Welcome to #VIRAL, The Newsletter, sharing need-to-know content trends and concepts for Dem social media, digital, and comms professionals. Dive into this week’s picks below.
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TikTok Content Trends
Give these a whirl (and post them on Reels & Shorts too)
→ “Sources confirm, your vibe was weird” Audio: This news anchor-style audio that goes “sources confirm your vibe was weird - yes, everyone felt it” can be used to highlight any scenario in politics that had you or anyone else on planet earth going “that was a weird vibe.” For an example to think about, on the Girl and the Gov TikTok, we used the audio with this post, highlighting how weird Hegseth’s military rant-sesh was. The style can be similar to that video, or take a form like this or like this.
→ “Can I speak to the man in charge” Trend: This trend puts focus on scenarios where someone has asked “can I speak to the man in charge” assuming that the person running the operation is a dude, but turns out, nope it’s a woman. The trend is of course highly applicable in the male-dominated political field and serves as an opportunity to push back against people’s assumptions and biases. To make the trend happen, follow the format of this TikTok and use this audio.
→ “The lion/lioness” Trend: This trend has creators sharing something that they’re “not concerned with” but actually are incredibly locked in about and concerned about – or at least very much are acknowledging that they should be. The trend has creators using a static image post of themselves with the following text formula added: “the lion/lioness doesn’t concern themselves with” + [something they “don’t” concern themselves with]. For example, “this lion doesn’t concern himself with the whims of a 34-count convicted felon.” The audio to use with these posts is this one.
→ “Jingle Jingle” Trend: Sometimes the best way to get someone to pay attention to what you're saying is with a prop that keeps their attention – like a baby with a rattle. That concept comes to life with this trend that uses this audio to share situations where you need to use essentially a carrot on a stick to keep someone’s attention, like seen in this creator’s video where she jokingly waves antlers around as a way to keep her significant other’s attention during hunting season. The trend could be made political with these swaps:
“Legislative season” + “gavel”
“Campaign season” + “campaign merch”
→ “Trump bootlicker x Mikie Sherrill” Audio: This audio from a recent interview with Congresswoman and candidate governor of NJ, Mikie Sherrill points out an array of her opponents flaws in a super approachable way. The audio provides a number of usable moments for NJ-focused videos that have segments rolling in the background – similar to this one using VP Harris’s audio.
→ “Birth Control Rap” Stitch Opportunity & Audio: This old video has been making its round of these kids’ high school health project where they rapped about birth control. The audio from it is iconic [it’s giving circa 2009 era] and has already been stitched by creator Dr. Lincoln. That said, this is still a great stitch opportunity for any electeds that are also doctors. The audio itself can also be useful for any videos where the principal is aiming to share facts about birth control.
→ “It’s like opening a can of worms” Audio: Martha Stewart is killing it on TikTok, and the audio from this video is no exception. The first segment of the audio, which goes “it’s like opening a can of worms, I did something really bad” can be used to highlight a member of the opposition that opened a political can of worms or in other words, did something bad. The style of the video can be POV-style or b-roll of the opposing member with text or imagery added that explains what they did.
TikTok Audios
TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids
AUDIO → original sound slimpetras
AUDIO → Victory Lap
AUDIO → original sound ahriel
AUDIO → Mind Games
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Instagram Trends
Creative content concepts to try
→ “Airplane Mode” Audio: This snappy audio is perfect for capturing a snippet of the travel back and forth between your neck of the woods and DC [or state cap if you’re far from yours, etc]. The resulting Reel is essentially a mini vlog using video clips of the principal on their flight or at the airport – little clips of the tv screen and so on can be integrated as well. The text added should differ from what is seen with this trend and instead share where the elected or thought leader is going and why [or coming back from].
→ “Call Me Maybe” Audio: Calling all Millennials, Call Me Maybe is trending on Reels. It’s being used most commonly with realtors highlighting what it’s like to be them at an open house [“call me maybe @ viewers”]. However, the audio could also be used by thought leaders to spoof on elected officials that never pick up the phone and avoid constituents. Visually, this could look like a sped up video of a thought leader trying to call the elected multiple times and clearly getting frustrated that they aren’t picking up; text could be added to the video like “Call me [ELECTED OFFICIAL NAME] Maybe.”
IG Reels Audios
Background audios that make Reels move
AUDIO → kellyyyannee original audio
AUDIO → thecutandcraft original audio
AUDIO → ALAMBTRE Pua
AUDIO → I’m Not Them
Threads to Thread
Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing why this shutdown is occurring and who it will impact the most.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing other moments where Trump denied knowing anything about Project 2025
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing the relevance of Lindsey Halligan being at the White House - normies don’t know who that is or why they should know who she is.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing another example of Trump showing his true colors.
The Thread → Reply OR repost and explain how the GOP bill takes healthcare away and how this funding fight is all about it.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by debunking another MAGA myth.
Skies Are Blue
Trending topics ATM on Bluesky
Taylor Swift
SCOTUS Decisions
Bad Bunny
Manchester Incident
Stephen Miller
Padres
BEFORE YOU GO…
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