Robert Mueller sends an unmistakable message to Congress about impeachment, more Democrats announce their support for an inquiry, the DNC changes its requirements for the fall debates, and Elizabeth Warren’s strategy pays off. Then Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus and show runner David Mandel talk to Jon, Jon, and Tommy about politics and comedy in the Trump Era.

Show Notes:

Mueller has a voice

• NYT: Mueller, in First Comments on Russia Inquiry, Declines to Clear Trump
• WaPo: Mueller says accusing Trump of a crime ‘not an option’ under Justice Dept. guidelines
• Politico: Mueller emphasizes that he didn’t clear Trump
• Axios: Mueller: “We would have said” if confident Trump did not commit a crime
• Atlantic: Read Mueller’s First Public Comments on the Russia Investigation
• WaPo: Mueller’s statement, annotated: ‘If we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so
• WaPo: Mueller speaks for the ‘only time.’ Many Americans didn’t hear an ending.
• WaPo: As he exits, Mueller suggests only Congress can ‘formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing’
• NYT: Robert De Niro: Robert Mueller, We Need to Hear More – You said that your investigation’s work “speaks for itself.” It doesn’t.

Reactions to the Statement

• NYT: Standing Where Barr Cleared Trump on Obstruction, Mueller Makes a Different Case
• Vox: Robert Mueller’s first-ever public statement on the Trump-Russia investigation, explained
• WaPo: Mueller was pointed: His report doesn’t say what Trump and Barr have claimed
• NYT: Mueller Is Admirably Apolitical. That’s the Problem
• FiveThirtyEight: How To Think About Mueller’s Statement
• Daily Beast: After Mueller: 5 Big Unresolved Questions About the Trump-Russia Investigation
• Empty Wheel: MUELLER’S EMPHASIS: RUSSIA’S GREATER THAN TWO EFFORTS TO INTERFERE IN THE ELECTION
• Just Security: Mueller’s Message: The Obstruction that Nearly Halted Criminal Case Against Russians
• The Atlantic: Robert Mueller Wishes You’d Read His Report
• The Atlantic: Mueller Can Do No More. Now It’s Up to Congress.
• The Atlantic: Mueller Breaks His Silence—Without Breaking Protocol
• New Yorker: Robert Mueller Says It’s Up to Congress to Indict a President
• New Yorker: Robert Mueller Breaks His Silence—and Says Nothing New
• Slate: Robert Mueller Was Telling Nancy Pelosi to Begin Impeachment Proceedings
• NY Mag: Mueller: Trump Is Not Not a Criminal
• The Nation: Robert Mueller Just Told Congress to Do Its Damn Job
• Vox: Can the president be prosecuted? I asked 16 legal experts.
• WaPo Op-Ed: No ‘treason.’ No coup. Just lies — and dumb lies at that.
• WaPo: Comey’s new attack on Trump highlights big danger for Democrats

Mueller testifying

• NYT: House Democrats Want Mueller to Testify, Despite His Reluctance
• HuffPo: GOP Sen. John Kennedy Urges Robert Mueller To Testify Publicly
• CNN: Roger Stone associate agrees to testify before Mueller grand jury
• Vox: Robert Mueller should testify before Congress
• Politico: I Watched 20 Hours of Robert Mueller Testifying. Here’s What Congress Would Be In For.

Trump’s Response

• The Atlantic: How to Silence a White House
• WaPo: Trump’s mantra was once ‘no collusion, no obstruction.’ It isn’t anymore.

Pelosi and the Politics of Impeachment

• WaPo: Mueller’s statement increases pressure on Pelosi to begin Trump impeachment
• USA Today: Pelosi stresses only a small number of Democrats are calling to impeach Trump, asks for patience
• CNN: Pelosi continues to resist impeachment, but says ‘nothing is off the table’
• WaPo: Mueller just made it crystal clear: Only Congress can hold Trump accountable
• WaPo: Mueller says he couldn’t charge Trump, tosses the question to Congress
• Politico: Mueller statement emboldens some Dems on impeachment
• LA Times: Mueller statement ramps up impeachment pressure on Pelosi and House Democrats
• Daily Beast: Mueller Means We’re Headed for the Apocalypse
• WaPo: More than 40 House Democrats want to open an impeachment inquiry into Trump
• Lawfare: Mueller Bows Out: What Does Congress Do Now?

