The Excerpt

Being White House press secretary means long days, constant travel and being available almost around the clock. For parents of young children, those demands can come with a high cost. Karoline Leavitt is leaving the role months after having her second child, saying she wants more time with her family. But she isn't the first. USA TODAY Government Accountability Reporter Erin Mansfield found that several recent press secretaries who were mothers described similar pressures. She joins The Excerpt to explain why mothers have tended to spend less time in the job than their predecessors and what their experiences reveal...

The end of Temporary Protected Status for many Haitian immigrants has transformed Miami's Little Haiti. Businesses are quieter and churches are emptier, while many families weigh impossible choices. USA TODAY National Correspondent Chris Kenning joins The Excerpt after reporting from the heart of the community to explore the economic and human toll of losing deportation protections.

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Democrats sharply criticized President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But many are now championing one of its biggest health care investments: a $50 billion Rural Health…. Why the change? And can the funding make a meaningful difference as millions of Americans confront rising healthcare costs? USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison joins The Excerpt to explain what the program does and whether it can offset looming Medicaid cuts.

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We’re now six months into the US-Israeli War in Iran, a war with seemingly no end in sight. It’s cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars and the lives of 18 servicemen. Does President Donald Trump have an exit strategy? USA TODAY Bureau Chief Susan Page breaks down where we are at the half year mark.

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Dolly Parton was more than a country music legend. She was a songwriter, storyteller, philanthropist and cultural force whose work helped people feel seen. From timeless songs like "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" to her commitment to childhood literacy and disaster relief, her influence reached far beyond entertainment. USA TODAY National Music Reporter Melissa Ruggieri joins The Excerpt to reflect on the legacy of Dolly Parton.

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For months, sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln remained at sea as their expected return home was pushed further and further back. Their families watched graduations, weddings and other milestones pass without them, while hearing accounts of supply shortages, broken facilities and difficult conditions aboard the carrier. Now, as the Lincoln finally begins its return, USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Chris Quintana joins The Excerpt to explain what families say sailors endured, what the Navy has said in response and why lawmakers are questioning whether the military is prepared to support crews through deployments this long.

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At Camp Simcha in New York’s Catskill Mountains, children with cancer, chronic illnesses and complex disabilities receive round-the-clock medical care while swimming, climbing, making friends and gaining independence. USA TODAY Youth Mental Health Reporter Rachel Hale explains how the camp gives kids experiences that can otherwise feel out of reach — and offers their parents a rare break from full-time caregiving.

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For years, Republicans have had a lock on those who base their vote on their religious preferences and values, something that has only grown with the rise of the evangelical right, but this year an unusually high number of Democratic candidates in red states are sharing their faith in an effort to connect with voters in the midterm elections. Will it work? USA TODAY Senior National Politics Reporter Sarah D. Wire joins The Excerpt to share her reporting.

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Picture this: A software engineer logs onto Zoom for a coding interview. No interviewer ever shows up. Another job seeker has sent out roughly 5,000 applications to no avail. And then there are the jobs that may not really be available at all — listings for positions companies may have paused, plan to fill internally, or are simply using to build a future talent pool. All of this has many people asking: is the hiring process broken? USA TODAY Wellness Reporter Rachel Hale joins The Excerpt to share her deep dive into the state of hiring.

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Content creator wasn't a career path most colleges considered a generation ago. Today, it's one of the fastest growing ambitions among young people. Arizona State University is responding with a new Bachelor of Arts in content creation, designed to teach students everything from storytelling and audience trust to navigating AI and ever-changing algorithms. Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Practice in Journalism & Mass Communication at Arizona State University Jessica Pucci joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss the launch of the program.

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Nearly six months into the war with Iran, Republicans are growing increasingly anxious about what the conflict could mean for the midterms. Rising gas prices and broader affordability concerns are putting pressure on GOP candidates, while divisions over the war are exposing tensions within President Donald Trump’s own political coalition. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Zac Anderson joins The Excerpt to discuss why Iran has become such a difficult issue for Republicans, how some MAGA supporters are responding and the choices facing Trump as campaign season heats up.

