The Excerpt

In honor of World Kindness Day — we’ve partnered with the Humankind team at USA TODAY for a deeper exploration on the topic of compassion. What drives us to carry out acts of kindness for total strangers and how can we actively cultivate this selflessness as a society? Abigail Marsh, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Georgetown University, joins The Excerpt to talk about empathy and altruism — why we help, even when it costs us. Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at 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.

Nobody seems to have gotten everything they wanted out of the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Not the Democrats. Not the Republicans. And definitely not the American people whose healthcare premiums are set to dramatically rise in 2026, whose SNAP benefits aren't yet fully funded and whose air travel has been greatly disrupted. Was it worth it? USA TODAY Congress reporter Zach Schermele joins The Excerpt to talk through the fallout.Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at 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.

College football season this year is…. different. How so, you ask? It’s not just the breakout success of Indiana’s Hoosiers and the crushing disappointment of Penn State, although those are both noteworthy developments. It’s the golden parachutes being doled out to bad coaches from public schools. Some of the biggest parachutes we’ve so far include Penn State’s payout to coach James Franklin to the tune of $49 million dollars. We also have another big payout to Brian Kelly at LSU. So far across the country, we’re looking at millions in go-away payouts for failing college football coaches from public colleges, colleges where many students continue to take on exorbitant debt to earn a degree. Is this okay? USA TODAY Senior National College Football Writer Matt Hayes and USA TODAY Sports Project Reporter Steve “Berk” Berkowitz join USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to dig into all of it.Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at 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.

Daniel González, an Arizona Republic immigration reporter with decades of experience, shares insights into the dramatic shift in migration patterns. He highlights a stunning drop in border crossings, with numbers plummeting from 232,000 to just 9,000. González discusses the reverse migration of individuals returning to countries like Venezuela due to U.S. enforcement. He recounts a poignant story of a Venezuelan family's struggles during their journey through Panama and emphasizes the need for long-term solutions to tackle the underlying causes of migration.

Join commercial fisherman Buddy Guindon from the Texas Gulf Coast and charter fisherman Scott Hickman as they reveal how an unexpected alliance transformed America's struggling fishing industry. They discuss the shift from dangerous derby systems to beneficial catch shares and how new technologies improve accountability and fish traceability. They also tackle the ongoing challenges of recreational fishing and concerns over imported seafood safety, highlighting the bipartisan potential for sustainable fisheries management.

Join Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY's Supreme Court correspondent, as she breaks down the high-stakes legal battle over President Trump's tariffs. Discover why Trump’s invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is unprecedented. Groppe analyzes the split decisions from lower courts, the Justice Department's defense, and the diverse challenges from small businesses. Explore the implications of this case for future presidential powers and the potential economic fallout if tariffs are struck down.

Michael Collins, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, dives into the political implications of Zohran Mamdani's recent victory as New York's mayor-elect. Collins discusses how Mamdani's win offers Democrats a pathway back to working-class voters and the significance of his affordability policies. The conversation explores Mamdani's proposals for rent freezes and city-run grocery pilots while also addressing potential shifts in party policies towards the left. He emphasizes Mamdani's growing national profile and the Republicans' strategy to use him as a foil in future elections.

In a revealing conversation, Sarah D. Wire, a Senior National Reporter at USA TODAY specializing in national policy and politics, discusses the urgent challenges facing SNAP during the government shutdown. She explains how states are scrambling to maintain benefits amid new work requirements, the legal rulings restoring funding, and the overwhelming demand on food banks. Sarah also shares personal stories of recipients grappling with the realities of reliance on SNAP, painting a vivid picture of its crucial yet precarious role in Americans' lives.

Susan Page, the Washington Bureau Chief for USA TODAY and a seasoned journalist who has interviewed ten U.S. presidents, shares her thoughts on America’s impending 250th birthday. She explores how the nation's democratic journey has evolved and reflects on current political divisions compared to historical crises. Page discusses the resilience of the American spirit and the common traits she found among the presidents she's interviewed. She also touches on the erosion of trust in institutions and expresses cautious optimism for America’s future.

Coltan Scrivner, a psychologist from Arizona State University and author focused on morbid curiosity, dives into our attraction to dark content. He reveals how horror and true crime connect to survival instincts, fostering resilience against fear. Scrivner discusses the evolutionary roots of this curiosity, likening it to gazelles' vigilance in the wild. Surprisingly, he shares research showing that fans of horror can exhibit heightened empathy. The conversation also touches on how digital media influences our fascination with darkness and the need for balance in consumption.