The Note’s Must-Reads for Friday, June 26, 2009

The Note’s Must-Reads are a round-up of today’s political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News’ CARRIE HALPERIN, JAYCE HENDERSON, GEORGIA DAWKINS, VALENCIA WICKER AND MICHAEL MURRAY

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND HIS ADMINISTRATION:

New York Daily News’ Michael Saul: “Obama aide: President has Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s back” LINK

The Washington Post’s Alec MacGillis: “White House Says Transportation System Overhaul Must Wait” LINK

USA Today’s Philip Elliott: “Obama slow to uphold his pledge to gays” LINK

HEALTH CARE:

The Hill’s Jeffrey Young: “Unions demand public plan in healthcare bill” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Lisa Wangsness: “Prescription for America” LINK

ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT:

The Hill’s Jared Allen: “Last-minute vote push” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Jim Tankersley and James Oliphant: “House energy bill gains support” LINK

The Washington Times’ Tom Krisher: “Democrats in House push huge energy bill” LINK

Time Magazine’s Jay Newton-Small: “The Global Warming Bill’s Rough Ride Through Congress” LINK

Politico’s Lisa Lerer and Patrick O’Connor: “Dems scramble for climate votes” LINK

FOREIGN RELATIONS:

The Los Angeles Times’ Borzou Daragahi: “Mir-Hossein Mousavi slams Iran’s leaders” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Chris Kraul and Paul Richter: “U.S., Venezuela to restore full diplomatic ties” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Paul Richter: “U.S. giving weapons aid to Somalia government” LINK

The New York Times’ Steven Myers and Marc Santora: “Premier Casting U.S. Withdrawal as Iraq Victory” LINK

The Washington Post’s Thomas Erdbrink and William Branigin: “Ahmadinejad Demans Apology From Obama” LINK

Newsweek’s Rebecca Shabad: “Women in Protest” LINK

Newsweek Russia’s Leonid Ragozin: “BRIC Builders” LINK

Newsweek’s Lennox Samuels: “An Honor I do Not Claim” LINK

USA Today’s Aamer Madhani and Nedeem Majeed: “Bomb kills 69 in Baghdad’s Sadr City” LINK

ECONOMY:

ABC News’ Matthew Jaffe and Charles Herman: “Bernanke Denies Improperly Pressuring BofA Over Lynch Deal – Fed Chairman Says He Expressed Concerns but Did Not Threaten Bank of America” LINK

The Washington Times’ Tom Krisher: “GM plant retools for new compact” LINK

USA Today’s Brad Heath: “Despite ‘ramp up’ call, stimulus spending slows” LINK

USA Today’s Madlen Read and Tim Paradis: “Stocks jump, led by homebuilders, retailers” LINK

USA Today’s David J. Lynch: “Federal Reserve cuts back on credit auctions” LINK

GOVERNOR MARK SANFORD:

ABC News’ Huma Khan, Sarah Netter and Eric Noe: “Sanford Sex Scandal Grows: Did Governor Use Tax Money to Finance Affair? – Sanford’s Office Says Governor Paid for Last Week’s Trip Himself, Will Repay State for Previous Trip” LINK

Politico’s Kenneth P. Vogel: “Sanford had trade mission rendezvous” LINK

Politico’s Jonathan Martin: “Sanford saga adds to GOP woes” LINK

Time Magazine’s Tim Padgett: “Sanford’s Sex Scandal: Assessing the Damage” LINK

The New York Times’ Jim Rutenberg: “Governor Used State’s Money to Visit Lover” LINK

The Boston Globe’s David Beard: “From Argentina, news on Sanford and Maria” LINK

Supreme Court:

The New York Times’ Adam Liptak: “Supreme Court Says Child’s Rights Violated by Strip Search” LINK

The New York Times’ David Herszenhorn: “Court Nominee Criticized as Relying on Foreign Law” LINK

The New York Times’ Neil Lewis: “Old Confirmation Wars Fueling Some Critics Now” LINK

The New York Times’ Tamar Lewin: “Supreme Court Sides With Arizona in Language Case” LINK

USA Today’s Joan Biskupic: “Court says strip search violated girl’s rights” LINK

MICHAEL JACKSON:

Politico’s Patrick Gavin: “Jackson & DC: We almost knew ya” LINK

CONGRESS:

The Hill’s Mike Soraghan: “Tap on shoulder from Pelosi” LINK

The New York Times’ Jeff Zeleny and Ginger Thompson: “Republicans Focus on Guest Workers in Immigration Debate” LINK

The New York Times’ Robert Pear: “Senate Democrats Say Cost of Health-Care Bill Can Be Trimmed” LINK

The Washington Post’s Shailagh Murray and Lori Montgomery: “Agreement Reportedly Near on Health Bill” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Jo Williams: “Dem women in Senate push for Sotomayor; so does a liberal law group” LINK

The New York Times’ John Branston: “Memphis Mayor, in 5th Term, Resigning to Run for Congress” LINK

Other:

The New York Times’ Nicholas Confessore and Jeremy Peters: “Leaders Say Agreement Is Near to Unfreeze New York Senate” LINK

The Washington Post’s Ben Pershing: “Impeached Judge Offers Early Resignation” LINK

USA Today’s Andrea Stone: “Sanford to reimburse S.C. for trip” LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

“Al Sharpton: Jackson Was a Trailblazer” LINK