COVER
Can Obama Close the Deal on Health Care? (The Well / Cover Story)
As doubt grow about the White House's push for comprehensive reform, the President faces the biggest challenge of his political life. A look at what's at stake for Obama, the health-care system — and you
Obama: 'This Has Been the Most Difficult Test for Me.' (The Well / Interview)
TIME national political correspondent Karen Tumulty, who has been closely covering the health-care debate, sat down with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office to discuss the difficult task of piecing together health-care legislation.
What Health-Care Reform Really Means (The Well / Special Report)
A one-stop guide to how a new plan would affect you
Will Special Interests Stymie Health-Care Reform? (The Well / In the Arena)
The debate over health reform is a case study of how special interests trump the common good
ESSAY
Media Freak-outs: Every Week Is Shark Week (Commentary / Tuned In)
Summer is high season for media freak-outs. Is that the apocalypse, or is it just my TV?
The Henry Louis Gates Affair: When Race Matters (Commentary)
For blacks, the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a reminder that accolades get you only so far
The Avenging Amateur
America is a nation of passionate laymen, and they're our best hope for thriving after the crisis
WORLD
Postcard from The Everglades (Postcard: The Everglades)
An exploding population of voracious Southeast Asian snakes is threatening the endangered fauna of the River of Grass. Florida goes to war against the python
Iran's Protesters: Phase 2 of Their Feisty Campaign (The Well / World)
Despite the Iranian government's brutal crackdown since the election, the street is fighting back
BRIEFING
The Moment
7|29|09: China
The World
10 ESSENTIAL STORIES
Spotlight: Honduras
Verbatim
Brief History: Disorderly Conduct
The Skimmer
Review: Annual Medical Spending Attributable to Obesity by Eric A. Finkelstein, Justin G. Trogdon, Joel W. Cohen and William Dietz
Merce Cunningham (Milestones)
E. Lynn Harris (Milestones)
Milestones (Milestones)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Rescue at Sea (Movies)
In the searing documentary The Cove, the man who trained Flipper leads a crusade to save dolphins from slaughter
Why Netflix Stinks: A Critic's Complaint (Movies)
A film lover's minority opinion about the popular online DVD-rental site
Master Stroke (Books)
Swimming, Nicola Keegan's debut novel, understands that life is most interesting at the deep end
Taking Judd Apatow Seriously (The Well / Profile)
How did a neurotic, self-lacerating stand-up comedian from Long Island conquer Hollywood? He earned it
Short List
TIME'S PICKS FOR THE WEEK
BUSINESS
Should Executive Pay Be Regulated? (The Well / The Curious Capitalist)
Regulating what bankers earn is all the rage in Washington. Why not simply raise their taxes?
How the Housing Market Is Fighting Its Way Back (The Well / Economy)
Home prices are bottoming out in a number of cities. But as Boise shows, the return to real estate sanity is neither quick nor painless
In Boise, Housing Struggles to Emerge From Its Malaise
Photos: The Idaho city may be a reflection of nation-wide trends
SCIENCE
CSI Stone Age: Did Humans Kill Neanderthals? (The Well / Science)
Research on the remains of a Neanderthal male in what is modern-day Iraq suggests that he may have died at the hands of a Homo sapien
SOCIETY
In the Recession, Shoppers Are Becoming Hagglers (Life / Cash Crunch)
In this economy, shoppers are haggling everywhere--even at big retail chains--and are coming out on top
Bleep! My Finger! Why Swearing Helps Ease Pain (Life / Health)
One need not be a sailor to swear like one, and now a study suggests there's a benefit to using bad words at the right time
Look Out, Scrabble (Life / Games)
Wordplay that doesn't take turns
Tricycles for Adults (Life / Family Tech)
Trikke's new electric hybrid still gives you a real workout but also lets you coast home
25 Best Back-to-School Gadgets (Life / Web Watch)
Since we want you to emerge as a well-adjusted graduate, our list of back-to-school gear includes cool stuff for both work and play, including some picks that will make you the toast of your dorm