This week, Lisa and David talk about Trump “gift” of $45,000 to Natalie Harp; Trump loyalist diGenova, tasked with prosecuting Trump foes, resigns; Fetterman’s post-stroke pivot from Sanders progressive to independent centrist; Trump’s unhinged holiday blitz: 100+ deranged posts ignored as standards collapse; RNC Midterm Convention attendance, $5,000 “dividend” promise; Elon Musk is mad about Alex Gibney’s four hour documentary; Elon Musk’s fake voter registration site; SCOTUS kills Missouri GOP gerrymander twice, forcing use of 2022 map; self-inflicted Kennedy Center crisis being used to force Trump naming rights; Reflecting Pool contractor admits installation errors, not vandalism, caused failure; what cars hold their value best (and worst); Emmy gift bags; and more. “More than 60 fatalities have been linked to Tesla’s driver-assistance systems. Talk about something that could put a dent in your image! But Musk, for the most part, succeeded in hushing up the lawsuits, the federal investigations, and the fatal crashes, which were evidence of a recklessness that should have given the whole world pause.” – Variety, Sep 8, 2026 “If you want indictments where there’s no evidence, you have an ethical problem” – Joe diGenova, via New York Post Sep 10, 2026 Added Contact for Fetterman’s Post-Stroke Pivot Senator John Fetterman shifted from a Sanders-style progressive platform during his John Fetterman Ballotpedia Profile 2022 campaign to a more independent, centrist, and sometimes conservative-aligned stance after entering office. Before the Election (2022 Campaign Platform) * Economic Policy: Championed a $15 minimum wage, universal healthcare as a human right, and labor union protections. * Social & Legal Reform: Strongly supported the nationwide legalization of marijuana and criminal justice reform. * Immigration: Emphasized a compassionate approach to immigration, stating on his campaign site that immigration defines America Ballotpedia. * Health Event: Suffered a major stroke just days before the 2022 primary, which impacted his auditory processing and speech City & State PA, heavily shaping the later stages of his race against Mehmet Oz WHYY. After the Election (Senate Tenure & Policy Shifts) * Foreign Policy (Israel): Became an outspoken, staunch defender of Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks, openly criticizing progressive colleagues and waving an Israeli flag at protesters The Guardian. * Border Security & Immigration: Split from many Democrats to support stricter border enforcement, calling border security common sense and co-sponsoring the detention-heavy Laken Riley Act Mother Jones, Newsweek. * Bipartisan & Cross-Aisle Engagement: Adopted a more independent streak, drawing criticism from the left for being open to working with Donald Trump and visiting Mar-a-Lago The Guardian, Mother Jones, though he continues to caucus with Democrats The Hill. Added Context for Lisa’s Concerns about Trump Subverting Elections “Subverting” an election need not mean secretly altering vote totals. It can mean interfering with any link in the chain: Eligibility→Voting access→Counting→Certification→Public acceptance For the midterms, the key vulnerability is that House and statewide contests can turn on a relatively small number of places, counties, or precincts. That makes localized interference more consequential than it might sound. This includes: 1. Voter-roll and eligibility disputes 2. Chilling turnout through official presence 3. Creating an election “emergency” 4. Certification pressure after a close race For the midterms, this might involve disputed House seats or statewide result. The constitutional and political stakes can be substantial when control of a legislative chamber turns on a handful of seats. What supports Lisa’s concern * There is a documented history of efforts to overturn or delegitimize the 2020 result. * Election experts are openly discussing targeted forms of interference in 2026, particularly official intimidation, disruptive enforcement activity, ballot or equipment disputes, and certification pressure. * Federal pressure on election rules, voter data, redistricting, and election-security infrastructure has created concern among election-integrity organizations. * Modern election subversion can work through doubt and delay, not solely through changing a count. What should temper it * Elections remain highly decentralized: thousands of local jurisdictions, state laws, bipartisan election workers, observers, paper records in many places, recounts, audits, and courts create substantial barriers to a single actor changing outcomes nationwide. * Courts have repeatedly been a major institutional check in election disputes. * Experts surveyed by Votebeat did not expect broad successful federal changes to voting rules before the midterms, and they did not expect actual voter fraud to affect a congressional race. * A visible attempt to commandeer an election, seize ballots, or cancel voting would confront immediate legal, logistical, political, and public resistance. I don’t think the evidence supports assuming that the 2026 or 2028 elections will simply be canceled or that the vote totals can be nationally overridden at will. But Lisa’s concern points to something real: an election can be damaged without being formally abolished. The pressure points are voter access, intimidation, disinformation, election administration, and certification after a close contest. The task is to take those threats seriously without treating a bad outcome as inevitable. Added Context for The Kennedy Center The whole thing is b******t. The problems were caused by Trump. Following the installation of President Trump as chairman and new board leadership, ticket sales collapsed—dropping by up to 36% in subscription sales within months. High-profile cancellations and resignations—including board treasurer Shonda Rhimes, National Symphony Orchestra adviser Ben Folds, singer Renée Fleming, and performer Issa Rae—led to widespread performance cancellations and lost revenue. While the underlying cash shortfall is real, how the crisis is being framed and used by the Trump-appointed and Trump-loyal board leadership is a clear example of political maneuvering. The board is now using the threat of immediate bankruptcy and structural closure to pressure the courts and public into accepting Trump's naming demands. This is a self-inflicted crisis resulting from boycotts and donor pushback over political control. At the same time, the board’s framing—that the center will collapse unless Donald Trump’s name is placed on the facade so he can unlock fundraising—is an explicit political pressure strategy designed to override legal limits and grant naming rights to a national memorial. Links: Outrage Overload Podcast Yergz Radio (yergzradio.com) Dare Talk Radio (daretalkradio.com) This Week in Outrage Substack (outrageoverload.net/twio) Trump gave Natalie Harp and two other aides $45,000 each in cash gifts for holidays (CNN) Trump Loyalist’s Stunning DOJ Exit Came After ‘Tense’ Clash With AG Todd Blanche: Report (Mediaite) Were Seats Empty at RNC Midterm Convention? What Photos, Videos Show (Newsweek) ‘Musk’ Review: Alex Gibney’s Definitive Documentary (Variety) Missouri GOP says its preferred voting map still has a chance. Experts aren’t so sure (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Kennedy Center says it’s on the brink of bankruptcy, might close as early as Tuesday (NPR) As the Senate returns, questions remain about Mitch McConnell (USA Today) Reflecting Pool contractor admits faulty repairs, not vandalism, caused damage (Axios) Get full access to Outrage Overload Newsletter at outrageoverload.substack.com/subscribe
