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The Excerpt

USA TODAY
Donald Trump
Charlie Kirk
Government Shutdown
Supreme Court
USA Today
Trump Administration
ICE
Congress
Israel
Hamas
Tariffs
Iran
Russia
Mental Health
Jeffrey Epstein
Jimmy Kimmel
Gaza
Transgender Rights
Immigration Enforcement
Free Speech

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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Latest Episodes

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Recent Guests

Rick Jervis
USA Today investigative reporter
USA Today
Episode: Cuban political prisoners central to ongoing negotiations with US
Michael Socolow
Media scholar and professor of communication and journalism at the University of Maine
University of Maine
Episode: With CNN, Ted Turner profoundly changed the way we see the world
Zach Wichter
Consumer Travel Reporter, USA Today
USA Today
Episode: Does Spirit’s collapse signal the end of cheap flights?
Kenny Jacoby
Investigative reporter for USA Today
USA Today
Episode: Inside a hockey empire that turned youth sports into big business
Suzy Welch
Professor at NYU's Stern School of Business
New York University
Episode: Why Gen Z is getting fired after being hired
Rachel Goldberg-Polin
Author of When We See You Again
Author
Episode: Her son was taken and killed in Gaza. She still chooses humanity.
Jason Frakes
Courier Journal horse racing reporter
Courier Journal (USA TODAY Network)
Episode: Why this year’s Kentucky Derby is wide open
Kirby Adams
Lifestyle and entertainment reporter
Courier Journal
Episode: Why this year’s Kentucky Derby is wide open
Charlie Warzel
Staff writer at The Atlantic and author of Galaxy Brain newsletter
The Atlantic
Episode: AI-generated influencers are here. Can you tell who’s real?

Host

Dana Taylor
Host of The Excerpt, USA TODAY

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 States4 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 States5 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 States6 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 States6 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 States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listener feedback shows appreciation for deep dives and journalist expertise, but some crave the traditional multi-topic roundup.
Positive mentions highlight strong host rapport and credible reporting from USA TODAY journalists.
Critiques note perceived bias in some hosts and a yearning for the former format and pacing.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#56
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#132
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#198
Germany/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#83
Norway/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#84
India/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#86
Finland/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is El Niño about to reshape the Pacific again?
Q: What's the biggest misconception listeners might have about El Niño coming every few years?
The biggest misconception is that all El Niños behave the same; impacts vary by region and vary from one event to another, so outcomes are not guaranteed or uniform across the country.
Is El Niño about to reshape the Pacific again?
Q: Dana, why is El Niño so difficult to predict?
Forecasts are challenging because the spring period (February–May) has historically been a tricky time for coupling the ocean and atmosphere, and models tend to be overconfident about near-term outcomes.
Is El Niño about to reshape the Pacific again?
Q: As you said, these two climate drivers, El Niño and La Niña, don't switch on and off cleanly. When are scientists expecting El Niño could emerge?
Most models suggest El Niño could develop in the June to August period, contingent on sustained warm sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific and the interaction with trade winds and atmospheric conditions.
Cuban political prisoners central to ongoing negotiations with US
Q: Rick, can you please start us out by telling us how you came to know these two prisoners, Castillo and Otero? Who are they and what made their story so compelling to you and your colleagues?
I learned about them through extensive reporting on Cuban civil society and protests; Castillo is a rapper and Otero Alcántara is a visual artist who became a symbol of dissent during Cuba's 2021 protests, and their voices from prison added a powerful, personal dimension to the story.
With CNN, Ted Turner profoundly changed the way we see the world
Q: What does the expert suggest about the future of news distribution and the role of media literacy?
The future depends on distribution models and subscription strategies, but the critical long-term factor is a literate audience that can critically evaluate sources and distinguish facts from misinformation.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Excerpt

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

This show aggregates reporting from USA TODAY's national team to unpack the most consequential headlines with depth and context. Episodes frequently center on politics, criminal justice, policy debates, and governance, often featuring investigative context, legal analysis, and interviews with reporters and subject-matter experts. A recurring strength is translating complex developments into actionable takeaways, with guests ranging from White House correspondents to filmmakers and researchers. A notable breadth across recent episodes includes civil rights investigations, prison reform storytelling, and conversations about energy, climate policy, and national security. The format has evolved from quick, multi-topic summaries to more focused,... more

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

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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.

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What guests have appeared on The Excerpt?

Recent guests on The Excerpt include:

1. Rick Jervis
2. Michael Socolow
3. Zach Wichter
4. Kenny Jacoby
5. Suzy Welch
6. Rachel Goldberg-Polin
7. Jason Frakes
8. Kirby Adams

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