They can’t say they weren’t warned. Sunday night, at a swanky, celebrity studded, Washington, D.C., gala, comedian Chris Rock warned the gathered swells that arresting former President Donald Trump would be worse than a mistake. It would be a blunder. Speaking from the stage at the Lincoln Center for the annual Mark Twain award, Rock asked, “Are you guys really going to arrest Trump?” Incredulous, Rock blasted the Beltway crowd, “Do you know this is only going to make him more popular? It's like arresting [the rapper] Tupac. He's just gonna sell more records. Are you stupid?”

Rock may be closer to the mark than he realizes. CNN polling guru Harry Enten has just released fresh analysis that shows that Trump’s current double-digit lead over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is due, “in large part,” to Trump’s support among black Republican voters. The cable network pundit notes that Trump leads DeSantis an average of 55% to 26% among Republican (and Republican leaning independent) voters of color. Among white Republicans, the two GOP heavyweights are in a near dead heat, 38% to 37%.

Trump’s looming arrest at the hands of New York City’s elected district attorney, Democrat Alvin Bragg, is sure to rally Trump’s base. It may have particular salience among Trump’s Black supporters already suspicious of the legal system. Trump’s political enemies are delivering him a blockbuster opening for his third act.