The Excerpt

Political violence upends the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The setting was the same as it’s always been: the elegant ballroom in the basement of the Washington Hilton. There, the president, vice president an...

AI-generated influencers are here. Can you tell who’s real?

27 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Generative AI is making it easier than ever to create influencers who don’t actually exist. These synthetic personas can build audiences, promote pr...

With Virginia’s redistricting vote, Democrats now have the advantage

24 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The latest news in the redistricting arms race between Republicans and Democrats saw voters narrowly approve a new map in Virginia that could advantag...

Doomscrolling alert: The Atlantic current may be headed for collapse

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A large-scale and delicate system of ocean currents that has been active for millions of years and that’s responsible for our warm climate is in dan...

What’s at stake as King Charles visits Trump

22 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

King Charles III is heading to Washington for his first visit as monarch — and the timing is anything but simple. The king will address Congress and...

The public feud between Trump and the pope is unprecedented

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump has been clashing with Pope Leo XIV for weeks now in a rare and increasingly public dispute between a U.S. president and the he...

The Trump administration is working to reshape immigration courts

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration's mass deportation effort has played out on numerous fronts since he took office in 2024. There’s been dramatic ICE sweeps ...

Wildfire season is already off to a dangerous start

17 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Wildfire season is already off to an early and dangerous start across the U.S., with more than 1.6 million acres burned — far above the 10-year aver...

50 most iconic brands that built America

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 de...

The blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda can cost over $150,000

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last December, President Donald Trump convened a meeting of pharmaceutical executives with the goal of getting them to lower the cost of prescription ...

President Donald Trump was a big fan of Queen Elizabeth II

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ultima...

The exodus from DOJ will have repercussions for years

13 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Department of Justice is in turmoil. The previous controversial attorney general Pam Bondi is out, and thousands of employees have either been fir...

The reckoning over Jeffrey Epstein isn’t finished

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After reading the Epstein files, Claire Wilmot, a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science, uncovered a chilling patter...

Trump’s whipsaw strategy with Iran has global leaders worried

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The World Cup is just over two months away. Here’s what to watch.

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 S...

If it works, why can’t doctors prescribe cannabis?

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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, ofte...

A California sheriff is questioning election integrity

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The midterm elections are heating up and battlelines are being drawn in cities and towns across the country, in places like Riverside County Californi...

Why a border wall divides even Trump voters in Texas

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Supreme Court hears high-stakes birthright citizenship case

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in perhaps its most controversial case this term, the one involving birthright citizenship. On the firs...

Why a border wall divides even Trump voters in Texas

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Supreme Court hears high-stakes birthright citizenship case

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in perhaps its most controversial case this term, the one involving birthright citizenship. On the firs...

Colorado conversion therapist is allowed to proceed, SCOTUS rules

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How early porn exposure is impacting young men

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With smartphones and social media, pornography is more accessible than ever. Some young men say early exposure led to compulsive use that affected the...

AI is playing a big role in the US-led war in Iran

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ba...

USA TODAY’s Women of the Year: Stories That Inspire

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Will the Live Nation DOJ settlement reshape ticket sales?

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

What a 10,000-mile trip taught actor Andrew McCarthy about friendship

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Is America ready to tax the super‑rich?

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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. A...

Marco Rubio’s evolution amid a growing Cuba crisis

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Only 90 miles separates the U.S. from Cuba, a roughly one-hour flight from Miami. But while close geographically, decades of geopolitical tensions hav...

America’s aging power grid faces new demands

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 massi...

Water matters as much as oil in the Iran war. Experts explain why.

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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, fer...

From friendly to violent: the history of US-Iranian relations

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the U.S.-Israel war Iran intensifies, it’s hard to imagine Iran was once an important U.S. ally. In this special episode, we lay out key inflecti...

Can desalination plants solve the West’s water problem?

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 acc...

Why doctors are jumping into politics right now

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 dubiou...

How the SAVE America Act would impact voting

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump says the SAVE America Act could “guarantee the midterms” for Republicans. The bill would require proof of citizenship to re...

March Madness preview: who’s in, who’s out, who can win

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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? U...

Is Trump's backing helping or hurting Republicans?

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On Tuesday night in Georgia, a crowded Republican field tested the strength of President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Republican Clay Fuller. In a ...

Disappointing economic indicators spark stagflation worries

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Alarm bells on the health of the U.S. economy are ringing. An unexpectedly dismal jobs report, growing unemployment and the ensuing uncertainty over t...

How Aaron Parnas built a massive Gen Z news audience

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Independent reporter Aaron Parnas has built one of the fastest-growing news audiences on social media, with millions of followers across TikTok and In...

Probe continues into freezing death of Alabama jail prisoner

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tony Mitchell, who was held for nearly two weeks in a concrete cell known as “The Freezer” at the Walker County Jail. The medical examiner says he...

