It's been a systematic process. "If it bleeds-it leads" has always been a thing. But the dissolution of the Fairness Doctrine under Reagan, which opened the door for far right wing radio, and obviously the internet sent it to overdrive. Many Americans now live to blame and whine which I see as being very different than being an engaged and standing against things that are harmful. Numbers don't lie so we can SEE when things are going up or down. Or wrong. And there's a lot of things wrong right now. Driven, in no small part, by the strategies of those who know an angry and fearful electorate can be manipulated and the political media reinforcement.
