Welcome to #VIRAL, The Newsletter from Girl and the Gov®, sharing need-to-know content trends and concepts for social media, digital, and comms professionals in politics. For 1v1 tailored help building out your social media accounts and new media strategy, book an Office Hours session or an Audit here.

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Give these a whirl (and post them on Reels & Shorts too)

→ “Practicing for my Netflix documentary” Trend: This trend is heating up and has so many political application possibilities. The trend, as exemplified here, has a creator acting like they’re sitting down for a 1v1 interview in a documentary. Layered on top of the video featuring this audio, is text that shares what the documentary would be about. The text formula is “me practicing for my Netflix documentary called + [TOPIC].” The topics can range from silly and personal to the political. A few political examples that come to mind:

→ “I got to the mic, and was like press record” Trend: This Beyonce audio is the base for this trend, where creators are sharing how they came up with something they say or do – sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively, and sometimes sarcastically. The vibe of the trend is that whatever it is that they’re known to say/do, it just sort of “came to them.” This trend would be particularly good for a principal that’s known for a phrase, with the resulting video highlighting in jest that they’re known for said phrase [think showing the ability that they can joke about themselves].

→ “Wild that people don’t snack” Audio: Alicia from the Real Housewives of Rhode Island continues to drop absolute bangers when it comes to one-liners, and this compilation of one-liners about snacking is no exception. The vision for this audio’s use involves multiple members of a campaign team and a candidate, each outfitted with their favorite snack, and filming a TikTok that goes like this:

Because the audio is 26 seconds, each creator takes a five second slot. The last creator in the line-up should be the candidate. Each creator’s part should be filmed individually – i.e. one creator + snack in a scene at a time. 

The goal of the video is to show a team and candidates’ persona, tap into commonalities that at a human interest level, and made a nod to a popular pop culture reference. 

→ “Genetically need coffee” Trend: This audio actually comes from a political creator, Breeze, but it’s gorgeously focused on iced coffee. In the audio she jokes about needing to get an iced coffee because of a “genetic condition.” Again, jokes. Alas, the resulting content styles using the audio have looked like this and this. To take it back to politics, the audio could be used to showcase a politico getting a coffee at a local place they love. It could also be used to tease an interview with a creator or reporter at a local coffee shop.

Trending TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

AUDIO → Original sound Ken Eurich *use this to show how a candidate/opponent has flip flopped on an issue or failed to follow-through on a promise

AUDIO → OUT OF MY LEAGUE *use for carousels and/or vlog background audio

AUDIO → La Lom *use for carousels and/or vlog background audio

AUDIO → Stay Fly Whethan Remix *use with videos the demonstrate momentum building

AUDIO → Build Me Up Buttercup *use this version with vlog/recap videos that have a wholesome or joyful feel

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Creative content concepts to try and post on TikTok too

→ “Is there anybody on board that can…” Trend: Taking a page out medical professionals being paged to tag in during medical emergencies on transit, this trend has creators sharing what “emergency” their skills would come in handy for like this. In the case of the example post, the creator is on a plane, but the trend can be filmed anywhere, as it’s more about the text added and how much it alerts viewers to the creator’s skillset + how it could help them [the viewer]. Political applications could range from using it as a way to highlight constituent services to using it to highlight lawyers in a specific niche [ex: immigration]. The text formula for the trend is:

The caption can then be used to further explain the principal’s skill/offering/service. To note, this is the audio to use with the trend.

→ “My number is no” Trend: This audio is being used like this to showcase a variety of things that are “no’s” to the principal – in the example case, it’s no’s according to a fire department. For a candidate or elected, the “no’s” can be things like “not taking corporate PAC money” or “voting to confirm Trump’s nominee for XYZ position.” The trend of course does not need to be isolated to one individual and their “no’s,” but can also encompass those that are a part of a group like a caucus or delegation. 

→ “The ‘A’ in my name stand for…” Trend: For those with a principal that has the letter “A” in their name – congratulations, this trend applies to just you. The trend has creators sharing in jest what the letter ‘A’ in their name stands for. Naturally, this example where the creator is sharing that it stands for always being right, wouldn’t be a great look politically speaking, but what would fly is “stands for abortion is healthcare” or “ally to my trans fam.” The concept uses a sped up face-to-camera video like this and then has simple text added to the video.

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → Timeless (Instrumental) *use for carousels that have a negative or sad tilt

AUDIO → American Pie *use for July 4th and patriotic Reels

AUDIO → Delicato Pizzicato *use for the background of spoofy skit type content

AUDIO → Intro *use with videos that show the principal giving it their all

AUDIO → original audio thewellbegin__ *use for high-paced recap edits

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost  by sharing a policy that will help feed more people.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing another move by the Trump Admin that’s the antithesis of making America healthier. 

The Thread → Reply OR repost by adding to the thread what AI Teddy would “say” if you ran into “him.”

The Thread → Reply OR repost by explaining what this new law does and how it helps people.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing a tote bag that gives back.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by reminding people about the plane and the corruption.

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

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Pirro Press Conference

Chicago Events

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