Exactly... it's the 'train wreck effect' combined with people seeing it as entertainment.
The problem is people can't differentiate between entertainment and actual 'information' or credibility.
People are drawn to the 'shock factor' more than they are the idea of getting smarter about something.
so the guy who creates drama, is shocking, 'does the things others dont have the courage to do...', and is intentionally and obsessively provocative.. will garner attention and ears/eyes. Then people often fall into the trap of actually thinking everything these people say has equal credibility. They mix in something believable to get people on the hook, then mix in stuff that is completely opinion (informed or not) and conveniently blurr between fact and fiction. Those on the hook usually don't care to try to differentiate... and the spell is complete.
Then they just tune in again for their next dose of gratification and entertainment.
Mix in some positions that speak to hooking the audience as 'we are the same...' or 'we think the same things...' - and you build an association between the listener and the shockjock that is easily exploited to make people not just listen, but actually start to promote the POV you fed them.
None of this is new - it just takes certain skills to exploit properly. It's a formula as old as time.
The sad thing is when people listen to these POVs and take them as if they are somehow actually informed or educated opinions.