What Bernie Sanders Achieved

If you only read one thing: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will try to present a unified front Tuesday as he formally endorses her after their long and sometimes bitter primary. While Clinton effectively locked up the nomination months ago, Sanders’ refusal to step aside and continued pressure on Clinton from the left has had a clear impact on the presumptive Democratic nominee. The party’s platform is the most progressive ever, while Clinton has set aside her pragmatic agenda to embrace a pie-in-the-sky Sanders proposal that launched him into serious contention and made him a darling of Democratic youth: free college. There is little love lost between the two Democrats, and Sanders has expressed a desire to keep pulling Clinton to the left, even after he formally quits the race. Sanders’ legacy within the Democratic party will be felt for a long time—though it remains to be seen how long. As Clinton prepares to roll out her vice presidential selection and formally accept the nomination in Philadelphia later this month, it remains to be seen whether the progressive turn will hurt her with the independents she needs to win in November.

The Republican Party platform took a rightward turn Monday, as it reaffirmed its opposition to same-sex marriage and toughened language off an initial draft on same-sex couples. Social conservatives also secured an endorsement for parents’ rights to put their children through controversial conversion “therapy.” Meanwhile, party leaders were able to scale back language that would have explicitly called for legislation along the lines of North Carolina’s HB2—the bathroom bill—but maintains a protest against the Obama administration’s efforts to use Title IX to force schools to allow students to use the restrooms conforming with how they identify.

President Obama will travel to Dallas Tuesday to pay his respect and assist in the healing process following last week’s killing of five police officers. He will be joined by Vice President Joe Biden, former President George W. Bush, and congressional leaders in a show of unity in the city. But Dallas isn’t so sure Obama can bring the city together, TIME’s Jay Newton-Small reports.

Donald Trump’s old praise for Clinton comes back to bite him. The Democratic hopes of retaking the Senate gets a big boost. And RNC Chairman Reince Priebus says he doesn’t know who Trump will pick as his running-mate.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

GOP Platform Includes Anti-Porn Provision, Embrace of ‘Conversion Therapy’
But delegates roll back transgender bathroom provision [TIME]

Dallas Doubtful That President Obama Can Bridge Its Divide
TIME’s Jay Newton-Small previews the president’s attendance at the memorial service in Dallas

Radio Archive: What Donald Trump Said About Hillary Clinton, Tattoos, Guns, More
“I know her and she’d make a good president or a good vice president,” Trump said in 2008 [Wall Street Journal]

Democrats Score Recruiting Victory by Luring Evan Bayh Out of Retirement
Hopes of retaking Senate rise [Washington Post]

Bernie Sanders Won by Waiting to Endorse Hillary Clinton
TIME’s Sam Frizell on Sanders’ influence

Sound Off

“Conservatism is temporarily dead. I mean, if you look at it, we have two candidates. Donald Trump is barely a Republican. He’s certainly not a conservative.” — Jeb Bush in an interview with his former press secretary on MSNBC

“No. I haven’t heard who it’s going to be, but I have a pretty good idea of what the field looks like. I think there’s always an element of surprise that could come out of nowhere and shock people.” — RNC Chairman Reince Priebus to TIME on Donald Trump’s vice presidential selection

Bits and Bites

U.S. Boosting Troops in Iraq to Help Retake Mosul and Raqqa [TIME]

Christie Met With Trump Vetting Adviser Sources Say [NBC]

Donald Trump Outlines Plan to Reform Veterans Affairs [TIME]

After Outbreaks of Violence, Donald Trump Strains to Project Leadership [New York Times]

Finally, Clinton and Sanders enter a political marriage. Will it work? [Washington Post]

Paul Ryan Has Tricky Role of Unifier at Trump’s Unconventional GOP Convention [Wall Street Journal]

Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal: I would decline ‘any role’ with Donald Trump [CNN]

Trump and Christie join forces to attack Obama, Clinton [Reuters]

Will RNC Delegates Flip-Flop on Trade? [Wall Street Journal]