In his book “Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010,” Charles Murray wrote about the rise of a new American upper class and the “narrow elites” who shape America’s economy, culture and government. The number of players who dominate the direction of media, politics and finance is surprisingly concentrated for a country as sprawling and diverse as the United States. And yet almost all of these “influencers” across Manhattan and Washington were incapable of blunting Trump’s meteoric rise. Time and again over the past year, Washington insiders and media moguls misread the mood of working-class voters and their attraction to the populist message championed by Trump.

On Tuesday, that message which undermines Republican orthodoxy on trade, taxes and immigration resonated with GOP primary voters so strongly that Trump cruised to lopsided victories in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware and Maryland.

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at Trump Doral golf course in Miami, Florida, U.S. July 27, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump arrives at a campaign event at Trump Doral golf course in Miami, Florida, U.S., July 27, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S., July 25, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S., July 25, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump poses for a photo at a campaign event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S., July 25, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a town hall, Monday, July 25, 2016, in Roanoke, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (L) shakes hand with his vice presidential running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence on July 16, 2016, during a press conference in New / AFP PHOTO / KENA BETANCURKENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images (Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images) Republican U.S.presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) embraces Indiana Governor Mike Pence after introducing Pence as his vice presidential running mate in New York City, U.S., July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters) epa05428105 US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (C) and Indiana Governor Mike Pence (L) shake hands at the New York Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom in New York, New York, USA, 16 July 2016. Trump announced Pence to be his pick as running mate for the presidential elections. EPA/JASON SZENES (Jason Szenes/EPA) WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 07: Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump arrives at RNC headquarters for a meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), and House Republicans July 7, 2016 in Washington, DC. Later in the day Trump is scheduled to meet with Senate Republicans. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump waves after meeting with House Republican members in Washington, U.S., July 7, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) Supporters wait to see U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak at a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio July 6, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein (Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, right, acknowledge the crowd during a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center, Wednesday, July 6, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Donald Trump, presumptive Republican presidential nominee, speaks during a campaign event in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. Tennessee Senator Bob Corker has withdrawn his name from consideration as Trump's running mate, a move that deprives the Republican establishment of a contender who could have added experience and gravitas to the ticket. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg) CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 6: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump signs autographs during a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention July 6, 2016, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sharonville Convention Center July 6, 2016, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Trump is campaigning in Ohio ahead of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland next week. (John Sommers II/Getty Images) CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 6: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump talks with campaign supporters in the over flow room after his campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center July 6, 2016, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Trump is campaigning in Ohio ahead of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland next week. (John Sommers II/Getty Images) Donald Trump, presumptive Republican presidential nominee, speaks during the Western Conservative Summit in Denver, Colorado, U.S., on July 1, 2016. Trump is looking to project party unity in the Hamptons next week, when he'll huddle with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus at a fundraiser featuring top donors to some of his former rivals. Photographer: Matthew Staver/Bloomberg (Matthew Staver/Bloomberg) DENVER, CO - JULY 01: Presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the 2016 Western Conservative Summit at the Colorado Convention Center on July 1, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Summit, being held July 1-3, is expected to attract more than 4,000 attendees. (Marc Piscotty/Getty Images) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during the opening session of the Western Conservative Summit Friday, July 1, 2016, in Denver. The summit, which brings together Republicans from across the West, runs through Sunday. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump points to an airplane passing overhead at a town hall-style campaign event at the former Osram Sylvania light bulb factory, Thursday, June 30, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) A former worker at the Osram Sylvania light bulb factory speaks about jobs going to Mexico, alongside Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in white cap, Thursday, June 30, 2016, at a campaign event outside the plant in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign town hall meeting outside a closed Osram Sylvania manufacturing facility in Manchester, New Hampshire June 30, 2016. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (Brian Snyder/Reuters) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a town hall-style campaign event at the former Osram Sylvania light bulb factory, Thursday, June 30, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump answers a question from an audience member at a campaign town hall meeting outside a closed Osram Sylvania manufacturing facility in Manchester, New Hampshire June 30, 2016. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (Brian Snyder/Reuters) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to the media on the golf course at his Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland, June 25, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) US presidential candidate Donald Trump chats with the watching media aboard a golf cart with granddaughter Kai after he arrived at the Trump International Golf Links at Balmedie, near Aberdeen, Scotland, Saturday June 25, 2016. Presidential hopeful Donald Trump is on a short break away from his presidential campaign. (Andrew Milligan / PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES (Andrew Milligan/AP) AYR, SCOTLAND - JUNE 24: A bagpipe player wears traditional dress next to Presumptive Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump as he arrives to his Trump Turnberry Resort on June 24, 2016 in Ayr, Scotland. Mr Trump arrived to officially open his golf resort which has undergone an eight month refurbishment as part of an investment thought to be worth in the region of two hundred million pounds. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Turnberry Golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) epa05387765 A view of the media pack as US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump gives a speech at the Trump Turnberry Golf Course, Scotland, Britain, 24 June 2016. Trump arrived to re-open his Golf Course at the Trump Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort in Scotland. EPA/NIGEL RODDIS (Nigel Roddis/EPA) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks in New York, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump delivers a speech during a campaign event at the Trump Soho Hotel in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., June 22, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar (Mike Segar/Reuters) epa05383566 Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, delivers a speech at the Trump SoHo hotel in New York, New York, USA, 22 June 2016. The majority of the speech focused on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, his likely Democratic party rival in the presidential campaign. EPA/JUSTIN LANE (Justin Lane/EPA) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gives supporters a fist pump as he arrives on stage to speak at a rally Saturday, June 18, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump cheer as he speaks at a rally Saturday, June 18, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 18: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd of supporters during a campaign rally on June 18, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. Trump returned to Arizona for the fourth time since starting his presidential campaign a year ago. (Ralph Freso/Getty Images) A woman holds up a campaign sign as Republican U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, June 18, 2016. REUTERS/Nancy Wiechec (Nancy Wiechec/Reuters) PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 18: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of supporters during a campaign rally on June 18, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. Trump returned to Arizona for the fourth time since starting his presidential campaign a year ago. (Ralph Freso/Getty Images) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, shouts to Secret Service agents that supporter Diana Brest, right, had been waiting in line since 2 a.m. to see the candidate speak at a rally Saturday, June 18, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) MANCHESTER, NH - JUNE 13: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump walks out after speaking during a campaign event at the Saint Anselm College - New Hampshire Institute of Politics Auditorium in Manchester, NH on Monday June 13, 2016. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: Supporters attend a campaign rally of Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Tampa Convention Center on June 11, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. Florida Gov. Rick Scott spoke at the rally and introduced Trump. (Gerardo Mora/Getty Images) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Saturday, June 11, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds up a sign during a campaign stop Saturday, June 11, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) epa05357744 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, USA on 11 June 2016. EPA/CRISTOBAL HERRERA (Cristobal Herrera/EPA) Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump hope to capture a photo of the candidate after a campaign speech Saturday, June 11, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, poses for a photo with a supporter after a campaign speech Saturday, June 11, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Photo Gallery: Businessman Donald Trump officially became the Republican nominee at the party’s convention in Cleveland.

