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The Excerpt — Daily News
The Excerpt

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.

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Latest Episodes:

Is the post-Trump GOP already forming? Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

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.

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

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

What Trump’s asylum change means for people seeking protection Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

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 for immigrants.

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.

Trump's immigration crackdown sends migrants north to Canada Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.

Why are so many young adults not working or in school? Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.

Pet hospice is everywhere: What you need to know Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

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 animals in our lives.

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.

Could biological warfare cause the next pandemic? Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.

Can the US regulate AI without slowing innovation? Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

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 could look like.

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.

What Elon Musk reaching trillionaire status says about America Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

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 The Excerpt for a look at what happens to faith in democratic institutions as unprecedented wealth becomes more concentrated.

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.

Iran war costs in blood and treasure soar as mission remains unclear Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.

America’s workforce is shrinking. What’s going on? Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

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 much confidence we should place in a jobs report that may still be revised.

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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