The Chris Cuomo Project The Rage Bait Era Has Arrived
Dec 4, 2025
Rage bait has been named the Oxford Word of the Year, reflecting a troubling trend in American media and politics. Algorithms and influencers on both sides are shaping narratives through manufactured outrage rather than authentic sentiment. Chris Cuomo discusses how this online anger impacts everything from immigration to vaccine misinformation, and critiques the rising political violence fueled by sensational rhetoric. He emphasizes the need for voters to reject outrage-driven narratives and think critically to reclaim their agency.
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Social Media Replaced Vox Populi
- Social media has replaced traditional Vox Populi and now acts as the lazy proxy for public sentiment.
- Rage bait dominates conversation because outrage drives traffic and follower growth.
Early Twitter Backlash Story
- Chris Cuomo recounts a 2009 Twitter flap about his 'mouth breather' joke that generated outsized outrage.
- He uses the episode to show how a small online group can produce mainstream news coverage.
Outrage Is A Growth Strategy
- Influencers who stoke anger grow fastest because outrage is highly monetizable and viral.
- Rage bait replaces reasoned policy discussion with simplified, profitable attacks.