The media isn't floating in space either, which makes one wonder "What is the actual source of this change?" And I do mean wonder, I don't know.

I think imperial decline has lead to the bourgeoisie choosing to pick their battles and accept trans genocide as a sacrificial lamb to keep the hogs from causing too much of a problem for the ownership class, but if you asked me nearly any question about current-day America, my answer would be "imperial decline," so I'm definitely biased.