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Jesse Jackson spent decades as a public figure turning his moral convictions into public action https://www.usatoday.com/live-story/news/nation/2026/02/17/jesse-jackson-dies-live-updates/88715148007/. Jackson was a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, a Democratic presidential candidate and one of the world's best-known Black activists. Following a lengthy illness, Jesse Jackson died earlier this week on the morning of Tuesday, February 17th. He was 84 years old. USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes joins The Excerpt to explore the life and legacy of civil rights icon Jesse Jackson. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore was taken aback when he learned that he wasn’t on President Donald Trump’s invite list https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/18/maryland-wes-moore-trump-potomac-spill/88746156007/ for the White House’s annual dinner for governors, a historically bipartisan event. As a leading figure in the Democratic Party a larger question looms, though: how does he think his party can prove to voters that they’ve figured out a way forward heading into this year’s midterm elections? Gov. Wes Moore joins The Excerpt to share thoughts on all things politics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last week, the Trump administration announced it was repealing a 2009 determination called the endangerment finding. That finding had been the basis by which the EPA had assumed the right to regulate greenhouse gases for nearly 20 years. How will its repeal impact Americans https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/12/trump-repeals-landmark-epa-climate-finding/88641826007/ and is the Supreme Court likely to join this heated debate? Michael Gerrard, a law professor at Columbia University, joins The Excerpt to share his insights regarding the legal, political and scientific issues at play. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
As the critical midterms approach, we’re taking a look at how Trump’s numbers may be influencing voters https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/16/trump-approval-rating-maga-midterms/88648483007/. At stake: 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, 39 governorships -- and the nation's political direction for the next two years. USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page joins The Excerpt to share her insights. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 Performing Arts has led to a reckoning about the meaning attached to presidential memorials and arguments about who we are. From marble monuments to cultural institutions, what do presidential memorials tell us https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/23/trump-naming-kennedy-center-gulf-washington-airport/88282596007/ about not only our past, but our present? For Presidents Day we decided to dig into that with one of the nation’s leading voices on memory and memorials, James E. Young, professor emeritus of English and Judaic & Near Eastern Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 Valentine’s Day staple. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/usa250/2026/02/12/chocolate-us-history-250/88425851007/Harvard Professor Carla Martin explains how marketing, industrialization and chemistry helped turn chocolate into a symbol of love — and why men buy the most chocolate one week a year. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed repeatedly with Democrats https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/11/pam-bondi-jeffrey-epstein-files-stock-market/88624930007/on the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday in a fiery hearing. Among other heated topics was the release of the Epstein documents and the redactions and lack thereof on those files. Top House Committee Democrat, Representative Jamie Raskin, accused the Justice Department of redacting the names of multiple men for political reasons. USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Aysha Bagchi joins The Excerpt to share her reporting. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 these are relatively benign bets you can make today. But there are other bets that maybe aren’t so benign, like will Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro be removed from office by the end of January? That well-timed bet, made in the hours before the U.S. captured and extracted Maduro, netted the anonymous investor who made it $400,000. Are prediction markets democratizing information https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/betting-on-war-prediction-markets-and-the-corruption-of-national-security/as some argue or are we monetizing reality in a way that incentivizes perverse motives? Alex Goldenberg, Fellow at Rutgers University, joins The Excerpt to explain how these markets work and the risks they pose financially and politically. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 Russia. With a rising China growing its nuclear arsenal while it continues to assert its power on the international stage, we ask, is this the beginning of a new Cold War era? Ankit Panda, a senior fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins The Excerpt to dig into the critical geopolitical, economic and military concerns at the heart of this story. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 “Gulf of Mexico.” Then there was a recent FBI search of a Washington Post reporter’s home. And then in January two journalists, including former CNN host, Don Lemon were arrested following an immigration protest at Cities Church in St Paul, Minnesota. What’s happening to freedom of the press? https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/02/04/first-amendment-minnesota-church-don-lemon-fort/88480420007/ First Amendment scholar RonNell Andersen Jones, professor of law at the University of Utah, joins The Excerpt to dig into all of it. