Detroit Free Press

Whatever special counsel Robert Mueller does next, now is a good time to catch up on Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Here are three reads get you up to speed.

Five things to watch as Mueller makes his first big move — The Daily Beast

University of Michigan Law professor and former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara McQuade breaks down the legalese and potential strategy behind an initial indictment.

McQuade writes: “… the defendant or defendants charged in this indictment are likely to be those that the Mueller team will try to “flip.” Flipping witnesses, a common tactic that prosecutors use, means persuading lower-level defendants to cooperate as witnesses against more culpable defendants in exchange a recommendation of leniency.”

Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, and why Trump is so afraid of it, explained — Vox

From August, this Q&A explains who Robert Mueller is, what he’s investigating, and the dynamics between the special prosecutor and President Trump.

Vox says it offers "a clear guide to the biggest, most pressing issues about the investigation into Trump: how it works, what Mueller and his team are looking into, what we know about the Russia scandal so far, why it all matters, and what could happen next."

This one is particularly helpful if you haven’t followed headlines about the investigation so far.

Robert Mueller sends a message: He’s deadly serious

This New Yorker column offers a good rundown of what happened over the weekend and some analysis.

"One thing we can say for sure is that the news of the charges has moved the Mueller investigation firmly into the media spotlight, where it is likely to stay. Since Mueller’s appointment, his team of prosecutors and investigators has operated largely out of the public eye. One of the few known facts was that it had convened a grand jury in Washington. Friday night’s CNN report said that earlier in the day, “top lawyers who are helping to lead the Mueller probe, including veteran prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, were seen entering the court room at the D.C. federal court where the grand jury meets to hear testimony in the Russia investigation.”