OBAMA AGENDA: ISIS captures Ramadi
Breaking overnight: "Islamic State militants likely killed up to 500 people — both Iraqi civilians and soldiers — and forced 8,000 to flee from their homes as they captured the city of Ramadi, a provincial official said Monday, while the government-backed Shiite militias vowed to mount a counter-offensive and reclaim the Anbar provincial capital."
John Kerry, on the takeover: ""I am convinced that as the forces are redeployed and as the days flow in the weeks ahead that's going to change, as overall (they) have been driven back ... I am absolutely confident in the days ahead that will be reversed."
Happening today: "The federal government will no longer provide heavy military equipment like tanks and grenade launchers to local cops following weeks of backlash against officers who confronted protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, in armored vehicles and camouflage last year, President Barack Obama will announce Monday," NBC News writes. "And if they want other, less-imposing military equipment, local law enforcement agencies will have to submit to stringent federal oversight and restrictions, according to guidelines Obama will outline during a visit to discuss police reform in Camden, New Jersey, for years one of the most dangerous cities in America."
If you missed Sunday's Meet the Press, here's everything you need to know in less than two minutes.
CONGRESS: Congress waves white flag to authorize campaign against ISIS?
"A move to write new war powers to authorize the Obama administration's 9-month-old battle against Islamic State militants has stalled in Congress. It might even be dead," writes the AP.
POLITICO: "Top House Republicans believe the business community is blowing its chance to clinch a trade deal."
OFF TO THE RACES: Jeb on gay marriage, reforming the VA
The New York Times has a helpful interactive showing connections between past and present campaigns.
"With striking speed, the 2016 contenders are exploiting loopholes and regulatory gray areas to transform the way presidential campaigns are organized and paid for," writes the New York Times.
BUSH: He says it's "hard to fathom" a constitutional right to same sex marriage.
In a new post on Medium, Jeb Bush writes "Why We Must Reform the VA." MORE: "The VA bureaucracy has been reluctant to change and slow to implement reforms that passed in rare bipartisan fashion in 2014 that would bring more veterans choice and increased accountability to the process."
Perry Bacon Jr. writes from Iowa that Bush is planning to "campaign hard" in the caucus state.
CLINTON: The Washington Post reports on her leftward tack: "Her approach — outlined in interviews with aides and advisers — is a bet that social and demographic shifts mean that no left-leaning position Clinton takes now would be likely to hurt her in making her case to moderate and independent voters in the general election next year."
Writes the Wall Street Journal: "Labor unions are fighting hard to defeat legislation that would authorize sped-up consideration of a trade agreement being negotiated with 11 Pacific Rim nations. However, they are giving Mrs. Clinton the kind of breathing room they aren’t affording congressional Democrats or even the president."
From Friday night: The Clintons have made more than $25 million from speaking engagements since January 2014.
KASICH: CNN: “A source close to John Kasich said Sunday that the Ohio governor is "very likely" to run for president, but cautioned there would be nothing definitive for at least a few weeks.”
JINDAL: The Washington Examiner looks at whether Bobby Jindal can make a second first impression.
RUBIO: He said Sunday that the Iraq invasion was "not a mistake” based on the intelligence available at the time but struggled to give clear answers about what he believes about the war now.
PAUL: He won't commit to a filibuster of the Patriot Act extension.
WALKER: NBC’s Bacon also writes that some influential GOP activists in Iowa aren’t committing to Scott Walker’s candidacy yet as they kick the tires of some of his socially conservative rivals’ campaigns.
PROGRAMMING NOTES.
*** Monday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: Tamron Hall speaks with “Ethical hacker” Dave Chronister sbout the FBI saying a hacker commandeered plane, Nutritionist and NYU professor Lisa Young about a report that says The FDA is expected to ban all trans fats in a ruling this week, and Los Angeles Times Staff Writer covering TV and media Stephen Battaglio about the finale of Mad Men and David Letterman's last week of shows .
*** Monday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: NBC’s Luke Russert fills in for Andrea and will interview Fmr. Panetta Chief of Staff Jeremy Bash, the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza, the New York Times’ Jeremy Peters and NBC’s Kristen Welker, Bill Neely, Tom Costello and Jim Miklaszewski.