So why did these “narrow elites” miss the mark so badly when the topic turned to Trump? Because most of them are hopelessly isolated from the other 300 million or so Americans who inconveniently share their country.

Murray writes that most members of the narrow elite don’t watch much television. If they watch any news programs, it is probably the PBS NewsHour (or Morning Joe!). Powerful influencers have also watched other television shows over the past decade like “Mad Men,” “House of Cards,” “Breaking Bad,” “Game of Thrones” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” While such critically acclaimed shows are often consumed by narrow elites in frantic fits of binge watching, the other 300 million Americans view television a bit differently.

Murray reports that the average American watches about 35 hours of television a week. Since 2004, Trump has starred in 14 seasons of “The Apprentice.” And if you’re a member of the narrow elite that holds sway over media coverage or government policy, chances are good that you saw few episodes of “The Apprentice” or “Survivor.”

But millions of Americans did, and perhaps that kind of mass consumption is why Trump will beat Don Draper at the polls every time.

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History may not repeat itself, but it does rhyme when the topic turns to TV careers and Republican politicians. From 1956 to 1962, Ronald Reagan hosted General Electric Theater and had his image beamed into more than 20 million homes every week. The successful run on TV gave Reagan a connection with American voters that his movie career never could. By the time Reagan ran for governor of California in 1966, the GE host was a household name. Reagan’s landslide victory shocked elites in and out of the political class and launched a conservative revolution that would last a generation.