Delayed MAGA meltdown begins over 'rigged' election claim

It has been almost a week since the blue tsunami flooded the United States and MAGA has finally decided that the 2026 midterms were rigged.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump's allies began sprinkling denialist conspiracy theories across social media. On Monday morning, Trump picked up on it and joined in, claiming that there was no possible way that the elections were accurate since the polls showed him to be beloved.

"Does anybody really believe that this 'Election' was honest. How could the Polls be so wrong??? Some early voting 'dumps' were so large that it was impossible to win, no matter how many people went to vote," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "It’s all about the machines, which are far more important than the voter! President DJT"

This would mean that two elections Trump oversaw were allegedly "rigged."

The Bulwark's Sam Stein and Will Sommer chatted for "MAGA Monday" about the conspiracy theories that "have been a little slow to get off the ground."

Trump is ranting about the polls, but Stein said that the only thing wrong with the polls is that they severely undercounted the Democratic vote. Even if they weren't undercounting, however, there still would have been a huge blue wave.

Trump citing "the machines," Sommer said, appears to go back to the idea that electronic voting machines are far "more important than voters."

"That's music to Mike Lindell's ears," Sommer said. He noted that Lindell is giving a "national address" at 7 p.m. EST, claiming the election was stolen.

"Jesus Christ, man, I can't believe we're doing this s—— again," Stein grumbled.

They pointed out that some Republicans were trying to take a victory lap over the fact that Republicans didn't throw a fit and claim the election was "rigged." Former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer wrote on X, "Tuesday was not a good night for Republicans. It’s been 4 days and no protests, riots and vandalism."

Stephen Richer, the former Republican Maricopa County Recorder, replied, "Congrats on not doing J6 this time! Really impressive!"

It was two days after that post that Trump claimed the election was rigged.

"It's like the lowest bar. You cleared it, Sean. Congrats," Stein said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Except now, apparently, Trump's not accepting."

Sommer quickly pointed out that it isn't January yet. The Jan. 6 attack happened after over a month of Trump's claims that the election was stolen from him.

"So, like, the arc has not finished," he added. "You know, you can't say we didn't do January 6th until they're sworn in."

The swearing-in date is Jan. 3.

So, there is an uptick in claims of voter fraud and Sommer said that it's just now "getting going."

Stein thinks the delay in claiming fraud came from MAGA fans being "lost" since Trump didn't make such claims for a week.