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. For 1v1 tailored help building out your social media, book an Office Hours Session or an Audit here.
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Editor’s Note: This is the last issue of #VIRAL for 2025 – we’ll be back in the new year with fresh trends and fresh ideas. See you then and TYSM for being a #VIRAL subscriber! - Sammy
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TikTok Content Trends
Give these a whirl (and post them on Reels & Shorts too)
→ “You know it’s going to be a good day when…” Audio: This audio plays double duty – revealing that a day can start off well with a good outfit, but despite that, something can piss you off during the day [or someone rather]. For someone that works in politics but has an eye for fashion, this may just sound like your everyday. To use the audio, add it to a quick outfit video like this or this, and then share who you suspect is going to piss you off in the political space in the caption – bonus points for adding the “why” in that explanation.
→ “I’m fucking freezing” Audio: The weather outside has been frightful, or as this audio shares, “fucking freezing.” It can be used over b-roll of electeds freezing their butts off at a presser. It can be used for an individual like this, creating a relatable video moment about it being cold out. It can be used to point out male colleagues making the office too cold – think of a video of a staffer wearing their coat, scarf, and a blanket at their desk. Overall, it’s a cheeky audio that can be used to create cheeky relatable content.
→ “That’s not what the fans want to see” Audio: This audio has someone sharing the feedback “that’s not what the fans want to see,” a sentiment that can easily apply to someone’s behavior or action in politics. That sentiment of course can come to life with a lipsync-style video with text added to the video sharing "what the fans don’t want” – that could be a policy choice, a behavior, etc. The caption can be used to elaborate on the “why.”
TikTok Audios
Trending TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids
AUDIO → original sound okayyevan
AUDIO → Purple Skies
AUDIO → Tres Tres Chic
AUDIO → Dontcha
AUDIO → Summertime Instrumental
Instagram Trends
Creative content concepts to try
→ “The Poll” Trend: This interactive trend puts two colleagues and their acting skills to the test. As seen with this prime example, one colleague asks the other a rather confounding question, resulting in the other colleague turning toward the camera to give the audience an “are you kidding me” look. In tandem 3-4 answers added via text appear on the screen, providing a visual moment, and also prompt options for the audience to respond to. The concept can be replicated for a variety of politically-related questions – pick your poison, but regardless use this audio in the background.
→ “What do you to do if…” Audio: This audio shares a snippet of a conversation between two people:
Person 1: “What do you plan to do if this whole dream of yours doesn’t work out?”
Person 2: “That doesn’t even enter my consciousness”
That dynamic can represent a conversation between a reporter or person otherwise asking an elected/candidate/advocate about their pursuit of a solution on an issue. The style of the video should look like one person is interviewing the other in a visually interesting way. Text could be added to the video for each person’s role, customized to the “conversation” like so:
Person 1: “What do you plan to do if this whole dream of yours with XYZ issue doesn’t work out?”
Person 2: “That doesn’t even enter my consciousness”
Another route would be to have the text added in a POV style like so: “POV: when someone asks me about my pursuit of gun reform”
→ “2025 Accomplishments Cake” Trend: This trend can be done solo or with a group of people, but overall focuses on sharing wins/accomplishments from the year. As seen with this example, it features adding mini post-made flags into a cake or a sweet treat, and then has the creator share them as they’re added; in a multi-person version, each person would add their flag and say it. This trend would be great for sharing any accomplishments an office has gotten for constituents or clients. Additionally, this trend is also particularly relevant for TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
IG Reels Audios
Background audios that make Reels move
AUDIO → Snoopy’s Sleigh Ride
AUDIO → Thriller 7” Special Edit
AUDIO → Abraka
AUDIO → purebarre mix
Threads to Thread
Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing other top grammatical moments of disaster for the Admin, like Hegseth’s name card a few weeks ago.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing your topline takeaway from Trump’s pre-recorded address to the nation.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing the symbolism of this observation and other top observations you’ve had of the Vanity Fair x White House photoshoot.
The Thread → Reply OR repost elaborate/explain how Mike Johnson has in fact lost control of the House.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by discussing the harms of AI data centers.
The Thread → Reply OR repost discuss the impacts of Trump’s AI EO versus state’s rights.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing Trump’s falling approval rating.
Skies Are Blue
Trending topics ATM on Bluesky
Dan Bongino
Puka Nacua
Oscars
Ian Bertram
Caturday
BEFORE YOU GO…
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