Truly hateful people and conspiracy nuts used to get shamed, or at least were embarrased to express their views openly in polite society. At worst, the ones who weren't capable of shame were limited by their geographic footprint and generally isolated from the rest of us. Maybe they'd find a local clan or drive to Waco, but their reach and ability to pull others who were near the fringes down with them was minimal. Now, these same idiots have a completely unearned global platform to spew hate and have their views validated by others, further amplifying them, and sucking the gullible into worm holes that they're unlikely to ever recover from. Along with their ability to feel shame or recognize social cues. (Seriously, what the fuck happened to people being able to ascertain that someone avoiding eye contact and saying "uh-huh" means "I don't agree with you, but I don't want to talk about it. Kindly shut the fuck up.")
It's not even a red/blue thing. I'm an Aggie from a military family who currently works with the Navy in San Diego and have off-roading, boating, shooting, and camping hobbies...almost all of my friends and family lean right. It's a open hate and negativity thing. We've all observed what 40 years of Rush, Fox, and now the even more extreme sources available to them everytime they touch their phone have done to some in the older generations. My wife's MIL never used to give a fuck about gay people (or at least knew enough to keep her views to herself); now, after a couple decades of insular churches and social media algorithms, if she sees a commerical with two women holding hands, prepare yourself for a 5 minute lecture on how disgusting it is for the people in Hollywood (you know the ones) to prop up and celebrate that kind of thing when there might be kids watching. I've observed dozens of these transformations (maybe they're the same people that they always were, and now they're just comfortable to say the quiet part out loud). You'd be an idiot NOT to at least limit you and your family's exposure to these people.
Obviously, gullibility and internet and source vetting ineptitude isn't limited to the old. Not trying to single them out.