Oscar-nominated “The Alabama Solution” shows unfiltered prison life

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With rare access and unflinching restraint, the documentary The Alabama Solution exposes the human cost of confinement in stark – at times difficult...

Kristi Noem DHS oversight hearing sparks tense debate

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

House Judiciary Committee oversight hearings are intended to hold federal agencies accountable. But the latest session involving Homeland Security Sec...

Crafting’s comeback and the science behind it

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting is having a moment. From knitting and crochet to embroidery and quilting, more people — especially younger adults — are picking up hands-...

Trump signals weeks of fighting in war with Iran

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by Tehran’s retaliation across the region, the U.S. is now engaged in open conflict with Iran. The q...

Trump’s shadow hangs over the start of primary season

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Primary season is here, and even though President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot, his influence is shaping races across the country. Republican ca...

Epstein files fallout continues for rich and powerful

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

While the Clintons testified in closed-door Congressional hearings about what they know about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the fallout for ...

Sexpionage and how foreign spies use intimacy to steal secrets

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sex for secrets. In an age dominated by digital surveillance, human desire remains a vulnerability. Foreign intelligence agencies are still using inti...

Trump’s defiant message: US is ‘hottest country anywhere in the world’

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After a tumultuous start to his second term, President Donald Trump is looking to reset the reigning narrative about his leadership with Americans. In...

In rare rebuke, SCOTUS overturned Trump’s tariffs. What happens now?

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, the Supreme Court delivered a major ruling on presidential power — striking down a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s economic age...

Future of wind and solar farms in Trump's America

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

America needs affordable energy, and that demand sits at the crossroads of creating economic stability while balancing environmental responsibility. G...

Civil Rights icon Jesse Jackson left an indelible mark on America

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jesse Jackson spent decades as a public figure turning his moral convictions into public action. Jackson was a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient...

Gov. Wes Moore to Trump: “Please start doing your job!”

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Maryland Governor Wes Moore was taken aback when he learned that he wasn’t on President Donald Trump’s invite list for the White House’s annual ...

For nearly 20 years, the EPA has regulated greenhouse gases. No more.

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, the Trump administration announced it was repealing a 2009 determination called the endangerment finding. That finding had been the basis b...

Trumps’s approval rating could be a problem for GOP in the midterms

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the critical midterms approach, we’re taking a look at how Trump’s numbers may be influencing voters. At stake: 435 House seats, 35 Senate seat...

Politics of renaming a presidential memorial

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The fight over renaming The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Perf...

Chocolate wasn’t always romantic. How did it became a symbol of love?

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Chocolate wasn’t always sweet — or romantic. Once a ceremonial drink and even a form of currency, cacao has a long history before becoming a Valen...

Attorney General Pam Bondi repeatedly clashes with Democrats

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed repeatedly with Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday in a fiery hearing. Among other heated topi...

Are prediction markets democratizing information or gamifying war?

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Who will be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2028? What will the price of gold be at the end of the week? Who will win the World Cup? All of the...

US-Russia nuclear treaty called START expired. Should we be worried?

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time in over half a century, there are no nuclear arms controls in place between the world’s two largest nuclear powers, the US and Ru...

Is the Trump administration eroding freedom of the press?

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It started with the banning of the Associated Press from certain White House events over its refusal to use the term “Gulf of America” instead of ...

Was the FBI’s raid of Georgia’s Fulton County elections office legal?

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Two recent elections-related developments are playing out today that have some election officials concerned. The first relates to the FBI’s seizure ...

Brian Boitano, Christine Brennan on 2026 Winter Olympics and Team USA

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We are now just one day away from the roar of the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy. Team USA is on the hunt ...

Illegal sports betting by minors puts their mental health at risk

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Since the Supreme Court widely legalized sports wagering in 2018 the nation’s appetite for bets has exploded. U.S. betters made over a billion dolla...

Bad Bunny dominates Grammys in lead up to Super Bowl Sunday

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The 2026 Grammys saw major wins for artists like Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga, and also served up an impressive number of live performances...

Are social media giants like YouTube liable for addiction?

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A landmark trial asks whether social media giants like Instagram and YouTube knowingly designed addictive platforms, and if they can be held legally r...

A partial government shutdown looms

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis last Saturday, Democrats have taken a stand again...

Super Bowl LX sets up Patriots Seahawks rematch

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The NFL playoffs are now in the books. After a dramatic day of games last weekend, we now know the New England Patriots will face off against the Seat...

Lawsuits raise new safety questions about GLP-1 drugs

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are everywhere — but thousands of users now allege the medications caused severe, life-altering injuries includi...

Alex Pretti's death at the hands of US border patrol enrages Americans

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Another American citizen has been shot and killed by US immigration officers in Minneapolis as protests against ICE and border patrol intensify across...

Trump backs off force in Greenland standoff. What changed?

