Get context, not just headlines. Every weekday The Excerpt brings USA TODAY's award-winning journalists from across the nation together to unpack America's most pressing stories — from politics and culture to sports and entertainment — with host Dana Taylor.
Latest episodes
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8 min
Republicans and Democrats agree on almost nothing
Republicans rank patriotism as the value America needs most. Democrats rank it last. USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page examines what a striking new survey reveals about…
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19 min
500 applications. Still no job.
One job seeker has submitted more than 500 applications over two years and still hasn't landed a permanent role. Carl Van Horn, public policy professor at Rutgers University, joins…
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10 min
New Mexico’s nuclear past collides with U.S. weapons expansion
In The Hidden Cost of Nuclear Deterrence, USA TODAY explores how New Mexico still lives with the legacy of the Trinity test, as the U.S. plans to expand nuclear weapons production.…
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10 min
The first 24 hours after deportation to Haiti
What happens after a U.S. deportation flight lands in Haiti? USA TODAY National News Reporter Chris Kenning explains what deportees face after arrival, from limited assistance and…
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14 min
Can an insult change your vote?
Political insults aren't new, but they're becoming a central campaign strategy. Why are candidates in both parties betting on nicknames, personal attacks and viral moments? USA TOD…
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12 min
What happens if the Colorado River keeps shrinking?
As water levels decline at Lake Powell, long-submerged sections of Glen Canyon are reemerging, fueling a renewed debate over the future of the dam itself. Trevor Hughes, national c…
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16 min
Could Latino voters actually turn Texas blue?
Could Latino voters help turn Texas blue? Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY senior national news reporter, breaks down what she’s hearing from voters, why some Republicans may split their t…
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11 min
Will Trump's Russia diesel deal actually lower prices?
A new diesel supply deal between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin aims to ease pressure on fuel markets, but will it make a meaningful difference? Daniel de Visé, personal finance r…
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13 min
The ketamine blind spot on college campuses
Why are more people talking about ketamine? USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer explains what the drug does and why researchers say there's still limited data on i…
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9 min
Why DOGE is back at the Supreme Court
Why is DOGE back before the Supreme Court? USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe explains the fight over government transparency, what records watchdog groups want t…
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9 min
ICE said it wasn't tracking protesters. Then we got records.
USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Nick Penzenstadler explains how reporters fought for months to obtain ICE records and what they uncovered inside an "agitator" tracking system. He…
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12 min
Why 5 million Americans lost SNAP benefits
Five million Americans have already fallen off SNAP rolls, and experts say that may be just the beginning. Sarah D. Wire, senior national news reporter for USA TODAY, explains how…
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10 min
Christa Pike's lawyers warned of issues before her botched execution
Convicted murderer Christa Pike was sentenced to death by lethal injection on September 30th, but somehow survived. Her situation has surprised many, but new reporting suggests the…
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17 min
The warning signs Nicole Brown Simpson’s family missed
Author and domestic violence advocate Denise Brown reflects on the warning signs her family missed before Nicole Brown Simpson’s death. She explains what she later learned about po…
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12 min
America needs tradespeople. Why can’t they find jobs?
America needs electricians, plumbers and other tradespeople. So why are newly trained workers still struggling to get hired? Rachel Barber, USA TODAY money reporter, explains the c…
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12 min
Data centers made this county rich. Then came the backlash
For years, Loudoun County, Virginia, treated data centers as an economic success story. Fast-track approvals attracted major developers, and the tax windfall paid for public servic…
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23 min
Hakeem Jeffries on the Democratic Party's agenda if they win the House
With just over a month to go before the midterm elections, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins The Excerpt to discuss the rise of the DSA within the Democratic party, his p…
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12 min
Cornell received 1,200 sexual violence reports. Few led to expulsion
Cornell University received more than 1,200 reports of sexual violence between 2018 and 2024, but only a fraction resulted in formal investigations and disciplinary action. Kenny J…
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11 min
Cancer is falling nationwide. Except in Iowa.
Cancer rates are declining across most of the United States. But Iowa is moving in the opposite direction. Iowa now has one of the nation's highest cancer incidence rates and is on…
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15 min
Gretchen Carlson: The fight isn't over
Ten years after taking on Roger Ailes, Gretchen Carlson, former Fox News anchor, reveals what changed for women who speak out and where justice still fails them. She reflects on th…