Why the New Benghazi Reports Matter

If you only read one thing: House Democrats and Republicans released dueling reporters into the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound and CIA annex in Benghazi, which killed four, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens. The attacks, carried out just weeks before that year’s presidential election, were politicized almost immediately by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, at the time drawing condemnation from some GOP foreign policy experts. But in the years since it has become a potent symbol of a hyper-politicized Washington on both sides of the aisle, with Democrats reflexively defending Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Republicans outright misrepresenting information to present them in a negative light. The final reports offer some new details about the run-up and immediate aftermath of the attack, but reveal that on the night of the attack, little could have been done differently that would have changed the outcome. Expect it to remain a political wedge this fall—a sobering reminder that even the deaths of four Americans can be made into political hay.

Donald Trump is set to deliver a policy speech on the U.S. and global trade Tuesday, just days after the U.K.’s vote to leave the E.U. roiled the financial markets and kickstarted a reversal of decades of efforts to further intertwine nations. Yet Trump finds himself squeezed, as free trade has been a central tenet of the GOP platform for generations. And while Trump claims to be in favor of free trade, his policies show otherwise. Trump, who is on record opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, NAFTA, and a several other trade deals, has advocated using trade policy as a lever in other disputes—including the use of tariffs to punish outsourcing.

Hillary Clinton joined with Elizabeth Warren Monday where the Massachusetts lawmaker stole the show with a blistering critique of Trump’s personality and policies. But while it may be an appealing ticket to some, don’t go betting on it. The liberal Senator would be a tough selection for Clinton, who is already facing trouble in some swing states for having shifted her policies leftward during her unexpectedly long primary with Bernie Sanders.

The Supreme Court struck down a restrictive abortion law in Texas. Clinton is winning the surrogate battle. And Trump is set to visit coal country Tuesday.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Why Hillary Clinton Remains Unlikely to Pick Elizabeth Warren for Veep

TIME’s Philip Elliott on the tantalizing, but long-shot Democratic ticket

The Benghazi Circus Is Still In Town

A two year investigation concludes, but confusion abounds TIME’s Mark Thompson writes

Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision Reverberates in Presidential Campaign

In overturning restrictive Texas law, Court gives both parties something to rally their supporters around [New York Times]

Final Benghazi report details administration failures

The findings offer new details, but are unlikely to change the political dynamic around the attacks [Politico]

Sound Off

“She made up her heritage, which I think is racist. I think she’s a racist, actually because what she did was very racist” —Donald Trump to NBC on Sen. Elizabeth Warren after she delivered a blistering criticism of him with Hillary Clinton Monday.

“A small, insecure money grubber who fights for no one but himself” —Warren on Trump at Monday’s rally with Clinton.

Bits and Bites

Millennials Backed Bernie Sanders. Here’s How Hillary Clinton Plans to Win Them Over [TIME]

Donald Trump Heads for Coal Industry Fundraiser in West Virginia [TIME]

Another 165 Pages of Hillary Clinton’s Emails Released [Associated Press]

Hillary Clinton Is Beating Donald Trump in Early Surrogate Battle [TIME]

The heroin epidemic was once mostly immune from politics. Not anymore. [Washington Post]

Trump Hires Senior Adviser for Communications [Bloomberg]

Democrats on Benghazi committee: Panel ‘squandered millions of taxpayer dollars’ [Washington Post]

Supreme Court Vacates Ex-Virginia Governor’s Graft Conviction [New York Times]