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First Read's Morning Clips

A roundup of the most important political news stories of the day

OBAMA AGENDA: Defending the deal

In an interview with Tom Friedman of the New York Times, Obama gave a lengthy defense of the Iran deal. "We are not measuring this deal by whether it is changing the regime inside of Iran,” said the president. “We’re not measuring this deal by whether we are solving every problem that can be traced back to Iran, whether we are eliminating all their nefarious activities around the globe. We are measuring this deal — and that was the original premise of this conversation, including by Prime Minister Netanyahu — Iran could not get a nuclear weapon. That was always the discussion."

The Boston Globe offers an inside look into how the deal unfolded.

Writes the New York Times, on the Iran deal: "For all of the focus on details like the number of centrifuges or the scope of inspections, the emerging battle represents a larger conflict of visions between Mr. Obama’s faith in diplomacy as the most rational way to resolve differences and his critics’ deep skepticism over the wisdom of negotiating with what they see as an adversary that cannot be trusted.

POLITICO writes that key Democrats are skeptical of the deal: "Many of them will be in office beyond the end of Obama’s term, so an affirmative vote means they will effectively own the deal when they face voters again. That means they could pay a dear price politically if the accord fails to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and proves to be a failure."

From The Atlantic: "Why the Iran Deal Makes Obama's Critics So Angry"

Greece faces more political turmoil and public protests as its parliament votes on austerity measures.

OFF TO THE RACES: A new national poll

The GOP primary standings, according to a new USA Today/Suffolk poll: Trump 17%, Bush 14%, Walker 8%, Cruz 6%, Rubio 5%, Carson 4%, Paul 4%, Huckabee 4%, Christie 3%

POLITICO writes on "the revenge of Citizens United." MORE: "Concerns are mounting among top donors and party elites that an influx of huge checks into the GOP primary will hurt the party’s chances of retaking the White House. Long-shot candidates propped up by super PACs and other big-money groups will be able to linger for months throwing damaging barbs at establishment favorites who offer a better chance of victory, the thinking goes."

National Journal reports that three GOP donors - including Paul Singer and Ken Griffin - have formed a new federal committee focused on 2016.

BUSH: The Boston Globe reports that former Romney aides Beth Myers and Peter Flaherty are joining Jeb Bush’s campaign.

CLINTON: In a statement late Tuesday night, she said of the Iran deal: "I am still studying the details, but based on the briefings I received and a review of the documents, I support the agreement because it can help us prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. With vigorous enforcement, unyielding verification, and swift consequences for any violations, this agreement can make the United States, Israel, and our Arab partners safer."

CRUZ: He's meeting with Trump in New York, the Washington Post reports.

TRUMP: He told NBC yesterday that his financial disclosures would be coming today or tomorrow.

His campaign deleted a tweet that included an image featuring Nazi soldiers, blaming the incident on an intern.

The Washington Post looks at how Latinos have shown their political power in the response to the Trump controversy.

WALKER: He told IJ Review that he supported the Boy Scouts of America's previous policies barring gay troop leaders because "it protected children and advanced Scout values.” The national executive committe of the Scouts voted unanimously this week to allow gay adults to be employees and troop leaders.

And around the country....

TEXAS: The Jade Helm military exercise begins today.

PROGRAMMING NOTES.

*** Wednesday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: Today on News Nation, Alex Witt sits in for Tamron Hall. She speaks Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) and NBC’s News Senior White House Correspondent Chris Jansing about her take on the new Iran nuclear deal, Attorney Michael Grieco regarding the final phase of the trial of Aurora CO Shooter James Holmes, Florida Institute of Technology Associate Professor of Physics & Space Sciences Hakeem Oluseyi about the New Horizons spacecraft reaching Pluto, and NBC News Reporter Mark Potter in Mexico on the hunt for Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

*** Wednesday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: Congressman Adam Schiff from the Intelligence Committee, Israel’s Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer, Wall Street Journal’s Jeanne Cummings and Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza, MSNBC’s Trymaine Lee on the Geography of Poverty project and Joe Cirincione, President of the Ploughshares Fund.

*** Wednesday’s “Live with Thomas Roberts” line-up: Thomas will interview a panel of guests around President Obama’s news conference from the White House including: NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, MSNBC host of “The Last Word” Lawrence O’Donnell, MSNBC Foreign Correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin, MSNBC Contributor and The Atlantic’s Steve Clemons, and The Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson. Thomas will also interview Delaware Sen. Chris Coons about the Iran nuclear deal, author John Gibler and The Texas Tribune’s Julian Aguilar about El Chapo’s escape, and NAACP President Cornell Williams Brooks about President Obama’s NAACP speech.