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Two recent elections-related developments are playing out today that have some election officials concerned. The first relates to the FBI’s seizure of election documents in Georgia https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2026/02/04/fulton-county-officials-want-2020-election-materials-back-in-new-motion/88507126007/, a state whose election President Donald Trump continues to falsely claim he won in 2020. The second involves recent public comments made by the president that elections should be nationalized in 15 states. Both of these actions may be illegal. Has the Trump administration crossed a line USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Aysha Bagchi joins The Excerpt to unpack the story. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 for gold https://www.usatoday.com/sports-seriously/milan-magic/ as figure skater Ilia Malinin – who some have dubbed the ‘quad god’ - pushes the sport of ice skating to dizzying heights. USA TODAY National Sports Columnist Christine Brennan and Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Boitano, the hosts of USA TODAY’s Milan Magic podcast and vodcast, join The Excerpt to share what they're most excited about. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 dollars worth of bets in 2025 on sports alone. This year’s Super Bowl is expected to attract $1.7 billion in legal U.S. wagers. But investigators are finding that there’s also been a surge in illegal betting by minors. Are sportsbooks putting our children in harm’s way? https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2026/02/03/draftkings-fanduel-betting-apps-busting-kids/88378160007/ USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Nick Penzenstadler joins The Excerpt to share his reporting. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The 2026 Grammys saw major wins for artists like Bad Bunny https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2026/02/01/grammy-awards-highlights-2026/88301617007/, Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga, and also served up an impressive number of live performances. But beyond the spectacle and the awarding of Grammy statuettes, the night also highlighted the bridge between headlines about immigration policy and ICE and how music often defines our most challenging cultural moments. USA TODAY National Music Reporter Melissa Ruggieri joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss the biggest night in music. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A landmark trial asks whether social media giants like Instagram and YouTube knowingly designed addictive platforms, https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2026/01/27/tiktok-settles-social-media-addiction-lawsuit/88377911007/ and if they can be held legally responsible. Clay Calvert, nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to break down the case. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis last Saturday, Democrats have taken a stand against the Trump administration’s immigration policy. While the Senate did reach a short-term deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/29/government-shutdown-2026-updates/88411915007/, because the House is out of session, a partial government shutdown could still begin on Saturday. USA TODAY Congressional Reporter Zach Schermele joins The Excerpt from the Capital with the latest. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 Seattle Seahawks for Super Bowl LX https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/super-bowl/2026/01/25/seahawks-patriots-super-bowl-60-storylines/88353648007/. What kind of drama can we expect to see on the field? USA TODAY Senior NFL Columnist Jarrett Bell joins The Excerpt to dig into all things NFL. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are everywhere — but thousands of users now allege the medications caused severe, life-altering injuries including everything from stomach paralysis and colon ruptures to sudden blindness. Drugmakers deny the allegations and say the medications are safe when used as directed. USA TODAY investigative data reporter Austin Fast explains what patients are alleging in court, how widespread GLP-1 use has become and how drug companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are responding. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Another American citizen has been shot and killed by US immigration officers in Minneapolis as protests against ICE and border patrol intensify across the nation. Thirty-seven-year-old Alex Pretti was an ICU nurse who treated veterans. Meanwhile in Washington, Democrats are threatening to pull out of the government funding deal reached last week because of the money earmarked for expanding immigration enforcement. If they do so, that would trigger another government shutdown. Has the country reached an inflection point? USA TODAY Breaking News Reporter Christopher Cann joins The Excerpt to break down all the new developments. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
