Need to Read: August 11, 2009

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The guardrails protecting democracy may have buckled, but they are not broken. Autocratic forces are ascendant in America, but the story isn’t fully written. Truth-telling independent media is one remaining bulwark against Trump’s unrestrained exercise of power. Our nonprofit newsroom is built for what’s ahead. No oligarchs or billionaires can tell us what to publish. Please stand with us.

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Must-reads from around the web:

Shouldn’t the details of Obama’s signing statements be on the White House website?

Why neocons love Jon Stewart.

Chances of a new climate deal at Copenhagen? Cloudy.

Twelve books Obama has read since the campaign.

The Economist has 3,000 harsh words on US sex offender laws.

Mark Sanford’s $1,265 haircut.

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