So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu...

No, I didn't, and (as Siri says), 'there's no need to be rude'. Unfortunately, I don't own a Tesla like you do, so my experience on searching for charging facilities is limited because I only list THOSE SUITABLE FOR THE CLARITY, which in my experience are few, and full most of the time. I guess the Tesla system tells you if there are available ports when you need them, otherwise you have to reconsider your stop times. Hope that's the case. In my case, I only need to do a single ten minute stop at Kingman to fill the tiny gas tank of the Clarity.

As to EVs in the news, remember that there's a LOT of money out there to promote EV "tales of woe": If there was ONE overheated Tesla at Joshua Tree, there were probably DOZENS of overheated ICE vehicles - but THEY aren't considered newsworthy. Not a week goes by that there's not a story about a burning EV yet - statistically - there are fewer than 11 EV fires per month around the WORLD yet - in the US alone - there are 114 ICE vehicle fires every DAY!

I share your distrust of media "stories", but perhaps not for the same reasons, and I don't care too much about what they say, giving priority to my own eyes, when available.
Of course, I've seen everywhere lots of stalled overheated, fuming OLD ICE vehicles, even the occasional not-so-old BMW. But they, of course, aren't "newsworthy" to me, or in other words, they don't catch my attention, because I know that's usually due to lack of proper maintenance linked to neglect, ignorance, poverty or just plain stupidity (just like the drugged idiot overriding the Tesla safety system to rear end another car at full speed).
But seeing a brand-new, high-tech car stalled along a remote highway under a scorching heat is, at least, eye-browsing. I later felt guilty for not stopping to offer help to the poor guy, but at the time I assumed that his stopping was most likely due to an overactive bladder instead... And no, I didn't see DOZENS, but no other vehicle stalled around there, either ICE, EV or horse carriage.
And that wasn't the first time (only the last) I've seen some other Teslas stalled elsewhere (with my own eyes, not in Fox news), and it always catches my attention, just because I consider that a strange, bizarre thing that shouldn't be happening, and it scares me, because it shows me the well-known truth that high-tech is not 100% fail-safe and we shouldn't be making a God out of it by denying its shortcomings. Otherwise, actual progress is stalled.....
I hope you won't accuse me of being a paid mercenary troll of some dark anti-EV, anti-Gaia sect. In that case, I wouldn't be owning a (partially) electric car, but a huge V8 dinosaur. I think politicizing EVs, one way or the other, is nonsense. Things are only good or not, useful for my needs or not, and I don't care what any politician tells me about it. If the Tesla gives you that, more power to you. I'm not there yet, but I may be in the future.
Thank you and best wishes,

 

I hear you! Journalism has become an overrated profession. I also apologize for being carried away. I'm afraid I'm getting too used to interact with angry people that demeans any opinion that differs from their schemes of the world. Every coin has two sides. I happen to be friends with three Tesla owners. Two of them are more than happy with their car as you are. The other bought it used (a Model S) and had to ask for his money back after two weeks due to all sorts of problems. He bought a VW instead... From what you (and my two lucky friends) describe I think the Tesla could actually work for my needs, except a small personal caveat: I have trouble getting into it due to its low-lying roof, because my spine is rigid and I can barely bend, while in the Clarity I can sit without issue.. Funnily, one of my friends who is 6" taller than me has no problem whatsoever. You may suggest me to buy a model X, but that is out of my league...