

The Excerpt
USA TODAY
USA TODAY’s daily news podcast, The Excerpt (formerly 5 Things), brings you a curated mix of the most important headlines seven mornings a week. We also deliver special deep-dive episodes on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons on the most compelling topics in culture, entertainment, sports, politics, and more. Give us fifteen minutes a day, we'll give you all of the headlines, none of the chaos. Hosted by Taylor Wilson and Dana Taylor.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 20, 2025 • 14min
37 former intel officials stripped of their security clearances
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced Tuesday that President Donald Trump had directed her office to revoke security clearances from 37 former intelligence officials.USA TODAY Reporter Zachary Schermele takes a look at potential plans from Democrats to bring Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Congress to face hearings.Texas says the measles outbreak at the center of record U.S. case numbers is officially over.USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Rachel Barber puts AI to the test when it comes to money advice.Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note 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.

Aug 19, 2025 • 12min
Trump calls Putin to arrange meeting with Zelenskyy
USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers breaks down Monday's meeting between President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others.Texas Democrats return home, ending a redistricting standoff against the GOP.USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen takes a look at Trump's threat to end mail-in voting.Hurricane Erin is a Category 3, but is expected to steer clear of the U.S.Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note 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.

Aug 18, 2025 • 14min
European leaders to join Zelenskyy in Washington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders will meet with President Donald Trump in Washington Monday. Plus, details of the Alaska summit were left on a hotel printer.USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise takes a look at the state of clean energy amid Trump cuts.Protests were held over the weekend against the Trump administration's push for Texas to redraw its congressional map in favor of Republicans.USA TODAY Women and the Caregiving Economy Reporting Fellow Madeline Mitchell discusses the fear of dying first for parents of children who require 24/7 care.Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note 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.

Aug 17, 2025 • 16min
How do you define American cuisine?
What is American cuisine and who gets to define it? Is it barbecue or blueberry pie, hot dogs or lobster rolls, chili or gumbo? American food culture is as complex and complicated as we are. And, in addition to what lands on our plates, there’s everything that comes along with it, from tipping to whether the check should come before dessert. While most of us walk or drive to try out new restaurants, British food writer Felicity Cloake chose to fly to the US with a green touring bike she calls Eddy, to cycle from coast to coast in search of American cuisine. She joins USA TODAYs The Excerpt to share her view from the outside looking in, which is also detailed in her new book “From Peach Street to Lobster Lane,” available on bookshelves now.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.

Aug 16, 2025 • 11min
Trump leaves Alaska with 'no deal' after Putin meeting
USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers recaps President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.The District of Columbia has sued President Donald Trump and his administration over his federal takeover of the city's police force.The FBI returns a 16th-century stolen document signed by conquistador Hernán Cortés to Mexico.USA TODAY Trending News Reporter Michelle Del Rey tells us why some whales are going silent.Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note 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.

Aug 15, 2025 • 10min
Why is Alaska the 'most strategic place' for Trump-Putin meeting?
USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes takes a look at some of the reasons a meeting in Alaska makes sense for President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday.California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces a special election to re-draw maps.Hunter Biden drops expletives on Melania Trump's Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit threat.USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe gives us some background after the Supreme Court declined to block a state law limiting kids' use of social media – for now.Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note 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.

Aug 14, 2025 • 15min
SPECIAL | From electric grids to powering gadgets, sodium-ion batteries hold promise
From laptops to electric cars, lithium-ion batteries are in so many of the products we use every day. It’s hard to imagine there’s an alternative. But a half century ago sodium-ion batteries were also on the table as an option. Today, with metals like lithium harder and more expensive to source, electronics firms are taking another look at sodium-ion to power our modern devices. With greater availability, lower manufacturing costs and more stable chemistry, could sodium-ion batteries be the key to powering our future? Shirley Meng, a University of Chicago professor and materials scientist who has studied sodium-ion batteries, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to dig into their potential.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.

Aug 14, 2025 • 13min
Why Democrats have limited power to fight Republican redistricting
USA TODAY Government Accountability Reporter Erin Mansfield takes a closer look at redistricting fights playing out across the country.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Thursday ahead of President Donald Trump's expected meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday in Alaska.USA TODAY Reporter Andrea Riquier discusses how some empty churches are being converted into residences.Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note 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.

Aug 13, 2025 • 13min
SPECIAL | 'Freakosystems' reveal nature's strange new balance and its risks
Across the planet, the actions of humans are creating novel ecosystems which, according to the BBC, have been dubbed ‘freakosystems’ by the daughter of a professor of ecology. ‘Freakosystems’ are places where unfamiliar species mix with native species in unexpected ways. Research into the Hawaiian island Oahu’s lush landscape demonstrates how the actions of humans have radically changed the natural world. What do these emerging ecosystems tell us about both the resilience and fragility of life on Earth? Corey Tarwater, an ecologist at the University of Wyoming who has been researching Oahu's ecosystems for more than a decade, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss her findings.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.

Aug 13, 2025 • 13min
National Guard troops arrive in DC
Members of the Washington, D.C., National Guard have reported for duty across the nation's capital under President Donald Trump's orders to fight crime and reduce homelessness in the city.USA TODAY White House Correspondent Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy talks about how Trump's real estate history shapes his presidency.President Trump's pick to be the new U.S. commissioner of Labor Statistics suggests suspending monthly jobs reports.USA TODAY Breaking News Reporter Karissa Waddick tells us how America’s farmers are aging, and what that means for our food supply.Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note 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.