One of the biggest political stories in years unfolded in Chicago Friday night as hundreds of left-wing protesters managed to shut down Donald Trump's rally at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

But if you were monitoring the national media coverage of the fracas, you did not get the entire story -- which is grossly unfair to you and an insult to journalism.

Here's what really happened:

One week ago on Monday, March 7th about 180 University of Illinois faculty and staff sent a letter to the university chancellor expressing concern about the Trump rally from a liberal point-of-view.

The same day the far-left website MoveOn.org, partially funded by the radical George Soros, posted a petition opposing the Trump rally.

All throughout the week, far-left people ramped up a campaign to deny Donald Trump the Chicago forum.

Thus, on Friday it was no surprise that disruptive protesters entered the University Pavilion to shut Trump down and confront his supporters.

So I ask you, who is at fault here?  Who provoked the incident?

The answer is obvious.  Far-left agitators who do not believe in freedom of speech drove a situation that could have become violent.

There's no question about that, and Mr. Trump was right to cancel the event because people might have been hurt.

But the national media almost immediately spun the story, demonizing Mr. Trump and his supporters, blaming the incident on "inflammatory rhetoric" and "racist thought."

In the process the press ignored the MoveOn component, essentially condoning a flat out assault on freedom of speech.

Now there is evidence that some Trump supporters are angry, undisciplined people. That's true.

But some supporters of Bernie Sanders are angry and undisciplined.

And here's an interesting footnote. The radical group Black Lives Matter actually shut down a Sanders rally last August.

So there is a trend here - radical leftists believing they can disrupt political events at will.

Talking Points applauds honest dissent.  If you don't like Donald Trump, stand outside his events peacefully.

Make a little sign.  Chant whatever you want -- as long as it's not threatening.

Opposition to Donald Trump is not the issue here.  True fascism is.

We have seen some anti-Trump people use the fascist salute while taunting Trump supporters.

But here's a very simple question.  Shutting down opposing points of view is totalitarian, right?

So some of the very people accusing Trump supporters of being fascist are really practicing that terrible philosophy themselves.

Or am I wrong?

Now for the political implications of the Chicago story.

Basically, Trump is taking heat from both sides.

TED CRUZ: “First of all, the protesters were in the wrong.  When you come up and - and you use violence, you engage in violence, you threaten violence, and when you try to shut - shut down and shout down speech, that - that’s not what the First Amendment allows. ((EDIT)) It is not beneficial when you have a candidate like - like Donald Trump, who’s telling his protesters, punch that guy in the face.”

((EDIT))

HILLARY CLINTON: “It's clear that Donald Trump is running a very cynical campaign, pitting groups of Americans against one another.  He is trafficking in hate and fear.” 

So what is the truth about Mr. Trump himself?  Well he has said some provocative things when protesters have interrupted his speeches.

That's okay for a businessman to do, but not for a potential president.

Donald Trump must make a transition from trying to get there to actually being there.

In the beginning of the campaign his flamboyant rhetoric got him attention and support, but now he is a very viable presidential contender. Thus his presentation carries much more weight.

There is some irony that the far-left protesters in Chicago are actually helping Trump rather than hurting him.

He again dominated the news cycle this weekend, and by shutting down his event his support grew in some places because the Trump-haters are so extreme.

I mean listen to this sound bite from a former Ohio state senator.

FORMER OHIO STATE SEN. NINA TURNER (D):  “Mr. Trump continues to amp up folks in a way that is unbecoming of this country.  And I know that we’re quick to point the finger at him, but let us not forget that in the DNA of this country, Chris, is racism. ((EDIT)) This country was founded on racism and sexism, point blank.  And we need to admit that.”

No, we do not need to admit that because it is simplistic insulting and ridiculous.

Those who support Donald Trump loathe people like Nina Turner.  And the more she and others demonize Trump, the stronger his support gets in some precincts.

But again, if you're going to be president, you can't load up on inflammatory statements.  And that is being seized upon by Mr. Trump's Republican opponents.

MARCO RUBIO: “Some of these protesters you saw in Chicago obviously were maybe organized, maybe even paid to disrupt an event.  So I’m not excusing their behavior, but this is not just the protesters in Chicago.  This is now multiple rallies where people are assaulted and beat up—where a guy gets suckered punched by one of the Trump supporters.  And then instead of condemning it, Trump is silent.”

((EDIT))

TRUMP: “I don't accept responsibility.  I do not condone violence in any shape.  And I will tell you, from what I saw, the young man stuck his finger up in the air and the other man sort of just had it.  But I still -- I don't condone violence.”

If Donald Trump wins Ohio tomorrow, he wins the nomination.  That's how close he is to running against Hillary Clinton for the presidency.

But winning the Republican nod is far different than winning the general election, where Mr. Trump is going to have to persuade about 65 million Americans to vote for him.

A significant challenge.

It is a foregone conclusion that minority voters in America will not support Donald Trump.

He will also have trouble in states like California, Illinois and even New York, which have a lot of electoral votes.

In addition, some Republicans who don't like Trump will stay home and the press, as we have seen in the Chicago case, will not cover the Trump campaign fairly.  They will come after him with everything they have.

This election year is unlike any other I have ever seen and things could easily get out of control.

Donald Trump is an intelligent man but he is in unfamiliar waters; he has never been through anything like this before.

He would be wise to tone it down a bit to fully explain his positions, to hire advisors who can articulate his vision and to conduct himself with restraint.

Mr. Trump has to overcome big odds to win the White House.

It can be done, as Mrs. Clinton has her own challenges, but a tone adjustment will have to be made.

And that's the memo.