Regarding the increased fanaticism, it’s not really that their claims are falling apart.
It’s that their claims are being ignored by an apathetic public. There were HOWLS by my Lib FB friends a couple weeks back about how lower gasoline prices are spurring people to buy lower MPG cars.
The worst thing you can really do to a Liberal isn’t trying to challenge him. It’s to ignore him, and go about your business in spite of his claims and demands.