Michael McCarter

Drew Taylor, who is 61 and lives in San Antonio, Texas, thinks that executive orders should align more closely with legislative actions.

Drew Taylor, who is 61 and lives in San Antonio, Texas, thinks that executive orders should align more closely with legislative actions.

That's all we have for today's episode. This is a co-production with the Forum team at USA Today, where we invite our readers to weigh in in writing on a national topic of interest. If your submission is selected for print, we might invite you to add your voice to a future special bonus episode like this one. There's a link to Forum in the show description.

That's all we have for today's episode. This is a co-production with the Forum team at USA Today, where we invite our readers to weigh in in writing on a national topic of interest. If your submission is selected for print, we might invite you to add your voice to a future special bonus episode like this one. There's a link to Forum in the show description.

Let us know what you think about this episode by sending an email to podcasts at usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Michael McCarter, vice president of the Gannett Opinion Group. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow morning with another episode of The Excerpt.

Let us know what you think about this episode by sending an email to podcasts at usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Michael McCarter, vice president of the Gannett Opinion Group. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow morning with another episode of The Excerpt.

Hello and welcome to The Excerpt. I'm Michael McCarter, Vice President and Group Editor of the Opinion Sections of Gannett, the parent company of USA Today. This is a bonus episode of The Excerpt, highlighting the series from USA Today's opinion team that's known as Forum.

Hello and welcome to The Excerpt. I'm Michael McCarter, Vice President and Group Editor of the Opinion Sections of Gannett, the parent company of USA Today. This is a bonus episode of The Excerpt, highlighting the series from USA Today's opinion team that's known as Forum.

It's a weekly space dedicated to showcasing views from across the political spectrum on issues that Americans are starkly divided on. Today, we're hearing from a few folks about their feelings on the fertility rate in America. The US fertility rate dropped to a historic low in 2023 to only 3.6 million births. So we asked, does the low birth rate concern you?

It's a weekly space dedicated to showcasing views from across the political spectrum on issues that Americans are starkly divided on. Today, we're hearing from a few folks about their feelings on the fertility rate in America. The US fertility rate dropped to a historic low in 2023 to only 3.6 million births. So we asked, does the low birth rate concern you?

Do you agree with millennials and Gen Zers who are waiting longer to have kids or deciding not to have them at all? Here are some of their answers.

Do you agree with millennials and Gen Zers who are waiting longer to have kids or deciding not to have them at all? Here are some of their answers.

That was Essence Tillery. She's 33 and lives in Highland Park, Illinois. We also asked readers what could be done to increase the birth rate and what went into their personal decision about having kids.

That was Essence Tillery. She's 33 and lives in Highland Park, Illinois. We also asked readers what could be done to increase the birth rate and what went into their personal decision about having kids.

Rick Salick, who lives in Monument, Colorado, is feeling concerned. He thinks social media is one of the factors causing the birth rate to fall. He's 56.

Rick Salick, who lives in Monument, Colorado, is feeling concerned. He thinks social media is one of the factors causing the birth rate to fall. He's 56.

That's Evie Webb. She's 18 and lives in Golden, Colorado. She told us that focusing on reproductive health could help here.

That's Evie Webb. She's 18 and lives in Golden, Colorado. She told us that focusing on reproductive health could help here.

Anthony Calderoni lives in Jamestown, North Carolina. He's 36 and told us he's not concerned about the lowering birth rate, but that he is feeling that rising costs are standing in the way of some people being able to expand their families.

Anthony Calderoni lives in Jamestown, North Carolina. He's 36 and told us he's not concerned about the lowering birth rate, but that he is feeling that rising costs are standing in the way of some people being able to expand their families.