They made the classic mistake of autocracies… they started believing their own propaganda.

I don’t think they care about elections very much anymore. They just openly buy them now (combined with all the voter suppression of course). These guys are what the US is stuck with from now on unless forcibly ejected.

I think they don’t really know what is going on because they are evil morons, they want everything done right now, without knowing exactly what “everything” is except more grifting and pleasing Putin.

Agreed. I can fully see martial law being implemented or an actual civil violence happening just as midterms are about to begin.