The Excerpt

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Oprah Winfrey reveals how intuition has guided her career and life Sep 16, 2026

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Oprah Winfrey opens up about trusting her intuition and embracing reinvention as she promotes a new immersive event in Las Vegas April 2-4. In a wide-ranging conversation with USA TODAY Executive Editor of Entertainment Wendy Naugle, she shares why she’s still focused on helping people change their lives and why she believes new beginnings are always possible.

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His father was missing. Then his search for answers began Sep 15, 2026

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Author and USA TODAY National Enterprise Editor Jeremy Redmon joins The Excerpt to discuss “Tell the Kids I Love Them,” his memoir about war, fatherhood, love and loss. Through audio tapes recorded during the Vietnam War, family memories and years of searching, Redmon pieces together the life of his father, Donald, and confronts the questions his family carried after Donald’s death by suicide.

This episode includes discussions of suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support available 24/7.

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Is HBO's The Pitt about to dominate the Emmys? Sep 14, 2026

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HBO’s The Pitt enters Emmy night with a leading 25 nominations, but the biggest story may be what its success says about television’s future. Ralphie Aversa, USA TODAY senior entertainment correspondent, joins us to break down the breakout nominees and the industry trends shaping TV right now.

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The story behind the firefighters' flag-raising at Ground Zero Sep 11, 2026

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Thomas E. Franklin, former Bergen Record photographer, reflects on September 11, 2001, recounting his journey into Ground Zero and the split-second decisions that led to one of the most recognizable images in American history. He joins Mike Kelly, a columnist for The Record in New Jersey and USA TODAY, to share what he saw and why the photograph still resonates decades later.

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Episode transcript available here.

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The challenge of teaching 9/11 to kids Sep 10, 2026

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Twenty-five years after the attacks, today’s students know 9/11 through history lessons rather than personal memory. Dexter Southfield Head of School Peter Folan joins USA TODAY's The Excerpt to explain how educators balance the tragedy of that day with stories of resilience, service, and unity. Hear how schools are helping a new generation understand why 9/11 still matters.

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The untold 9/11 stories of ordinary Americans Sep 09, 2026

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Twenty-five years after 9/11, Mike Kelly, columnist for The Record of northern New Jersey and author of “After Ground Zero,” reflects on the ordinary Americans whose lives were forever changed. From survivors and first responders to grieving families, he explores the human stories behind the tragedy.

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The enduring impacts of 9/11 Sep 08, 2026

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In the now 25 years since the attack on 9/11, our world has drastically changed. The way we live our lives, the way we travel, the way we interact with our government, the way our government surveils us – all of it – changed. How exactly? USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page joins The Excerpt to share her insights.

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Who can track your car with Flock camera data? Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

Flock cameras capture license plates and vehicle details, creating a searchable record of where cars have been seen. USA TODAY Investigative Data Reporter Austin Fast explains how USA TODAY's analysis of 75 million searches uncovered troubling patterns, including officers repeatedly tracking the same vehicles, and why the findings are intensifying concerns about privacy, surveillance and oversight.

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The AI backlash uniting a divided America Sep 03, 2026

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Opposition to Big Tech is creating a rare point of agreement across the political divide. USA TODAY National Reporter Christopher Cann explains why communities are resisting massive data centers, AI-powered surveillance, Flock cameras and the rapid spread of artificial intelligence.

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Episode transcript available here.

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Why mothers are leaving one of Washington’s toughest jobs Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

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 about a broader challenge facing working mothers.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.

Episode transcript available here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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