Episodes
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A large-scale and delicate system of ocean currents that has been active for millions of years and that’s responsible for our warm climate is in danger of collapse due to climate change. This is according to a new study published in April in the journal Science Advances. If that collapse actually happens, scientists warn, the consequences could be dire. Shane Elipot, a physical oceanographer at the University of Miami and one of the authors of the study, joins The Excerpt to share his findings. (This episode originally aired on April 23, 2026)
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Episode transcript available here.
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To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, USA TODAY sent reporters out on the road, and into history, to follow the journeys that built America – from the Underground Railroad and Route 66 to Paul Revere’s midnight ride and beyond. USA TODAY reporters Trevor Hughes, Sarah D. Wire and Karissa Waddick join The Excerpt to share what they saw and what those stories tell us about our history and where the country might be headed in its next 250 years.
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Related USA 250 stories: American Flag, Oregon Trail, Space Race, Mississippi River, Paul Revere, Route 66, Underground Railroad
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There’s no shortage of news coming from Washington these days: The war in Iran, disputes between the president and Congress over legislation such as the bipartisan housing bill and the 250th anniversary of country’s founding this weekend. House Speaker Mike Johnson joins The Excerpt in an exclusive interview hosted by USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers.
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Another Supreme Court term has wrapped with major rulings that reshape key national debates. The court upheld birthright citizenship, rejecting a central push from President Donald Trump, while also siding with states on restricting transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports. USA TODAY Court Reporter Aysha Bagchi joins The Excerpt to unpack what these decisions mean.
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Episode transcript available here.
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It’s being called the wedding of the century! Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are getting married, and it looks like it’s going to be big! New York City, Madison Square Garden BIG and all the clues are pointing to July 3rd. The rumors have run wild. Some say it’s a distraction. Others think MSG will be the big party “for everyone they’ve ever met,” while the actual ceremony will be somewhere private and intimate. So, what is really going on? From the celebrity guests to the luxe venue, music performances to the wedding dress we are breaking it down. USA TODAY Reporters Bryan West, Melissa Ruggieri and Morgan Evans join Senior Entertainment Correspondent Ralphie Aversa on this special episode of The Excerpt.
* An earlier version of this podcast referenced a prior release of Toy Story that included a Taylor Swift song. It was Toy Story 5.
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A bipartisan group of secretaries of state is warning that the federal government may no longer be a reliable hub for election threat information, according to an internal memo shared exclusively with USA TODAY. The concern is that state officials will no longer have access to the kind of real-time cyber and physical threats that only the federal government can provide. USA TODAY Senior National News Reporter Sarah Wire joins The Excerpt to explain what the memo says, why states are trying to fill the gaps themselves and what this could mean for November’s midterms.
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Episode transcript available here.
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The Supreme Court has ended a humanitarian program that let many Haitian and Syrian immigrants stay in the United States temporarily, a decision that could upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of people along with the communities where they live and work. The ruling is a major win for President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration agenda, raising urgent questions about what happens next for affected families. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe joins The Excerpt to walk through the decision and what happens next.
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Americans are stretched thin and you probably know why: Housing. It’s become increasingly, persistently unaffordable, and for many, simply out of reach. Americans are moving less, are forming fewer households and are spending too much of their income on housing according to an annual report just released by Harvard. Will Trump end up signing the 21st Century Road to Housing Act now on his desk and if he does, will it make housing any more affordable? Francis Torres, Director of Housing & Infrastructure for the Bipartisan Policy Center, joins The Excerpt to share his analysis of the crisis.
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Episode transcript available here.
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President Donald Trump is testing his own party’s patience on Capitol Hill. Last week, he told Senate Republicans to cancel a major confirmation hearing, complicating their effort to renew a key antiterrorism law and adding to a growing list of frustrations for GOP lawmakers. Trump’s approach has some Republicans warning that the president is undermining the very results he wants. Will they be able to find common ground while they still have the power to execute on Trump’s agenda? USA TODAY Congressional Reporter Zach Schermele joins The Excerpt now to explain why Senate Republicans are scrambling and what it could mean for the party heading into the midterms.
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Episode transcript available here.
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In “The God Test,” Robert Wright argues that the real challenge of AI isn’t just building smarter machines—it’s deciding whether we can evolve, morally and politically, fast enough to develop an AI that’s mutually beneficial. As these systems begin to mirror—and amplify—human intelligence, agency, and even our flaws, the stakes become existential. Humans have shown that we can evolve. The question is: Will we? Author Robert Wright joins The Excerpt to talk about his new book.
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Episode transcript available here.
