The Arsonist's Playbook: How Trump Is Trying to Burn Down the Midterms | 09/06/2026

Trump's election playbook is arsonist first, savior second: set the house on fire, then claim only he can put it out. This week we break down the executive order and USPS rule aimed at your vote (and the 23-0 lawsuit record so far), explain why the SAVE Act is really a voter suppression tool, walk through exactly how to track your Hawaii ballot, connect Germany's AFD surge to authoritarian movements worldwide, and ask what happens when the person attacking you is wearing a badge. 🌴 Resist with Joy Podcast | Episode 17 | September 6, 2026 Resist with Joy amplifies the voices of everyday people and empowers our listeners to engage, show up, and become the policy shapers of tomorrow. This week: the "arsonist" strategy behind election chaos and the 2020 escalation ladder that led to January 6th, why the SAVE Act and "too big to rig" turnout matter for the midterms, a full Hawaii voting guide (mail ballots, early voting, drop boxes, ballot tracking), Germany's AFD election results and what they mean for authoritarianism globally, and a hard look at self-defense law when the attacker is law enforcement or an unidentified federal agent. EDITOR'S NOTE: This episode was recorded before Hurricane Lowell moved through the islands. Kauai took the brunt of the storm, with a confirmed death on Oahu, widespread power outages on Kauai, and damage to highways, harbors, and homes across Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Our eyes are on the neighbor islands. Please consider giving to the Hawaii Foodbank's Kauai branch (linked below) and checking the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for the latest official updates. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome to Resist with Joy 0:22 Setting the scene: the arsonist starting the fire 1:02 Trump's executive order to obtain state voter lists, explained 5:03 Memory lane: 2020's stolen election lies, the Raffensperger call, fake electors, and January 6th 7:27 Escalation ladder: Iran, trade wars, torn-down monuments, and CISA gutted by DOGE 9:08 The SAVE Act as a voter suppression tool 10:17 Making it "too big to rig": blue wave, subpoena power, and Epstein 12:41 Hawaii voting guide: mail ballots, early voting, drop boxes, and ballot tracking 16:28 Germany's AFD surge and echoes of authoritarianism worldwide 22:07 Self-defense law and the double standard against ICE and federal agents 🔗 SHOW NOTES & LINKS Support Hurricane Lowell recovery through the Hawaii Foodbank's Kauai branch: https://kauai.hawaiifoodbank.org/ Follow official Hurricane Lowell updates from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency: https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/hurrican... Hawaii ballots mail out October 16, 2026; early in-person voting at Voter Service Centers runs October 20-November 3, 2026 with same-day registration available: https://elections.hawaii.gov/voting/v... Track your mail ballot with BallotTrax, Hawaii's official ballot-tracking service: https://hawaii.ballottrax.net/voter/ Find your county's Voter Service Centers and ballot drop box locations: https://elections.hawaii.gov/voter-se... Ron Filipkowski's running list, "The 75 Most Corrupt Things Trump Did in 2026," referenced in this episode: https://www.meidasplus.com/p/the-75-m... Track the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) as it moves through Congress: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c... CISA, the federal election cybersecurity agency referenced in this episode: https://www.cisa.gov/ Castle doctrine vs. stand your ground, a state-by-state breakdown of self-defense law: https://www.recordinglaw.com/us-laws/... Contact Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) about federal self-defense protections against unidentified agents: https://tokuda.house.gov/ 💬 BEFORE YOU GO | Take our Visionaire Questionnaire We want to hear what concerns you, what gives you hope, and what joy looks like for you right now: https://form.jotform.com/261597829396074 MEET THE TEAM Co-Hosts: Martina Wing and Tina Marie Even Editor: Savannah Maira Producers: Martina Wing, Tina Marie Even, Savannah Maira Sponsored by: VegaBlast - https://vegablast.com 🎵 MUSIC "Pacific Time" by Blue Dot Sessions Source: https://bluedotsessions.bandcamp.com/... License: CC BY-NC 4.0 🌴 Aloha until next time. #ResistWithJoy #Hawaii #Indivisible #Midterms2026 #SAVEAct #VoteBlue #ICE #CastleDoctrine #Germany #AFD #VotingRights #HurricaneLowell