

The Excerpt
USA TODAY
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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Sep 24, 2025 • 16min
SPECIAL | Commercial space travel is almost here
Living, working, even vacationing off world is no longer a distant concept. We're approaching a time when humans aren't just visitors to outer space, but could become residents. With the International Space Station set to retire by the end of 2030. Private companies are racing to replace it, as space travel and space mining move from science fiction to becoming everyday realities. How do we balance access, ambition and accountability in the next space race? Namrata Goswami, professor of space security at Johns Hopkins University, joins The Excerpt to explore.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.

Sep 24, 2025 • 13min
Jimmy Kimmel returns, says he never meant to 'make light of the murder' of Charlie Kirk
Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television Tuesday, where he addressed his show's suspension.USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison takes a look at some of the MAGA backlash toward President Donald Trump over free speech concerns.A 59-year-old man has been found guilty of trying to assassinate Trump last year.USA TODAY White House Correspondent Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy recaps the president's address to the United Nations General Assembly.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.

Sep 23, 2025 • 13min
Trump urges pregnant women to avoid Tylenol citing unproved autism link
USA TODAY Government Accountability Reporter Erin Mansfield breaks down the president's announcement linking autism to Tylenol.Jimmy Kimmel is returning to late-night television.The White House denies border czar Tom Homan accepted $50,000 from undercover FBI agents.USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison takes a look at the preliminary deal TikTok has reached to sell its U.S. operations to an American-based investor group.The MLB Playoffs are almost here, but plenty of races have yet to be decided.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.

Sep 22, 2025 • 13min
Mourners celebrate Charlie Kirk
Elected officials, faith leaders, Kirk's colleagues and his loved ones remembered the conservative activist at a service in Arizona Sunday.Top Democratic leaders in Congress demand a meeting with President Donald Trump as a government shutdown deadline nears.USA TODAY Senior National Political Correspondent Sarah D. Wire takes a look at how states are preparing as the Trump administration considers closing FEMA.The United Kingdom, Australia and Canada recognize a Palestinian state, putting the countries at odds with President Trump.USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Daniel de Visé breaks down how much the American Dream really costs.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.

Sep 21, 2025 • 13min
Extremist Active Club network uses fitness to recruit its members
US-born extremism is on the rise and spreading beyond our borders. The US-based Active Club network is now taking root across the globe. Active Clubs are one of the latest iterations of extremist groups, blending physical training such as mixed martial arts with fascism. What led to the creation of these clubs that use something as innocuous as fitness as a recruitment tool for teaching hate? Heidi Beirich, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss her research into the Active Club network.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.

Sep 20, 2025 • 13min
Senate votes against government funding bill, raising shutdown prospects
USA TODAY Congressional Reporter Zach Schermele has the latest from Capitol Hill where the possibility of a government shutdown looms.President Donald Trump has created new immigration fees, including a "gold card" for foreigners to pay $1 million to remain in the country permanently.The Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices gives new guidance on the MMRV vaccine for young children, while falling short of clear recommendations on eligibility for COVID-19 shots.USA TODAY National Correspondent Michael Collins talks about some concerns from the right amid efforts to shut down and seek retribution against those who have mocked Charlie Kirk’s death or have been openly critical of his hardline political views.Charlie Kirk will be remembered Sunday in Arizona.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.

Sep 19, 2025 • 12min
Trump suggests FCC should consider revoking TV licenses over negative coverage of him
President Donald Trump says negative coverage of him by television networks should be grounds for the Federal Communications Commission to revoke broadcast licenses.Tennessean First Amendment Reporter Angele Latham takes a closer look at the conversation about hate speech and free speech.Late-night hosts and comedians speak out after Jimmy Kimmel's sidelining.USA TODAY National Immigration Reporter Lauren Villagran breaks down new data about immigrants in solitary confinement.Clayton Kershaw has announced his retirement after the 2025 season.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.

Sep 18, 2025 • 13min
SPECIAL | Why losing trust in expertise threatens democracy
From “follow the science” during COVID to universities accused of activism, the gap between experts and the public is widening. Roger Pielke Jr. explains why expertise doesn’t just mean a PhD, how media silos deepen divides, and why experts must serve all Americans—not just those who share their politics.* Please note, this interview was recorded on 8/19/25Have 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.

Sep 18, 2025 • 13min
Fed announces quarter-point rate cut
USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Rachel Barber puts the Federal Reserve's latest rate cut in context.President Donald Trump will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Thursday, when they're expected to mark a $205 billion package of U.S. investment into Britain.USA TODAY Congressional Reporter Zachary Schermele breaks down dramatic testimony from ousted CDC Director Susan Monarez.Three law enforcement officers were killed and two were injured in a Pennsylvania shooting.Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show has been suspended indefinitely following the host's comments on the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.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.

Sep 17, 2025 • 15min
SPECIAL | Could AI-generated art replace human creators?
Generative AI is now widely used to make artwork, music and even film – valuable cultural contributions that used to be exclusively the province of the creative class. Could AI-generated art start displacing human creators? And what about AI’s cultural influence on society writ large? Is AI generated art in the beginning of an artistic revolution or the stuff of a dystopian nightmare? Ramesh Srinivasan, a professor of Information Studies at UCLA, director of the UC Center for Global Digital Culture, and host of the Utopias podcast, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to unpack the many ethical and societal issues at play here. 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.


