Turning the State of the Union into a Game
Let’s be honest: getting a room full of college students to sit through an hour-long+ political speech is a tough sell. Between the policy jargon and the constant “standing ovation” breaks, it’s easy for even the most civic-minded person to tune out.
So, we asked ourselves a simple question: How do we make civic moments actually unmissable?
The answer: Political Speech BINGO.
What is it?
Political Speech BINGO is a mobile-friendly, responsive twist on the classic game, built specifically for the modern viewer. We built the first version in less than 24 hours to prove that watching politics doesn’t have to feel like homework.
Why it works
It’s light, competitive, and keeps you glued to the screen. The instructor (or party host) can tailor the squares to the specific speaker, mixing in:
- High Probability: “Bipartisan effort,” “Middle class,” or “God bless America.”
- Medium Probability: That 4th inevitable standing ovation or a shout-out to a guest in the gallery.
- Wildcards: For when things get truly interesting.
Players mark off their squares right from their phones as they hear the keywords. It turns a passive viewing experience into an interactive, high-stakes game.
Built for more than just State of the Union
While we designed this with the State of the Union in mind, the tech stack is lightweight (PHP 8.1/MySQL) and fully reusable. We’ve already realized this works just as well for Classroom Bingo (who’s going to mention the syllabus first?) or any live-streamed event. Only imagination contrains.
Want to play?
We’re looking for people who want to give this a spin for State of the Union address on Feb. 24, 2026. If you want in, contact us.
If you want to use the tool for your next event, contact us! I will make it available to you, and send over the details on how to set the game up on your own server.