The Excerpt

USA TODAY National Correspondent Marco della Cava talks about his experience covering conclaves and what to expect from the process to select a new pope.The Trump administration proposes a major shake-up of the State Department.Health Secretary RFK Jr. says eight artificial dyes will be phased out of the U.S. food supply.USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Nick Penzenstadler discusses the latest on a pair of men deported to El Salvador.Tesla profits plummet.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.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 world continues to react to the death of Pope Francis. His funeral is set for Saturday in Vatican City. Plus, what do American Catholics want from the next pope?USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise discusses a list of America's Climate Leaders when it comes to the corporate world.Harvard sues the Trump administration.Collection of defaulted student loans will restart May 5 for the first time since the pandemic.USA TODAY Economy Reporter Rachel Barber breaks down what 2025 graduates want from their future employers.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.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.

We asked: Why did Democrats lose in November? Does the Democratic Party need to transition ideologically? Forum is a series from USA TODAY's Opinion team, dedicated to showcasing views from across the political spectrum on issues that Americans are starkly divided on. Today you’ll hear from a few folks about how they view the current state of the Democratic Party. 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 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.

Tennessean Religion Reporter Liam Adams discusses the life and legacy of Pope Francis.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared Yemen attack plans with his wife, brother and lawyer in a group chat, according to a source.USA TODAY White House Reporter Zac Anderson discusses how President Donald Trump is leaning into the deportation fight as a battle he thinks he can win.USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe breaks down the high court's decision to take on children's books and LGBTQ+ messages in school.Today's written version of Forum is here.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.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.

If you haven’t heard of The Onion, a satirical news publication, you’ve no doubt come across the many memes and parodies inspired by its style. The Onion began with a group of scrappy Gen-Xer's who wanted to poke fun at mainstream news. It’s evolved into an at times biting, oftentimes comic, cultural critic. What role does humor play in making the world make sense? Author Christine Wenc, a member of The Onion’s original staff, joins Dana Taylor on the Excerpt to discuss her new book “Funny Because It’s True,” which is on bookshelves now. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.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.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia said he's been traumatized by his experience in Salvadoran custody. Plus, an ambiguous Supreme Court ruling may have invited the Trump administration to refuse to try to return him.The Supreme Court temporarily halts deportations of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act.USA TODAY Entertainment Reporter Patrick Ryan discusses the federal government's sex-crimes case against Sean "Diddy" Combs.New records show the suspected FSU shooter had a fascination with hate groups.USA TODAY National Correspondent Will Carless explains what experts say about military service remaining the 'single strongest predictor' of involvement in violent extremism, 30 years after the Oklahoma City bombing.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.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.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen met Thursday with Kilmar Abrego Garcia. But the wrongly deported Maryland man remains in custody.The U.S. will abandon Ukraine peace efforts if no progress is made soon, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.Police allege the son of a local sheriff's deputy opened fire at Florida State University.President Donald Trump lashes out at Fed Chair Jerome Powell.Trump predicts trade deals with China and the EU. Plus, he floats a plan to nix the federal income tax and replace revenue with money from tariffs.USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe puts in context the Supreme Court's move to weigh in on Trump plans to restrict birthright citizenship.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.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.

While President Donald Trump seems intent on doing everything he can to revive the coal industry, nuclear energy appears to be enjoying a resurgence in popularity, driven largely by power-hungry data centers. The problem with that? Well, we’ve never quite figured out how to safely store all of that spent fuel. And it’s a problem that’s about to get exponentially worse. What’s on the table to address this need? Allison Macfarlane, director of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia, joins The Excerpt to boil it all down.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 IRS may revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, following Trump threats.Sen. Chris Van Hollen demanded Wednesday that Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele release Kilmar Abrego Garcia.USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Daniel de Visé takes a look at the data on how investors are responding amid stock market worries.A judge blocks the Energy Department from slashing federal research funding.USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes discusses how budget cuts are creating restroom and visitor center closures at national parks.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.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.

Kayte Spector Bagdady, a health law and bioethics expert from the University of Michigan, dives into the alarming implications of genetic data privacy, especially after the 23andMe bankruptcy. She highlights risks including potential discrimination and scams stemming from data exposure. The discussion covers legislative gaps in protecting consumers and the ethical concerns of law enforcement using genetic data. Kayte also addresses the challenges families face with genetic testing and the necessity of robust privacy protections in a rapidly advancing tech landscape.