#174 - Ragebait

#174 - Ragebait

From The Middle by Andy and Roger

February 21, 2026 · 54 min · Season 1 · Episode 174

About this episode

Andy and Roger discuss the concept of rage bait and its impact on society and individual emotions.

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 174 – Ragebait Ever found yourself furious at a stranger on the internet… only to realise you’ve been expertly played by the algorithm? In this episode, Andy and Roger unpack the modern art form of rage bait — from missing TV remotes (and why black ones were superior all along) to the way social media platforms quietly nudge us toward outrage. What starts with domestic frustration quickly turns into a broader discussion about how algorithms amplify extreme content, polarise political views, and keep us emotionally hooked. They explore how both left and right get fed increasingly unhinged versions of their own beliefs, why activists often cancel their own side first, and whether podcast hosts telling people to “do your own research” are offering common sense — or lighting a fuse. Along the way, they test out a few deliberately spicy hypothetical headlines involving culture wars, speech, identity politics, and populist politicians, examining how framing shapes outrage. The conversation also touches on figures like Joe Rogan, the internal backlash against progressive CEOs, and whether modern audiences are losing their sense of humour — with a nod to…

People in this episode

Hosts: Andy, Roger

Topics covered

  • rage bait
  • social media algorithms
  • political polarization
  • outrage culture
  • identity politics
  • humor in media

Keywords

  • rage bait
  • algorithms
  • social media
  • politics
  • outrage
  • humor
  • culture wars

More episodes of The Middle

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Middle podcast page.