Does GAF really think PDP is losing? Sounds pretty delusional. That ruthless and surprisingly funny video is what's setting the narrative, along with the support of almost every YouTube, including a Joe Rogan appearance with DeFranco. Even if you can argue the specifics are a bit off, it doesn't really make a difference when both parties are seen as dishonest. Organizations like the WSJ should be more worried about them ceding ground to more niche (admittedly worse, often enough) outlets as trust in news sinks among younger adults. Not particularly happy about that last part, but a lot of people trying to paint PDP as a mini-Trump fail to realize that something has to fill that vacuum. More blame should be placed on those who create that vacuum through irresponsible reporting, if not outright deceit.
You would think GG was a second 9/11 the way gaffers lose their shit over it. 
That's a good way of putting it. A real Frank Miller situation. For that year and a few years following it, there was a bit of a shift where several mods were now banning with a sense of paranoia and revenge. You had mods like charlequin going on rants that amounted to saying "This time, it's personal!". Conversations often broke down into contests to prove your opponent is a Gamergater and thus worthy of a ban. Probably confused a lot of doomed slightly misguided juniors. You still see it invoked when someone randomly decides to say "Wow, the posts in here are really like GG" (and the thread is actually about making fun of No Man's Sky or some shit). I would say this was beginning to cool off, but then the election happened. With Trump you get Russian spies, recipes, constant accusations someone is an alt, etc. Even the Berniebro garbage (and an even more humorous "ghostbro") was an extension of this.
