海角大神

In the wake of the Mueller report, it鈥檚 useful to remember that at the investigation鈥檚 core is a value 鈥� the goal of untainted elections 鈥� that Americans of both parties should care about.

As the world digested the fall of the ISIS caliphate, our reporter in Syria was deeply moved as she spent time with one group facing particular challenges: the innocent children of jihadists.

In the 鈥渋deas primary,鈥� presidential candidates are vying to show voters they have the right stuff. But there are other ways to stand out: charisma, toughness, compassion. And the ability to bring in the bucks.

At a time when wide income inequality can seem intractable, we found an Atlanta experiment that鈥檚 testing the promise 鈥� and limits 鈥� of expanded tax credits for poor workers.

This next story shows the power of conversation to find solutions 鈥� especially when it鈥檚 between decision-makers and the 鈥渆veryday experts鈥� in communities.

According to Attorney General William Barr, the main conclusion of the nearly two-year investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller is that members of Donald Trump鈥檚 campaign did not conspire or coordinate with Russia in its meddling in the 2016 election. While that negative finding is a great relief, Americans may want something else from the report, such as how to prevent future foreign interference. They might want to know if the Trump campaign鈥檚 lack of collusion was the result of any virtue in Mr. Trump鈥檚 top lieutenants.

Perhaps hidden in the report are their motives for at least acting rightly, such as trust and respect of U. S. democracy. While they may have welcomed meddling by Russia to win the election, nonetheless they decided not to assist the Kremlin, either tacitly or directly, in trying to spread distrust toward candidates and disrupt the American electoral system. And they may have done so despite having met or communicated with Russian agents dozens of times as well as receiving offers by Russians to assist the Trump campaign.

If their reason was not a fear of breaking a law, perhaps their motive came out of civic loyalty and honesty toward their political community called U. S. democracy. Some critics may find such motives difficult to believe, but if they did exist 鈥� and they helped prevent collusion with a foreign power 鈥� then such information in the report can be a lesson for Americans.

Last year, Mr. Mueller鈥檚 office indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies on charges of conspiracy to subvert the election. The fact that no Americans were indicted on similar charges speaks to something about a strong belief in the sovereignty and equality of democracy. If Trump officials did decide to protect the conditions for free debate among U. S. citizens, then they acted in their community鈥檚 interest.

鈥淎ll politics is local,鈥� the late House Speaker Tip O鈥橬eill once said. And he might have added, all politics relies on local virtues. Perhaps opening the Mueller report to the public can serve a noble purpose.