In today's First Read Minute, NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss President Obama's foreign policy agenda ahead of his trip to the Middle East, the pushback following the Republican National Committee's post-election report, and the latest from South Carolina as voters head to the polls to fill former Rep. Tim Scott's congressional seat.

The 10-year anniversary of the Iraq war highlights how pivotal that war has been in American politics over the past decade. And Republicans are doing some introspection, releasing a report of what went wrong in 2012. But the report is mostly about packaging and not policies, NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro point out.

President Obama heads to Capitol Hill to meet with House Republicans, but perhaps too much is made of so-called "charm offensives." The structure and numbers of divided government are far more important. NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss.

The budget debate continues as President Obama heads to Capitol Hill this week to meet with lawmakers as House Republicans and Senate Democrats are expected to unveil their budgets.

President Obama's charm offensive continues as he heads to Capitol Hill for four meetings, potential Republican 2016 hopefuls take center stage in Miami and at CPAC, a big announcement in the Virginia governor's race, and Andy filibusters the Week Ahead. How long can he last?

NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro answer a variety of viewers' questions, including the issues most likely to be passed by lawmakers in Washington, the blessing and/or curse of speaking at CPAC, and if Republicans or Democrats will benefit from 2014 midterms.

This week we tried something different and answered several questions in one segment! Thanks to Feisty Readhead Roselle, IL, Yellowdog-Mark D, Steeler Fan-380417 and GOP Comeback 2014 for their questions!

A big thanks to everyone else who submitted questions-- keep them coming!

 

Edited by NBC's Natalie Cucchiara.

In interviews promoting his new book, former Florida governor Jeb Bush is not ruling out a 2016 bid and is adjusting his position on a pathway to citizenship.

Video edited by NBC's Ali Weinberg.

Republicans are set to punt the fiscal fight over a government shutdown to September. Both sides are out of gas and have come to a truce – for now – to avoid a government shutdown over the budget March 27, when the latest continuing resolution to fund the government expires. Mitt Romney emerged for an interview Sunday, and may have revealed why he had trouble winning in both of his presidential runs with just one line. NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss.

NBC's Domenico Montanaro previews the week ahead, including what the automatic budget cuts of the sequester mean and whether there's hope for compromise, Obama's pick for CIA head gets a vote, the L.A. mayor's race, and Papa Andy. 

With one day left until the sequester kicks in, NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro take a look at how we got to this point.