Was watching video of the MAGA Meltdown about the Epstein files, taking a little bath in the Schadenfreude, when I came across one video in particular. And it got me thinking. The speaker was a young woman. I recognised her immediately, of course, as any trans person in the US probably would, she's Riley Gaines, that Very Important Swimmer, who came fifth one time in that race, tied with Lia Thomas? And I thought, wow, what a great grift. I mean, you're a mediocre university-level swimmer, right? You're never going anywhere in the sport, you don't win events, and so when uni comes to an end, you'll go and get a job like everyone else and just drudge your way through life. But no! She came FIFTH that one time! And the fifth-place she got was STOLEN FROM HER by a TRANS WOMAN who's REALLY A MAN and is FAR TOO DANGEROUS AND PHYSICALLY OVERWHELMING for poor cis women swimmers! PROVEN by her finishing (checks notes)...also fifth. Behind four other cis women. Hmm. But now, voila! See her shiny new career? Making well-compensated "speeches" at conservative hate rallies, bemoaning that ruinous trans woman and how she ruined everything for her. Of course, Thomas did no such thing. She *also* finished fifth. Both got medals, and were listed as fifth. If Lia Thomas weren't there, Gaines would have finished...fifth. Which they were. She didn't get moved down a spot. She wasn't denied anything. She simply had to share. And this OUTRAGE was sufficient to earn her a multi-year speaking career as a professional victim of the EVIL TRANSES. Just in case you needed a stunningly clear example of how the right-wing outrage machine works. She went from being a fifth-place middle-talent swimmer, to being a well-paid C-List celebrity in the Bigotsphere. She will live comfortably for years on her weaponising of her (checks notes) complete lack of harm in that race. Astroturf victimhood as business model.