The Excerpt

PCB cleanup workers claim they were left unprotected from carcinogens

12 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, were built to last. So, beginning in the late 1920’s billions of pounds of it were produced across the country f...

Forget night clubs. Morning raves are where it's at.

11 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What’s it like to party not TILL but AT the break of dawn? In an era when so many interactions happen through screens, a growing number of people ha...

Is the 2026 World Cup about to change soccer forever?

10 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here, and it is unlike anything the sport has staged before. Spanning three countries and expanding in size, this tournamen...

They rejected Biden’s 2020 win. Now they’re running for office.

09 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Among the Republicans running for governor of politically competitive states in 2026 are people like Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jo...

Turmoil at ’60 Minutes’ after Pelley and two others are fired

08 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For over 50 years, CBS’ legendary “60 Minutes” has been a stalwart of the investigative reporting tradition. But a recent shakeup to leadership ...

At Tribeca, music films are moving beyond the screen

05 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Music documentaries are a major part of the festival circuit, but this year at Tribeca, they’re becoming something bigger: live events, legacy proje...

Melinda French Gates is making a $215 million bet on women's health

04 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Melinda French Gates is one of the biggest donors to women’s health through Pivotal, her foundation. Now she’s investing another $215 million to i...

Can Hollywood help heal America's divides?

03 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The United States is marking its 250th anniversary at a moment of deep division over politics, rights, power and who belongs in the nation’s story. ...

Trump admin abandons Anti-Weaponization Fund after headwinds mount

02 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In a surprise move, the Trump administration announced that it was retreating from a $1.776 billion-dollar Anti-Weaponization Fund that would have bee...

Who gets to define what it means to be American?

01 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the prologue of “All We Say: The Battle for American Identity” author Ben Rhodes asks two questions that get right to the heart of this battle....

2028 primary map fight heats up among Democrats

29 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As Democrats turn the page on 2024, a new high-stakes fight is underway over which states will kick off the 2028 presidential primaries. Twelve states...

Why the US won’t treat Ebola patients at home

28 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On May 16, the World Health Organization called the Ebola outbreaks in eastern Congo and Uganda a global health emergency. So far, there have been mor...

Green card application process now forces immigrants to return home

27 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A significant change to the green card application process announced last week could upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in America. Th...

Kinship families raise millions of children. Where is the support?

26 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of children in the U.S. live with grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives, often after a family crisis. But many kinship families tak...

Memphis defined American music. How did it miss out on the money?

25 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You can’t tell the story of American music without the blues, which means you can’t tell it without Memphis. From Beale Street’s blues bars to t...

Why Trump’s $1.776B DOJ fund is raising alarms

22 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new $1.776 billion Justice Department fund is raising big questions — about who could qualify and how the money might be used. The “anti-weaponi...

Trump defies low approval ratings with win in key Kentucky race

21 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ever since Indiana state Republicans failed to heed Trump’s redistricting demand, President Donald Trump has been on a tear, working to reshape the ...

Zoonotic spillover diseases, like hantavirus and ebola, are on the rise

20 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A deadly cluster of hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship has raised new questions about how rare diseases spread, and whether another pandemic cou...

US debt now tops GDP as interest costs surge

19 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

America’s debt has crossed a striking threshold: it’s now bigger than the economy itself. Questions about what that means start to take shape when...

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert takes its final bow.

18 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, late‑night television has provided us with a shared end‑of‑day ritual made up of monologues and jokes that shape our political conv...

Why the ATF revoked fewer gun dealer licenses in 2025

15 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, better known as the ATF, dramatically reduced the number of gun dealers who had their license...

Cuban political prisoners central to ongoing negotiations with US

14 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the moment the Trump administration toppled former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s longtime ally Cuba has been in the White H...

In creating CNN, Ted Turner changed the way we saw the world

13 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, passed away last week at the age of 87. His impact on cable TV and the news industry writ large will endure for genera...

Does Spirit’s collapse signal the end of cheap flights?

12 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Summer travel season is getting underway. But this year, travelers are facing a perfect storm of new pressures in the airline industry. The budget air...

Is El Niño about to reshape the Pacific again?

11 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

La Niña may be gone, but its impact doesn’t end when the pattern fades, according to a new study from NOAA researchers and the Cooperative Institut...

Will SCOTUS Voting Rights Act ruling disenfranchise voters?

08 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that will likely impact Black voters for generations. The 6-3 decision, which split along conservative an...

Inside a hockey empire that turned youth sports into big business

07 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The story of Murry Gunty is about more than a hockey dad interested in youth sports. It’s about a businessman who saw an opportunity to build a lucr...

Why Gen Z is getting fired after being hired

06 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gen Z workers are entering the job market, and in some cases, getting fired just as quickly. A recent survey found that many employers say they’ve l...

The must-see movies of summer 2026—and a surprising frontrunner

05 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hollywood’s summer movie season is here and it’s packed with big names, familiar franchises and high-stakes bets at the box office. From "Spider-M...

Her son was taken and killed in Gaza. She still chooses humanity.

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, 254 people were abducted. One of them was 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin. In his mother R...

Hegseth seeks to justify $1.5T budget while defending $23B war in Iran

01 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

today marks the 60th day since the start of the U.S. war in Iran. According to the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the president must now seek congress...

Why this year’s Kentucky Derby is wide open

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This year's Kentucky Derby returns with a wide open field and no clear favorite. Courier Journal reporters Jason Frakes and Kirby Adams join The Excer...

Does Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller need a cancer warning?

29 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Should companies be legally required to warn consumers that their product might cause cancer? If your company is selling tobacco, that answer has been...

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...