jamil smith is a senior editor at the new republic.he is also the host of, "intersection," a podcast about race, gender, and identity. his most recent piece at the new republic is headlined, "ben carson is saying all the right things." and david cay johnston also joins us in our studio pulitzer , prize-winning investigative reporter previously with the "new york times." he's currently a columnist for al jazeera america as well as a contributing writer at newsweek. he has covered donald trump at various publications for decades. jamil smith, your assessment of the third republican presidential debate held in boulder, colorado, the first time the debate was held when ben carson, the neurosurgeon, is ahead in national polls of the republican contenders. >> indeed. i thought it was interesting he wasn't actually the focus of the debate, given that he searched to the lead in a national poll does this week. and certainly far out ahead of donald trump in iowa. that said, i think it speaks to the fragility of success and the iowa caucuses for