The Excerpt

4.1 (1.2K)
DAILY NEWS
UPDATED DAILY

Get context, not just headlines. Every weekday The Excerpt brings USA TODAY's award-winning journalists from across the nation together to unpack the nation’s most pressing stories — from politics and culture to sports and entertainment — with host Dana Taylor.

1D AGO

How an unlikely alliance saved the U.S. fishing industry

It wasn’t so long ago that America’s fisheries were in a state of collapse, with cratering fish stocks and well-meaning but impractical government regulations threatening the livelihoods of 1.6 million people and a $180 billion dollar industry. But then, an unlikely alliance of environmental activists and commercial fishermen kind of miraculously turned things around, leaving the nation’s four million square miles of fishing grounds healthier -- and more profitable -- than they’ve been in decades. Buddy Guindon, a commercial fisherman on the Texas Gulf Coast, and Scott Hickman, a charter fisherman who once saw Buddy and his ilk as ruthless competitors for ever-more-elusive fish join The Excerpt to share their stories. Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode transcript available here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 min
2D AGO

Are Trump's tariffs legal? The Supreme Court hears arguments

By imposing sweeping tariffs on foreign imports, President Donald Trump has turned US trade policy on its head. The question now before the Supreme Court is whether the president has the legal authority to increase tariffs without explicit congressional approval. Last month, President Trump said he might attend yesterday’s Supreme Court arguments in the case. He did not, but his statement underscores his investment here. Should he lose, the U.S. will have to return billions of dollars already collected, a logistical nightmare. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe joins The Excerpt to discuss yesterday’s oral arguments in the case. Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode transcript available here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 min
3D AGO

Democrats escape the political wilderness with Mamdani win

Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the Nov. 4 election not only makes him the leader of the Big Apple; It also turns him, for better or worse, into one of the most high-profile Democrats in the country. New York mayors always command national attention because of their role running America’s biggest city. Mamdani won’t take office until January. But for months, his face has been splashed across Americans’ television screens and news feeds. He’s the mayor-elect of New York. Will he also be America’s mayor? USA TODAY National Correspondent Michael Collins joins The Excerpt to explain. * This episode referred to Mamdani's generation incorrectly. He is part of Gen Y not Gen Z. Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at 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.

12 min
4D AGO

How SNAP became a political pawn in the government shutdown

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP — feeds 42 million Americans. But during the ongoing government shutdown, it’s been caught in the political crossfire. USA TODAY Senior National Reporter Sarah D. Wire explains how states are scrambling to keep benefits flowing, what the Trump administration’s new work rules mean for recipients and how food banks are bracing for a surge in demand. Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode transcript available here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 min
5D AGO

Thoughts on America's 250th birthday

On July 4th 2026, America will celebrate its 250th birthday. The United States is the world’s oldest and still-evolving experiment in democracy. From a political perspective, how have the last 250 years shaped the way this nation governs itself? And how have we, the governed, evolved in how we see ourselves? USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page, a journalist who has had the privilege of interviewing ten presidents out of a total of just 45 over the course of her career, joins The Excerpt to share her thoughts on this noteworthy occasion. Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode transcript available here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 min
OCT 31

Love gore and horror, the dark and scary? There’s a scientific reason why.

True crime, horror movies, even haunted houses — psychologist Coltan Scrivner says they all tap into a survival instinct. He explains how morbid curiosity evolved to help humans face threats and why those drawn to darkness might be more compassionate than we think. Episode transcript available here. Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at 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.

16 min
OCT 30

At 28, Malala Yousafzai is finally finding her way

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, targeted for advocating for girls’ rights to education. At 17, she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize, opening schools and speaking around the world with the Malala Fund. Now Malala is sharing a different side of herself in a new memoir, “Finding My Way.” USA TODAY Books Editor Clare Mulroy sat down with Malala to talk about her new memoir and how she feels about embracing her more ordinary self. Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode transcript available here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 min
OCT 29

Government shutdown enters week five with no end in sight

It has been 29 days since the federal government entered a shutdown, now just a week away from this becoming the longest government shutdown in US history. As the government has ground to a halt, millions of Americans face financial uncertainty while essential services tied to food assistance, heating, and healthcare hang in the balance. What will it take to reopen the government? USA TODAY Congress Reporter Zach Schermele joins The Excerpt to break down where we are with it all. Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode transcript available here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 min

See All (91)

Dana Taylor

Host
Taylor Wilson

Host

4.1

out of 5

1,199 Ratings

No longer a news summary

2d ago

debh

I miss Taylor Wilson, but would have gladly kept listening to a curated set of stories with Dana Taylor. Unfortunately they’ve shifted to a longer single-story each day - good stories, but not a format I’m interested in. Hope someone will update the podcast description to spare others the surprising discovery. Apple News Today is a good alternative for those seeking.
Like old format and miss Tylor

5d ago

Stacy, Dallas TX

I’ve been listened to this Podcast for a decade since it was called 5 things. I enjoy listening to Tylor summarize daily news, he is very professional and put lots of efforts on what he delivered to the audiences. He kept me engaging with the world and not missing the important incidents that I need to know. Not sure what happened to Tylor but he will be missed!
What happened to the news?!

3d ago

Dartholit

I used to listen to the excerpt along with a few other daily news podcasts from across the political spectrum to get a snapshot of the news from both sides. This podcast used to be great as it actually covered multiple stories, now it’s just covers one topic in medium detail. Terrible move.
Changed/No Notification

4d ago

Roberto2626

I hate when podcasts change their format or goal entirely and offer NO notification. Hate what they've done to 5 Things/The Excerpt. It's something completely different now.

Get context, not just headlines. Every weekday The Excerpt brings USA TODAY's award-winning journalists from across the nation together to unpack the nation’s most pressing stories — from politics and culture to sports and entertainment — with host Dana Taylor.