u/Flat_Conclusion_2475

I think they mean almost the same, but while the "fast" version is easy to grasp I have a lot of trouble recognizing kaum noch, I need like 5 minutes to remember "oh yeah It's like fast". Is there a huge difference between the two, do you have suggestions(?) ?

"Ich traue mich kaum noch, meine Meinung zu sagen!" Why can't I say "kaum fast nicht", I would understand immediately

Here there's das: Das, worauf ich Lust habe, ist ein Bier.

Here there's not: Woran heutzutage kaum noch jemand zweifelt, ist die Annahme, dass viele traditionelle Lebensläufe in naher Zukunft verschwinden werden.

Why is in the first one required, but not in the second one?