Hello and welcome to The Intelligence on Economist Radio.

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Comedians used to be outside the political establishment, looking in and poking fun.

But there's been a blurring of the lines.

Politicians crack jokes, and increasingly comedians get into politics.

Easy laughs, it seems, are a secret weapon for populists.

And in Pakistan, there are tens of thousands of completely unqualified doctors practicing medicine.

The government is trying to crack down on them,

but it's clear that people would rather be treated by a quack than by no one at all.

First up, though.

When a summary of the Mueller report was released last month, it was either a huge relief or a colossal anti-climax, depending on your point of view.

There was no collusion with Russia.

The most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

There was no collusion with Russia.

After 22 months investigating the Russian campaign to rig the 2016 election in Donald

Trump's favor, Special Counsel Robert Mueller declined to recommend charging the president with anything.

After so many people have been so badly hurt, after not looking at the other side.

Mr. Trump gleefully tweeted that the report was a complete and total exoneration.

It wasn't quite that. The report itself

did not make a call on whether Mr. Trump had a charge to answer about obstructing justice,

that is, trying to impede the Russia investigation. Today, a bit more light may be shed on these

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