OFF TO THE RACES: Sharpening the knives
The Des Moines Register offers takeaways from the JJ dinner, including this one: “It will be remembered as the moment Sanders sharpened the knives.”
BIDEN: The full video of his conversation with ’60 Minutes’ is here.
BUSH: George H.W. Bush is “bewildered” by the rise of Donald Trump, writes the New York Times.
CARSON: NBC’s Shaquille Brewster reports on Carson’s ‘Meet the Press’ appearance. “While the Republican candidate said he opposes abortions for unwanted pregnancies and in cases of rape and incest, the retired neurosurgeon told moderator Chuck Todd he might be open to allowing abortions to preserve the life and health of the mother. "That's an extraordinarily rare situation," Carson said. "But if in that very rare situation it occurred, I believe there's room to discuss that.’”
FIORINA: The New York Times does a deep dive on her record at H-P: “Those who worked with her described an exhilarating, blunt, self-punishing figure who stayed in the office until 1 a.m. (and expected aides to do the same) — a boss who could be warm, even nurturing, but who could abruptly turn cold and unforgiving.”
KASICH: He’s taking aim at Trump for claiming that he’s responsible for bringing Ford facilities from Mexico back to Ohio.
O’MALLEY: A new strategy memo from O’Malley adviser Bill Hyers outlines the next stage of the race for the former Maryland governor, which will center on his ability to enact progressive reforms and his stance against special interests.
RUBIO: Here’s the Washington Post’s story on Rubio’s frustration with the Senate: “Rubio must convince voters that his decision to leave the Senate — giving up the power he already has — is actually a mark of character, a sign that he is too dedicated to public service to stay.”
Buzzfeed notes that his top political advisers are used to fighting in the trenches.
SANDERS: He has hired former Howard Dean pollster Ben Tulchin.
TRUMP: NBC’s Benjy Sarlin reports that Trump is not taking Ben Carson’s surge well.
And around the country…
LOUISIANA: David Vitter has eked out a spot in the November gubernatorial primary.
CONGRESS: Prepping for Paul Ryan
The Washington Post reports that some conservative constituents are turning on the House Freedom Caucus after their support of Paul Ryan.
Ryan has selected a chief of staff, too.
Writes POLITICO: “The expected ascension of Rep. Paul Ryan to House speaker offers the GOP a fresh start after flailing attempts at coordination and bombs thrown all year long between the two chambers under Republican control. Ryan is said to be much more comfortable with setting expectations about what the Senate can realistically accomplish than was House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who annoyed the Senate GOP with suggestions that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell change Senate rules to make it easier to overrun Democrats.
PROGRAMMING NOTES.
*** Monday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: Today on MSNBC Live with Tamron Hall, Tamron speaks with both GOP Strategist Rich Galen and The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank about the latest political headlines; NBC’s Wajahat Khan about the earthquake in Afghanistan; American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten about testing limits in schools; and Kentucky couple April Miller and Karen Roberts – who were denied a marriage license by Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis – about their wedding this past weekend.
*** Monday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: NBC’s Andrea Mitchell interviews former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, Patricia Smith - the mother of Sean Smith who was killed in the 2012 Benghazi attack, the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza, USA Today’s Susan Page, and NBC’s Katy Tur and Kristen Welker