After weeks of threats and escalating rhetoric, President Trump says he’s reached a framework with Denmark over Greenland https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/01/22/trump-us-military-access-greenland/88298857007/— backing away from the use of force. USA TODAY White House correspondent Francesca Chambers breaks down what’s actually on the table. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2026 brought vampires, Shakespeare and ping pong to the big screen – all stories and performances riveting enough to put them in contention for Hollywood’s highest honor – the Oscar. With “Sinners” record-breaking 16 nominations, this year’s awards are already historic. But who will walk away with Oscar gold? USA TODAY Entertainment Reporter Ralphie Aversa joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss both the highs and the heartbreak following the announcement of this year’s Oscar nominees. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The healthcare system has been thrown into disarray since Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as Health and Human Services Secretary https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/17/rfk-jr-on-vaccines-meat-and-microdosing-usa-todays-interview/88193481007/. He’s changed the childhood vaccine schedule that has been in place for decades, released a new set of dietary guidelines that emphasizes more protein while calling for an end to the “war” on saturated fats, cancelled billions of dollars in grants and, last but not least, launched a cultural movement called Make America Healthy Again. Is he succeeding in that seemingly noble goal? USA TODAY Will Carless sat down for an exclusive interview with the MAHA leader. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What started as organic food and holistic parenting has evolved into something far more political. USA TODAY's extremism reporter Will Carless investigates how “crunchy moms” became a powerful force https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/20/vaccines-crunchy-moms-rfk-extremely-normal/88193132007/ inside the MAHA — Make America Healthy Again — movement, why anti-vaccine beliefs spread so effectively online and how Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fits into the story. Public health experts warn the consequences could reshape trust in medicine itself. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 his second term, USA TODAY spoke to dozens of Americans https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/18/a-year-into-trump-second-term-america/88037566007/ across the country to hear their take on how the president’s policies have impacted their lives. USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes joins The Excerpt to share some of their stories. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The phrase “we do not care” may sound flippant—but for many women, it’s a form of freedom https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2026/01/12/melani-sanders-we-do-not-care-club-menopause-book/87705311007/. Melani Sanders, founder of the We Do Not Care Club, joins The Excerpt to explain how her viral posts opened up overdue conversations about perimenopause, vulnerability, and self-worth and why midlife women are redefining what—and who—they’re willing to show up for. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 video of her shooting went viral https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/15/minneapolis-ice-shooting-protests-live-updates/88190465007/?tbref=hp and almost instantaneously, two different versions of what really happened took hold. In one version, the ICE agent was righteously defending his own life with the shooting. In the other, a federal officer had criminally shot and killed an innocent woman. Has the tide turned for how Americans feel about immigration enforcement? For some Minneapolis residents the killing has brought back painful memories https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/14/george-floyd-minneapolis-renee-good-protests/88140745007/ of the killing of George Floyd six years ago. USA TODAY Breaking News Reporter Christopher Cann joins The Excerpt to dig into all of it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A brewing battle involving Netflix, Paramount and Warner Bros. has escalated from deal rumors into lawsuits, political pressure and a broader fight over who controls the future of entertainment. The outcome of this fight could determine what audiences watch, how much they pay and how much power a single company holds over some of Hollywood’s most valuable libraries. CNN Chief Media Analyst Brian Stelter joins The Excerpt to break down what’s really at stake for audiences. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Supreme Court heard arguments for two landmark transgender athlete cases on Tuesday – one based in West Virginia and one in Idaho - both of which were brought by transgender women contesting the legality of their state’s ban https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/13/supreme-court-transgender-athletes-sports/88163125007/ on transgender female athletes. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe joins The Excerpt to share her analysis. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 considering military interventions in even more countries. Has the president’s “America First” promise faded https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/10/trump-military-intervention-greenland-venezuela-iran/88033967007/, giving rise to what some have called the “Don-roe Doctrine”? USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers joins The Excerpt to talk about Trump's increasing bluster with regards to Iran, Greenland, Colombia, Cuba and beyond. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 questions regarding who will control Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, Venezuelan immigrants are now left wondering https://tinyurl.com/3h6zyj6x how long they will be allowed to remain in the U.S. USA TODAY National News Reporter Lauren Villagran joins The Excerpt to discuss how the fall of Maduro is playing out in Venezuelan immigrant communities in America. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
