ABC MAKES A CORRECTION – AT 8:47 A.M. ET:  It's good to see a major news organization correct itself when a serious error is made.  Consider this, from ABC News: 

JUST IN: @Brian Ross on @ABC News Special Report: Michael Flynn promised "full cooperation to the Mueller team" and is prepared to testify that as a candidate, Donald Trump "directed him to make contact with the Russians." https://t.co/aiagnvr8eS pic.twitter.com/r8u2LWAd0O
— ABC News (@ABC) December 1, 2017

(ABC News has deleted Ross's original and erroneous report)

UPDATE: ABC News has deleted the above video of Ross' report from Friday morning after investigative reporter Brian Ross retracted the explosive claim that Flynn would be willing to testify against Trump.

Ross said on ABC World News Tonight that incoming President Trump, not candidate Trump, instructed Flynn to speak to the Russians, a chasm between the original report that the Republican nominee made the request.

Ross also clarified the reason why Flynn -- the incoming National Security Advisor -- was told to speak to the Russian Federation whereas before he left it open-ended that Trump wanted the retired general to "make contact" with the Russians.

COMMENT: The lesson:  Be careful of all "first reports."  Indeed, be careful of journalism generally.  It is, as an editor once said, history's rough first draft.  The trouble is, we often don't get a second draft. 

The Mueller investigation drags on, disrupting the White House and holding the president under a cloud, while thus far producing very little.  These special counsels, while occasionally necessary, can easily turn into a burden on our democracy.  I hope Mueller wraps up his probe quickly.  We elected a government, and we are entitled to have one.

December 2,  2017