#VIRAL, The Newsletter: February 11, 2025

Fetty Wap, Joy Rides, and Erin Brockovich based social media trends -- and yes, they work for political content

Author

Girl and the Gov®
February 11, 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].

For custom strategies on how to build your social media presence, book a free exploratory consulting call here or reach us at [email protected].

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TIKTOK CONTENT TRENDS

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

“SURPRISE BITCH” AUDIO: This audio literally goes "surprise bitch, I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me.” In translation: the audio is perfect for sharing something that people have thought went to the wayside, was forgotten about, or was just completely donzo. Political topic contenders could include:

  • A bill that’s being reintroduced

  • An elected official that won reelection by a tiny margin

  • A candidate that’s running for office again after a loss

  • An advocate showing up for meetings or a protest again *could also be done with a group

Style-wise, the video could easily take this form or this form.

“I WANT YOU TO BE MINE AGAIN BABY” AUDIO: Did college age us ever think we’d be telling you all to use one of our fave Fetty Wap songs to alert voters to critical elections? Not by a long shot. Anyways, this audio can be used to create a TikTok that…

  • …shares a House or Senate majority we need to get back [can be state or federal]

  • …share a specific seat we need to flip back to blue [share an existing campaign to do so and/or use it to recruit people to run for the seat]

  • …share a legal protection or program that you’d like back

The video style can be simple like this, or have a more cinematic flair to it if it’s filmed onsite at the a capitol building, etc.

“WANT TO GO FOR A JOY RIDE” TREND: This trend is being used to highlight a situation where “you” get a disappointing/messed up response from a group of people in reaction to an experience where it would be common sense to get their support/help/encouragement. The trend uses this audio, and in function, looks like this and like this. Political applications that are top of mind for this include:

  • “I told them to vote for the pro-union candidate”

  • “I told them he was going to dismantle the Department of Education”

  • “I told them about the harms of passing XYZ bill”

“MISCHIEVOUS” AUDIO: This audio can be used to share…

  • …moments you and/or a group are being "mischievous" in order to achieve something positive

  • …moments an individual and/or group think they’re being sneaky, but everyone is aware of their actions

The format for this can be a video, but the most seamless would be to utilize the carousel image feature, and let images of headlines do the talking. 

“I’M POISON EITHER WAY” TREND: Using this audio snippet and one still image of themselves, creators are sharing two things they’re always talking about – specifically one thing they love and one thing they hate. Per this example, the creator is sharing that they're either always talking about how much they love Taylor Swift or how much they hate Donald Trump. This trend can of course be applied to other facets of politics and pop culture. For example, “I’m either talking about how much I love the Eagles or how much I hate a private citizen accessing sensitive government info.”

TIKTOK AUDIOS

TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

AUDIO → hell of a night 

AUDIO → Bout To Lose It

INSTA REELS AUDIOS 

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → Highway

Creative content concepts to try

“GO THROUGH EACH OTHER’S PHONES” AUDIO: This audio describes a situation where a person is suggesting that a group reads the worst text they’ve sent about a person sitting at “the table.” It’s giving the essence of a hearing, but instead of texts being read, it’s public social media posts. In practice, the audio could be used over CSPAN coverage of a hearing, and the caption used to further detail the situation going on.

“I KNOW MORE ABOUT THESE PLAINTIFFS THAN YOU EVER WILL” AUDIO: A classic set of lines from Erin Brockovich, this audio sets up an opportunity for AG or an organization of lawyers to create a video positioning themselves as not just more knowledgeable than the defendants, but as distinctly in the camp of the plaintiffs. In application, a Reel using this audio could look like this.

“GOOGLED ALL MY SYMPTOMS…” TREND: This trend has creators making Reels that illustrate a scenario where they searched for answers on why they were having a “case of the blues” to find that the answer was that they just needed to hang out with their bestie. This concept can be used directly and show two or more political besties being reunited. In addition, it can be used in a slightly different way like so:

  • “Googled my symptoms and turns out  XYZ program exists to help”

  • “Googled my symptoms and it turns out introducing a bill on this will open up the conversation on it.”

“EW, EW, EW” AUDIO: This audio, from this skit, provides a great two-person video opportunity. The audio can be used to point out Republicans you and your colleague plan to get voted out of office. For each “ew” an elected GOP member’s name can appear on the video via text. The caption can then provide action items for viewers.

PODCAST PLAYBOOKS

Secure placements for your principal (or yourself)

ICYMI - Girl and the Gov® creates bespoke podcast playbooks that deliver strategic placements to best connect elected officials, candidates, and thought leaders with their target audiences. Crafted with team needs in mind through the lens of experienced podcasters, the playbooks put your principal’s goals in play (and in earbuds). To learn more, set up a free exploratory call here.

THREADS TO THREAD

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing an image of “how someone’s email finds you” – hint: it should be an image of you hard at work in some capacity fighting back against the Admin.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and name a lawsuit that you’re leading [AG’s or orgs] against a man in politics. Share details on it.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and share why you’re in support of repealing Citizen’s United. Make it a full thread and share how you envision that happening and/or what’s necessary to make that a reality.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and share something you always have in your purse from your neck of the woods – use it as an opportunity to highlight a local business.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and discuss Elon’s hacking bro squad and their activities. 

SKIES ARE BLUE

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

Luka

Lakers

Eric Adams

Google Maps

OpenAI

CFPB Shutdown

NSA

Super Bowl

CAPCUT TEMPLATES

Meme it

  • Use this template to highlight the reaction you’re having to the latest bit of news.

  • Use this template [if you’re an org] to showcase the action of calling one’s elected officials.

  • Use this template to unveil a bill, resolution, lawsuit, or other action that results in an impressive “wow.”

AND BEFORE YOU GO

…find more from Girl and the Gov®