#VIRAL, The Newsletter: August 21, 2025

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 picks below.

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TikTok Content Trends

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

‘Who’s we?’ Trend: This mini audio clip featuring DJ Khaled has started a two-sequence trend that takes form like this. The first part of the sequence has the creator sharing an assumption that’s been lobbed at them like “we have all supported Trump at some point in time,” via text on the screen and is quickly followed by part two of the sequence, where they react to the assertion in an apparent appalled fashion in tandem with “who’s we” added to the video. Naturally, part two of the sequence begins at :04 seconds when the audio cuts to “who’s we???” The trend can be paired with any assumption that’s been “thrown” at the account’s principal.

‘How can Sunday be a day of rest…” Audio: This snappy audio goes, “How can Sunday be a day of rest when you’re working this hard to piss me off.” And thus, this audio can be used by an elected, candidate, or thought leader to highlight a political happening that’s pissing them off. The video principal can lip-sync the audio, and then to share what’s pissing them off, they can share it by either adding text or an image of a headline/press release, a tweet, etc.

‘My camera roll this weekend’ Trend: An evergreen classic, this trend has creators sharing highlights from their camera roll from over the course of a weekend. Each slide is an image from the camera roll and includes a one sentence or less description or comment on what was captured in the image. This trend works for an elected, a candidate, or a thought leader showing the BTS of their life.

‘Find-out-tology’ Audio: This sassy audio goes like this: “One thing about me is that I will find out. I’m a findoutologist. I’ve got a PHD in findoutology.” And for a political use case, this audio could be used to highlight revelatory findings, like elected officials making questionable stock trades or a member of gov that’s up to no good. TBH, OpenSecrets, we’re looking at you for this one. The audio could be used with a carousel of info/stats/facts/findings or a video that shares just one.

‘I hate Charlie Kirk’ Audio: This audio is as described, a creator screaming that she hates Charlie Kirk - relatable queen. The audio can be used in a lip-sync style, similar to the style described above, with added details as to why shared on the video with text or an image, for specific content. It can also be used, and perhaps more effectively, with b-roll and a screenshot of a tweet by the principal clapping back at Charlie on Twitter.

‘Cute Outfit’ Audio: This influencer accidentally created a perfect little audio to use when showing off a good outfit in good lighting. Whether pre-event, at an event, after an event, and so on, this audio can be used lip-sync-style to show off an outfit that eats.

‘Look like you’re looking over your shoulder’ Audio: This audio is a skit – literally – this is what it looks like in use. The plot of the skit is a friend trying to help a friend get THE picture. If you’ve been there [social media managers, yes you have], you know the vibes. Alas, this skit offers an opportunity to create a bit of light-hearted content featuring a principal and their social media manager.

TikTok Audios

TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

AUDIO → Mess It Up

AUDIO → Diet Pepsi - Live from 2025 Las Culturistas

AUDIO → original sound - zoe -

AUDIO → recognize by Russ and Jessy Blakemore *this could be used to highlight the situation of someone still hoping that their elected official will change their ways

AUDIO → Low Sun

IG Reels Audios

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → Oblivion

AUDIO → About You

AUDIO → Icky Thump

AUDIO → Wait

AUDIO → Water Flow

Instagram Trends

Creative content concepts to try

‘Amy Poehler x White House Commentary’ Audio: This clip from Amy Poehler’s podcast, Good Hang, shares the real real on some of the White House decor – which, per the ballroom news, is about to get even… well, you fill in the blank. The resulting and usable audio can be used with images or videos from inside the White House, showing its interesting design choices made by the current president. It could also be used to show what's become of the Rose Garden, and so on.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, her’ Trend: This audio is making its rounds once again, but as part of a new trend. The trend, as seen here, has the goal of making the audience aware that they’re the target audience for the video and whatever product/idea/service they video is trying to “sell.” For a political use case, take on a similar form to this video, whether solo or with a group. Then add the political CTA you’d like the audience to do via text on screen [ex: “omg there’s that girly who’s about to register to vote.” If there are next steps involved for the CTA you’re highlighting, add the directions in the caption.

What would an influencer do?

Ask Girl and the Gov®

If you could ask a political influencer anything — what would it be? How to grow an audience? How to go viral on purpose? How to work with creators that move the needle?

Office Hours is your time to ask — and get real answers that level up your digital, comms, and creator strategy. 

 Threads to Thread

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing something else that polls higher than Trump.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing a reason JD Vance continues to fail to impress.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing who would get the "consequence" you ordered and what the consequence should be [ex: voted out of office for voting for Trump’s bill].

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing what your community does for you and visa versa; harp on the importance of community in organizing. 

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing an obvious piece of political BS.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing what else Trump technically is.

Skies Are Blue

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

Apple Conflict.

Brent Hinds

James Dobson

Walmart Prices

Gavin Newsom

Frank Caprio

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