#VIRAL, The Newsletter: May 20, 2025

"HOLY FCKN AIRBALL" - the trend connecting liberals on TikTok that YOU should tap into

Author

Girl and the Gov®
May 20, 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)

“HOLY FCKIN AIRBALL” TREND: Perhaps best explained or understood with examples like this, this, and this, this carousel trend mimics a casual conversation that you might be having with someone, where you lead with a vague political statement and it’s quickly proven that they have mischaracterized or judged what that means for “you.” To make the trend happen for you, you’re going to need this audio and three images that fit these parameters:

  • Image 1 - this is an image of you in a nonpolitical setting. The options for the text that’s added to the image include: it doesn’t have to be limited to these

    • “I told him/her/them that I work in politics”

    • “I told him/her/them that I mess with politics”

    • “I told him/her/them that I want a better future for my kids”

    • “I told him/her/them that I think America needs to make some changes”

  • Image 2 - this is also an image of you in a nonpolitical setting. The options for the text that’s added to the image include: 

    • “He/She/They said make America great again, right?”

    • “He/She/They said make America healthy again, right?”

    • “He/She/They said thank God for Trump, right?

  • Image 3 - this is an image of you doing something distinctly political [ex: at the DNC or at a protest] or with one or more other political people of note that are known Democratic entities that people will recognize and instantly know where you stand. The text to add to the image is “holy fkin airball” Translation: they missed by a mike.

“PROPAGANDA I’M NOT GOING TO FALL FOR” TREND: Using mostly this audio, creators are making posts like this, sharing a mini list of ‘propaganda’ they’re not falling for. You’ll notice that on posts like this one, propaganda broadly is defined in this trend as narratives across niches that are being pushed especially to women. Therefore, the post you make can be just ‘hard politics’ narratives or reach across categories that all relate to politics [ex: trad wives]. To make it happen, write a short list of 5-8 things that are a “no” to you, and add them to either a photo of yourself via text or a video, like this.

“PROPAGANDA I AM FALLING FOR OR ACTIVELY SPREADING” TREND: On the opposite end, creators are expanding on the trend above, by creating posts like this that share what they’re actively spreading/pushing to people. It’s the same format – a list of things, this time it’s things/ideas/narratives you approve of, an image/video of yourself, and this audio. This trend provides a way to share what you give a thumbs up to.

“THE ASK 3X” TREND: This is a super easy trend that you can use to share an action that people should do. Take this example, which is about shopping, and then think about how instead of having the ask be “buy her a new outfit” have it be something political. Think of the trend as direct yet subconscious in its design. To make it happen, use this audio, style a video action-wise like this, and then add text to the screen. If you have a way for people to complete the CTA that they should know about, use the caption to direct them.

“DOES ANYONE ELSE WORK WITH IDIOTS” AUDIO: This audio is perfect for pointing out that you work with idiots [if that’s the case]. Ideally, this audio would be used by electeds that are highlighting the stupidity of their colleagues. The style of the video would be lip-sync, with one of two additions made to the video – either a brief sentence or two that explains why the people you work with are idiots [or simple: “yes, I work with MTG”] OR an article headline doing the same thing. 

TIKTOK AUDIOS

TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

AUDIO → sonido original

AUDIO → Sue me

AUDIO → original sound

AUDIO → Sleepgarden

INSTA REELS AUDIOS 

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → original audio

AUDIO → The Winner Is

Creative content concepts to try

“MULTIPLE JOB TITLE” AUDIO: This audio could easily apply to Marco Rubio or any other Trump Admin member currently doing multiple people’s jobs. It’s giving, was this a prediction?? Either way, the audio can be used to create a Reel in a few formats, including:

  • Layering this sound with b-roll that features a tweet/thread/bluesky post or an article that describes the current political landscape superimposed onto the video.

  • Lip-syncing the relevant part of the audio and adding text to the video that connects the dots between the show and today’s reality.

“I’VE DONE NOTHING WRONG, EVER” AUDIO: This Parks & Rec audio is ideal for a Reel that highlights how Trump’s supporters view him i.e. that he can do no wrong even when he’s playing in their faces. The audio is from this scene to give you the context. To make a Reel with this, lip-sync the audio and then add text to the video that illustrates who it applies to in a way that feels fitting to your brand.

THREADS TO THREAD

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost with examples of how climate change is costing us all [ex: disaster relief].

The Thread → Reply OR repost and further elaborate on the targeted arrest of Rep. McIver.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by defining habeas corpus and following up with how it’s beyond problematic that Kristi Noem doesn’t know what it is.

The Thread → Reply OR repost share what you’re building politically [yes, it’s okay that it doesn't match the TechStar’s MO].

The Thread → Reply OR repost [if Gen-Z or if not, note that you’re not Gen-Z and are going to participate/engage regardless] and share what you’re doing right now politically speaking. 

The Thread → Reply OR repost and discuss what the Trump Admin is doing to future COVID booster shot availability. 

SKIES ARE BLUE

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

Marco Rubio

Zootopia 2

WWE Raw

Joe Biden

Books and Reading

Fred Warner

CAPCUT TEMPLATES

Meme it

  • Use this template to highlight a situation that you just can’t believe actually happened. Make sure the image added to the template fits its parameters. 

  • Use this template to share a political outcome you’ve been waiting for forever, and are still waiting on [no end in sight].

  • Use this template to share something that you would never do [ex: take corporate PAC money].

  • Use this template to highlight a move made by a politico that’s a “classic” – can be good or bad.

AND BEFORE YOU GO

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