Week In The News: 2016 Announcement Season, Shooting In Texas, Deflategate Blows Up

With guest host Anthony Brooks.

Terrorism and Muhammad cartoons. The GOP 2016 field widens. The Senate votes on Iran deal. Deflategate. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

A Federal court rules NSA phone surveillance illegal. Homegrown terror and deadly shootings in Texas. Hillary Clinton pledges executive action on immigration – as three more Republicans jump into the race for 2016. The new Attorney General launches a probe of Baltimore police. Twisters sweep through Tornado Alley. The Senate votes on the Iran nuclear deal. Across the ocean, a big win for the Conservatives, and a new princess for Britain. And Tom Brady takes a hit in Deflategate. This hour On Point: Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.
-- Anthony Brooks

James Pindell, political reporter for the Boston Globe. (@jamespindell)

Heidi Przbyla, political and Congressional reporter for Bloomberg News. (@heidiprzybyla)

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst. (@JackBeattyNPR)

New York Times: Shooting Clouds Life as Both Muslim and Texan — "Muslims in the Dallas area have worked hard to find their footing in the conservative Christian culture of the Texas suburbs, and the shooting on Sunday in Garland set off another vigorous effort to defend their faith and their American ideals, while also condemning extremism of any kind. Texas, and Dallas in particular, has been both welcoming to Muslims and accommodating of bigotry. Even as the numbers and economic clout of Muslims continue to grow — an estimated 200,000 now live in the Dallas area — they have faced a series of political and cultural challenges just in the past few months."

POLITICO: McConnell to push for pure PATRIOT Act extension — "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he intends to push for a straight extension of expiring PATRIOT Act provisions, setting up a clash with House leaders who prefer a bill that would end the National Security Agency’s bulk data collection program."

Bloomberg Politics: Trade Debate Gives Bernie Sanders a Chance to Put Hillary Clinton on the Hot Seat -- "Sanders's rhetoric on trade demonstrates how he poses a threat to Clinton even if he doesn't endanger her grip on the nomination. While labor groups fighting the trade legislation are likely to support Clinton as the eventual nominee, she could suffer from an enthusiasm gap if the labor and progressive communities aren't motivated to show up at the polls and turn out their followers."