How did Donald Trump get this far? He’s talented, to be sure, but he also had a little help from his friends.

Despite my strong urging (and the pleas of others), top conservative talkers generally looked the other way while Trump grew into a juggernaut that possibly cannot be stopped.

These top talkers might have strangled the populist baby in the crib; instead, they provided him cover (without ever officially endorsing him or taking responsibility for his irresponsible rhetoric).