• NBC News: Pelosi on Trump investigation options: ‘Nothing is off the table’
• McClatchy: ‘The dam has burst’: Liberals warn Democrats risk backlash by not impeaching Trump
• Talking Points Memo: Pelosi Says Impeachment Hinges On Making ‘Compelling Case’ To Americans
• Talking Points Memo: After Mueller Comments, Nadler Declares It’s Time For Congress To Take Over
• NYT: After Mueller Statement, More 2020 Democrats Call for Impeachment
• Vox: 2020 Democrats’ response to Mueller statement: Impeach
• Mother Jones: 2020 Candidates Call for Impeachment in Response to Mueller’s Press Conference
• The Atlantic: Impeachment Is the Song of the Summer
• The Atlantic: House Democrats Have More Potent Options Than Impeachment
• The Nation: Impeachment Would Affirm the Will of the People
• NBC News: New activist campaign puts impeachment pressure on House Democrats

Justin Amash

• Detroit News: Amash challenges Pelosi to start impeachment hearings
• NYT: Justin Amash, Under Attack for Impeachment Talk, Finds Mixed Support at Home
• Esquire: Justin Amash Brought the Receipts When Two Trump Supporters Came at His Impeachment Claims
• WaPo: White House, Trump campaign and RNC take fresh aim at Amash as he continues call for impeachment

2020 DNC Debate Rules

• Politico: DNC makes it more difficult to qualify for 3rd debate
• Buzzfeed: The New Presidential Debate Rules Immediately Have Some Democrats Frustrated With The DNC
• John Delaney open letter to DNC
• NYT: Democratic Party Will Impose Tougher Rules for Qualifying for Third Debate
• WaPo: Tougher new debate rules could dramatically winnow Democratic presidential field
• Politico: The Democrats’ Donor-Measuring Contest
• FiveThirtyEight: The DNC’s Debate Rules Won’t Make The 2020 Primaries Any Less Chaotic

Elizabeth Warren

• NYT: Elizabeth Warren Gains Ground in 2020 Field, One Plan at a Time
• The Hill: Poll: Warren leads among liberal voters
• NYT: Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris Lead the Democratic Money Race
• Time: Elizabeth Warren Bucks the Trend by Running on Ideas
• Slate: Warren Has Earned Her Wonk Reputation.
• CBS: Elizabeth Warren bets big on policy to break through crowded Democratic field
• The Nation: Elizabeth Warren Has the Plans. The Votes Are Another Matter
• Washington Examiner: “I Don’t Do Polls” Elizabeth Warren says her policy proposals come from the heart
• The Cut: Elizabeth Warren’s Strategy Is Working

2020 Candidates and Policy

• Vox: Joe Biden’s plan to triple spending on low-income schools, explained
• Education Week: Elizabeth Warren: ‘It Would Be Pretty Fabulous’ to Have a Teacher in the White House
• Vox: What’s Joe Biden going to do on climate change? Look at his record under Obama.
• Politico: How Beto O’Rourke would address immigration reform
• Business Insider: 2020 Democratic candidate Julián Castro just released the most detailed immigration plan of any contender and it would reshape the US system
• Politico: How Kamala Harris would protect abortion rights
• Politico: How Sen. Elizabeth Warren would protect abortion rights
• Politico: How Seth Moulton would expand mental health care for military and vets
• PBS: Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on 2020 Democrats’ policy proposals
• Vox: Joe Biden’s low-key campaigning schedule, explained
• Politico: Why is Kamala Harris Running for President?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Mandel

• New Yorker: First Woman First: An Interview with Selina Catherine Meyer
• NET-A-PORTER: REALITY BITES With Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• HuffPost: Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Complaining About PC Culture Is ‘A Red Flag’
• The Hill: Julia Louis-Dreyfus: ‘I f—ing better’ see a female president in my lifetime
• TIME: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Knew She Was Good. She Fought to Make Sure the World Did Too
• The New Yorker: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Acts Out
• CNN: Julia Louis-Dreyfus never considered departing ‘Veep’
• AP News: Julia Louis-Dreyfus is thrilled about her ‘Veep’ return
• ELLE: All the Times Veep Predicted Real-Life White House Drama
• The Hill: Buttigieg jokes ‘Veep’s’ Selina Meyer would be ‘well matched’ with Trump in 2020
• HuffPost: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Reveals How Donald Trump Shaped The Final Season Of ‘Veep’
• KPCC: Julia Louis-Dreyfus in 2020!
• MTV: julia louis-dreyfus on the end of “veep,” surviving cancer and her life in comedy
• Good Morning America: Julia Louis-Dreyfus opens up on battle with breast cancer and final season of her hit show ‘Veep’
• Jimmy Fallon: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Shows How Good She Is at Swearing Thanks to Veep
• Vogue: Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Veep’s Final Season and Why She Wrote a Personal Letter to Christine Blasey Ford
• Thrillist: ‘Veep’ Showrunner David Mandel Talks Series Finale Betrayals & Bombshells
• A.V Club: Veep boss on the show’s finale and Selina’s Daenerys moment
• Uproxx: ‘Veep’ Showrunner David Mandel On The Show’s Series Finale, And Giving Selina Meyer The Sendoff She Deserved
• Hollywood Reporter: Why ‘Veep’ Tossed Its Original Ending for a Farewell Filled With “Exquisite Torture”
• Vulture: Veep Is Over. Is America Next? A behind-the-scenes look at the series finale.
• HuffPost: ‘Veep’ Producers Explain Why ‘Despicable’ Selina Meyer Is Basically Donald Trump
• WaPo: In satisfying ‘Veep’ finale, Selina gets what she wanted — and the final indignity she deserved