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  • Recommended: Immigration bill clears hurdle with 13-5 approval by Senate committee
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  • 4
    days
    ago

    VIDEO: The Week Ahead: The tax man cometh

    Obama tries to pivot from a trio of controversies, but the IRS scandal is sticking around. Work on immigration reform continues. L.A. gets a new mayor. Plus, Andy gets a summer job.

    198 comments

    The tax man is coming? Thanks, you guys have a restful weekend also.

    Show more
    Explore related topics: white-house, video, week-ahead, barack-obama, featured, first-read
  • 10
    May
    2013
    4:45pm, EDT

    VIDEO: The Week Ahead: Immigration, Syria, Cuccinelli officially nominated

    NBC's Domenico Montanaro looks at the week ahead in politics. The focus on Capitol Hill continues to be immigration, President Obama will be pushed on Syria by Turkey, and Ken Cuccinelli to be officially nominated as the Republican candidate to be the next governor of Virginia. 

    59 comments

    Hey, as I recall, this morning on First Thoughts, our good friend White Collar Auto suggested a drinking game today - down a shot every time one of us loony libs mentions the words "witch hunt" in a post. Well, since we here at the Dew Drop inn are well known for our alcoholic proclivities, in WCA's …

    Show more
    Explore related topics: white-house, capitol-hill, week-ahead, barack-obama, featured, first-read
  • 26
    Apr
    2013
    4:39pm, EDT

    The Week Ahead: Obama heads to Mexico, Costa Rica

    President Obama heads to Mexico, showdown in Massachusetts, the great debate in South Carolina, Biden, Cruz hit the trail?

    156 comments

    If it’s Sunday it’s … Meet John McCain

    Show more
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  • 12
    Apr
    2013
    5:09pm, EDT

    VIDEO: The Week Ahead: Guns, immigration take center stage

    Capitol Hill turns its attention to background checks and comprehensive immigration reform, NASCAR and football at the White House, and get those taxes in.
    Special thanks to guest henchmen Drew Fredrickson and Tim Cote

    218 comments

    My dear friend Independent Redneck, VA sometimes uses this space on Fridays to talk about heroes. This week he would have lots to choose from, starting with Army Chaplain Emil Kapaun, who was awarded the Medal of Honor this week, for his incredible sacrifice and bravery in the Korean War - 62 years  …

    Show more
    Explore related topics: capitol-hill, video, featured, first-read, week-ahead
  • 5
    Apr
    2013
    4:14pm, EDT

    VIDEO: The Week Ahead: Budgets and diplomacy

    NBC's Domenico Montanaro previews the week ahead in politics from the White House unveiling its budget to Congress being back in town to Secretary of State John Kerry's overseas trip.

    102 comments

    If a day in politics can feel like a lifetime, imagine how a full week like this one feels? lol Thanks to our fine hosts Mark & Domenico for providing us this little piece of real estate to play the favorite liberal pastime of "whack-a-troll"! I have visited many political blogs, but First Rea …

    Show more
    Explore related topics: white-house, barack-obama, video, featured, first-read, week-ahead
  • 29
    Mar
    2013
    2:49pm, EDT

    VIDEO: The Week Ahead: Sanford tries to complete political comeback

    NBC's Domenico Montanaro looks at the week ahead in politics. Ex-South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) is on the verge of a political comeback, favored to win a special election to the first congressional district in South Carolina. And an NBC poll on guns and the economy is released. 

    57 comments

    Sanford, the Argentine hiker, was one of Gingrich boys in the 1990s. He voted for the Clinton impeachment following the MonicaGate (Lewinsky scandal), declaring Clinton's behavior to be "reprehensible." Yeah, more right-wing hypocrisy. Sanford, take a hike. Appalachia has just called.

    Show more
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  • 22
    Mar
    2013
    4:46pm, EDT

    VIDEO: The Week Ahead: Goodbye Congress, hello Senate Madness

    President Obama returns from the Middle East, dissecting the GOP, if you like March Madness then you will love our Senate Madness and Andy is back from Rome.

