Podcast
The Excerpt
Hosted by USA TODAY · EN
Get context, not just headlines. Every weekday The Excerpt brings USA TODAY's award-winning journalists from across the nation together to unpack America's most pressing stories — from politics and culture to sports and entertainment — with host Dana Taylor.
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Episodes
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The World Cup is just over two months away. Here’s what to watch.
Apr 800:17:36Tap to summarizeThe 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 States, Canada and Mexico. What storylines can we expect? Seth Vertelney, Soccer Editor for USA TODAY Sports, joins The Excerpt to talk all things World Cup.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to 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.
Transcribe →If it works, why can’t doctors prescribe cannabis?
Apr 700:15:52Tap to summarizeCannabis is widely known as a recreational drug, illegal in some states and legal in others. But what do you know about cannabis-based therapies, often referred to as medical marijuana? For well over a century, compounds extracted from the marijuana plant, of which there are more than 500, have been used therapeutically for a range of medical applications, from treating anxiety to addressing pain. So where are all the clinical trials, and why are doctors still unable to prescribe medical cannabis? Dr. Staci Gruber, director of the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery at McLean Hospital and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss the current state of medical cannabis and CBD research.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to 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.
Transcribe →A California sheriff is questioning election integrity
Apr 600:09:33Tap to summarizeThe midterm elections are heating up and battlelines are being drawn in cities and towns across the country, in places like Riverside County California. That’s where a court battle is playing out between Sheriff Chad Bianco, a prominent election denier running for governor, and Democrats who say his seizure more than 60,000 ballots from a prior election is a political stunt that undermines public trust in voting. Even if you don’t call California home, it’s a political fight that could impact elections across the country. USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer joins The Excerpt to talk about what’s happening in Riverside and how that might reverberate in other counties as well.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to 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.
Transcribe →Why a border wall divides even Trump voters in Texas
Apr 300:15:26Tap to summarizeIn Big Bend, Texas, residents across party lines are voicing strong opposition to the Trump administration’s plans for a new border wall, arguing it would disrupt communities and threaten a beloved region along the Rio Grande. USA TODAY National News Reporter Lauren Villagran traveled to Big Bend and joins The Excerpt to share their concerns.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to 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.
Transcribe →Supreme Court hears high-stakes birthright citizenship case
Apr 300:12:58Tap to summarizeThe US Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in perhaps its most controversial case this term, the one involving birthright citizenship. On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to not recognize the citizenship of babies born in the United States if neither parent is a citizen or lawful permanent resident. The decision could impact about a quarter of a million babies born in the United States each year. It could also affect millions of others. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe joins The Excerpt to break down Wednesday’s arguments.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to 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.
Transcribe →Colorado conversion therapist is allowed to proceed, SCOTUS rules
Apr 100:10:14Tap to summarizeThe Supreme Court has issued a major ruling on conversion therapy — siding with a Colorado counselor who argued the state’s ban violated her free speech rights. The decision doesn’t strike down the law outright, but it raises new constitutional questions that could reshape similar bans across the country. USA TODAY Supreme Court correspondent Maureen Groppe breaks down what the court decided, why it was an 8–1 ruling, and what it could mean for LGBTQ+ youth, mental health care, and future legal challenges.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to 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.
Transcribe →How early porn exposure is impacting young men
Mar 3100:14:34Tap to summarizeWith smartphones and social media, pornography is more accessible than ever. Some young men say early exposure led to compulsive use that affected their relationships and daily lives. USA TODAY’s Rachel Hale explains what the research shows, why stigma keeps many from seeking help and how online forums have become a first step toward recovery.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to 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.
Transcribe →AI is playing a big role in the US-led war in Iran
Mar 3000:21:03Tap to summarizeThe 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 battle for hearts and minds is playing out. Are we entering a dangerous new evolution of warfare with AI? Aalok Mehta, director of the Wadhwani AI Center for CSIS, and Mehta Alimardani, associate director at WITNESS, join The Excerpt to share their insights.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to 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.
Transcribe →USA TODAY’s Women of the Year: Stories That Inspire
Mar 2900:11:55Tap to summarizeUSA TODAY’s Women of the Year honors women from diverse backgrounds and industries who are making a difference in their communities. In this special bonus episode of The Excerpt, USA Today Special Projects Producer and Host Zulekha Nathoo shares the stories of artists, executives, athletes and leaders from across the U.S. who, through their passion and commitment to excellence and service, inspire us to be a force for good. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to 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.
Transcribe →Will the Live Nation DOJ settlement reshape ticket sales?
Mar 2700:15:57Tap to summarizeBuying concert tickets already means high fees and limited choices. Add to that the headache of frustrating presales. So just how much does a proposed Department of Justice settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster loosen their grip on the market? Will the current system remain largely unchanged, or will fans actually notice a difference at checkout? Former Acting Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division Doha Mekki joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss the split over the proposed settlement in the antitrust case brought by the Biden administration’s DOJ, which ultimately included more than 40 states.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to 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.
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