The Note’s Must-Reads for Thursday, July 16, 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, CLAUDIA MORALES, GEORGIA DAWKINS, VALENCIA WICKER, AND KRISTEN RED-HORSE

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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:

The Hill’s Sam Youngman: “Job worries for Obama at NAACP” LINK

The Washington Post’s Shailagh Murray: “Obama Eyes The Purse Strings for Medicare” LINK

The Washington Post’s Karen DeYoung: “Administration Bridles at Bar on Contractors” LINK

ECONOMY:

The Hill’s Jared Allen: “Freshman Dems seeking action on the rising deficit” LINK

The Hill’s Walter Alarkon and Kiera McCaffrey: “Fed officials see higher unemployment” LINK

The Washington Times’ Patrice Hill: “Paulson takes blame for BofA-Merrill deal” LINK

USA Today’s Paul Davidson: “Fed: Unemployment will top 10 %, but economy looks stronger” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Bob Davis and Greg Hitt: “U.S. in Tight Spot on Trade” LINK

Bloomberg’s Mark Drajem: “Obama ‘Going to Bat’ for Unions on Labor Rights, Kirk Says” <a href=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=awVWjWGPk3C8
The Wall Street Journal’s John D. Mckinnon and Corey Boles: “Panel Set For Probe Into Crisis” LINK

ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT:

The Los Angeles Times’ David Pierson and Jim Tankersley: “U.S., China try to reach accord on reducing greenhouse gas emissions” LINK

Politico’s Kathryn McGarr: “U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants gasoline tax hike” LINK

The New York Times’ Felicity Barringer: “With Push Toward Renewable Energy, California Sets Pace for Solar Power” LINK

SUPREME COURT NOMINEE SONIA SOTOMAYOR:

ABC News’ Ariane De Vogue and Theresa Cook: “Sotomayor Grilled on Abortion, Gun Rights” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ David G. Savage and James Oliphant: “Sotomayor is grilled on abortion and gun rights” LINK

Politico’s Josh Gerstein: “How Sotomayor defended herself” LINK

New York Daily News’ James Gordon Meek: “Al Franken cracks up panel as he grills Sonia Sotomayor at Senate hearings” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Naftali Bendavid: “Supreme Strategy: Stick to the Script” LINK

Bloomberg’s Greg Stohr and William McQuillen: “Sotomayor Hits Pro-Business Note as Senate Testimony Nears End” LINK

Bloomberg Commentary by Margaret Carlson: “Clinton and Sotomayor Endure Man-Made Perils” LINK

The New York Times’ Peter Baker and Charlie Savage: “Post-Sotomayor Nominations Are at Stake in Hearings” LINK

The Washington Post’s Amy Goldstein, Paul Kane and Robert Barnes: “Sotomayor Avoids Pointed Queries” LINK

The Washington Post’s Robert Barnes: “Republicans Unable to Pin Her Down” LINK

INTELLIGENCE:

The Los Angeles Times’ Greg Miller: “CIA was a long way from Jason Bourne” LINK

Time Magazine’s Bobby Ghosh: “Should Panetta Have Disclosed the CIA Secret Program?” LINK

The Washington Post’s Joby Warrick: “CIA Assassin Program Was Nearing New Phase” LINK

HEALTH CARE:

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl and Z. Byron Wolf: “Senate Panel Approves a Health Care Bill, But Will it Pass?” LINK

ABC News’ Kate Barrett: “Obama Calls for Swift Action Health Care” LINK

Politico’s Carrie Budoff Brow and Patrick O’Connor: “Obama plays waiting game on health bill” LINK

Politico’s David Rogers: “W.H. rolls out Medicare agency plan” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Laura Meckler: “Democrats Turn Up the Heat on Insurance Industry” LINK

The Washington Post’s Ceci Connolly and Lori Montgomery: “Senate Panel Advances Health-Care Overhaul” LINK

CONGRESS:

The Los Angeles Times’ Noam N. Levey and Peter Nicholas: “Senate panel approves healthcare overhaul bill” LINK

USA Today’s John Fritze: “Senate committee passes health care overhaul” LINK

Politico’s Chris Frates: “Dems threaten insurers with new fees” LINK

FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

The Washington Times’ Sara A. Carter and James Palmer: “EXCLUSIVE: Taliban uses Afghan fear to fight surge” LINK

SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON:

The New York Times’ Mark Landler: “For Clinton, ’09 Campaign Is for Her Turf” LINK

The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler: “Clinton: U.S. Urges Multi-Partner World” LINK

OTHER MUST-READS:

USA Today’s Wendy’s Koch: “Car-share programs turn to more alternative-fuel options” LINK

USA Today’s Haya El Nassar: “Suburbs get urban makeover” LINK

USA Today’s Ken Dilanian: “U.S. studies Afghan health successes” LINK

Politico’s John Bresnahan: “Rangel paid lawyers $928k in last year” LINK

Time Magazine’s Jeffrey Kluger: “The 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Foon Rhee: “Kerry keeps after Palin” LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

“Obama on Heath Reform: No Draconian Measures” LINK

“Franken: In Perry Mason, the Prosecutor Never Won” LINK

“Elusive Sotomayor Dodges Probing Senators” LINK

“Coburn Drills Sotomayor on Right to Self-Defense” LINK

“Clinton: Window to Iran Not Open ‘Indefinitely’” LINK

“Obama Heralds Senate Health Care Bill” LINK

“GOP Sounds Off on ‘Liberal’ Health Bill” LINK