> My contention is that this kind of emotional appeal has been exploited to the point of (quickly) diminishing returns.

That might apply to you personally, and if it does then it says a lot more about you than it does any broader societal point.

Personally, I’m able to distinguish between attempts to manipulate my emotions and the very real, very true fact that people are starving and dying as a result of cynical choices made by Musk and DOGE. There’s no reason to group that together with war mongering and money laundering, the only reason to do so is if you’re seeking to dismiss real documented suffering.

“People have cynically tried to manipulate my emotions so I don’t have any emotions any more” isn’t the retort you apparently think it is.