The Excerpt
USA TODAY’s daily news podcast, The Excerpt (formerly 5 Things), brings you a curated mix of the most important headlines seven mornings a week. We also deliver special deep-dive episodes on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons on the most compelling topics in culture, entertainment, sports, politics, and more. Give us fifteen minutes a day, we'll give you all of the headlines, none of the chaos. Hosted by Taylor Wilson and Dana Taylor.
Episodes
What does Canada's election mean for relations between the two countries?
It's been 100 days in office for President Donald Trump. Plus, he gets some rough polling news.
USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes talks about civil liberties concerns as plainclothed ICE agents make detentions.
President Trump signs an executive order highlighting sanctuary cities fighting immigration enforcement.
We asked: Do you support President Trump's actions so far? What concerns you about what he and his administration have executed on? Readers across the country shared their opinions with us. 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. If you'd like to weigh in on a different topic, you can find more questio...
Congress will take up the fiscal 2026 budget proposal when lawmakers return to session Monday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was pressed Sunday by NBC News over child U.S. citizens removed from the country.
USA TODAY Reporter Andrea Riquier explains how home renovation costs will climb amid new tariffs.
President Donald Trump said his meeting in Rome with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "went well."
USA TODAY National...
A quick Google search reveals many articles, commentaries, social media posts, and scholarly debates on whether or not America is sliding into an authoritarian state. But is that really what’s going on here? Or is calling the current political climate “authoritarian” simply a case of liberals being melodramatic? Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history and expert on fascism, authoritarianism, propaganda, and democracy protec...
USA TODAY White House Reporter Zac Anderson discusses some of President Donald Trump's recent comments to Time Magazine.
A Milwaukee judge has been charged with federal felonies in an ICE case.
Former Rep. George Santos has been sentenced to more than seven years after pleading guilty in 2024 to felony wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges.
Pope Francis will be laid to rest Saturday.
There's been another shake-up at the Pentagon.
President Donald Trump approaches 100 days in office. Here are 100 things that have changed.
USA TODAY Education Reporter Zachary Schermele takes a look at a busy week for the Trump administration on education.
A judge partly blocks a Trump order seeking to overhaul U.S. elections.
USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise tells us about carnivorous 'bone collector' caterpi...
Most of us can say that we’re fans of something – music, sports, art, books. But what does it mean to be part of a fandom? You’ve probably seen devoted super fans participating in cos play at Comic-Con, painted in their team’s color at a football game or dressed up as their favorite characters at a midnight screening of a film series. But is there something deeper than just fun at play here? Something that aligns more with...
Russia slammed Ukraine's capital overnight in the biggest attack on the city this year.
USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page discusses some concerning polling news for President Donald Trump on the economy.
President Trump signs an executive order boosting AI in K-12 schools. Plus, Trump signs other orders ranging from accreditation to school discipline.
USA TODAY Health Reporter Karen Weintraub explains how budget cu...
One of the most talked about and controversial cabinet appointments made by President Donald Trump has been that of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic who has embraced several debunked health conspiracies. As secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, he now controls the Centers for Disease Control, which led the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Food & Drug Administration which looks ...
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 E...
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 pande...
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 fin...
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 break...
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 st...
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.
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 a...
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 Macf...
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.
The recent bankruptcy of genetic testing firm 23andMe has raised alarm bells for privacy advocates and consumers worried about their personal information. The data managed by 23andMe could eventually be used in any number of negative or nefarious ways, from discrimination to executing a sophisticated scam. And to be clear, this isn’t just a 23andMe problem. Bankruptcy and data theft are just as much a risk with other DNA t...
A judge Tuesday reprimanded the government for failing to return a Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador.
USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers takes a look at President Donald Trump's approach to Russia's war in Ukraine, after he accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of starting the war.
An aide to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been put on leave.
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