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 http://www.abcnews.com
Compiled by ABC News Desk Assistants PETER MARTINEZ, JAYCE HENDERSON, KRISTEN RED-HORSE, CARRIE HALPERIN and CLAUDIA MORALES
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HEALTH CARE:
ABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf and Huma Khan: “Senate Democrats’ Health Care Bill Will Cost $849 Billion” LINK
ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos: “Ben Nelson Ready to Let Health Debate Begin” LINK
Politico’s Manu Raju: “Lieberman slams public option; taunts critics” LINK
The Hill’s Jeffrey Young: “Senate Dems take $849B step toward healthcare reform” LINK
The Hill’s Mike Soraghan: “Jesse Jackson: ‘You can’t vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man'” LINK
The New York Daily News’ Kenneth R. Bazinet: “NEJM: Health Industry Throwing Cash at DC Pols” LINK
The New York Times’ Robert Pear and David Herszenhorn: “Senate Health Plan Seeks to Add Coverage to $31 Million” LINK
The Washington Post’s Shailagh Murray and Lori Montgomery: “Senate unveils health-care bill” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Greg Hitt and Janet Adamy: “Showdown Set for Health Bill” LINK
Bloomberg’s Laura Litvan and Kristin Jensen: “Reid $849 Billion Measure Widens Health Coverage, Cuts Deficit” LINK
Boston Globe’s Lisa Wangsness and Susan Milligan: “Senate health bill woos moderates” LINK
The Associated Press’ Erica Werner: “Senate girds for historic debate on health bill” LINK
PRESIDENT OBAMA & FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
ABC News’ Jake Tapper and Yunji de Nies: “White House: We’re Not in the ‘Immediate Gratification Business'” LINK
ABC News’ Jake Tapper: “President Obama Announces Date of Special Envoy Visit to North Korea” LINK
Politico’s Jeanne Cummings: “Obama rewards big donors with plum jobs overseas” LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ Laura King: “Karzai sworn in as Afghanistan president” LINK
The Washington Post’s Anne Kornblut: “Obama’s story infused Asia tour” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman and Evan Ramstad: “Obama Vows to Push For Korea Trade Pact” LINK
Bloomberg’s Edwin Chen and Julianna Goldman: “Obama Pledges to Allay Concerns of Auto Lobby Over Korea Trade” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Ben Lando: “Iraqi Veto Threatens Parliamentary Vote” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Chip Cummins and Jay Solomon: “Iran Imperils Western Nuclear Deal” LINK
USA Today’s The Oval: “Obama: From South Korea to health care” LINK
The Associated Press’ Jennifer Loven: “Obama says talks under way on Iran sanctions” LINK
PRESIDENT OBAMA:
The Wall Street Journal’s Neil King Jr. and John Hechinger: “D.C. Schools Chief Targets Tenure” LINK
The Associated Press’ Mark Sherman: “Obama, revisiting Nixon, says 9/11 suspect guilty” LINK
AFGHANISTAN:
The New York Times’ Peter Baker and Mark Landler: “Obama Demands Results From Afghan Reforms” LINK
The Washington Post’s Joshua Partlow: “Clinton visits Afghanistan with message on corruption” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Peter Spiegel and Yochi J. Dreazen: “Debate Shifts to Afghan Exit Plan” LINK
Bloomberg’s Indira A.R. Lakshmanan: “Karzai Vows Progress on Afghan Security, Corruption in New Term” LINK
The Associated Press: “Clinton: Afghan election needs to yield ‘results'” LINK
SENATOR JOHN McCAIN:
USA Today’s Ken Dilanian and Tom Vanden Brook: ” McCain wants review on defense work by retired brass” LINK
U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY TIMOTHY GEITHNER:
The Hill’s Jordan Fabian: “House Dem: ‘Growing’ liberal consensus to dump Geithner” LINK
The Hill’s Alexander Bolton: “Reid rolling out big guns to push healthcare bill to 60 needed votes” LINK
The Hill’s Kim Hart: “GOP leads media charge ” LINK
FORT HOOD:
The Washington Post’s Paul Kane: “Senators press Obama on Fort Hood probes” LINK
ECONOMY / JOBS / REGULATIONS / FORECLOSURES / STIMULUS:
ABC News’ Jonathan Karl and Matthew Jaffe: “GAO Says More Than 50,000 Jobs Claimed From Stimulus Projects That Have Spent No Money” LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ Don Lee and David Pierson: “U.S. in standoff with Beijing over Chinese currency” LINK
The New York Times’ Erik Eckholm: “Jobless Benefits Will Expire Unless Congress Acts” LINK
The Washington Post’s Brady Dennis: “Ambitious bills could remake financial regulatory landscape” LINK
USA Today’s Christine Dugas: “More members of middle class file for bankruptcy” LINK
USA Today’s Laura Petrecca: “Those with, without work to compete for seasonal jobs” LINK
USA Today’s Stephanie Armour: “Another wave of foreclosures looms” LINK
USA Today’s Jenn Abelson: “For stimulus funds, unlikely destinations” LINK
SARAH PALIN:
ABC News’ Steve Holland: “McCain Defends Campaign Team Against Palin” LINK
Politico’s Ben Smith: “Sarah Palin hits (book) trail” LINK
Politico’s Andy Barr: “Sarah Palin trashes ‘lamestream media’” LINK
ARMED FORCES:
The Hill’s Roxana Tiron: “Pentagon budget drop anticipated” LINK
CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT:
The Hill’s Ben Geman: “Browner: U.S. in ‘good standing’ heading into Copenhagen talks” LINK
The Washington Post’s Juliet Eilperin: “U.S. and China reach accord on data collection” LINK
GITMO:
The Hill’s Molly K. Hooper: “GOP turns up the heat over bringing Gitmo prisoners to U.S. soil” LINK
The Washington Post’s Anne Kornblut: “Obama admits Guantanamo won’t close by Jan. deadline” LINK
CONGRESS:
Politico’s Eamon Javers: “Senate vetters dig deep” LINK
The Hill’s Silla Brush: “House Financial Services Committee OKs powers to break up large firms” LINK
The Washington Post’s Carrie Johnson: “Holder answers to 9/11 relatives about trials in U.S.” LINK
Newsweek’s Sarah Kliff: “Senate Bill restores Abstinence-Only Funding” LINK
USA Today’s Andrew M. Seaman: ” Sen. Byrd becomes longest-serving member of Congress” LINK
OTHER MUST-READS:
The Los Angeles Times’ Richard Fausset: “Army Corps of Engineers blamed for Hurricane Katrina levee breaches” LINK
The New York Times’ Michael Moss: “Senate Bill Would Require E.Coli Testing” LINK
The New York Times’ Sam Roberts: “High Tech Tries to Lift Veil on 18 1/2 Tantalizing Minutes in Watergate” LINK
The Washington Post’s Ben Pershing: “Sen. Byrd breaks congressional longevity record” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Shirley S. Wang: “Breast Exam Guidelines Raise Furor” LINK
USA Today’s Liz Szabo: “Mammogram coverage won’t change, companies say” LINK
Time Magazine’s Karen Tumulty: “A Word About My Breasts” LINK
Time Magazine’s Kate Pickert: “Are Mammograms the New Political Football?” LINK
ABC NEWS VIDEOS:
“Palin Fever Sweeps the Heartland” LINK
“AG on Terror Trails: ‘We Need Not Cower’” LINK
“Senate Celebrates Byrd, Longest-Serving Member” LINK
“Congress Grills Health Officials Over H1N1” LINK
Political News 