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' Jayce Henderson, Amanda VanAllen, Will Cantine and Carrie Halperin

DEBT CEILING ABC News' Mary Bruce: " Reid: No Negotiations Until Shutdown Ends" Emerging from a White House meeting with President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he is not willing to negotiate with House Republicans until they agree to pass a clean spending bill to reopen the government, despite their offer to pass a short-term extension of the debt limit. "Not going to happen," Reid told reporters, when asked if he would engage in negotiations while the government remains shut down. LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Janet Hook and Patrick O'Connor: " Obama, GOP Open Talks Over Temporary Debt Fix" President Barack Obama and House Republicans began discussions Thursday on a GOP proposal to extend the nation's borrowing authority for six weeks, marking a new opening in the budget stalemate that risks a U.S. debt crisis. At a White House meeting of the president and top House Republicans, Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) offered the proposal to extend U.S. borrowing authority in exchange for an agreement from Mr. Obama to negotiate on a broad range of budget issues. LINK

ABC News' Abby D. Phillip: " After 'Productive' Meeting, No WH Decision On GOP Debt Limit Plan" President Obama and House Republican leaders both called meetings at the White House productive today and pledged to continue talking through the night. It is a positive development in negotiations between the two parties over how to end the government shutdown, which has so far lasted 10 days, and whether to raise the country's debt limit before the Oct. 17 deadline. LINK

The USA Today's Susan Davis and David Jackson: " Obama, Republicans Engage Talks On Debt And Spending" A late Thursday meeting between President Obama and congressional Republicans showed the first sign of progress towards ending the government shutdown and averting the first-ever U.S. default. No deal was secured, but both the president and top Republicans said they instructed aides to continue talks to find common ground. "The president didn't say yes, didn't say no. We're continuing to negotiate this evening," said House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who attended the meeting. Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., characterized the meeting as "useful" and said negotiations were continuing. LINK

The Washington Post's Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane: " Obama, Republicans In Debt Talks On Two Fronts" President Obama opened talks with House Republicans on Thursday about their plan to lift the federal debt limit through late November, raising hopes that Washington would avert its first default on the national debt. But after a 90-minute meeting at the White House, the two sides remained at odds over how and when to end the government shutdown - now in its 11th day - with Obama insisting that Republicans reopen federal agencies before negotiations over broader budget issues can begin. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Lisa Mascaro and Michael A. Memoli: " GOP plan to extend debt limit raises hope of end to impasse" The federal budget standoff moved toward at least a temporary end Thursday as Speaker John A. Boehner announced that House Republicans would agree to extend the government's borrowing authority for six weeks, setting up late-night negotiations between the White House and Congress. In announcing his plan, Boehner (R-Ohio) said Republicans no longer would insist on any policy changes in return for allowing the government to continue borrowing. LINK

The New York Daily News' Dan Friedman and James Warren: " Republicans present Obama with proposal to extend deadline for raising debt limit" Republicans tried to kick the can down the road - but President Obama said not so fast. In what passed as progress in the deadlock over government spending and borrowing, House Republican leaders trooped to the White House to present a proposal: extend by six weeks the Oct. 17 deadline for raising the nation's debt limit to prevent an economy-tanking default. LINK

The Boston Globe's Noah Bierman and Mattias Gugel: " Obama, GOP leaders call meeting productive, vow to continue discussion" With nervous financial markets swinging on every shred of news from Congress, President Obama declined to embrace a compromise plan from House Republicans to temporarily avoid the threat of a default next week on the nation's debt. Although the day began on a hopeful note that leaders would reach agreement on the House-initiated proposal to raise the nation's $16.7 trillion borrowing limit through Nov. 22, GOP lawmakers left a late-afternoon White House meeting empty handed. LINK

Bloomberg's Roxana Tiron, Richard Rubin & Terry Atlas: " Republicans Enter Talks With Obama on Debt Limit Increase" President Barack Obama and House Republican leaders were moving toward an agreement to extend the nation's borrowing authority even as they remained at odds over terms for ending the partial government shutdown. They met for 90 minutes at the White House yesterday after House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio said he would offer a measure to postpone a potential U.S. default to Nov. 22 from Oct. 17, a step back from the brink that was enough to trigger the biggest rise in U.S. stocks in nine months. LINK

SHUTDOWN USA Today's Martha T. Moore: " World sees 'a democracy that's not working,' Carter says" The world is looking at the federal government shutdown and sees "a democracy that's not working," former president Jimmy Carter said Thursday. The stalemated Congress needs to follow the rules of a building site, said Carter, who is visiting the city to rehab Superstorm Sandy-damaged houses with Habitat for Humanity. LINK

MILITARY BENEFITS The Hills' Justin Sink: " Obama restores military death benefits" President Obama on Thursday signed a law restarting benefits to the survivors of deceased military service members that had been halted because of the government shutdown. The decision to sign the legislation comes despite the administration having brokered a partnership with an outside charity to temporarily cover the benefits. LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEO " Questions For Carney: Will Obama Negotiate If Government Stays Shut Down?" LINK " Market Soars On GOP's Short-Term Debt Limit Proposal" LINK " Speaker Boehner Proposes New Plan To End Shutdown" LINK " Obama To Meet With Congressional Republicans" LINK

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