What we learned from the Mueller report

In 448 pages, the special counsel, Robert Mueller, cataloged attempts by President Trump to thwart the investigation into Russia’s 2016 election interference, and laid bare how Mr. Trump was elected with the help of a foreign power.

The special counsel’s team decided not to charge Mr. Trump, citing numerous legal and factual constraints, but it pointedly declined to exonerate him. Mr. Mueller concluded that there was “insufficient evidence” to establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, but that Russia did interfere in the U.S. election.

Takeaways: President Trump tried to sabotage the investigation. In instance after instance, his staff defied his orders and acted as a bulwark against Mr. Trump’s most destructive impulses. Read our other takeaways. We also have a cheat sheet to the report.

On obstruction: President Trump’s lawyers have argued that it was impossible for him to illegally obstruct the Russia investigation because he has full authority over federal law enforcement. Mr. Mueller rejected that sweeping view of executive power.