There has been a shift to what may be defined as a culture of negativity which goes well beyond coverage of politics.

Campbell is arguing that negativity has become a broader cultural default rather than merely a feature of partisan political reporting. The phrasing suggests a media-and-public-discourse critique: incentives in news, commentary, and social platforms reward outrage, cynicism, and takedowns, which then spill into how institutions, public figures, and even everyday events are discussed. By saying it “goes well beyond coverage of politics,” he implies the phenomenon is systemic—affecting trust, civic engagement, and mental well-being—rather than a temporary mood tied to elections or particular leaders. The quote functions as a warning about the corrosive effects of constant adversarial framing on democratic culture and social cohesion.