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The Week in 2016: What Mattered (And What Didn't)

Here's a look back making sense of the developments and events that we think mattered – and those that didn't.
Image: U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona July 11, 2015. REUTERS/Nancy WiechecNANCY WIECHEC / Reuters

In today's rapid-fire political news cycle, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the different news out there. So here's a look back at the past week in the 2016 presidential contest, making sense of the developments and events that we think mattered -- and those that didn't.

What Mattered

1.The Iran Deal: With this week’s concluded nuke deal now headed for congressional review, it likely becomes the top political issue in DC over the next two months -- as well as on the 2016 campaign trail. And with the ’16 Dems on one side of the issue and the GOPers on the other, it will undoubtedly be a key general-election topic.

2.The Donald Shrinks The GOP Field: Yes, Donald Trump’s poll numbers will come back down to earth. But right now, the intense focus on him has shrunk the 17-candidate Republican presidential field. And in the short run, that benefits Jeb Bush. Raise your hand if you remember that Scott Walker announced his presidential bid on Monday?

3.Super PACs And Outside Groups Dominate The Fundraising Landscape: We found out the numbers this week -- the presidential candidates and outside groups supporting them have raised $385 million. But the Super PACs and outside groups make up two-thirds of this total ($254 million). And in the GOP race, outside money represents four of every five fundraising dollars ($229 million out of $295 million). This will produce intended and unintended consequences in the ’16 race.

4.Planned Parenthood Has a Political Fight on Its Hands: The undercover video of a Planned Parenthood official purportedly discussing the sale of aborted fetus parts is edited, a year old, and misleading. (Per Roll Call, it also might be a coordinated political effort.) But with Congress now getting involved, has the right found a way to ACORN-ize Planned Parenthood, which is a big political player for Democrats?

What Didn’t Matter As Much

1. Hillary’s Burn Rate: Those who are surprised that Hillary Clinton’s campaign spent nearly $19 million in the last quarter -- even a million-plus on polling -- didn’t pay much attention to how Obama’s re-election effort built that 2012 campaign. If you’re building something big, you’ve got to spend to build it. The key, of course, is what you’re spending the money on.

2.Trump: I’m Worth $10 Billion: It’s one thing for Trump to declare in a press release his financial-disclosure statement reveals him to be worth $10 billion. It’s another for the actual disclosure documents (which the public still hasn’t seen) to show that.