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After weeks of threats and escalating rhetoric, President Trump says he’s reached a framework with Denmark over Greenland — backing away from the ...

‘Sinners’ makes Oscar history with 16 nominations

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

2026 brought vampires, Shakespeare and ping pong to the big screen – all stories and performances riveting enough to put them in contention for Holl...

USA TODAY sits down with HHS Secretary RFK Jr. for an exclusive

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The healthcare system has been thrown into disarray since Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as Health and Human Services Secretary. He’s changed ...

How ‘crunchy mom’ vaccine skeptics joined RFK Jr.’s MAHA movement

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What started as organic food and holistic parenting has evolved into something far more political. USA TODAY's extremism reporter Will Carless investi...

Americans weigh in on Trump's first year

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been exactly one year since President Donald Trump took the oath of office and laid out his vision for America. As he begins the second year of...

Why “We Do Not Care” became a rallying cry for menopausal women

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The phrase “we do not care” may sound flippant—but for many women, it’s a form of freedom. Melani Sanders, founder of the We Do Not Care Club,...

Renee Good shooting galvanizes protests across the country

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7th, Americans across the country took notice. The vi...

What’s really at stake in the battle for Warner Bros?

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A brewing battle involving Netflix, Paramount and Warner Bros. has escalated from deal rumors into lawsuits, political pressure and a broader fight ov...

Supreme Court hears arguments in landmark transgender athletes’ cases.

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court heard arguments for two landmark transgender athlete cases on Tuesday – one based in West Virginia and one in Idaho - both of whic...

Trump has recently talked about military moves in Iran and Greenland.

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The reach of American might is rapidly spreading in real time. In the aftermath of recent US military action in Venezuela, the Trump administration is...

Stay or go? Venezuelan immigrants react to Maduro's capture

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On January 3, 2026, US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him to New York to face drug charges. While his arrest has led to...

Trump's attempt to rewrite Jan 6 history leaves facts unchanged

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In an attempt to rewrite history, the White House published a new web page on January 6th, calling the people who charged the Capitol and assaulted Ca...

Will affordability remain out of reach in 2026?

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum, 2025 was a year of economic uncertainty for many Americans. Shifting tariff policies, stubbornl...

Inside the push to modernize the US nuclear arsenal

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the worst-cast scenario no one wants to talk about: what happens if America's nuclear missile silos are attacked? The Minuteman III is a powerf...

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife are in US custody

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Early in the hours of Saturday morning, US forces descended on the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. Hours later, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and...

In 2026, Trump will face a myriad of political challenges

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump enters 2026 facing mounting pressure on multiple fronts — rising health care costs for millions of Americans, a Supreme Court...

Why losing trust in expertise threatens democracy

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From “follow the science” during COVID to universities accused of activism, the gap between experts and the public is widening. Roger Pielke Jr. e...

Cannabis drinks are surging in popularity

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new beverage has been showing up in bars and on store shelves: the cannabis cocktail, a hemp-derived drink that contains CBD and oftentimes THC as w...

A look ahead to the momentous decisions awaiting SCOTUS in 2026

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

2025 was a big year for the Supreme Court, as it repeatedly handed win after win to the Trump administration. Emergency Orders, also known as the shad...

America's fastest growing homeless population? Kids.

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

America’s housing affordability crisis has led to a sharp increase in homelessness. And, according to the latest count by the US Department of Housi...

What home means to people whose lives were reshaped by displacement

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Home isn’t just a structure. It’s memory, identity and belonging. USA TODAY National Columnist Suzette Hackney joins The Excerpt to discuss her ye...

At 28, Malala Yousafzai is finally finding her way

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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, target...

Peanuts turns 75 and still speaks to the child in all of us

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For 75 years, Charles Schultz’s Peanuts gang has reflected our humor and hope, as well as our struggle to navigate some of life’s everyday curveba...

Dr. Eric Topol shares a new vision for living longer and better

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 cardiolog...

The 'dirtbag' who built Patagonia — and gave it away

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Patagonia is worth billions. But founder Yvon Chouinard never wanted the title of billionaire. From his days as a dirtbag climber to his reluctant rol...

How do you define American cuisine?

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

In 2025, music fans got Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift – and AI.

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Can Baltimore finally turn the corner on vacant homes?

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Baltimore has spent decades trying — and often failing — to solve one of its most stubborn problems: thousands of vacant homes hollowing out neigh...

Beloved director Rob Reiner leaves behind a legacy of iconic films

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tributes to the beloved Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have poured in since their tragic deaths on Sunday sent shockwaves thro...

As ICE ramps up enforcement across the country we asked: Who are they?

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Masked ICE agents have become the face of President Donald Trump’s nationwide deportation campaign, as viral videos of violent arrests captivate aud...

In exclusive interview, Nancy Pelosi shares bullish outlook for House

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 pa...