Welcome to Wednesday, July 24th, wanderers and homesteaders...

Former special counsel Robert Mueller makes his highly-anticipated appearance on Capitol Hill today, answering questions about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. 

The House Intelligence Committee hearing, scheduled for 8:30 a.m, will focus on Volume 1 of Mueller's report: Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. 

The House Judiciary Committee hearing, scheduled for 12 p.m., will focus on Volume 2: possible instances of obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump.

During Mueller’s last public appearance, he reiterated the two main conclusions of his report: “that there were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election” and if his office "had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so."

Click here for a live stream of the hearing.

How do you feel about the Mueller hearing?

On the Radar

Expected Questions at the Mueller Hearing

Did your report find there was no collusion?

President Trump, his supporters, and his advocates have repeatedly claimed/tweeted “no collusion!” Though there is no legal definition for “collusion,” and the report made no finding on the issue, it will be helpful for Ds or Rs to hear whether statements made by the president and Attorney General William Barr are true or false.

Did your report find there was no obstruction of justice?

Mueller has said he did not make a determination of whether the president committed obstruction of justice because of a DOJ policy which states that a president "cannot be charged with a federal crime while he is in office. That is unconstitutional."

Barr has said he agrees Mueller could not have indicted Trump, but the AG has also said he felt Mueller could have voiced whether he believed an indictment was prudent.

Did you find a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia?

Republicans are expected to ask Mueller to expound on one of the conclusions of Volume I of his report: that he did not establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

Click here for the full story.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Conservative Party members voted on Tuesday to elect former London mayor Boris Johnson, 55, as the next prime minister of the United Kingdom over Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

President Trump took to Twitter to congratulate him, writing "Congratulations to Boris Johnson on becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will be great!"

Relations between the U.K. and U.S. have been strained recently, following Trump’s criticisms of former Prime Minister Theresa May’s handling of Brexit negotiations and leaked memos by the British ambassador to the U.S. which strongly criticized the Trump administration (the ambassador has since resigned).

Johnson has been a longtime advocate for Brexit and has committed to securing the U.K.’s exit from the European Union (EU) by October 31, 2019, whether or not a deal is reached with the EU to avoid a “hard Brexit.” May’s government had reached an impasse in negotiations with the EU.

Take a look at how the Group of Seven (G7) nations elect their head of government, then tell your reps:

How do you feel about Boris Johnson as U.K prime minister?

Under the Radar

Declawing Declawed

New York has become the first U.S. state to ban cat declawing, which is already illegal in much of Europe and in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver.

"Declawing is a cruel and painful procedure that can create physical and behavioral problems for helpless animals," said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). Cuomo added that banning "this archaic practice" would ensure that animals "are no longer subjected to these inhumane and unnecessary procedures."

The New York State Veterinary Medical Society had opposed the bill, saying in May that the procedure "should be an available option when the alternative is abandonment or euthanasia.”

Should there be a ban on declawing cats?

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Be Permanently Reauthorized?