My theory is that it was all triggered by the interest rate rise. CNN didn't cause the change at twitter and reddit, but they were all caused by the same event.
As for upcoming elections I think people are just going to get more entrenched, so there will be fewer swing voters. No idea which way it will swing though.
I still don't understand how so many people equate the party that supports free speech with the Nazis, and equate the party that wants to disarm the poor with the freedom fighters.