Morning Must Reads: July 14

4 minute read

The U.S. and other international powers have reached a comprehensive nuclear agreement to roll back Iran’s nuclear program. In a statement early Tuesday morning, President Obama hailed it as “a comprehensive, long-term deal with Iran that will prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” adding, “this deal is not built on trust, it’s built on verification.” Iran agreed to allow international inspectors unprecedented access to its nuclear facilities in exchange for the end of economic sanctions and a draw-down in arms sanctions. If Iran violates the agreement, sanctions would “snap back” into place, Obama said. Critics, including Republicans and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, contend it does not go far enough in keeping the Iranian regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The deal now goes to Congress for review, with Obama pledging to veto any legislation that would undermine the agreement.

Democratic presidential aspirants, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been supportive of the draft nuclear deal, while Republicans have been using it as target practice on the campaign trail for months. All will criticize the deal now that it’s in hand, but a divide will emerge between those pledging to abrogate the agreement on their first day in office, or adopt a wait-and-see attitude, as suggested by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie last week.

Elsewhere in politics, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is kicking off his first full day of campaigning as an official candidate in Nevada, as he travels through the early states this week in reverse chronological order, culminating in a three-day Winnebago tour through Iowa this weekend. And combining business with campaigning, Donald Trump will open a new luxury vacation property in rural Virginia Tuesday morning.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Iran Nuclear Deal Is Reached After Long Negotiations
Obama pledges to veto Congressional efforts to overturn deal [New York Times]

Hillary Clinton’s New Mantra: It’s the Wages, Stupid
The most important chart in American politics is back, TIME’s Michael Scherer reports

Ted Cruz Picks a Winning Book Fight With New York Times
TIME’s Alex Altman on a battle over rankings that only helps the GOP presidential candidate

Obama Cuts Sentences of 46 Drug Offenders
Obama has now commuted more sentences than the last four presidents combined, as he continues criminal justice reform push [Wall Street Journal]

Scott Walker Speaks to Nation, Aims at Iowa
The GOP contender’s announcement offers a roadmap for his campaign plans [TIME]

Sound Off

“All that glitters is not gold. He may be tough on the border, on a lot of other immigration issues, but he’s not a conservative on these things.” — Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum on Donald Trump at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast on Monday

“Let him tell that to the nurse who stands on her feet all day or the teacher who is in that classroom or the trucker who drives all night.They don’t need a lecture, they need a raise.” — Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Jeb Bush’s comments that workers need to work “longer hours”

Bits and Bites

Lincoln Chaffee picks up his campaign’s gas and hotel bills [TIME]

Jeb Bush prays for peace in Sioux City [Des Moines Register]

Who Said It: Trump or Trumka? [TIME]

What to know about Hillary Clinton’s economic proposals [TIME]

Rick Santorum says Fox News, CNN drive polling in Republican race [TIME]

Scott Walker had a great starting position but not a great start [The Upshot]

Fiorina: Clinton “has blood on her hands” [Fox News]

GOP senators challenge Ted Cruz book claims [Politico]

Janet Yellen’s Fed flounders in political arena [Wall Street Journal]

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