Actor and author Andrew McCarthy set out to reconnect with old friends. What followed was a 10,000-mile road trip and a deeper look at something many men struggle to talk about: loneliness.

Along the way, McCarthy met men across the country, asking a simple question — are you lonely? Their answers reveal how friendships fade over time, why many men avoid vulnerability and what gets lost when connection disappears. USA TODAY Books Reporter Clare Mulroy speaks with McCarthy about what he learned on the road, how his own friendships changed and why showing up might be the simplest — and hardest — way to rebuild them.

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Income inequality in the U.S. is surging, reminiscent of the Gilded Age, according to Inequality.org, a project of the Institute for Policy Studies. According to the Congressional Budget Office, between 1979 and 2021 the average income of the top 0.1 percent of households grew almost 27 times as fast as that of the bottom 20 percent. Which brings us to a question being asked across the country today: Should the very rich be subject to a special tax? USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Daniel de Visé joins The Excerpt to discuss the possibility of a wealth tax.

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Only 90 miles separates the U.S. from Cuba, a roughly one-hour flight from Miami. But while close geographically, decades of geopolitical tensions have created a deep and lasting divide. That divide is now being tested by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers joins The Excerpt to discuss the current crisis in Cuba and the evolution of Marco Rubio.

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It’s not if, but when the next major power grid failure will happen. Major recent failures have exposed the grid’s vulnerabilities, from the massive Northeast blackout in 2003 to the deadly Texas power outages during the winter of 2021. Add to that the critical fire risks caused by aging transmission lines, the cause of California’s deadliest and most destructive fire that decimated the town of Paradise back in 2018. How can we shore up the infrastructure that powers both our economy and our lives while meeting the needs of evolving demand and supply? University of Michigan Associate Professor Johanna Mathieu joins The Excerpt to explain where the pressure points are and what needs to happen to keep the lights on.

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Oil and water are both strategic in the war with Iran. Disruptions to either resource in the Middle East could further impact energy, food prices, fertilizer and other goods here at home. Amy Jaffe, director of the energy, climate justice, and sustainability lab at New York University, and Shafiqul Islam, director of the Water Diplomacy Program at Tufts University, join The Excerpt to explain the impact on Americans.

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As the U.S.-Israel war in Iran intensifies, it’s hard to imagine Iran was once an important U.S. ally. In this special episode, we lay out key inflection points in the history of US-Iranian relations and how they continue to shape the ongoing conflict today. Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, joins The Excerpt to share his insights and analysis.

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A critically important source of water for seven western states, the Colorado River is now running out of water. To fix the problem a public lands access group has proposed an ambitious plan to build eight massive desalination plants off the California coastline, turning ocean water into fresh water for farming, and reducing demand on the ailing Colorado River. The question is, will it work? USA TODAY National Reporter Trevor Hughes joins The Excerpt to break down the issues and what's at stake.

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Public health policy has become one of the most contentious fronts of the Trump administration. From cuts to Medicaid to RFK Jr.'s promotion of dubious theories on the causes of autism, some physicians say they feel compelled to run for office. President Donald Trump is also possibly losing support among MAHA Moms who object to his promotion of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate for use in agriculture. The conversation comes amid a federal court ruling striking down parts of Kennedy’s vaccine policies. USA TODAY National Reporter Sarah D. Wire explains what it could mean for the midterms.

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President Donald Trump says the SAVE America Act could “guarantee the midterms” for Republicans. The bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and expand ID requirements at polls. But critics warn it could create hurdles for millions of voters. USA TODAY Congressional Reporter Zach Schermele breaks down what’s in the bill and what its chances of passing are.

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March Madness is almost here, and the bracket picture is starting to come into focus. Is there a true favorite this year, or is the field wide open? USA TODAY college sports reporter Paul Myerberg joins The Excerpt to share which teams look built for a deep tournament run, which big-name programs could miss the bracket and the players who could turn March into their NBA breakout moment.

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