But instead of contextualizing Trump’s latest wild claim as being part of a pattern, NBC News, Fox News, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and others simply published it uncritically without noting the lack of support for the billionaire’s assertion. The Associated Press included an unfiltered version of the statement in its stream of primary-night updates.

I should note that some or all of these outlets might have challenged Trump in subsequent articles or broadcasts, or refused to repeat his accusation again. I don’t claim to have read and watched every word/second of coverage. I do know that The Post and the Times, for example, did not include Trump’s charge of illegal coordination in the lead stories that ran in their respective print editions on Wednesday.

Regardless, the press largely gave Trump exactly what he wanted — at least initially. He wanted to delegitimize Cruz’s win while casting aspersions on his rival’s integrity, and the media allowed him to do it.