Politics roundup: Mueller talks about his report. Now he wants you to leave him alone.

Robert Mueller publicly spoke about his findings for the first time. What did he say, and what is Congress going to do about it all?

Mueller speaks

Robert Mueller is not known for his public appearances. Despite the 448-page report summarizing his team’s findings after investigating possible collusion between U.S. and Russian representatives, he’s been reluctant to give voice to his own thoughts. This week, however, we got a rare glimpse into what Mueller really thinks of this whole affair.

On Wednesday, he offered up his first public comments concerning the investigation since it began over two years ago. “I hope and expect this to be the only time that I will speak to you in this manner,” he said in a prepared statement delivered at the Department of Justice.

During the speech, Mueller reiterated what many others have already surmised: he will not pursue any sort of action against the President. That’s in line with a Department of Justice policy to not pursue indictment against a sitting president. Essentially, Mueller has done what he was recruited to do: conduct an investigation and deliver his report.

Neither will Congress get much out of him if it compels Mueller to appear before a committee. “My report is my testimony,” he stated. “I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before Congress.”

During the statement, Mueller announced his departure from the Justice Department and his return to private life. Though he did not state so explicitly, the next steps are clear. If any sort of charges are to be brought against a president currently in office, it’s up to Congress to do so.

One opinion of Mueller remains crystal clear. He argues that someone definitely tried to mess with United States elections in 2016. “[T]here were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election,” he said. “That allegation deserves the attention of every American.”

What does all of this mean? No, his remarks did not exonerate the President or his team, no matter what the White House says. Neither is it a smoking gun or a series of new, definitive statements.

Mueller is an old school government employee, dedicated to the letter of the law and established procedure with little room for self-aggrandizement. Chances are mercifully good that you’ll never see him selling his soul as a cable news commentator.

As far as Mueller is concerned, his job is done. He has purposefully exhausted his usefulness. Members of Congress, meanwhile, have much work ahead, if only they choose to pursue it.

Supreme Court avoids abortion question – for now

With recent fights over state laws on the procedure, press coverage on the issue of abortion has been at a fever pitch. Alabama, Louisiana, and other states have effectively outlawed the procedure. Other states, like Missouri, have clamped down so hard on clinics that only a very few providers remain.

At the center of many stories lies a landmark Supreme Court decision: Roe v. Wade. This 1973 ruling affirmed that a pregnant person’s “right to privacy” covered their access to abortion. That is, the decision supposedly protects that individual’s right to receive an abortion, with little to no interference from state or federal governments.

The current case, Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, would have been one of the first modern challenges to Roe v. Wade to reach the Supreme Court. Yet, Justices have proven reluctant to mess with established precedent. Why mess with something that’s been definitively decided upon by the courts?

The case was based on a 2016 Indiana law, signed by then-Governor and current Vice President Mike Pence. The rule banned abortions sought out because of a fetus’ sex, ethnicity, or disability. It also imposed rules on the disposal of fetal remains, though the person seeking an abortion was allowed to dispose of those remains as they wished, as long as they removed them from a medical facility themselves.

The Court decided to kick the can down the road with this case. It upheld the fetal remains provision of the law, but refused to consider the abortion restrictions, claiming that lower courts had not been sufficiently divided on the matter. Instead, argued the court, their rulings were generally clear. The rest of the law signed by Pence will remain blocked without a definitive opinion from the Supreme Court.

White House threatens Mexico with tariffs

If Mexico doesn’t take action to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States, then it may face tariffs and stricter rules for asylum seekers. The White House dangled the possibility this week, seemingly discontent with already existing tariffs (against China, mostly) and other immigration restrictions (against countries that happen to have Muslim-majority populations).

The White House argues that Mexico isn’t doing its fair share to stop people from moving across the border. It is also surely keeping an eye on the 2020 elections, in which Trump will have to account for relatively unsatisfying action on a key campaign promise. Staggering numbers of people have been apprehended by U.S. Border Security. Last month, nearly 99,000 migrants were arrested at the border, while a record number of people remain in U.S. custody.

For the President, it must seem that now is the time for drastic measures. Those tariffs are set to begin on June 10, hitting 5% of goods imported via Mexico. If illegal immigration doesn’t stop, July 1 will see a 10% tariff, with regular increases until a 25% tariff is reached on October 1.

Tariffs are tricky things. The tariffs on Chinese goods has not been kind to American businesses and individuals, generating mixed reaction even from ultra-conservative people affected by the change. International markets have also sunk in response to announcement. With an estimated $346 billion in goods imported from Mexico in 2018, including metals and automobiles, some worry that we’ll see similar effects, intensified.

In a related move, the White House is considering a draft proposal that would drastically reduce the number of asylum seekers accepted into the United States from Mexico. Under the conditions of this move, people would be denied asylum if they have lived in a country other than their own before applying to the U.S. That would be the end of the line for many of the people currently waiting at the border, who have traveled through Mexico while escaping violence in other Central American nations.

Israel to hold second election

Does anyone, anywhere, have elections that are free of twists and turns? Not Israel, surely, for they have gone through one election only to find themselves facing the same prospect.

Though he narrowly won re-election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has failed to form a coalition within the government. Tensions between secular politicians and ultra-Orthodox representatives kept anyone from achieving the needed majority to get things moving.

Many arguments centered on military service. All Israelis are required to serve in the country’s military, with the exception of ultra-Orthodox Jews, who argue that they are obligated to study religious texts instead. Non-Orthodox Israelis have frequently and loudly complained about the religious exemption.

As a result, Netanyahu’s Likud party advanced a bill that will dissolve the Knesset, or parliament, and kickstart a second election. No one can be sure what the second election will bring, or if it will do anything to substantially change the political situation in the country.

And, finally, your palate cleanser

Navy pilots have been seeing weird things in the sky. Objects – or are they crafts? – that seem to defy all rules of terrestrial flight. These include maneuvers like speeding past fighter jets, evading military personnel, and stopping on a dime after achieving seemingly incredible speeds. That last move would turn human innards into a gory mess, but that hasn’t stopped these strange things from continuing on their merry way.

Naturally, many people have taken this as evidence of visitors from somewhere not-Earth, whether that’s a different planet or a different level of reality. Others, however, remain skeptical. It could be a glitch in aircraft’s tracking systems or pilot error. Maybe it’s some sort of device or craft created by a foreign nation, which could be terrifying, but still very terrestrial. Whatever it is, make sure you don’t say “UFO”.

Either way, this is a big move. Leave aside the matter of whether or not we’re looking at evidence of otherworldly visitors. This represents a major change in military attitudes. Previously, pilots and other personnel were reluctant to report their sightings, for fear that they would be discredited and ridiculed. Flying a high-tech military jet is often the end goal for many pilots – it’s definitely not a temp job or soulless office position.

The fact that the U.S. military is encouraging reporting and investigation is a huge step. So, too, is the fact that this info has made its way to us. It’s an interesting change, if nothing else. And, if it really is aliens after all? Maybe they could stand to step in with a little guidance on our current woes, right? It would be nice to know we’re not such an island, after all.