#VIRAL, The Newsletter: January 28, 2025

A viral Dance Moms audio, a vintage Mac Miller anti-trump moment you can use, and carousel trends that work for TikTok and Instagram

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Girl and the Gov®
January 28, 2025

Happy Tuesday and welcome to #VIRAL, The Newsletter, which shares need-to-know content trends and concepts for political social media, digital, and comms professionals. Dive into this week’s trends and content ideas below [and share with a social media manager in your network].

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TIKTOK CONTENT TRENDS

Give these a whirl (and post them on other platforms too)

Editor’s Note: TikTok is back ATM, so we’re proceeding with including trends and audios for the platform. Do note, that these can be downloaded and utilized across platforms, as they should [in most cases]. 

“DID YOU THINK IT WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE THE POSTER” AUDIO: Creators are using this audio to point out how Trump voters clearly didn’t look at the fine print or research their choice enough [or at all]. It’s in essence a reaction to those that FAFO’d, as seen with this TikTok. The trend can be used to paint this picture broadly or to highlight a specific policy area Trump voters were distinctly duped on, like this.

“BREAKING NEWS ABOUT YOUR EX” AUDIO: This audio is reminiscent of a FaceTime with a friend where that friend tells you that your ex is an idiot. In the context of politics, the audio can be used to point out a “political ex” that’s trying to get back into the game – think someone that left or was booted from their elected position due to a scandal that should stay gone from elected office. Make the TikTok by miming the audio and using text on screen to share who the “political ex” is. The caption can be used to elaborate on why this person had to previously exit stage left and should not get back in the mix.

“OOTD DETAILS” TREND: This carousel trend has creators sharing three or more images of their OOTD, with brand details added to each image. It’s like an OOTD tour. For those looking for a more silent approach to sharing an OOTD, this is a fresh and easy way to make it happen. Add an audio like this one, and you’re good to go. 

“I WAS THE DEI COORDINATOR FOR…” TREND: We’ll categorize this trend as “humor is the way to cope with crazy.” Creators are making spoof TikToks faking that they were the DEI coordinator/head/lead for a various real or fake org, and sharing an insane fake thing that they would “do” in this role, like seen with this TikTok. This trend is also popping up on Threads in this fashion. It of course can be built on and replicated, but we’ll asterisks that this trend should not be done by an elected/candidate.

“DAILY ROUTINE” TREND: This image trend has creators sharing their “daily routine” which includes a few political tidbits of note, like this. A politico could easily replicate the trend, but instead of some of the “line items” being “hate Donald Trump etc” they can specific things that the rep/org is doing to fight back on an issue or particularly relevant currently, executive orders that are coming through. Use this audio and a still image of the rep/elected or the account’s lead [for an org].

“I FUCKING HATE YOU DONALD TRUMP” AUDIO: This old audio has come back into play, which per the moniker of the this trend goes “I fucking hate you Donald Trump.” Creators are using it over GRWM videos like this, but we can also see this being used over a carousel of media clips that share the moves Trump is making, from EOs to firings, etc. For a video format, a creator can add a sticker image of one of the stories they’d like to highlight that makes them hate DT.

“NOT ONLY DO I NOT CARE THAT YOU THINK I’M A BITCH” AUDIO: This audio goes out to every woman in leadership or aspiring leadership who has been called a bitch. This audio literally goes “not only do I not care that you think I’m a bitch, I actually prefer it” taking the ownership of it all back. This is how creators are generally using it, and most certainly see a path for its use for politicos, especially if used in responding to a troll calling the politico a bitch in the comments/a hearing/ in the press, etc.

“WE HAVE SOME BREAKING NEWS” AUDIO: If you follow Aaron Parnas for news updates or he just pops up in you FYP, this audio mashup of his video intros will ring familiar. It’s a remix that really underscores the constant news cycle from hell. It’s also being used by creators to highlight what that experience looks and feels like throughout a day in the life, like this. Additionally, it’s being paired with video footage of incredibly expressive pets that meet the moment. Both avenues work for politicos. For the “human reaction” avenue, for each “breaking news” piece of the audio, an image/screenshot sticker of a news story could be added to the video.

“THREE BABY MOMMAS AND A CRIMINAL RECORD” AUDIO: This creator brilliantly used this Dance Moms audio to point out that Trump has three baby mommas and a criminal record with this TikTok. If you decide to replicate the concept, make sure to tag the creator for credit.

TIKTOK AUDIOS

TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

AUDIO → Atomic Dog

AUDIO → braincells

INSTA REELS AUDIOS 

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → Maestro

AUDIO → Beanie

Creative content concepts to try

“Q&A” TREND: This trend shows two creators having a conversation, a verbal ping pong if you will, using this audio. The audio has four “dings” in it and for each “ding,” text is added to the video sharing what each creator is “saying.” Each creator gets two “dings” and the formula is a Q&A like this:

  • Ding 1: “This happened”

  • Ding 2: "What'd you do in response”

  • Ding 3: “What they didn’t do in response”

  • Ding 4: “What they actually did in response”

This concept can be made political. Take this example:

  • Ding 1: “They amended the bill”

  • Ding 2: "What'd you do about it, that hurts your constituents” 

  • Ding 3: “Let it go”

  • Ding 4: “Kidding, I brought everyone back to the table and got projects for my district funded”

“NO” AUDIO: This Meghan Trainor song can be clipped to the portion where she says “no” about five million times, and used to share a policy you're a “no” on no matter what or which way you’re asked about. The format can follow this style of Reel video-wise, with the question about a policy added to the front of the video – for example: “Would you ever support getting rid of free school lunch for students?”

“SEVEN DAYS A WEEK” AUDIO: This audio can be used to create Reels that…

  • Share the days of the week an org or public utility is open

  • Share the days of the week an elected is working for their constituents 

  • Share the days of the week that a candidate is campaigning

…and more. For style reference, this Reel and this Reel are solid to take format influences from.

THREADS TO THREAD

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing what you’ve noticed has either gotten more expensive at the store in January and/or what hasn’t come down in price since inauguration. 

The Thread → Reply OR repost by posing the question of “what’s in it for them” and defining “them” as MAGA and then answering that question.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing that you’re actually not sad because you need a trip to Sweden but because a specific political action.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing another GOP action that isn’t pro-life.

SKIES ARE BLUE

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

Karoline Leavitt

Alyssa Thomas

Jim Acosta

Lunar New Year

Kash Patel

Sen. Tillis

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