2 years of almost 24/7 daily death counts by the media. Non stop fearing mongering and doom by the talking heads. Mandates and other restrictions. Then Russia invaded and the news never talked about it again. Then all other restrictions were lifted.
Personally I think the narrative was simply collapsing. Even for normies having 3 vaccines and still catching covid makes absolutely no fucking sense.
Yes, the people I know irl who saw through covid narrative did not watch TV.
TV watchers, even highly intelligent and pragmatic conservatives are all total believers. Uncanny valley.
Also, the Trump character assassination. Even the conservatives I know that agree with his basic values, think he is worse than anyway. They want him and Putin dead.
TV is a powerful tool.