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The Excerpt

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

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
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Latest Episodes

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Should companies be legally required to warn consumers that their product might cause cancer? If your company is selling tobacco, that answer has been yes since 1965. But what if your product is just for lawns and is regulated by the EPA? That’s prec... more

The setting was the same as it’s always been: the elegant ballroom in the basement of the Washington Hilton. There, the president, vice president and other high-ranking officials gathered with around 2500 guests to celebrate freedom of speech. But in... more

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Generative AI is making it easier than ever to create influencers who don’t actually exist. These synthetic personas can build audiences, promote products and even shape political conversations — often without people realizing they aren’t real. So wh... more

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Recent Guests

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?
Shane Elipot
Physical oceanographer, University of Miami
University of Miami, Department of Ocean Sciences
Episode: Doomscrolling alert: The Atlantic current may be headed for collapse
John Rogan
Professor of Geography at Clark University
Clark University
Episode: Wildfire season is already off to a dangerous start
Jim Nelson
Business editor, USA TODAY Network
USA TODAY Network / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Episode: 50 most iconic brands that built America
Ricardo Torres
Business reporter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY Network
Episode: 50 most iconic brands that built America
Ken Alltucker
Health reporter for USA Today
USA Today
Episode: The blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda can cost over $150,000
Claire Wilmot
Visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science
London School of Economics and Political Science
Episode: The reckoning over Jeffrey Epstein isn’t finished
Seth Vertelney
Soccer editor for USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports
Episode: The World Cup is just over two months away. Here’s what to watch.
Josh Meyer
USA Today domestic security correspondent
USA Today
Episode: A California sheriff is questioning election integrity

Host

Dana Taylor
Host of The Excerpt, USA TODAY

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 1.7k 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 States4 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 States5 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
#64
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#248
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#217
Germany/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#30
Norway/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#59
Finland/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#95
India/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Trump administration is working to reshape immigration courts
Q: What does the asylum grant rate signify, and why is it misleading to rely on it alone?
A high asylum grant rate in a particular court can be driven by demographics or case mix rather than judicial bias or fairness, so just looking at the percentage doesn't capture the broader context or the quality of due process.
The Trump administration is working to reshape immigration courts
Q: Tell me about the Trump administration's approach to immigration judges and how it affects due process.
The administration has fired a large number of judges and replaced many with temporary, six-month appointees who are more beholden to the executive branch, which critics say undermines independence and due process.
Redistricting battle now turns to Florida and the courts
Q: What does Florida's process look like and would it possibly be challenged in courts?
Florida is contemplating a special legislative session to redraw maps under pressure from both the White House and Republicans, with concerns that new maps could alter the partisan balance and invite court review, much like other states facing legal challenges.
Redistricting battle now turns to Florida and the courts
Q: Following Virginia Democrats' successful bid to redraw their congressional district map, what was your biggest takeaway from that election last Tuesday?
The takeaways center on how Democrats used aggressive tactics in redistricting to counter Republican gains, and how Republicans in some states are reconsidering the strategy as court challenges and political blowback intensify, potentially reshaping the balance in the House.
Doomscrolling alert: The Atlantic current may be headed for collapse
Q: What does this data reveal regarding how close we are to a point where the AMOC can't recover? And is there a real danger of collapse? And if so, what's the timeframe?
The data suggest a real-time, long-term decline in AMOC strength, with an average decrease of about 10% over 20 years, and projections that a collapse would likely unfold over a multidecadal timescale rather than immediately, potentially taking a century or more to reach drastic weakening depending on future emissions and climate processes.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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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2. Up First from NPR
3. NPR News Now
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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. Charlie Warzel
2. Shane Elipot
3. John Rogan
4. Jim Nelson
5. Ricardo Torres
6. Ken Alltucker
7. Claire Wilmot
8. Seth Vertelney

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