    159 comments

    Dang! Is it that time already? Times flies around here like sands through an hourglass! lol Time to kick back and hoist a couple over at the Dew Drop Inn, we can laugh ourselves silly watching the "highlights" reels from the CPAC freak show! Thanks to our gracious hosts/moderators Mark & Domen …

    Show more
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  • 15
    Mar
    2013
    4:16pm, EDT

    VIDEO: Week Ahead: Look who's anchorman

    Conservatives meet  to hammer opponents and chart "new" course, the RNC autopsies their 2012 race, President Obama travels to the Middle East including Israel, and more fiscal fighting on Capitol Hill?

    100 comments

    Dang is it Friday already? Don’t time fly when you’re having fun? Looks like we’ve got the politics pretty well covered this week and I see that nobodies come to any permanent harm. Hope everybody takes the week end and rubs the bruises and scrapes a little and shows up bright and  …

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  • 1
    Mar
    2013
    4:09pm, EST

    VIDEO: The Week Ahead: Life after sequester

    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. 

    124 comments

    Well, the sequester is here, presumably to stay.

    Show more
    Explore related topics: capitol-hill, video, first-read, week-ahead
  • 22
    Feb
    2013
    4:41pm, EST

    VIDEO: The Week Ahead: The sequester's coming

    The sequester deadline, President Obama heads to Virginia to campaign against it, the NRA pushes back against background checks, Chuck Hagel likely confirmed as defense secretary, Michelle Obama's star-athlete-studded Let's Move! event, and the race to replace Jesse Jackson Jr.

    Video edited by NBC's Andy Gross and Domenico Montanaro.

    Special thanks once again to our special creative adviser Lazlo Ruggiero and lighting and prop whiz Drew Fredrickson.

    178 comments

    We have rolled out the red carpet tonight at the Dew Drop Inn for our annual Academy Award party! The nominees for Best Actor in a comedy go to; Marco Rubio in "The Waterboy" John McCain in "Grumpy Old Man" Ted Cruz in "Dr. StrangeLove" Mitt Romney in "Pretty Little Liar" And the Oscar goes to... Le …

    Show more
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  • Updated
    15
    Feb
    2013
    3:02pm, EST

    VIDEO: The Week Ahead: Hagel on hold

    NBC's Domenico Montanaro takes a look at what's happening next week, the Senate is off so Hagel is still on hold, President Obama heads to Florida for a mini-vacation and Andy's "Response" to the Week Ahead.

    This story was originally published on Fri Feb 15, 2013 3:02 PM EST

    247 comments

    Before we open the doors to the Dew Drop Inn this evening, I would like to post an open letter to our First Read Hosts; Many long time participants on FR are deeply concerned over rumors which having been flying fast & furious of late.

    Show more
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  • 8
    Feb
    2013
    4:37pm, EST

    VIDEO: The Week Ahead: State of the Union and a Hagel vote?

    President Obama delivers the State of the Union address, Marco Rubio responds, does Chuck Hagel have the votes?... and Andy's Jersey diet?

    128 comments

    Alright, Lets get the weekend party started. big shout out to all in the path of the winter storm. Just hunker down with your candles, food and favorite books. the lights might go out. Speaking of lights... did First Read have a power shortage today with only one thread? Maybe all the power is being …

    Show more
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Chuck Todd

Chuck Todd became NBC News’ political director in March 2007. He also serves as NBC News' on-air political analyst for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams," "Today," "Meet the Press and MSNBC, including "Hardball with Chris Matthews."

Mark Murray

Mark Murray is NBC News' Senior Political Editor. Since joining the network in 2003, he has reported on and written about political races, trends, and issues -- including the 2003 California recall, the 2004 Bush-Kerry presidential race, the 2006 midterm elections, the 2008 presidential contest, the 2010 midterms, and the 2012 presidential race.

Domenico Montanaro

Domenico Montanaro is NBC News' Deputy Political Editor. He writes, reports and edits for First Read, the network's political blog, provides editorial guidance for NBC's broadcast shows and online content, and appears on air. He has covered the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections for NBC and has reported from Capitol Hill.

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