“President Trump ordered the firing last June of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation, according to four people told of the matter, but ultimately backed down after the White House counsel threatened to resign rather than carry out the directive.” So reported the NYT in yet another twist in the saga of Trump, Mueller, and the investigation into possible Russian collusion.

+ The Atlantic: The Saturday Night Massacre That Wasn’t.

+ “Obstruction of justice is a crime that depends on a person’s state of mind.” That’s something that’s usually hard to prove. Unless the person openly and repeatedly shares that state of mind. President Trump seems almost determined to make decisions and share details that could come back to haunt him. Adam Serwer explains How Trump Built an Obstruction of Justice Case Against Himself.