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BookTok helped readers find community online. Now, some fans are taking that connection into the real world through literary tourism. USA TODAY Books Reporter Clare Mulroy joins The Excerpt to talk about joining a Percy Jackson-inspired trip through Cairo, Athens and Rome, where readers visited ancient sites, completed quests and bonded over the books that shaped them. She also explains why literary tourism is growing, what readers are really paying for and how book lovers can build their own story-inspired experiences closer to home.
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Episode transcript available here.
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Foreign and national dignitaries, former presidents, acclaimed musicians and actors, friends, neighbors and family joined Former First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama in a dedication ceremony at the Obama Presidential Library which opens today, Juneteenth, on Chicago’s South Side. The former president delivered a speech that emphasized American ideals and the promise of America’s democratic experiment at its founding. USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page joins The Excerpt to share her thoughts on this historic opening.
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Episode transcript available here.
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President Donald Trump wrapped up his attendance at the G7 yesterday, sharing news of a 14-point agreement with Iran. Does this realistically signal the end to the war in Iran? This was also the first time Trump met with European leaders since the Iran war began - the source of much disagreement within NATO. Will the US reaffirm their commitment to the strategic alliance when it meets in July? White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers joins The Excerpt to break down the latest following the G7 Summit and talk about the future of NATO.
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As concerns grow over children’s mental health, addictive algorithms and age-inappropriate content online, governments around the world are considering tougher rules for social media. Australia has already enacted a ban for kids under 16, Britain is weighing a similar move and U.S. states are testing their own approaches. Cato Institute Senior Fellow David Inserra joins The Excerpt to discuss whether social media bans work, why age verification raises privacy and free speech concerns and what parents can do to help children navigate social media more safely.
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Episode transcript available here.
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America spends a lot of time talking about age in politics: how old is too old to lead, whether younger candidates are getting shut out, and if members of Congress should have term limits. But Yale law and history Professor Samuel Moyn says that conversation misses the bigger picture. In his new book, “Gerontocracy in America: How the Old Are Hoarding Power and Wealth – and What to Do About It,” Samuel argues that power in the U.S. skews older not just because some politicians stay in office for decades, but because older Americans vote at higher rates, hold more wealth and remain in positions of influence longer. Samuel joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to talk about his new book and what studying gerontocracy might teach us.
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Episode transcript available here.
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From immigration to elections, ballrooms to tax immunity, much of President Donald Trump’s second term agenda is mired in the courts. While a Republican-controlled Congress has shown little interest in restraining the president as he seeks to execute on an expansive agenda, the courts may still decide that it’s in the country’s best interests to do so. What’s the latest status of these cases and what’s next for Trump’s complicated legal journey? USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Aysha Bagchi joins The Excerpt to unpack the political and legal issues.
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Episode transcript available here.
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PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, were built to last. So, beginning in the late 1920’s billions of pounds of it were produced across the country for use in construction materials, plastics and consumer goods. But over the next 50 years, evidence that PCBs were actually toxic began to mount, and the EPA eventually banned its production in 1979. That’s when the cleanup started…and when Scot Meisenheimer’s medical nightmares began. Tamia Fowlkes, a Public Investigator, and Caitlin Looby, a Great Lakes and Environment Reporter, both with The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, have spent the last two years investigating the cleanup and the consequences for contractors like Meisenheimer. They join The Excerpt to share their exclusive reporting.
Search for superfund sites in your area: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/search-superfund-sites-where-you-live For more on PCB cleanups: https://www.epa.gov/pcbs/managing-remediation-waste-polychlorinated-biphenyls-pcbs-cleanups
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Episode transcript available here.
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What’s it like to party not TILL but AT the break of dawn? In an era when so many interactions happen through screens, a growing number of people have become more intentional about seeking connection. Morning raves, where the first stop on your morning commute is a dance floor, are gaining popularity. What is it about these early morning get-togethers that are drawing people out of bed before sunrise, and what are they really hoping to find there? USA TODAY Youth Mental Health Reporter Rachel Hale joins The Excerpt for more on what it’s like to begin the day with a healthy and deliberately designed communal experience.
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Episode transcript available here.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here, and it is unlike anything the sport has staged before. Spanning three countries and expanding in size, this tournament will redefine what a World Cup looks like. While ticket costs remain a concern, host cities are preparing for massive crowds and global attention. The biggest question now is whether the U.S. can turn this moment into a breakthrough on the field. USA TODAY National Soccer Writer and Sports Seriously Soccer Podcast host Jon Arnold joins USA TODAY'S The Excerpt to break down what to expect.
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Episode transcript available here.
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Among the Republicans running for governor of politically competitive states in 2026 are people like Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin. What they have in common is concerning to many: They all rejected President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Should they win in the fall midterms, they would subsequently have power over the administration of future elections which could ultimately decide the presidency, including in 2028. USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer joins The Excerpt to unpack this politically fraught issue.
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Episode transcript available here.
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