To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, USA TODAY sent reporters out on the road, and into history, to follow the journeys that built America – from the Underground Railroad and Route 66 to Paul Revere’s midnight ride and beyond. USA TODAY reporters Trevor Hughes, Sarah D. Wire and Karissa Waddick join The Excerpt to share what they saw and what those stories tell us about our history and where the country might be headed in its next 250 years.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. Related USA 250 stories: American Flag, Oregon Trail, Space Race, Mississippi River, Paul Revere, Route 66, Underground Railroad See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s no shortage of news coming from Washington these days: The war in Iran, disputes between the president and Congress over legislation such as the bipartisan housing bill and the 250th anniversary of country’s founding this weekend. House Speaker Mike Johnson joins The Excerpt in an exclusive interview hosted by USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected].  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Another Supreme Court term has wrapped with major rulings that reshape key national debates. The court upheld birthright citizenship, rejecting a central push from President Donald Trump, while also siding with states on restricting transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports. USA TODAY Court Reporter Aysha Bagchi joins The Excerpt to unpack what these decisions mean.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 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.

It’s being called the wedding of the century! Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are getting married, and it looks like it’s going to be big! New York City, Madison Square Garden BIG and all the clues are pointing to July 3rd. The rumors have run wild. Some say it’s a distraction. Others think MSG will be the big party “for everyone they’ve ever met,” while the actual ceremony will be somewhere private and intimate. So, what is really going on? From the celebrity guests to the luxe venue, music performances to the wedding dress we are breaking it down. USA TODAY Reporters Bryan West, Melissa Ruggieri and Morgan Evans join Senior Entertainment Correspondent Ralphie Aversa on this special episode of The Excerpt.* An earlier version of this podcast referenced a prior release of Toy Story that included a Taylor Swift song. It was Toy Story 5. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected].  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A bipartisan group of secretaries of state is warning that the federal government may no longer be a reliable hub for election threat information, according to an internal memo shared exclusively with USA TODAY. The concern is that state officials will no longer have access to the kind of real-time cyber and physical threats that only the federal government can provide. USA TODAY Senior National News Reporter Sarah Wire joins The Excerpt to explain what the memo says, why states are trying to fill the gaps themselves and what this could mean for November’s midterms.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 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.

The Supreme Court has ended a humanitarian program that let many Haitian and Syrian immigrants stay in the United States temporarily, a decision that could upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of people along with the communities where they live and work. The ruling is a major win for President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration agenda, raising urgent questions about what happens next for affected families. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe joins The Excerpt to walk through the decision and what happens next.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected].  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Americans are stretched thin and you probably know why: Housing. It’s become increasingly, persistently unaffordable, and for many, simply out of reach. Americans are moving less, are forming fewer households and are spending too much of their income on housing according to an annual report just released by Harvard. Will Trump end up signing the 21st Century Road to Housing Act now on his desk and if he does, will it make housing any more affordable? Francis Torres, Director of Housing & Infrastructure for the Bipartisan Policy Center, joins The Excerpt to share his analysis of the crisis.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 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.

President Donald Trump is testing his own party’s patience on Capitol Hill. Last week, he told Senate Republicans to cancel a major confirmation hearing, complicating their effort to renew a key antiterrorism law and adding to a growing list of frustrations for GOP lawmakers. Trump’s approach has some Republicans warning that the president is undermining the very results he wants. Will they be able to find common ground while they still have the power to execute on Trump’s agenda? USA TODAY Congressional Reporter Zach Schermele joins The Excerpt now to explain why Senate Republicans are scrambling and what it could mean for the party heading into the midterms. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 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.

In “The God Test,” Robert Wright argues that the real challenge of AI isn’t just building smarter machines—it’s deciding whether we can evolve, morally and politically, fast enough to develop an AI that’s mutually beneficial. As these systems begin to mirror—and amplify—human intelligence, agency, and even our flaws, the stakes become existential. Humans have shown that we can evolve. The question is: Will we? Author Robert Wright joins The Excerpt to talk about his new book.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 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.

BookTok helped readers find community online. Now, some fans are taking that connection into the real world through literary tourism. USA TODAY Books Reporter Clare Mulroy joins The Excerpt to talk about joining a Percy Jackson-inspired trip through Cairo, Athens and Rome, where readers visited ancient sites, completed quests and bonded over the books that shaped them. She also explains why literary tourism is growing, what readers are really paying for and how book lovers can build their own story-inspired experiences closer to home.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 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.