Sarcastic non-apology / MON 7-29-24 / Solar energy collector / Perennial optimist's motto

Constructor: Jeffrey LeaseRelative difficulty: Easy (solved Downs-only)THEME: first things first (and last) — three-word phrases where the first and last words are identical:Theme answers:"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" (16A: Cry from someone who has finally had it)"SORRY NOT SORRY" (26A: Sarcastic non-apology)"NEVER SAY NEVER" (48A: Perennial optimist's motto)LITTLE BY LITTLE (63A: Way to make incremental progress) (not STEP BY STEP? BIT BY BIT? DROP BY DROP?)Word of the Day: SARAH Silverman(38A: Comic Silverman) —Sarah Kate Silverman(born December 1, 1970)is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. She first rose to prominence for her brief stint as a writer and cast member on theNBCsketch comedyseriesSaturday Night Liveduring its19th seasonbetween 1993 and 1994. She then starred in and producedThe Sarah Silverman Program, which ran from 2007 to 2010 onComedy Central. For her work on the program, Silverman was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy...