1. Win for Trump, Loss for Media

The conclusion by special counsel Robert Mueller that there was no evidence of collusion between Russia and anyone on the Trump team ends two years of disproportionate — if not obsessive — focus on every iota of information that emerged from the investigation. However you spin it, it’s a big victory for Trump, who insisted throughout that he did not collude with the Russians.

Public trust in the media — already abysmal — is liable to be damaged even more as a result of the findings. After 22 months of being told repeatedly that Trump’s presidency is “nearing its end,” the public is not going to get very excited about any problematic findings in the report that haven't come out yet.

2. A Whole New Ballgame

The investigation’s outcome gives a significant tailwind to Trump’s reelection effort, and robs the Democrats of their best weapon against him — the cloud of suspicion relating to Russia. If anything, now Trump wields the weapon: The establishment spent two years and $30 million combing for evidence of criminal activity by the president, and found none. This could well be the dawn of a new day for his presidency. After the November 2018 midterm elections, the Democrats spoke pugnaciously of impeaching Trump. Now he is clearly here to stay.

This has ramifications far beyond the domestic political realm: There are economic, diplomatic, and geopolitical repercussions as well. Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong-un now know for certain that Trump will serve out his first term, and looks more likely to win a second. This will also affect how the Palestinians look at the peace plan.

3. Whither the Dems?

What will the Democrats do now? First of all, although Trump has been exonerated, we have not yet learned all of the Mueller report’s findings — and that’s what the next battle will be about. But even if Attorney General William Barr releases the full report on his own initiative, the Democrats will not forfeit the chance to try to obfuscate Trump’s victory. They could invite Mueller to testify before Congress and question him on details that reflect badly on the president, such as possible obstruction of justice. They could also demand to see the investigation materials, which would ensure that every sub-investigation would be exposed, and that would schlep things out for months, through multiple hearings in Congress.

Will it change the bottom line? Likely not. Nancy Pelosi, a seasoned politician, clearly understands that public patience for these theatrics is running out; that’s why she declared last month that the Democrats did not intend to launch impeachment proceedings. Pelosi, at least, comprehends that Democrats are now in a position of having to persuade the public vote for them, instead of demonizing Trump. Whether other members of her party understand that is an open question.

4. A Feather in Mueller’s Cap

Throughout the process, Mueller came in for rough treatment by both sides: Trump insisted Mueller was conducting a “witch hunt,” and now some Democrats unhappy with the outcome are hinting Mueller was not up to the task or he was a pawn in a larger conspiracy. The investigation took two years, but the bottom line is that Mueller and his team did serious work trying to uncover the truth and not simply creating a case. Mueller filed indictments against 34 people, from campaign workers who lied to the FBI and engaged in money laundering and tax evasion, to shady Russian persons of interest. Most notably, the case produced convictions of Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen, although for crimes not related to collusion with Russia. In the end, although not a single American citizen was found to have conspired with Russia, Mueller won high marks for quietly running a thorough investigation.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 754)