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Mule's powers are inherently magical, for all intents and purposes. It is just one more variant of the telepathic abilities that abound in Asimov's universe. Fortunately as far as I know Asmiov never pretended that they were scientifically based - no midichlorians in that world!
Not necessarily so. I would not be surprised if some "trans-cranial magnetic emotions modulation" is possible. Even a complete control of anybody near or not so near.
Nothing mystical at all, just an elaborate EM influencing which aligns your emotions with mines.
If I were reading a book that didn't include multiple other sources of clearly magical mind control then I would be inclined to agree with you. But looking at the universe this particular instance comes from we see multiple other forms of clearly 'magical' (counter to physics as we know it, introduced for the purpose ) forms of mind control. Even FTL instantanious mind control from a distance powered by a planet-wide hivemind.
This was not just some guy with an advanced technological device that controls people via EM. It's a dude that can control folks with his brain. The advanced tech is closer to being physically possible in the real world but this is a fantasy universe where characters really do evolve and then train telepathy powers. In one of the stories some folks actually did invent technology that could engage in the telepathy magic too. They even had a three way mind control standoff between a coven of Jedi types, a planetary hivemind representative and the guys who used the machine to do it for them.
They had also faster than light transportation, scientifically impossible and Asimov knew it.
But when you throw the water away, the baby which remains, is pretty interesting. And I call this baby "some way to control other people emotions".
And the baby is huge.
I have no idea where this throwing away the baby with the bathwater stuff is coming into it. From what I saw it was debating whether the particular bathwater in question was magic or technological. No particular need to throw it away.
I said the water. The baby remains.