I'd actually argue in the greater scheme of things they are all related. When you tie the horrible failure of the police in Texas, the other recent shootings and car massacre together, the failed COVID response, the high gas prices (some predictions I'm seeing say $10 by mid summer!), the stagflation, the fact that our last two Presidents were a crazy man and someone who is practically senile at this point, and that we can't even produce baby formula, I actually wonder if civilization itself might have hit the point where it's breaking down (and not just the US, but the world as a whole).
The point was hit home this weekend when we were supposed to stay at a Marriott for a soccer tournament. We had the dog with us, and despite my having called the call center to verify the dog was o.k. to check in, when we got there they said no dogs and it was clearly posted on the website. In the old days, even as far back as my 20s, Marriott would have just rebooked us to their neighboring property that was dog friendly and apologized for the inconvenience. What followed was an hour long torture on the phone (since the hotel itself was unauthorized to help us) which resulted in my canceling my Marriott membership and throwing Marriott onto my boycotted company list (along with such other luminaries as United airlines...my longest running boycott now going on 26 years).
If we really are in the Matrix, maybe we've hit the end of the cycle? Or maybe crush is right and the rapture is upon us?