The Excerpt

USA TODAY’s Women of the Year honors women from diverse backgrounds and industries who are making a difference in their communities. In this special bonus episode of The Excerpt, USA Today Special Projects Producer and Host Zulekha Nathoo shares the stories of artists, executives, athletes and leaders from across the U.S. who, through their passion and commitment to excellence and service, inspire...

Buying concert tickets already means high fees and limited choices. Add to that the headache of frustrating presales. So just how much does a proposed Department of Justice settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster loosen their grip on the market? Will the current system remain largely unchanged, or will fans actually notice a difference at checkout? Former Acting Assistant Attorney General for...

Actor and author Andrew McCarthy set out to reconnect with old friends. What followed was a 10,000-mile road trip and a deeper look at something many men struggle to talk about: loneliness. Along the way, McCarthy met men across the country, asking a simple question — are you lonely? Their answers reveal how friendships fade over time, why many men avoid vulnerability and what gets lost when conne...

Income inequality in the U.S. is surging, reminiscent of the Gilded Age, according to Inequality.org, a project of the Institute for Policy Studies. According to the Congressional Budget Office, between 1979 and 2021 the average income of the top 0.1 percent of households grew almost 27 times as fast as that of the bottom 20 percent. Which brings us to a question being asked across the country tod...

Only 90 miles separates the U.S. from Cuba, a roughly one-hour flight from Miami. But while close geographically, decades of geopolitical tensions have created a deep and lasting divide. That divide is now being tested by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers joins The Excerpt to discuss the current crisis in Cuba and the...

It’s not if, but when the next major power grid failure will happen . Major recent failures have exposed the grid’s vulnerabilities, from the massive Northeast blackout in 2003 to the deadly Texas power outages during the winter of 2021. Add to that the critical fire risks caused by aging transmission lines, the cause of California’s deadliest and most destructive fire that decimated the town of P...

Oil and water are both strategic in the war with Iran . Disruptions to either resource in the Middle East could further impact energy, food prices, fertilizer and other goods here at home. Amy Jaffe, director of the energy, climate justice, and sustainability lab at New York University, and Shafiqul Islam, director of the Water Diplomacy Program at Tufts University, join The Excerpt to explain the...

As the U.S.-Israel war in Iran intensifies, it’s hard to imagine Iran was once an important U.S. ally. In this special episode, we lay out key inflection points in the history of US-Iranian relations and how they continue to shape the ongoing conflict today. Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, joins The Excerpt to share his insights and analysis. Let us know what...

A critically important source of water for seven western states, the Colorado River is now running out of water. To fix the problem a public lands access group has proposed an ambitious plan to build eight massive desalination plants off the California coastline , turning ocean water into fresh water for farming, and reducing demand on the ailing Colorado River. The question is, will it work? USA...

Public health policy has become one of the most contentious fronts of the Trump administration. From cuts to Medicaid to RFK Jr.'s promotion of dubious theories on the causes of autism, some physicians say they feel compelled to run for office . President Donald Trump is also possibly losing support among MAHA Moms who object to his promotion of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate for use in agric...

President Donald Trump says the SAVE America Act could “guarantee the midterms” for Republicans . The bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and expand ID requirements at polls. But critics warn it could create hurdles for millions of voters. USA TODAY Congressional Reporter Zach Schermele breaks down what’s in the bill and what its chances of passing are. Let us know what you...

March Madness is almost here , and the bracket picture is starting to come into focus. Is there a true favorite this year, or is the field wide open? USA TODAY college sports reporter Paul Myerberg joins The Excerpt to share which teams look built for a deep tournament run, which big-name programs could miss the bracket and the players who could turn March into their NBA breakout moment. Let us kn...

On Tuesday night in Georgia, a crowded Republican field tested the strength of President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Republican Clay Fuller. In a race to fill the seat once held by former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, the question weighing over this year’s critical midterm elections, is whether the president’s backing is a help or hindrance? As these contests unfold alongside domestic e...

Alarm bells on the health of the U.S. economy are ringing . An unexpectedly dismal jobs report, growing unemployment and the ensuing uncertainty over trade policy piled on top of surging oil prices--make the financial outlook particularly bleak this month. Could a recession be next? USA TODAY Money Reporter Andrea Riquier joins The Excerpt to share her latest insights as to where the economy is he...

Independent reporter Aaron Parnas has built one of the fastest-growing news audiences on social media , with millions of followers across TikTok and Instagram. Known for breaking down politics in a casual, direct style, Parnas has become a trusted source for many Gen Z viewers who aren’t watching traditional TV news. Parnas joins USA TODAY Senior Reporter Jay Stahl to discuss how he built that aud...