Morning Must Reads: July 2

By Zeke Miller

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s emails offer an intimate portrait of her interactions with her inner circle of friends and advisors. The roughly 3,000 messages released late Tuesday show the ordinary and unusual ways in which a high-profile figure cultivates relationships in government. Clinton’s campaign announced a roughly $45 million haul since launching in April, a record sum for a presidential campaign at this stage, surpassing even President Obama’s re-election haul. But with super PAC fundraising factored in, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is expected to emerge atop the money pile when his groups announce their finances. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is in the midst of a five-day New Hampshire swing after his announcement, told reporters Wednesday he does not believe government officials should receive exemptions from issuing same-sex marriage licenses if they have objections. Sen. Lindsey Graham has a enlightens us about what he’ll do with his friend Sen. John McCain if he wins the White House. And Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is drawing ever larger crowds on the stump and has risen in the polls in Iowa, but he’s still not a threat to Clinton’s dominance.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Emails Offer Glimpse Into Hillary Clinton’s Private Side
Buried in more than 3,000 messages are hints at what Clinton is like with closest friends, TIME’s Philip Elliott and Sam Frizell report

As Donald Trump Surges in Polls, Democrats Cheer
The reality television host’s presidential bid is making Democrats giddy [Washington Post]

Scott Walker’s Hard Right Turn in Iowa May Hurt Him Elsewhere
He needs to win Iowa, but at what cost? [New York Times]

Hillary Clinton’s Missing $200 Million Man
No sign of the former president on the fundraising circuit [Politico]

Obama Announces Renewed Diplomatic Ties With Cuba
Calls on Congress to lift embargo [Wall Street Journal]

Christie Opposes Exemptions for Clerks Who Object to Same-Sex Marriage
Breaking with many of his party’s social conservatives on response to Supreme Court ruling [TIME]

Sound Off

“I just admire John. He’d be like the uncle you put in the basement. I’d put him in the basement of the White House — call him when I needed him.” — Sen. Lindsey Graham to MSNBC on what he’d do with his friend Sen. John McCain if he won the White House

“I think there is a great deal of hypocrisy, particularly among other candidates who say, oh well, they smoked pot in high school. They didn’t get punished, but they still want to punish people, even for medical marijuana. I think the media needs to ask some of these people, ‘Are you really going to put grandma in jail for taking medical marijuana for her multiple sclerosis?'” — Sen. Rand Paul in Iowa on Thursday. Meantime, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told reporters he’s never used marijuana. “Never have, was not my thing.”

Bits and Bites

Bernie Sanders catching steam in Iowa [TIME]

President Obama sang the Davy Crockett theme song at an event [TIME]

Hillary Clinton, loudly and proudly, taps into a vein of support among gay voters [New York Times]

Hillary Clinton on track to raise record $45 million in first quarter [TIME]

Marco Rubio increases ad buys to $7 million in early voting states [New York Times]

Obama will badger Scott Walker in Wisconsin [Politico]

Bernie Sanders draws big crowd to Wisconsin rally [Wall Street Journal]

Maine’s Tea Party governor endorses Chris Christie [TIME]