If it were possible – it wasn't – to NEVER ask Trump about QAnon, that would have been the best course of action. It was a foregone conclusion he would say nice things about , because "I hear they really like me" and he has no sense of civic duty. Now its appeal will swell.

Again, the media never, ever asking Trump about QAnon was a collective-action problem that couldn't be solved. (Collective INaction problem?) It would be otiose to make the complaint seriously. But Christ, we're in for it now.

This is also the next test of personal honor and patriotic duty GOP politicos will fail. Tomorrow reporters will start asking them if they are willing to rebuke Trump's QAnon boost. They'll demur. Within a week support for QAnon will be a litmus test.

Ultimately this generation of GOP leaders will at least wink at QAnon because it serves the long-term project of painting all Democratic politicians as illegitimate, inhuman usurpers. The next generation of GOP leaders will genuinely believe it.