#VIRAL, The Newsletter: September 4, 2025

Welcome to #VIRAL, The Newsletter, sharing need-to-know content trends and concepts for Dem social media, digital, and comms professionals. Dive into this week’s picks below.

Email forwarded your way? Subscribe here.

TikTok Content Trends

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

→ “NJ Accent Test” Trend: This is a game turned occasional trend, where someone tests a friend/colleague etc to see if they have an accent from the place that they’re from [think: coffee for NJ, oil for Texas, etc]. It works by asking them rapid fire questions where the answer would be a word or phrase that’s pronounced a very distinct way for that area/region. Like done here for NJ, it can be done for anywhere that again has a known accent, and can be a fun way to show a candidate or electeds connection to their roots.

→ “I’m being watched” Trend: So, this trend has been big with emerging influencers showing off their monthly account views. Now for a political account, in that exact form, it doesn’t really translate. However, what would work, is instead for the slide/clip sharing a creator’s “total monthly views,” in the video’s second half, share a clip of an opponent/opponent’s news media [ex: Fox News] talking about you [candidate/elected/dem thought leader]. It can also be a screenshot from the clip with a caption added to keep it static image style.

→ “I’ve never had a date to a wedding” Audio: As this creator shares, she’s never had a date to a wedding, but she’s always had a cute dress, which is more important because not having a date has never stopped her from having a good time, but a bad outfit has. And the resulting audio is great for other creators to use when at a wedding, especially those that touch the political space. It provides an opportunity to tap into today’s gender dynamics and the conversations being had about it constantly online. 

→ “Anticipation of something bad” Trend: This audio is being used to show those moments where you’re bracing yourself for impact, because you know the email/text/voicemail/news story you’re about to open is going to be rough. Like with this example, the audio allows the creator to show the emotions leading up to the moment, as well as after. The trend could easily be used to imitate what it’s like opening a heinous proposal or bill from the opposition.

→ “I need to spend more time with you” Audio: This adorable exchange shares the girlies yapping about needing to spend more time with one another because they vibe so hard, and has resulted in this audio. In a trend x politic format, this would be a great two-person lip-sync-style video to create amongst two electeds that have become besties in working together or a candidate-elected dynamic, where one is supporting the other on the campaign trail.

TikTok Audios

TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

AUDIO → I think I like you better when you’re gone

AUDIO → original sound taislany

AUDIO → September

AUDIO → Don’t know why

Need a second brain on your digital strategy? 

Office Hours are here to help

Office Hours is a flexible consulting offering for Democratic comms and digital staff to book 1:1 time with me—an experienced political influencer and digital media strategist. Whether you're building a campaign from scratch or troubleshooting a tricky rollout, I’ll help you refine your new media approach across influencer outreach, podcast guesting, content strategy, and multi-pronged marketing campaigns that actually move the needle.

IG Reels Audios

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → Brain Stew

AUDIO → Orinoco Flow

AUDIO → Eyes without a face

AUDIO → Can’t Stop Lovin’ You

Instagram Trends

Creative content concepts to try

→ “I’ve got the measles” Audio: This jingle about what it’s like to have measles is unfortunately very relevant in this anti-vaxx age. The audio can be used for Reels that share anti-vaxx measures and their potential impact, and/or the already here impact of anti-vaxx measures. The simplest route to go is to use b-roll superimposed with a headline, chart, stats, etc that clearly outline cause and effect. The audio could also be used in a similar fashion with an Instagram carousel [editor’s note: often audios with carousels are considered cringe, but the platform is pushing the feature, which typically means if you use it, they’ll reward your content]. 

→ “Okay we back” Audio: This audio would be perfect for someone that’s run for office before and maybe lost, and is now running again – could be for the same office or an entirely new one. With that specific idea in mind, an ‘edit’ format with the candidate walking on stage to give their campaign launch speech [or wherever they decide to do it] would be great; utilize a slow-motion edit on the video to catch a vibe. The audio could also be used by electeds that have recently returned to D.C. to illustrate that they’re back and ready to get to work. For that rendition, think b-roll of one or more of the electeds ahead of a hearing or meeting, with the date/time on the cal for it, added to the video via text or screenshot, alongside a one-liner on what they’re going to be focused on.

→ “Locked-in Mode” Trend: As seen with this Reel, this trend encapsulates what it’s like to approach a colleague or friend that’s in the middle of doing something important, but you’re ready to yap and frolic. It’s classic office humor that can be applied outside of that dynamic as well, like seen here. The concept in motion can be made more political with the text on screen sharing what the boss or colleague is busy doing – ex: “when XYZ is trying to finish a letter chewing RFK Jr. out.” Whatever the route you take, you’ll need to use this audio.

→ “Let’s get something straight…” Audio: This old Dance Moms audio has the vibe of either Trump or Vance having a tantrum over “them being in charge.” And with that, the audio could be used to a troll x meme video that highlights how this is the behavior they display [think Trump and his ketchup or in trying to control the Epstein narrative].

 Threads to Thread

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing details on either GOP or Dem plans to gerrymander.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by adding another thing that the GOP refuses to protect the children from.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing why Trump and crew are so afraid of Chicago and other blue cities.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing what a PBS candle would smell like.

The Thread → Reply OR repost further explain what positions are elected and which are appointed [civics education moment].

The Thread → Reply OR repost by elaborating on what RFK Jr. has done in the last week and the long-term harm it’s already causing.

Skies Are Blue

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

Bari Weiss

Ted Cruz

Harvard

Epstein Files

Eric Adams

Nigel Farage

BEFORE YOU GO…

…find more from Girl and the Gov®

→  Receive good news and all the political goss fit to print with The Gov Hub Newsletter

→  Tap into the creator world by subscribing to Keeping It Currant

→  Shop the latest in merch & GATG faves on ShopMy

→  Keep up with GATG on Insta, TikTok, YouTube, & Threads

→  Get on-demand comms and digital help with GATG Office Hours Sessions