The Note’s Must-Reads for Thursday, July 23, 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, KRISTEN RED-HORSE, JAYCE HENDERSON, CLAUDIA MORALES, GEORGIA DAWKINS AND VALENCIA WICKER

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PRESIDENT OBAMA AND ADMINISTRATION:

Politico’s Ben Smith: “At big moment, President Obama goes small” LINK

Politico’s Roger Simon: “Obama: Things stink” LINK

Politico’s Chris Frates: “Obama’s new term: ‘Insurance reform’” LINK

Politico’s Ben Smith: “Obama: Cambridge police acted ‘stupidly’” LINK

Newsweek’s Holly Bailey: “TV guide: Viewers prefer regular shows to Obama” <a LINK

USA Today’s Jeannine Aversa: “Bernanke back on Capitol Hill and hot seat” LINK

Time Magazine’s Karen Tumulty: “Obama Sticks to Health-Care Deadline, But Congress Seems Sure to Miss It” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Damian Paletta: “Obama Proposes New Transaction Fees for Financial Firms' Riskiest Investments” LINK

Bloomberg’s Alison Vekshin: “Obama’s Fed Risk Regulator Plan Fades as Lawmakers Back Council” LINK

Bloomberg’s Heidi Przybyla: “Obama Approval 49% Among U.S. Investors, 87% Overseas” LINK

PROFESSOR HENRY LOUIS GATES JR.:

Bloomberg’s Edwin Chen: “Obama Says Police ‘Acted Stupidly’ in Arresting Harvard’s Gates” LINK

New York Daily News’ Richard Sisk: “Obama says police acted 'stupidly' in arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.” LINK

The New York Times’ Helene Cooper: “Obama Criticizes Arrest of Harvard Professor” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Foon Rhee: “Obama: Cambridge police acted stupidly in Gates arrest” LINK

The Boston Heralds' Laurel J. Sweet, Marie Szaniszlo, Laura Crimaldi, Jessica Van Sack & Joe Dwinell: “Officer in Henry Gates flap tried to save Reggie Lewis Denies he’s a racist, won’t apologize” LINK

HEALTH CARE:

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl, Z. Byron Wolf and Huma Khan: “Obama’s Health Care Push Facing a Stall” LINK

ABC News’ Jake Tappe and Z. Byron Wolf: “Leading Blue Dog Democrat: Pelosi Does Not Have the Votes for Health Care Reform” LINK

Politico’s Josh Gerstein: “President Obama backs millionaire’s tax” LINK

Politico’s Glenn Thrush: “Minny Dems blast Obama on Medicaid” LINK

Politico’s Josh Gerstein: “President Obama pitches to insured Americans” LINK

The Hill's Sam Youngman: “Obama: 'The stars are aligned' for healthcare now” <a LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Laura Meckler, Greg Hitt and Jonathan Weisman: “Obama Backs Health Surtax” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Greg Hitt: “Democrats Spar Over Medicare” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s John D. Mckinnon: “Another Way to Tax 'Gold-Plated' Plans” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Vanessa Fuhrmans: “Replicating Cleveland Clinic's Success Poses Major Challenges” LINK

Boston Herald Editorial by Dale McFeatters: “Health reform facing a do-or-die scenario” LINK

ECONOMY:

ABC News’ Matthew Jaffe: “Fed Chief: Govt. Averted Risk of Great Depression Repeat” LINK

The Hill's Molly K. Hooper: “GOP tries to steal initiative on economy from the Dems” LINK

The Hill's Silla Brush: “GOP to propose alternative financial overhaul” LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Peter Nicholas, Christi Parsons and Noam N. Levey: “Obama strives to personalize healthcare debate for Americans" LINK

USA Today’s Jillian Berman: “Museums’ funding sources going bone dry” LINK

JUDGE SONIA SOTOMAYOR:

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl: “Graham to Vote ‘Yes’ on Sotomayor” LINK

CONGRESS:

The New York Times’ Bernie Becker and David Herszenhorn: “Gun Rights Expansion Fails in Senate” LINK

