The Excerpt

You can sip it. Zip it. Drive it. American brands do more than fill our lives, they shape who we are. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, we decided to look at brands that capture America’s ingenuity and drive . From Motown to Harley-Davidson, these names tell a uniquely American story . Narrowing it down to the 50 most iconic? That was the tough part. Business Editor Jim Nelson and Busines...

Last December, President Donald Trump convened a meeting of pharmaceutical executives with the goal of getting them to lower the cost of prescription drugs. A few weeks later, one patient battling lung cancer checked into a California clinic for an infusion of Merck & Co.'s blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda . When the bill arrived, the clinic's charge for a 400 mg dose dominated the page: It w...

President Donald Trump had his first and only state visit with Queen Elizabeth on June 3rd, 2019. It was a meeting he had long anticipated, the ultimate sign that he had made it in life. But what did the Queen think of Trump? Of 113 state visits during her long reign, President Trump had been the last. The impression he’d made, though, may have been overshadowed by the one made by Marine One, whic...

The Department of Justice is in turmoil . The previous controversial attorney general Pam Bondi is out, and thousands of employees have either been fired, put on leave or quit. So what’s on the DOJ’s agenda and what can it hope to accomplish in the back half of President Donald Trump’s term? USA TODAY Justice Correspondent Aysha Bagchi joins The Excerpt to share her insights. Let us know what you...

After reading the Epstein files, Claire Wilmot, a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science, uncovered a chilling pattern: systematic efforts to discredit survivors of sexual abuse while protecting the rich and powerful. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to  podcasts@usatoday.com . Episode transcript available here . See Privacy Policy...

It's been a week of escalating rhetoric from President Donald Trump with regards to Iran, starting with threats to power plants and bridges on Monday morning. By Tuesday, Trump had posted on Truth Social that 'A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.' But then as the Tuesday deadline approached, Trump tried a different tack and announced a two-week ceasefire. Will the...

The World Cup is just over two months away. The 48 teams that were selected will be competing in a record 104 matches across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. What storylines can we expect? Seth Vertelney, Soccer Editor for USA TODAY Sports, joins The Excerpt to talk all things World Cup. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to  podcasts@usatoday.com...

Cannabis is widely known as a recreational drug, illegal in some states and legal in others. But what do you know about cannabis-based therapies, often referred to as medical marijuana? For well over a century, compounds extracted from the marijuana plant, of which there are more than 500, have been used therapeutically for a range of medical applications, from treating anxiety to addressing pain....

The midterm elections are heating up and battlelines are being drawn in cities and towns across the country, in places like Riverside County California. That’s where a court battle is playing out between Sheriff Chad Bianco, a prominent election denier running for governor, and Democrats who say his seizure more than 60,000 ballots from a prior election is a political stunt that undermines public...

In Big Bend, Texas, residents across party lines are voicing strong opposition to the Trump administration’s plans for a new border wall, arguing it would disrupt communities and threaten a beloved region along the Rio Grande. USA TODAY National News Reporter  Lauren Villagran traveled to Big Bend  and joins The Excerpt to share their concerns. Let us know what you think of this episode...

The US Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in perhaps its most controversial case this term, the one involving birthright citizenship. On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to not recognize the citizenship of babies born in the United States if neither parent is a citizen or lawful permanent resident. The decision could...

The Supreme Court has issued a major ruling on conversion therapy — siding with a Colorado counselor who argued the state’s ban violated her free speech rights. The decision doesn’t strike down the law outright, but it raises new constitutional questions that could reshape similar bans across the country. USA TODAY Supreme Court correspondent Maureen Groppe breaks down what the court decided, why...

With smartphones and social media, pornography is more accessible than ever . Some young men say early exposure led to compulsive use that affected their relationships and daily lives. USA TODAY’s Rachel Hale explains what the research shows, why stigma keeps many from seeking help and how online forums have become a first step toward recovery. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending...

The US-led war in Iran is the first global conflict where AI is playing a major role, both on the literal battlefield and on social media where the battle for hearts and minds is playing out. Are we entering a dangerous new evolution of warfare with AI ? Aalok Mehta, director of the Wadhwani AI Center for CSIS, and Mehta Alimardani, associate director at WITNESS, join The Excerpt to share their in...

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...