Biden meets with Democrats about Iran deal...More GOP criticism...Jade Helm begins

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden has been meeting on Capitol Hill with House Democrats to brief them on the Iran nuclear deal. He said he's there to "answer questions and explain what the deal is" -- and that he's "confident they'll like it when they understand it all." Some Democrats have been openly skeptical of the agreement.

WASHINGTON (AP) — There's more criticism today of the Iran nuclear deal from Republicans in Congress, and candidates for the GOP presidential nomination. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, tells CNN that the agreement reached in Vienna is worse than he feared because it will keep Iran's nuclear program in place. Donald Trump says the Iran nuclear deal is "a disgrace." The Republican presidential candidate tells MSNBC the U.S. "should have doubled up the sanctions" on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — More than half of the central committee of Greece's governing left-wing party has signed a statement slamming the agreement Greece reached with its European creditors earlier this week. The statement describes the deal as a coup against their nation by European leaders. Greece's parliament is expected to vote later today on the austerity bill required to get a new bailout package.

BASTROP, Texas (AP) — A summer military training exercise that has aroused alarm among archconservatives who believe it could be a precursor to martial law and firearms confiscations is set to begin today in Central Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledged that panic when he directed the Texas State Guard to monitor Jade Helm 15 starting today about 30 miles southeast of Austin. The State Guard will brief Abbott's office every day on the exercises. Civilian volunteers say they plan to shadow military movements statewide. Jade Helm 15 will cover seven Southwestern states and wraps up in September.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen sees a number of encouraging signs that the economy is reviving after a brutal winter. And in her mid-year economic outlook delivered to Congress, she says if the improvements stay on track, the Fed will likely start raising interest rates later this year. On Wall Street today, stocks are mostly lower as the market loses steam after a four-day winning streak.