EmailThe 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’ JAYCE HENDERSON, KRISTEN RED-HORSE, CLAUDIA MORALES, CARRIE HALPERIN and VALENCIA WICKER
BOOKMARKS:
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NORTH KOREA/FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
The New York Times’ Mark Landler and Peter Baker: “In Release of Journalists, Both Clintons Had Key Roles” LINK
The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler: “North Korea Releases U.S. Journalists” LINK
The Washington Post’s Mary Beth Sheridan: “Leadership Vacancy Raises Fears About USAID’s Future” LINK
The Boston Globe’s Foon Rhee: “Clinton pulls off a Richardson-like mission” LINK
The New York Daily News’ Richard Sisk: “Bill Clinton on way home from North Korea with freed U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee” LINK
Times’ Tony Karon: “Can a Weakened Ahmadinejad Keep a Grip on His Second Term?” LINK
Times’ Aryn Baker: “Afghan Elections: The Man Who Would Beat Karzai” LINK
Bloomberg’s Indira A.R. Lakshmanan: “Clinton May Open Path for Talks by Giving Kim Turn in Spotlight” LINK
Bloomberg’s Indira A.R. Lakshmanan: “Senators, Advisers Urge Obama to More Than Double Afghan Forces” LINK
USA Today’s staff and wire reports: “Clinton, two journalists leave North Korea for U.S.” LINK
USA Today’s Ken Dilanian: “Korea trip may smooth relations” LINK
Newsweek’s Kwand-Tae Kim: “Clinton, 2 journalists depart NKorea for US” LINK
Newsweek’s Christopher Dickey: “Waiting for Maziar” LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ John M. Glionna and Paul Richter: “Bill Clinton brings back journalists” LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ Edmund Sanders: “Struggling to make it in Kenya” LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ Laura King: “Rare rocket attack in Afghan capital injures 2” LINK
ABC News’ Martha Raddatz and Joohee Cho: “Former President Clinton Headed Home from North Korea with Journalists” LINK
Politico’s Andy Blair: “Former president returns with U.S. journalists” LINK
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS:
The New York Times’ Mark Mazzetti and Thom Shanker: “Russian Patrolling Off East Coast of U.S.” LINK
The New York Times’ Sheryl Gay Stolberg: “Obama Setting Out to Put Brighter Face on Economy” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Ruth Simon: “Foreclosure Plan Is Off to a Bumpy Start” LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ Julian E. Barnes: “What’s on the Pentagon’s mind? Facebook” hLINK
The Washington Times’ Audrey Hudson: “Closing hospital splits New Orleans leaders” LINK
ABC News’ Russell Goldman: “’Birthers’ Mark President’s Birthday by Claiming He Was Born in Kenya” LINK
HEALTH CARE REFORM:
The New York Times’ Reed Abelson: “For Health Insurers’ Lobbyists, Good Will Is Tested” LINK
The New York Times’ Robert Pear and David Herszenhorn: “Obama Pushes Democrats for Unity on Health Plan” LINK
The Washington Post’s Ben Pershing: “Groups Take Health-Reform Debate to Airwaves” LINK
The Washington Post’s Ceci Connolly: “Obama returns to Grass Roots for Reform” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Janet Adamy and Elizabeth Williamson: “As Congress Goes on Break, Health Lobbying Heats Up” LINK
USA Today’s Steve Sternberg: “Homeland security chief: Flu will get jump on vaccine” LINK
The Hill’s Jeffrey Young: “Obama pressures Senate Dems to move healthcare” LINK
ABC News’ Jake Tapper: “Congressmen Get an Earful on Health Care Reform” LINK
ABC News’ Sunlen Miller: “Reid Confident on Health Care, Despite, “Loud, Shrill” Interruptions at Town Hall Meetings” LINK
Politico’s Carrie Budoff Brown: “White House launches attacks on attacks” LINK
ECONOMIC STIMULUS/ECONOMY:
The Wall Street Journal’s Christopher Conkey and Louise Radnofsky: “Stimulus Slow to Flow to Infrastructure” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Power and Rebecca Smith: “A123 Looks Set to Land U.S. Funds for Battery” LINK
USA Today’s Cash-for-Clunkers leaves car lots looking markedly empty” LINK
ABC News’ Matt Jaffe: “Throw Down: Geithner Blasts Government Regulations for Criticizing Administration’s Financial Reform Measures” LINK
Politico’s Carrie Budoff Brown: “Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell predict ‘clunkers’ passage” LINK
CASH FOR CLUNKERS:
The Wall Street Journal’s Henry J. Pulizzi and Josh Mitchell: “Reid Says Senate Will Extend ‘Clunkers’ This Week” LINK
Boston Herald editorial staff: “Cash, but for what?” LINK
Boston Herald Op-Ed by Jonah Goldberg: “In plain view, the folly of Cash for Clunkers” LINK
SUPREME COURT JUDGE NOMINEE, SONIA SOTOMAYOR:
The Washington Post’s Paul Kane and Perry Bacon Jr.: “GOP Senators Seem Unconcerned About Hispanic Backlash” LINK
USA Today’s Kathy Kiely: “Republican support for Sotomayor looks paltry” LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ James Oliphant and David G. Savage: “Senate begins floor debate on Sotomayor nomination” LINK
Politico’s Glenn Thrush: “Senate kicks off Sotomayor debate” LINK
GAY RIGHTS:
Politico’s Ben Smith: “More gay angst” LINK
ENVIRONMENT:
The New York Times’ Stephanie Strom: “Coal Group Is Linked to Fake Letters on Climate Bill” LINK
The Washington Times’ Stephen Dinan: “Report: Climate bill spells gloom for jobs” LINK
CONGRESS:
The Wall Street Journal’s Jake Sherman: “Specter Faces Democratic Primary Challenge” LINK
OTHER MUST-READS:
The Washington Post’s Sandhya Somashekhar: “Is Race for Governor More About Obama?” LINK
The Hill’s Reid Wilson: “Bush staffers’ run for election likely to test W’s legacy” LINK
ABC NEWS VIDEOS
“North Korea Pardons American Journalists” LINK
“Jake Tapper: Reform During Recess” LINK
“What Happens to the Clunkers?” LINK
“Stephanopoulos on Freed Journalists” LINK