The Excerpt

USA TODAY's Zachary Schermele takes a look at some of the major looming issues as lawmakers return from an August recess. Former CDC directors say Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health actions should alarm every American. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe discusses what the high court might consider in a case centered on whether vanity license plates are protected speech. 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.

A judge Sunday issued a restraining order blocking the Trump administration from deporting 10 unaccompanied migrant Guatemalan children. President Donald Trump says he will sign an executive order mandating a voter ID requirement. USA TODAY Government Accountability Reporter Erin Mansfield talks about the popularity of mail-in voting, even as Trump wants to eliminate it. USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Daniel de Visé looks back on a 2010 pledge by billionaires to give away half their wealth. Are they actually doing it? It's Kind Time! Hear about a golden retriever with a heart of an angel, and her military veteran owner Kevin. Plus, find more from USA TODAY's Human Kind here. 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.

Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, the landmark musical venue of Preservation Hall is once again the center of the city's lively community of musicians. Ben Jaffe, its creative director, shared his story of resilience and hope with USA TODAY National Correspondent Rick Jervis. 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.

A divided U.S. appeals court ruled Friday that most of President Donald Trump's tariffs are illegal. USA TODAY's Zach Schermele discusses the conversation over whether taxpayer money should be used for private schools' safety. The Trump administration is making plans for an immigration crackdown in Chicago as soon as next week. USA TODAY Money Reporter Bailey Schulz breaks down what economists are saying about possible Fed rate cuts. It's a big weekend for college football. 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.

Families remembered 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski the day after this week's Minneapolis shooting. USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page talks about lessons from Hurricane Katrina 20 years later. Thousands settled elsewhere after Katrina hit New Orleans. See a map here. USA TODAY Reporter Andrea Riquier discusses how Katrina became 'the storm that told us what was to come' for climate and insurance. This week's immigration arrests of firefighters renewed debate about White House priorities. 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.

The vice president sat down with USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers to share his thoughts on issues both controversial (the firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, the deployment of National Guard troops to American cities, the contentious White House meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy back in February) and mundane (President Donald Trump’s new White House décor and the engagement of Travis Kelce to superstar Taylor Swift) in this wide-ranging conversation. Francesca joins The Excerpt to share her takeaways and a few choice clips from the vice president. You can watch the full interview with Vice President JD Vance here. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. Podcast 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.

Vice President JD Vance sat down with USA TODAY for an exclusive interview Wednesday. Two children were killed in a Minneapolis church shooting. USA TODAY World Affairs Correspondent Kim Hjelmgaard discusses reports in Denmark about U.S. covert operations in Greenland. The White House fired CDC Director Susan Monarez after she refused to quit in a dispute with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The Social Security Administration's chief data officer said in a whistleblower complaint that DOGE put Social Security data of millions of Americans at risk. USA TODAY Senior Reporter Jessica Guynn talks about how some employees are defying return to office mandates. 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.

Is coolness just a vibe—or something deeper? A new global study spanning 12 countries finds surprising common traits that define who we see as cool. Turns out, it’s not about rebellion or being aloof. University of Arizona professor Caleb Warren, co-author of "Cool People," breaks down the six qualities that consistently make someone cool worldwide—and why being cool doesn’t always mean being good. He also explains how social media reshapes our perception of cool, and what the rise of coolness as a status symbol reveals about modern values. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email 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.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen puts President Donald Trump's announced firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook in context, and explains what it might mean for his influence on the Fed. The president calls for the death penalty for anyone charged with killing someone in Washington, DC. Trump's doubling of tariffs on Indian imports takes effect. USA TODAY Consumer Travel Reporter Zach Wichter gives some tips and tricks for flying internationally with pets, in this week's Cruising Altitude column. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email 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.

A judge Monday temporarily blocked Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen breaks down President Donald Trump's Monday executive orders on flag burning, and separately - requiring criminal suspects to pay cash bonds. FEMA staff told Congress that inexperience of Trump officials risks a Katrina-style disaster. USA TODAY's Zachary Schermele discusses why back-to-school looks so different this year. The Women's Professional Baseball League is nearly here. Plus, hear our special Deep Dive episode about the league from earlier this year. 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.

USA TODAY National Immigration Reporter Lauren Villagran takes a look at some of the history behind Fort Bliss, amid efforts to detain migrants there. A new poll shows more Americans 'strongly disapprove' of President Donald Trump's second term. USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes explains how the Trump administration is cracking down on commercial truckers who can't speak English. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email 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.

Black Americans have lost millions of acres of land due to systemic failures and legal loopholes. Saul Blair’s story is one of heartbreak, resilience and resistance. USA Today’s Andrea Riquier breaks down the heirs' property crisis and what it means for racial equity, wealth and legacy in America. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jeffrey Epstein's imprisoned former girlfriend and associate Ghislaine Maxwell absolved President Donald Trump of wrongdoing. USA TODAY White House Reporter Zac Anderson takes a look at the GOP's preparations for 2026. Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been released from custody. USA TODAY Senior Reporter Jessica Guynn discusses how gender pronouns are at the heart of a growing workplace conflict pitting religious beliefs against the rights of trans and nonbinary people. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey takes a closer look at redistricting battles, and how the conversation is shifting to California. USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Aysha Bagchi discusses the move by an appeals court to toss President Donald Trump's $454 million civil fraud court loss. A federal judge bars the transfer of new detainees to Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz’ detention facility. Erik Menendez has been denied parole. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email 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.

The US water supply is struggling under the combined pressures of drought, aging infrastructure, thirsty AI data centers, and over extraction. The need is evident, but how can the US source more water? A long-standing agreement between the US and Canada on water rights and obligations is currently being renegotiated by the Trump administration. Along the US southern border with Mexico, where the water supply is less plentiful, things are even more complicated. What’s the solution to America meeting its long-term water needs? Jay Famiglietti, a Global Futures Professor in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss the current US water crisis. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email 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.

Texas Republicans have passed a new state congressional map intended to flip five Democratic-held U.S. House seats up for grabs in the 2026 elections. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe discusses the Justice Department's push for the high court to make clear that regular pot smokers – and other drug users − shouldn’t be allowed to own firearms. USA TODAY First Amendment Reporting Fellow BrieAnna J. Frank breaks down a federal judge's move to temporarily block several Texas school districts from enforcing a law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. The Trump administration is painting the U.S.-Mexico border fence black to make the steel so hot migrants won't climb it. 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.

Jonathan Walton thought he was being helpful to a neighbor. But his good nature was taken advantage of, and he was ultimately scammed out of nearly $100,000. He's not alone. Con artists can be neighbors or co-workers. They often seem like normal people. So how do you spot one? And what can you do if you're being conned? Jonathan joins The Excerpt to share his story and talk about some of the tips and red flags he outlines in his new book, "Anatomy of a Con Artist," on bookshelves now. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email 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.

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.

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.

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.