You should know when people are putting on a show for you. And you should understand that this is what they’re doing most of the time.
Especially political people. And that includes the political media. The ability to express outrage and indignation over the latest whatever-it-is represents a valued art form, highly respected in the hallowed halls of power and influence. If you can pull it off and get people to buy it, you can move the needle of public opinion in the moment and nothing impresses the political class and its media stenographers more than that.