Rephonic
Artwork for The Excerpt

The Excerpt

USA TODAY
Donald Trump
Supreme Court
Government Shutdown
Trump Administration
USA Today
Iran
ICE
Congress
Hamas
Tariffs
Russia
Mental Health
Israel
Transgender Rights
Immigration Enforcement
Peanuts
Voting Rights Act
National Guard
Social Media
Affordable Care Act

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes127Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsDaily News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Excerpt

Latest Episodes

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 athle... more

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. So... more

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 wi... more

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 ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Bryan West
USA Today reporter covering Taylor Swift (national music reporter)
USA Today
Episode: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce: The big wedding date is finally here!
Morgan Evans
Style and beauty reporter
USA Today
Episode: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce: The big wedding date is finally here!
Francis Torres
Director of Housing & Infrastructure, Bipartisan Policy Center
Bipartisan Policy Center
Episode: On housing, America agrees. Trump stands alone
Robert Wright
Author of The God Test, thinker on AI ethics and civilization
Author, The God Test
Episode: Does AI mark an inflection point for civilization?
Clare Mulroy
USA TODAY Books reporter
USA TODAY
Episode: BookTok is turning favorite books into real-life trips
Samuel Moyn
Professor of Law and history, Yale University; author of Gerontocracy in America
Yale University
Episode: Are young people locked out of power in the US?
Tamia Fowkes
Public investigator
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Episode: PCB cleanup workers say they weren’t protected. Now Scot has cancer.
Caitlin Looby
Great Lakes and Environment Reporter
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Episode: PCB cleanup workers say they weren’t protected. Now Scot has cancer.
Landon Donovan
Former US Men's National Soccer Team forward
Former professional soccer player
Episode: Is the 2026 World Cup about to change soccer forever?

Host

Dana Taylor
Host of The Excerpt, USA TODAY network correspondent

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Top five was better

    I do not like the current format. The old format with multiple topics was better.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    We need snow
    United States6 months ago
  • Very good, informative article podcast

    Dana Taylor does a very good job. I did prefer the format with the top five stories however, still enjoying the new format which is going deeper into just one story. at first I was disappointed but now I enjoy this podcast and have a separate podcast where I get the latest on multiple stories

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nickname, nickname, nickname
    United States6 months ago
  • Miss Taylor Wilson as Host /What Was Once a Very Good Pod Changed Formats

    This was my go-to morning news podcast for 10 years but with Taylor Wilson gone, the new format is just terrible. Taylor has a fantastic voice and I looked forward to hearing him every morning. He had a great rapport with the journalists/guests. I was so sad to hear he is no longer the host. I’ve listened to him for years and loved that I could get the news headlines in a quick concise manner to start every day. The new format no longer serves me. Moved on.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NewsKnut
    United States7 months ago
  • Dana makes show hard to hear

    While i really like the show for the most part, Dana’s commentary is making it difficult to remain a listener. She is very left leaning and it shows up in her reporting. I get so much good info from the show but after almost 2 yrs of listening i may have to take a break bc there seems to be no end in sight for her reporting. The other podcasters stay very neutral and the reason ive stuck around but one would have thought after the election it would be been more about the news vs her opinion and ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Tplan
    United States8 months ago
  • I’d give it a zero if I could

    Been listening to this podcast for as long as I can remember, back when it was five things. I enjoyed the single subject versions on the weekend, but to do it every day has just ruined this podcast for me. After looking at the other reviews, I believe everyone else is just as disappointed, I understand that producers and announcers leave, but to change the whole premise of the podcast is ludicrous. I hope that you guys learn from this mistake and I wish you nothing but luck.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Countryjoemcdonald
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive feedback often highlights strong guest selections and credible analysis.
Critiques frequently focus on perceived partisan bias and longer deep-dive segments.
Some listeners express nostalgia for earlier formats and hosts, with mixed reception to format changes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#57
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#227
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#34
Saudi Arabia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#50
Ukraine/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#58
China/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#88
Colombia/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Do social media bans actually protect kids?
Q: What might a better model look like, if blanket bans are difficult to enforce?
Education and parental empowerment, along with state-level programs teaching safe use, and better tools for parents, may be a more effective long-term approach than outright bans.
Do social media bans actually protect kids?
Q: Walk us through the state of social media bans in the US, at the state and federal levels.
States have proposed bans while federal discussions continue; Supreme Court cautions that banning minors access broadly may raise First Amendment concerns, making implementation complex.
Do social media bans actually protect kids?
Q: What protections exist for children online and where are the biggest gaps?
The host and guest discuss that ultimately parents bear primary responsibility, platforms have different rules, and First Amendment constraints limit government ability to restrict access, with ongoing debate about how to balance safety and speech.
Trump and Iran agree to suspend war pending further negotiations
Q: Francesca, what did the president share about the possibility that an end to this war is in sight, and will Iran agree to not pursue a nuclear weapon?
Francesca explains the nuance that the final agreement hinges on subsequent negotiations, with significant divisions among allies about enforcement, timing, and whether Iran will commit to long-term nonproliferation steps as part of a broader settlement.
Trump and Iran agree to suspend war pending further negotiations
Q: Mr. President, you've been saying all week that this deal permanently prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. But the drafts of the deal that have been floating around barely mention Iran's nuclear program. So can you explain how exactly the deal achieves that goal?
The host and Francesca discuss that the preliminary agreement focuses on ending the war and reopening trading routes while leaving nuclear details for final negotiations, with assurances that ongoing talks will address uranium enrichment and containment rather than promising an outright permanent prohibition.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Excerpt

What is The Excerpt about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekday briefing that blends analysis from USA TODAY's seasoned reporters with a clear focus on the most consequential stories in politics, health, climate, and culture. Episodes frequently feature expert guests—epidemiologists, policymakers, journalists—dissecting complex issues from multiple angles, with an emphasis on context, implications, and practical takeaways for informed audiences. Notable is the mix of long-form policy discussion and timely reporting, plus a track record of hosting credible voices across government, journalism, and science. This show is likely to appeal to listeners who want deeper understanding beyond headlines, with a preference for data-driven insights and real-world impact.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Excerpt?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Excerpt. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Excerpt and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Excerpt get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Excerpt, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Excerpt?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Excerpt, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Excerpt have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Excerpt has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Excerpt?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Excerpt:

1. Apple News Today
2. Up First from NPR
3. Start Here
4. CNN 5 Things
5. Consider This from NPR

How many episodes of The Excerpt are there?

The Excerpt launched 11 years ago and published 127 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Excerpt?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Excerpt?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Excerpt from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Excerpt?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Excerpt. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Excerpt?

Recent guests on The Excerpt include:

1. Bryan West
2. Morgan Evans
3. Francis Torres
4. Robert Wright
5. Clare Mulroy
6. Samuel Moyn
7. Tamia Fowkes
8. Caitlin Looby

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days