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Despite a major setback earlier this year when the Supreme Court ruled against his use of emergency authority in enacting tariffs back in April 2025 on what he called “Liberation Day,” President Donald Trump continues to find ways to levy import taxes on friends and foes alike. That includes a whopping 50% levy aimed at Canada which, if negotiations fail, will go into effect on August 19th. Meanwhile a new piece of legislation cloaked in the guise of Russian sanctions aims to effectively give the president carte blanche to levy tariffs on whichever countries he wants to. Is the president’s “America...

The DNC is doubling down on South Carolina as the first state in its presidential primary calendar, a decision that could reshape the race for the 2028 Democratic nomination. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy joins The Excerpt to explain why party leaders are sticking with South Carolina, which candidates stand to benefit most, and what early buzz around candidates like Gavin Newsom, Cory Booker and Kamala Harris reveals about the Democratic Party's future and its potential path back to the White House. 

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A Wyoming coal town facing an uncertain future has become the testing ground for a novel nuclear power plant backed by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Supporters view the high-tech project as an essential economic lifeline, while critics have voiced deep concerns over safety and nuclear waste storage. USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes visited Kemmerer, Wyoming, to explore whether this high-stakes project could redefine the future of American energy.

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When Vermont’s Sterling College shut down, it brought into focus a growing crisis for higher education in rural America. With hundreds of small private colleges facing severe financial pressure, what happens to the students and communities left behind? Investigative journalist Jon Marcus from The Hechinger Report joins The Excerpt for a look at the impacts and what families must look for prior to enrollment.

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"Looksmaxxing" has exploded online as young men pursue physical perfection – from chiseled jawlines to extreme body alterations. But from "softmaxxing" skincare to risky DIY fillers and extreme bone alteration, when does self-improvement cross the line into dangerous self-harm? USA TODAY Senior Wellness Reporter Charles Trepany joins The Excerpt for a look at how social media algorithms, physique inflation and the pressure of unrealistic beauty standards are affecting young men today.

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With less than 90 days before the midterms, the Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to let it move forward with an untested system that would give the U.S. Postal Service a new role in determining who receives a mail-in ballot. The administration says the changes would strengthen election security, while states and election officials warn that introducing new procedures after preparations are already underway could create errors that cannot be undone. USA TODAY Senior National News Reporter Sarah D. Wire joins The Excerpt to explain what the court is considering, how eligible voters could be affected.

The wildfires burning in Spokane, Washington are a wake-up call to many, especially in the western United States. Recent deadly fires in Paradise, Marshall, Lahaina and Los Angeles share the same message for residents living in or close to risky fire-prone areas: If you want to live here, you’re going to have to accept the fire risks. But is it worth it? USA TODAY National Reporter Dinah Voyles-Pulver joins The Excerpt to share her reporting.

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Before the crowdfunding giant Kickstarter hired a 33-year-old CEO in the fall of 2022, revenue had been falling…. as much as 20 percent earlier that year. Since then, the company – where folks fund projects by creatives – has bounced back in a big way. Last year was Kickstarter’s best year on record. So how did a young, Black corporate executive do it? Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor joins The Excerpt to share what motivates him.

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In a nail-biter Democratic senate primary in Michigan, progressive insurgent Abdul El-Sayed defeated establishment candidate Representative Haley Stevens, a four-term centrist congresswoman, in what could signal a further sign of change to the party’s direction. While there were four other state primaries on Tuesday night, the Michigan senate race has been seen as pivotal to the Democrats’ bid to reclaim control of the chamber this November. The question now, can El-Sayed galvanize enough voters to win over Republican Mike Rogers? USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page joins The Excerpt to share her analysis of the race.

