The Times might be finally starting to learn some of Trump’s playbook. The military story wasn’t the only example yesterday where the paper swam by the baited hook. Behold this astonishing headline from yesterday’s issue:

Haha, they are capable of learning after all. In short, the Times was saying, don’t get outraged over the ‘third-term’ chatter. It’s just Trump being Trump, trying to get attention and market himself.

That was a bigger step than it might first appear. Figuring out what to be outraged about was never before a problem for the Times. For years, they were outrage sommeliers, sniffing every story and telling the world what to be mad about. But now? They’re second-guessing themselves. They’re not quite sure.

Trump’s third-term trolling has really triggered the blue-check crowd. The whole thing boils down to a goofy, legally questionable idea: Trump could run as VP in 2028, then take over when the president resigns. That’s it. That’s the grand conspiracy.

Ironically, when conservatives floated this exact same theory about Obama — that he’d slide in as Joe’s VP and then run the show — the media sneered, called it QAnon hysteria, and completely ignored it.

This time they can’t quit talking about it. They’re obsessed! And it’s hilarious. Trump should play an awesome April Fool’s joke today, and announce the formation of his Third Term Victory Committee. They’d lose their minds faster than a toddler who just got their iPad taken away for the rest of the day.

Please do it!

JEFF CHILDERS