The Importance of Investigative Journalism and Legal Complexities

Robert Mueller, the special counsel, discussed his investigation of Russian election interference for the first time on Wednesday. He did not absolve President Trump of obstruction of justice, saying: “If we had enough confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so.” Guest: Michael S. Schmidt, who has been covering the special counsel investigation for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.

Background reading:

• The news conference presented an extraordinary spectacle of a top law enforcement official publicly stating that the president’s conduct warranted a criminal investigation, even though it was impossible to indict him for any crimes.
• Here’s the full transcript of Mr. Mueller’s statement.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.