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The Colorado River supplies water to one in 10 Americans and supports farms that produce about 15% of the nation’s food. After the seven states that rely on it failed to agree on how to share a shrinking water supply, the federal government released a 10-year framework that could bring much deeper cuts to Arizona, California and Nevada. Arizona could bear the steepest reductions because of its lower-priority rights to water delivered through the Central Arizona Project.

Brandon Loomis, environmental and climate reporter for The Arizona Republic, joins The Excerpt to explain what the federal government has decided an...

We’ve seen some Republican lawmakers break with President Donald Trump on key votes, foreign policy and economic strategy. But do these isolated disputes point to a true political split or just standard policy debates? USA TODAY Congressional Correspondent Zach Schermele joins The Excerpt to break down the internal power dynamics and explore what could be early signs of a post-Trump GOP. 

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The Trump administration has changed how some asylum applications are handled, allowing certain cases to be sent directly to immigration court without first going through an interview with a trained asylum officer. The administration says the policy could help reduce a backlog of roughly 1.4 million pending cases and address abuse of the asylum system. Immigration attorneys and legal experts warn, however, that skipping the interview could make it harder for people with legitimate claims to explain inconsistencies, present evidence and receive a meaningful review. USA TODAY National Reporter Christopher Cann joins The Excerpt to explain what all this means...

At more 5,500 miles, the U.S.-Canada border is the longest international border in the world. As a new bridge opens between Detroit and Canada amid rising trade tensions, USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes embeds with Canadian Mounties to reveal what life, security and dangerous crossings look like along on our northern border.

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Millions of young adults are not working, not in school and not in training. A new RAND report looks at why so many 18-24-year-olds are disconnected from the paths that usually launch them successfully into adulthood. RAND Senior Economist Jennie Wenger joins The Excerpt to explain why education alone does not solve the problem, how place and poverty shape opportunity and why community connections may be one of the missing pieces.

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Most people are familiar with hospice, a compassionate, holistic approach to caring for someone who is terminally ill and has no chance of recovery. But did you know there’s also hospice for our furry loved ones? While not exactly a new trend, the availability of pet hospice care and end of life options has dramatically expanded in recent years, giving families greater control over how their loved ones’ last days are spent. Dr. Becky Frank, a veterinarian with Lap of Love, a nationwide pet hospice organization, joins The Excerpt to talk through this shift in end-of-life care for the...

Biological weapons are illegal, but the threat of an intentional release or catastrophic lab accident remains. Investigative journalist and best-selling author Annie Jacobsen joins The Excerpt to discuss her new book, “Biological War: A Scenario,” which follows how a deadly pathogen could spread, how governments might respond and why human behavior could determine whether an outbreak is contained or becomes a global disaster.

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AI is increasingly shaping decisions about health care, employment, prices and other parts of everyday life. But while the European Union has adopted a sweeping regulatory framework, the U.S. still has no single federal rulebook governing the technology. Instead, oversight relies on a patchwork of state laws, voluntary industry standards, existing consumer protections and lawsuits after something goes wrong. AI Now Institute Co-Executive Director Sarah Myers West joins The Excerpt to discuss the risks consumers already face, the limits of the current approach, who may be held responsible when AI causes harm and what meaningful U.S. oversight...

Elon Musk becoming the world's first trillionaire is the kind of milestone that says something about making it in America. After all, this is a country that has long celebrated outsized success. But it's impossible to ignore that this moment arrives when many working Americans say simply affording a home feels out of reach. What happens when the promise of opportunity becomes less certain in a country built on the idea of opportunity? Susan Stokes, the distinguished service professor of political science at the University of Chicago and director of the Chicago Center on Democracy, joins USA TODAY’s Th...

The human and financial costs of the U.S. war in Iran continue to rise as the number of service members killed rises to at least 18 and President Donald Trump seeks an additional $67 billion in defense spending. Supporters argue the money is essential to maintain pressure, while critics point to a mission that still lacks clearly defined objectives or a clear timeline. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison joins The Excerpt to discuss the stakes for the Trump administration and the potential for a widening conflict. 

