.
→ “Dancing in mute” Trend: This trend has creators filming a video of themselves dancing around without any added audio at first. Then, when they finish recording, they let TikTok pick the audio to see if it matches the vibe they’re throwing down. The trend is simply fun and lighthearted. It could easily be used by one or more electeds, candidates, etc for fun to show off their goofy side.
→ “_____acholic” Trend: This trend has creators sharing something they’re either obsessed with or always doing by posting carousel of that in action with text added to screen in this format: “ACTION THEY LOVE DOING-AHOLIC.” For a quick example, this is a version involving a creator and her dog. And then for a video example, there’s these two and their love for Rihanna. The trend could be left in the hobbies/little joys category, or could be made directly political with things like “passing bills-aholic” or “getting shit done for XYZ city-aholic.”
TikTok Audios
Trending TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids
AUDIO → UH HUH!
AUDIO → Difficult
AUDIO → Witchy Woman
AUDIO → Unreleased
Need help developing your new media strategy?
Office Hours is here with the assist
Office Hours is your bookable, on-demand space for comms, digital, and new media support. Think of it as a quick pit stop to workshop ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and get clear, actionable advice you can put to work right away. Whether you’re shaping a creator strategy, looking for insights from the political influencer lens, or just need to pressure-test a new idea, Office Hours with Girl and the Gov® are here to help you move faster and move smarter in the new media world.
Instagram Trends
Creative content concepts to try
→ “Age rage baiting” Trend: Gen-Z’s have started doing this trend, acting out what it’s like when they rage bait their older coworkers when they say “omg that’s the year I was born.” This could be made political a few ways, however the #1 variation on a theme is a variation where the principal is a Gen-z candidate or elected, sharing what it’s like to rage bait someone that’s been in office longer than they’ve been alive. The caption can then have a CTA about getting younger people into elected office.
→ “Exemplary potato” Audio: This audio is being used by creators to share situations where the small talk has hit a huge wall or where they start talking about something incredibly bland to avoid a sticky convo. The audio could thus be used by an elected official to illustrate either of those scenarios, just with a slight political angle added to it.
IG Reels Audios
Background audios that make Reels move
AUDIO → Mistletoe And Holly
AUDIO → Halloween Theme (Opening)
AUDIO → Never Quit
Threads to Thread
Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads
The Thread → Reply OR repost by explaining why the Trump Admin is trying to avoid releasing these numbers.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing how federal government sites are no longer accurate sources.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by adding another thing you need in the political realm [ex: affordable housing].
The Thread → Reply OR repost with details on the Trump x Saudi Arabia x fighter jet sale.
The Thread → Reply OR repost with background on the Department of Education changing professional degree qualifications.
The Thread → Reply OR repost with a current reason that makes the vibe “ugh.”
Skies Are Blue
Trending topics ATM on Bluesky
NVIDIA Earnings
Harvard
Epstein Files
Piggy Statement
Larry Summers
BEFORE YOU GO…
…find more from Girl and the Gov®
→ Receive good news and all the political goss fit to print with The Gov Hub Newsletter
→ Tap into the creator world by subscribing to Keeping It Currant
→ Get on-demand comms and digital help with GATG Office Hours Sessions