| | | | Welcome to the post-Mueller presidency |  | | Donald Trump's presidency -- or at least his first term -- will be measured this way: Before the Mueller Report (BMR) and After the Mueller Report (AMR).
BMR ran from the start of Trump's presidency -- when the FBI investigation that would become special counsel Robert Mueller's probe was already underway -- until this past Thursday at 11 a.m. ET.
AMR began soon after as people -- media types, members of Congress, average Joes -- began to either read and digest Mueller's report or watch and read coverage of it.
Like it or not -- and lots and lots of Democrats won't like it -- we are in a post-Mueller world now. And that new reality brings with it a series of critical choices for both the White House, congressional Democrats and the 2020 candidates who want to unseat the President next November.
Here's a look at the choices before each group.
1) Trump: He has spent much of the past year relentlessly blasting the Mueller team, the media for its coverage of the Russia investigation and even members of his own administration for their lack of perceived loyalty to him on all of it. Now, the Mueller report is (mostly) behind Trump. Does he let sleeping dogs lie? Move on to immigration and the economy full time between now and 2020? Can he?
2) Congressional Democrats: Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her House Democratic colleagues face perhaps the most difficult -- and critical -- choice in the coming weeks. Do they push forward -- as Mueller seemed to suggest -- on the obstruction evidence in the report?
That would likely necessitate pursuing impeachment against Trump. Pelosi has made clear she is opposed to that move -- unless there was bipartisan support for it in the country. That seems unlikely to happen now. But Pelosi will also come under more pressure from liberals to penalize Trump.
3) 2020 Democrats: Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts came out Friday afternoon with a clear message: It's time to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump. But Warren's campaign was also quick to tell CNN's MJ Lee that "Warren's decision to call on impeachment proceedings does not mean that the topic will become central theme of her 2020 campaign going forward -- Warren plans to continue to rolling out major policy proposals."
My guess is that most 2020 candidates will follow that lead. Say Trump should be impeached -- and maybe include it as a line or three in their stump speech -- but not build a campaign around it.
The Point: The Mueller report release is a pivot point in Trump's presidency -- and re-election effort. We are living in the post-Mueller political world, and all of the players need to make decisions accordingly.
-- Chris
Below, the week in 18 headlines.
Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: | | "That's how easy it is to cross the border in Yuma, Arizona."
-- Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, in a video posted on social media in which the Republican claims to cross the US-Mexico border (by hopping over a barrier).
His Democratic opponent then accused Hunter of violating his parole for leaving the country, prompting Hunter to respond that he did not actually cross the border. | | |  | Chris answers your Mueller report questions | | A redacted version of the Mueller Report, a nearly two-year investigation, is finally out. CNN's Chris Cillizza breaks down what he's found.
Have you heard? You can subscribe to The Point on YouTube! | | | New Lizzo means it's an ESPECIALLY happy Friday. Enjoy "Like a Girl"! | | The special counsel is back ... in the office, at least.
Just one day after his 400-plus-page report on Russian interference in the 2016 election was released to the public, Robert Mueller reported to work at 7:45 a.m., per the CNN team staking out Mueller's office.
Mueller's report is also already a best-seller.
Three versions of the lengthy report have already soared to the top of Amazon and Barnes and Nobles' best-selling lists, CNN's Brian Stelter reports. | |
LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST | | | Coming up next week: Joe Biden (very likely) makes it official, Republican Larry Hogan makes his long-scheduled trip to New Hampshire and CNN presents a monster Monday of prime-time town halls.
Friday, April 19 - Kamala Harris: Will deliver the keynote address to the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority's regional conference in Louisiana
Saturday, April 20 - Tim Ryan: Holds two meet and greet events in Fairfield and West Des Moines, Iowa
Sunday, April 21 - Kamala Harris: Will attend Easter services at Bible Way Church of Atlas Road in Columbia, South Carolina
Monday, April 22 - Town hall-o-rama! Live back-to-back-to-back-to-back town halls from New Hampshire featuring Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren
- Andrew Yang: Rallies in Los Angeles
Tuesday, April 23 - Larry Hogan: Participates in his New Hampshire Politics & Eggs segment as he considers a primary challenge to Donald Trump
- Andrew Yang: Holds a rally in Las Vegas
- Cory Booker: Visits Milwaukee for a discussion on preventing gun violence
- Elizabeth Warren: Holds a student organizing event at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina
Wednesday, April 24 - Seth Moulton: Participates in his Politics & Eggs installment (he's also expected to have announced his bid for the presidency by now)
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