**President Obama
*AP has the details in advance of Obama's speech today: health care reform "cannot wait and that bringing down costs is the most important thing he can do to ensure the country's long-term fiscal health." He'll also say that the United States spends too much on health care and gets too little in return, and that the health industry is crushing businesses and families and is leading to millions of Americans losing coverage.

*The Times reports that Obama has privately been making the case for tort reform as part of a health care overhaul, saying it can help drive down costs. "It is a position that could hurt Mr. Obama with the left wing of his party and with trial lawyers who are major donors to Democratic campaigns. But one Democrat close to the president said Mr. Obama, who wants health legislation to have broad support, views addressing medical liability issues as a 'credibility builder' -- in effect, a bargaining chip that might keep doctors and, more important, Republicans, at the negotiating table."

*Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) says that he's confident Obama will support the idea of taxing health care benefits to pay for the plan. "It looks like he's looking at doing similar to what McCain wanted to do, and I think for the benefit of making this bipartisan, presidential leadership in this area would be very good based upon the tune of the last campaign," he said.

*In his weekly address, Obama outlined another $313 billion in spending cuts on health care. "Any honest accounting must prepare for the fact that health-care reform will require additional costs in the short term in order to reduce spending in the long-term," he said.

*Obama is going prime time again for his health care push. ABC will broadcast a town hall meeting, "Questions for the President: Prescription for America," on June 24.

*Washington Post looks at the "muted" reaction of the White House to developments in Iran. "The confused aftermath of Iran's presidential election is complicating the Obama administration's planned outreach to the Islamic republic and underscoring the challenges facing the president's new approach to the Middle East based on shared values and common interests. ... The cautious response illustrates the balance that the Obama administration is seeking between condemning what increasingly appears to be a fraudulent election and the likelihood that it will be dealing with Ahmadinejad after the dust settles."

*The Washington Times looks at a potential conflict of interest in Rep. John McHugh's appointment as Army secretary. "McHugh, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, requested that more than $40 million in 'earmarks' be inserted into a 2010 defense appropriations bill, including more than $8 million benefiting an Army base in his home state, according to records. His wish list also included $4.7 million for Lockheed Martin, one of the Army's largest contractors. ... Lockheed's employees and political action committee have been sources of political cash for Mr. McHugh."

*Have to love Italy: Berlusconi's visit to the White House "offers the Italian leader a chance to rehabilitate his international reputation after a scandal over his link to an 18-year-old model and ahead of a major summit he is hosting next month."

*"After enjoying months of towering poll numbers, legislative victories and well-received foreign policy initiatives, the White House has become increasingly concerned that President Obama's spending plans, which would require $9 trillion in government borrowing over the next decade, could become a political liability that defines the 2010 midterm elections," WaPo reports.

*One year ago today, Obama gave a Father's Day speech calling on black fathers to be more engaged in their kids' lives.

**Campaign Stuff
*AP: "TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's supreme leader ordered Monday an investigation into allegations of election fraud, marking a stunning turnaround by the country's most powerful figure and offering hope to opposition forces who have waged street clashes to protest the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."

*Gallup: "Thus far in 2009, 40% of Americans interviewed in national Gallup Poll surveys describe their political views as conservative, 35% as moderate, and 21% as liberal. This represents a slight increase for conservatism in the U.S. since 2008, returning it to a level last seen in 2004. The 21% calling themselves liberal is in line with findings throughout this decade, but is up from the 1990s."

*Politico looks at Democrats potentially challenging incumbents in Pennsylvania and New York despite the Obama administration's objections. "The two races illustrate the risks for Obama, or any president, in trying to play local kingmaker -- namely, the very real possibility that no matter how popular he is, he may not be able bend every contest to his wishes and that by trying to do so, he risks being defied by his own party." Sestak, on potentially challenging Specter: "I understand the very short-term, expedient desire to have the insurance of a 60th vote. [But] I believe in his heart of hearts, he really wants a real Democrat to win this race."

*The St. Pete Times says to expect a huge fundraising number by Gov. Charlie Crist (R-Fla.) when he releases totals for his Senate campaign. "Crist has been holding fundraisers at a furious clip lately, and is expected to have a money-raising reception virtually every day until the end of the month, in and out of Florida. The maximum contribution to a federal campaign is $2,400, but Crist in many cases is reeling in $4,800 donations -- $9,600 per couple -- with half the money set aside for the primary and half for the general election."

*AP: "Republicans are lining up behind a pointed political attack line: President Barack Obama is nationalizing American industry and socializing medicine. Drawing on the government's ownership stakes in auto giants, insurance companies and banks -- and the billions of tax dollars at risk -- the GOP is trying to develop wedge issues in the national debate over how to repair the economy and expand health insurance."

*"There has been much chatter about who now speaks for the Republican Party, and whether the GOP has a message or an agenda to combat President Obama's popularity. Those questions are important to the party's future, but the most serious problem remains the deeper demographic and political forces at work in the country," WaPo's Dan Balz writes.

*Utah Sen: "The Bennett name has long been political gold in Utah: His father, Wallace Bennett, served four terms in the Senate, and his grandfather served as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But his moderate-to-conservative voting record has generated considerable opposition on his right flank. In the past week alone, two GOP candidates -- activist Cherilyn Eager and businessman James Williams -- have announced plans to run against Bennett," Politico reports.

**Sports Alert: The Pittsburgh Penguins won it all Friday, and last night the Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship. Bryant finally won without Shaq, and took home that Finals MVP trophy the big man had hogged in their three-title run at the beginning of the decade.

--Kyle Trygstad and Mike Memoli