Maybe the current media environment selects individuals that just happen to do well in such an environment. People that crave attention and are just naturally gifted at attracting it. Basically "effective narcissists".
I think this is it. The environment enables the behaviour and the CAUSE of said behaviour can be multiple things separately or at once. The right kind of deranged combined with the right kind of stupid? Maybe that works. Completely manipulative and not deranged at all? Maybe that works too.