The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank: “Gun-Shy” LINK

The Washington Post’s Carol Leonig: “Murtha, 12 Colleagues Back a Murky $160 Million Request” LINK

Politico’s John Bresnahan and Manu Raju: “Report: John Ensign losing chief of staff” LINK

The Washington Post’s Brady Dennis: Vote on Consumer Agency Delayed” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Gary Fields: “GOP Bid to Expand Gun Rights Fails in Senate” LINK

HEALTH CARE REFORM:

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl, Z. Byron Wolf and Huma Khan: “Obama’s Health Care Push Facing a Stall” LINK

ABC News’ Jake Tappe and Z. Byron Wolf: “Leading Blue Dog Democrat: Pelosi Does Not Have the Votes for Health Care Reform” LINK

Politico’s Josh Gerstein: “President Obama backs millionaire’s tax” LINK

Politico’s Glenn Thrush: “Minny Dems blast Obama on Medicaid” <a LINK

USA Today’s Mimi Hall and Susan Page: “Obama on health bill: ‘This has to get done’ LINK

USA Today’s Liz Szabo: “FDA considers ways to short-circuit electronic cigarettes” LINK

Newsweek’s Katie Connolly: “Tom Daschle on Health-Care Reform: Keep the Pressure on” LINK

The New York Times’ Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Jeff Zeleny: “Obama Moves to Reclaim the Debate on Health Care” LINK

The New York Times’ David Herszenhorn and Robert Pear: “Concerns on Plan Show Clashing Goals” LINK

The New York Times’ Robert Pear and Peter Baker: “Experts Dispute Some Points in Health Talk” LINK

The Washington Post’s Michael Fletcher: “Obama’s Toughest Sales Pitch Is Also His Most Critical” LINK

The Washington Post’s Ceci Connolly and Michael D. Shear: “Obama Seeks to Calm Fears on Health Reform” LINK

The Washington Post’s Dan Eggen: “White House Discloses Meetings With Health Care Executives” LINK

The Washington Post’s Dan Eggen and Rob Stein: “Abortion Opponents Criticize Health Reform Bills” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Foon Rhee: “Obama makes his case” LINK

FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

The Los Angeles Times' Borzou Daragahi: “Iran opposition leader plans large-scale social movement" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Edmund Sanders: “A split ruling in Sudan's north-south border dispute" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Paul Richter: “U.S. may put up 'defense umbrella' over Mideast" LINK

USA Today’s Bradley S. Klapper: “Report: U.S. wins WTO films, music case us. China” LINK

USA Today’s Chris Hawley: “Mexico’s airline groundings spark protests” LINK

USA Today’s Chris Hawley: “Safety violations ground Mexican airlines” LINK

Newsweek’s Larry Kaplow: “Maliki’s fine Line” <a LINK

The New York Times’ Jeff Zeleny: “Iraq Premier and Obama Emphasize the Positive” LINK

The Washington Post’s Joshua Partlow: “Pakistan Seeks More U.S. Military Aid” LINK

The Washington Post’s Karen DeYoung: “Obama Calls on Iraq to Foster National Unity” LINK

The New York Times’ Mark Landler and David Sanger: “Clinton Speaks of Shielding Mideast From Iran” LINK

GUANTANAMO:

The Washington Post’s Colum Lynch: “U.S. Rebuffs U.N. requests for Guantanamo Visits, Data on CIA Prisons” LINK

TEXAS SHOOTING:

The AP's Juan Lozano: “6 shot in drive-by at Texas university" LINK

OTHER MUST-READS:

USA Today’s Marisol Bello and Kevin Johnson: “Racial profiling debate not over” LINK

USA Today’s Kevin Johnson: “Report wants life without parole abolished” LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

“Pelosi vs. Boehner on Health Care” LINK

“Obama Reaffirms Commitment to Troop Withdrawal” LINK

“Schwarzenegger Slashes Health Care” LINK

“Jake Tapper on Obama's Big Speech” LINK

“Uproar Over Ca. Gov's Twitter Video” LINK