The Excerpt

People from across the country weighed in on the impact Indiana Fever's point guard Caitlin Clark is having on the WNBA and women's sports in general. Forum is a series from USA TODAY's Opinion team that is dedicated to showcasing views from across the political spectrum on issues that Americans are starkly divided on. If you'd like to weigh in on a different topic, you can find more questions at usatoday.com/forum. And if your submission is selected for print, we might invite you to add your voice to a future special bonus episode like this one.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.Episode Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The FBI is investigating the attack in Colorado as an act of terrorism.USA TODAY Senior Congress Reporter Riley Beggin discusses some potential changes to President Donald Trump's tax bill in the Senate.Some parents are 'unschooling' their kids. What does that mean?USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes talks through concerns about an emerging surveillance state.Steve Carell told students their prom expenses were paid after wildfires. Ronnie Li reports in this month's segment of Kind Time. Find more from USA TODAY's Humankind page here.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.Episode Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of President Donald Trump’s focuses during his second term is his desire to reshape the arts in America. In February, he announced that he would serve as board chair of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and dismissed half of its board members. In their place are Trump loyalists like White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Second Lady Usha Vance, among others. More broadly, Trump has targeted what he calls “woke” content. He has moved to cancel millions in federal grants previously approved for arts and culture groups. While some have questioned whether the federal government should fund the arts and to what extent, a larger question looms: Can a democracy thrive without artistic freedom? Marc Bamuthi Joseph, an internationally renowned artist and cultural strategist who recently served as the Vice President and Artistic Director of Social Impact at The Kennedy Center, joins The Excerpt to share his perspective.Episode Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen discusses President Donald Trump's sendoff for Elon Musk. Plus, Bart tells us about an obscure provision in the House bill that threatens enforcement of court rulings on Trump.President Trump will double tariffs on foreign steel to 50%.The Supreme Court lets Trump revoke a safe-haven program for Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans.The CDC still recommends childhood COVID vaccines, despite an RFK announcement earlier in the week.Former President Joe Biden is 'optimistic' about his treatment plan for Stage 4 prostate cancer.USA TODAY National Correspondent Marco della Cava has the latest from Diddy's trial and whether President Trump would or could pardon him.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.Episode Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY White House Reporter Zac Anderson has the latest on the trade whiplash around President Donald Trump's tariffs.A group of Deaf Americans is suing over a lack of sign language interpreters for White House events.USA TODAY Senior Congress & Campaigns Reporter Riley Beggin takes a look at some provisions lurking in the GOP tax bill Americans should know about.Heavy smoke is expected to hit the U.S. as Canadian wildfires force evacuations.Faizan Zaki pulls off a dramatic win at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.Episode Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Parkinson’s is a disease that afflicts an estimated 90,000 Americans every year. Current treatment focuses on managing its many symptoms as there is no cure. But a new stem cell-based therapy that creates nerve cells is showing early promise. What’s behind this incredible discovery and just how hopeful should patients be? Two of the doctors leading this development, Dr. Lorenz Studer and Dr. Viviane Tabar of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, join The Excerpt to share the journey behind this exciting new development.Episode Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A federal court has ruled President Donald Trump can't use an emergency-powers law to impose tariffs on foreign countries.Elon Musk leaves the Trump administration.USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen takes a look at the Trump-Vance approach to crypto.Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the United States will be "aggressively" revoking visas of Chinese students.USA TODAY Government Accountability Reporter Erin Mansfield discusses exclusive findings that chapter leaders allegedly mishandled over $100,000 in a major federal union's funds.The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.Episode Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most electronic devices you use – your phone, laptop, earbuds – require certain materials called rare earth minerals to function. These minerals also power a wide range of other things critical to our lives like cars, aircraft engines, medical equipment. The U.S. imports most of its supply of rare earth elements from China, which given the current climate of global trade, has led experts to wonder: any way we get more of these minerals here at home? Scott McWhorter, a distinguished fellow in the Strategic Energy Institute at Georgia Institute of Technology, joins The Excerpt to dive into the possibilities.Episode Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to intervene in its effort to rapidly deport migrants to "third countries."USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe discusses the high court's move to take another look at whether a police officer who partially blinded a teenager during the 2020 George Floyd protests can be sued.USA TODAY Education Reporter Zach Schermele has the latest on President Trump's feud with Harvard.The Trump administration halts scheduling of new student visa appointments.SpaceX's Starship rocket breaks up again.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.Episode Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY White House Reporter Zac Anderson takes a look at President Donald Trump's clash with judges.Horse-drawn caisson funerals will soon resume at Arlington National Cemetery.USA TODAY Data Reporter Ignacio Calderon discusses how President Trump delayed pollution limits on the nation’s dirtiest coal plants.The coasts face a crisis as land sinks and seas rise.Penguin poop may help fight climate change.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.Episode Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.