The Excerpt

Home isn’t just a structure. It’s memory, identity and belonging. USA TODAY National Columnist Suzette Hackney joins The Excerpt to discuss her year-long reporting on displacement, from climate disasters and eminent domain to race, gentrification and the fragile systems that decide who gets to stay and who is forced to leave.

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At 28, Malala Yousafzai’s life so far has been anything but ordinary. When she was just 15, she was shot by the Taliban on her way to school, targeted for advocating for girls’ rights to education. At 17, she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize, opening schools and speaking around the world with the Malala Fund. Now Malala is sharing a different side of herself in a new memoir, “Finding My Way.” US...

For 75 years, Charles Schulz’s Peanuts gang has reflected our humor and hope, as well as our struggle to navigate some of life’s everyday curveballs. How is it that the characters he created so poignantly reflect how we experience other people and the world around us? And why do a ragtag group of comic strip kids who debuted in newspapers in 1950 post-war America, still resonate with children and adults around the world? A...

What if the second half of life could be just as healthy, active, and fulfilling as the first? Drawing on the latest science, world-renowned cardiologist and researcher Dr. Eric Topol challenges outdated ideas about aging and reveals how factors like exercise, sleep, social connection and cutting-edge AI tools can help us extend not just our lifespan—but our healthspan. Dr. Topol joins The Excerpt to share insights from hi...

Patagonia is worth billions. But founder Yvon Chouinard never wanted the title of billionaire. From his days as a dirtbag climber to his reluctant role as CEO, Chouinard built one of the world’s most influential outdoor brands — then shocked the business world by giving it all away. Author David Gelles whose biography of Chouinard "Dirtbag Billionaire" is out now, joins The Excerpt to talk about Chouinard’s unconventional ...

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 Fel...

From Bad Bunny’s massive streaming numbers to Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl,” 2025 electrified music fans across the globe. There was a wild card this year, though – AI. As artificial intelligence continues to push the music industry into strange new territory, how might it impact what we call music? USA TODAY National Music Reporter Melissa Ruggieri joins The Excerpt to break down some of the year’s biggest stori...

Baltimore has spent decades trying — and often failing — to solve one of its most stubborn problems: thousands of vacant homes hollowing out neighborhoods and fueling cycles of crime, poverty and disinvestment. Now city leaders say the stars may finally be aligned. In pockets of Baltimore, new housing is going up, crime has fallen, and officials are rolling out the most ambitious revitalization effort in a generation. But ...

Tributes to the beloved Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have poured in since their tragic deaths on Sunday sent shockwaves throughout the industry. Their son Nick Reiner was taken into police custody that same day and is now facing two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murder, among other charges. Reiner, whose career spanned more than five decades, was most known for ...

Masked ICE agents have become the face of President Donald Trump’s nationwide deportation campaign, as viral videos of violent arrests captivate audiences on social media. But who are they and what motivates them to do the work? USA TODAY National Correspondents Lauren Villagran and Trevor Hughes join The Excerpt to share their reporting.

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In 2007, she became the first woman to hold the position of Speaker of the House. She led Democrats in the House for two decades and was crucial in passing the signature legislation of Obamacare. Now after nearly four decades of service, Nancy Pelosi, Democratic representative of California, has announced she will be stepping down in January 2027. What will her legacy be? USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page sat do...

2025 showcased A-list movie stars, long-awaited finales and a K-Pop smash that no one saw coming. From “Sinners” to “Wicked: For Good,” “One Battle After Another” to “KPop Demon Hunters,” Hollywood had lots to smile about this year. Which movies had movie lovers pumping their fists, and which films failed to connect? USA TODAY Entertainment Reporter Ralphie Aversa joins The Excerpt to share his insights on the fast-moving ...

From romantasy fever to dystopian deep dives, 2025 delivered a year of midnight book parties, big feelings, bold worlds and stories that became cultural touchstones. USA TODAY Books Reporter Clare Mulroy joins The Excerpt to break down the genres that dominated the year, the titles readers couldn’t stop talking about and what our favorite books reveal about us in 2025.

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After losing all 3 branches of power in 2024, progressive Democrats are hungry for the opportunity to reshape the party along ideological, generational and other factional lines in 2026. Fueled by an increasing anger among Democratic voters and a splintered Republican base, the possibility of a Democratic-controlled house looks increasingly likely for 2027. How might that thwart the success of President Donald Trump’s seco...

Last Friday, Centers for Disease Control vaccine advisers changed the recommendation of a routine hepatitis B shot for all newborns, a change widely viewed as a victory for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Now, health experts warn the change could undo decades of public health improvements, and parents are left with unclear guidance. USA TODAY Consumer Health Reporter Ken Alltucker joins USA TODAY’...

The much-anticipated draw for the 2026 World Cup took place at the Kennedy Center in DC on Friday. Did Team USA end up with a favorable grouping? A total of 48 teams, drawn into 12 groups of four nations each, will compete in Canada, the US and Mexico for the World Cup soccer title next year, representing a significant expansion from 2022 which had only 32 teams. What role will the groupings play in positioning the va...

As Prince Andrew loses his titles and royal privileges, new questions are rising about accountability, secrecy, and the future of the monarchy. Historian Andrew Lownie joins us to unpack the Epstein files, the palace response, and how this scandal could shape the reigns of both King Charles and Prince William. 

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A leaked Trump administration plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine has triggered debate among U.S. allies and sharp pushback from Kyiv. As negotiations continue in Moscow and European capitals, critics say the revised proposal still favors Kremlin demands and risks locking in territorial losses for Ukraine. USA TODAY White House correspondent Francesca Chambers explains what’s changed in the peace plan, where talks stand an...

There have been 21 U.S. military strikes against Venezuelan vessels since September, with a total of 83 casualties, all without Congressional approval or oversight. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has recently cautioned airlines to avoid Venezuelan airspace, encouraged Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to flee and said land strikes could “start very soon.” Is all of this really about combatting the drug trade or could ...