USA TODAY World Affairs Correspondent Kim Hjelmgaard breaks down what a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas means for the conflict going forward.President Joe Biden says farewell to the nation.USA TODAY White House Reporter Zac Anderson recaps a busy day of Senate confirmation hearings.President-elect Donald Trump is considering issuing an executive order after he takes office to try to save TikTok in the U.S.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Citizen assemblies involve ordinary people participating in crafting policy solutions to community problems and have been around for over fifty years. Is this potentially a solution to restoring faith in our democratic institutions and reinvigorating healthy debate? Linn Davis, a program director at Healthy Democracy, a non-profit organization that promotes this innovative method of public engagement, joins The Excerpt to share recent learnings about how we can keep the public's engagement in our government both robust and accountable.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY Pentagon Correspondent Tom Vanden Brook recaps a Senate grilling for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to run the Defense Department.Schools are trying to get ahead of Donald Trump's plans for undocumented students.There's been increased containment to two major fires in Southern California, but high winds pose new threats.USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison takes a look at President Joe Biden's defining legacy.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Special counsel Jack Smith's bombshell final report was released early Tuesday.Winds again pick up strength in Southern California, amid wildfires.USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers puts President Joe Biden's comments about his foreign policy record in context.USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page has some new exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University polling numbers, ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House.Can you read cursive? The National Archives is looking for you.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

High winds are expected to complicate firefighting efforts in California this week. Plus, groups rescue dozens of animals from fire-ravaged areas.USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey breaks down the race for the next Democratic party chair.President Joe Biden spoke Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid cease-fire talks.USA TODAY Reporter Andrea Riquier takes a look at the future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over fifty million people work on our oceans around the world and over 80% of the goods we consume are delivered by vessels navigating them. But when it comes to maintaining law and order on the high seas, is there anyone really in charge? Journalist Ian Urbina has spent over a decade trying to get to the bottom of this and other pressing questions. The result is The Outlaw Ocean Project, a multiplatform reporting effort whose goal is to support and encourage ethically sourced accountability journalism of all that takes place in or atop our vast oceans. Director and Founder Ian Urbina joins The Excerpt to talk about his work trying to bring accountability to the high seas.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Los Angeles area fires are turning entire neighborhoods into ash.USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Bart Jansen puts Donald Trump's hush money sentencing in context.The Biden administration extends protections for nearly 1 million immigrants.USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe breaks down Friday arguments over TikTok.Earth passed a critical climate change threshold in 2024.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At least 10 people have been killed in Los Angeles area wildfires, while more than 10,000 structures have been destroyed.USA TODAY Money Reporter Bailey Schulz talks about the insurance impact from this week's wildfires.USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page recaps late President Jimmy Carter's funeral, and discusses his lasting legacy.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The practice of profiting from prison labor, both inside prisons and outside for private industries is complex and fraught. Last month in Alabama, a Hyundai supplier ended its work release program following intense pressure to do so. But, in California, Proposition 6, which would have banned involuntary prison labor, was defeated last November. Are laws that allow private industry as well as state governments to profit from prison labor constitutional? Darrick Hamilton, the Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy at The New School, and Chief Economist of the AFL-CIO joins The Excerpt to explain the way some of these programs work and to share what both proponents and detractors of the practice say about them.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise explains why fires in Southern California have gotten so dangerous so quickly this week.It's a national day of mourning for the late President Jimmy Carter. You can watch the funeral service here.USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Bart Jansen breaks down a decision by Attorney General Merrick Garland to release a Trump report on election charges, but not classified records.Affordable Care Act signups reach record levels.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.