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The unemployment rate fell in June, but beneath that encouraging headline are signs that the U.S. job market may be losing momentum. Employers added just 57,000 jobs, previous estimates were revised downward and the share of people working or actively looking for work declined. Older workers are leaving at especially high rates, while hiring burnout, return-to-office mandates, caregiving responsibilities, retirement and lower immigration may all be contributing to a shrinking labor force. USA TODAY Money Reporter Rachel Barber joins The Excerpt to explain what the latest numbers really reveal, why fewer available workers could constrain economic growth and how...

President Donald Trump built his political coalition with overwhelming support from white working-class and rural voters. But rising grocery prices, health care costs, tariffs and frustration over the economy are testing that loyalty ahead of the midterms. USA TODAY National Correspondent Chris Kenning joins The Excerpt to explain why some Trump voters are growing disillusioned with the politics of MAGA.

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The question of whether college is worth it has gotten more complicated as costs rise and students weigh other paths after high school. USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Daniel de Visé breaks down what new research says about the value of a degree and the factors that can change the math.

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Antisemitism is spiking in the U.S. and around the world. Will Carless, USA TODAY national correspondent and host of Extremely Normal, talks to two experts about hatred against Jews and how to combat rising violence and hate speech.

Watch the latest episode in Will Carless's Extremely Normal series here: Antisemitism is rising and critics say influencers from the left and the right are largely to blame.

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche may be one of the most divisive nominees President Donald Trump has nominated in recent weeks and his fingerprints are on some of the administration's most explosive controversies—from Trump's legal battles with the IRS to the Epstein files. Those fights have earned him fierce critics, alongside the president’s loyalty. The question facing senators now is whether they've also earned him enough Republican votes to claim the Justice Department's top job. USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Aysha Bagchi joins The Excerpt to share her insights on the first day of his confirmation hearing.

A completed, unpublished Dr. Seuss manuscript was recently discovered in author Theodor Geisel’s archives at UC San Diego. How was the book found, and what does it reveal about the author's creative process and complicated legacy? USA TODAY Books Reporter Clare Mulroy joins The Excerpt to share her reporting.

Plus, watch "Sing the 50 United States" written by Dr. Seuss.

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The Democratic Party’s left wing is no longer knocking on the door—it’s kicking it in. The same energy that helped elect Zohran Mamdani has fueled a string of insurgent victories, knocking off longtime officeholders and helping progressive challengers break through in New York and Colorado. Five Democratic House incumbents have already been shown the door. Party leaders are watching nervously. Their concern is that Republicans will seize on those wins to blur the lines between progressives and moderates, turning every Democrat in a competitive state into a stand-in for the party’s most unapologetic activists. Is the part...

An historic El Niño is forming in the Pacific that could cause catastrophic weather around the world. Add to that the hurricanes, fires and floods that have created disaster zones across the US just in the past couple of years and the need for a stable and robust Federal Emergency Management Agency seems like a no-brainer. But crippling layoffs at the emergency aid agency in the spring of 2025 left it struggling to effectively respond to last summer’s Texas floods. It also hasn’t had anyone permanent leading it since President Donald Trump took office. The question isn’t wheth...

Who will be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2028? What will the price of gold be at the end of the week? Who will win the World Cup? All of these are relatively benign bets you can make today. But there are other bets that maybe aren’t so benign, like will Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro be removed from office by the end of January? That well-timed bet, made in the hours before the U.S. captured and extracted Maduro, netted the anonymous investor who made it $400,000. Are prediction markets democratizing information as some argue or are we monetizing reality in...

Crafting is having a moment. From knitting and crochet to embroidery and quilting, more people — especially younger adults — are picking up hands-on hobbies. But this trend isn’t just about nostalgia. Research suggests creative activities may reduce stress, improve mood and even affect how our brains and bodies function. Daisy Fancourt, professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London and author of Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives, joins The Excerpt to explain what science says about creativity, mental health and why making something with your hands can be so powerful. (This episode originally aired...