title Factor

Subject Referenced

Who or what is the main subject of the title. Titles can center the politician themselves, their opponent, a policy issue, or a third party like a witness or agency head.

Self-referencing titles struggle on YouTube because viewers don't yet care about you — they care about the topic. Opponent-referencing titles tap into existing search interest and tribal engagement. Policy-centered titles attract issue-motivated viewers who tend to watch longer.

Each value below shows two numbers when available: Regular/Shorts is the effect on a typical video, and Top 10% is the effect on videos in the top 10% of views (from a quantile regression). Use the Top 10% column to see factors that disproportionately help videos that go big.

Bipartisan

Regular +5% Shorts +11% Top 10% -30% not significant p = 0.389 · vs. average

Real examples from the dataset

Bipartisanship and fighting for our veterans Elissa Slotkin

27K views

Governor Wes Moore and Attorney General Anthony Brown Joint Press Conference Wes Moore

2K views

Gillibrand Joins Booker During Marathon Senate Floor Speech to Warn Against National Security Cuts Kirsten Gillibrand

736 views

Democrats Will Support a Bipartisan Funding Bill. Mike Levin

352 views

Senators Murray, Murkowski discuss their bipartisan menopause bill on Good Morning America Patty Murray

158 views

Institution

Regular +5% Shorts +12% Top 10% +3% not significant p = 0.445 · vs. average

Real examples from the dataset

House Democratic Leaders to Hold Press Event Hakeem Jeffries

61K views

Supreme Court Rebukes Trump Betty McCollum

2K views

Discovery High School integrates hands-on learning with everything students are working on Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

679 views

Governor Hochul Delivers Remarks at the IBM Flagship Office Ribbon Cutting Kathy Hochul

313 views

B-ROLL: Governor Hochul and Thousand Islands Land Trust Announce Conservation of Nearly 1,000 Acres Kathy Hochul

148 views

Opponent

Regular +5% Shorts +2% Top 10% +16% not significant p = 0.641 · vs. average

The title centers a political adversary — an opposing politician, party, or figure. Leverages the opponent's name recognition and viewer interest in conflict.

Real examples from the dataset

Kristi Noem and her deportation police have gone fully rogue Jimmy Gomez

181K views

BRUTAL: Senator Jacky Rosen Blasts Marco Rubio Jacky Rosen

5K views

Pete Hegseth has no business serving as our Secretary of Defense. Maggie Goodlander

1K views

Republicans are proposing a tax increase on HOPE scholarships. Lucy McBath

712 views

Republicans' New Invasive Bill Sara Jacobs

233 views

Self

+0% views not significant p = 1.000 · vs. average

The title centers the politician as the main subject. Common on official channels but can feel self-promotional to YouTube viewers who don't know the politician.

Real examples from the dataset

Cory Booker talks Trump Firings, Cuts, and Chaos on Meet the Press Cory Booker

65K views

The Unredacted Epstein Files Sarah Elfreth

2K views

2025 Legislative Highlights Tina Kotek

731 views

Rep. Stansbury: Meet Entourage Jazz! Melanie Stansbury

329 views

PASSED: Cortez Masto’s Bill to Create Jobs at Apex Industrial Park in North Las Vegas Catherine Cortez Masto

150 views

Policy

+0% views not significant p = 1.000 · vs. average

The title centers a specific policy, bill, or issue rather than any individual. Attracts viewers searching for information on the topic.

Example title

The $35 Insulin Cap: What It Actually Means for You

Third Party

+0% views not significant p = 1.000 · vs. average

The title centers someone other than the politician or a direct opponent — a witness, agency head, expert, or constituent. Often used in hearing clips.

Example title

Watch This Veteran Tell Congress What VA Hospitals Are Really Like