The Excerpt

Senate control could come down to races that barely looked competitive a year ago. Arit John, a USA TODAY senior politics correspondent, explains why Republicans are spending heavily in Texas, why Iowa has become a true toss-up and how tariffs, gas prices and affordability have transformed the map.

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Republicans built an early advantage with podcasts and online creators. Now Democrats are trying to catch up. USA TODAY Politics Trending Reporter Emily Condon breaks down the growing influencer battle and how today's experiments could reshape political campaigning by 2028.

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A blue wave could be on the horizon. But how accurate are the polls? USA TODAY chief political correspondent Phillip Bailey breaks down what's at stake in the 2026 midterms, hurdles that pollsters face and the races that could change everything.

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Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy faces criticism after releasing an attack ad that featured the estranged mother of his opponent, Democrat candidate Amy Acton. Senior correspondent Arit John joins The Excerpt to discuss the ad and why the race for governor is so close.

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President Trump is offering $1 million for reports of voter fraud that lead to an arrest and conviction. But how would the reward actually work, and how widespread is voter fraud? USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen breaks down the offer, the voter fraud evidence and what voters could encounter at the polls.

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President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot, but he’s a major force in the midterms as the Senate battleground expands. USA TODAY National News Reporter Zac Anderson explains how Trump is shaping Republican strategy and why once-safe races are getting competitive. 

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Republicans rank patriotism as the value America needs most. Democrats rank it last. USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page examines what a striking new survey reveals about the values dividing the parties and why that gap could make governing after the midterms even harder. 

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One job seeker has submitted more than 500 applications over two years and still hasn't landed a permanent role. Carl Van Horn, public policy professor at Rutgers University, joins us to examine why hiring has slowed and why many qualified candidates say they're struggling to get interviews.

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In The Hidden Cost of Nuclear Deterrence, USA TODAY explores how New Mexico still lives with the legacy of the Trinity test, as the U.S. plans to expand nuclear weapons production. This project was produced by USA TODAY's Zulekha Nathoo and Lamar Salter, and was made possible by support from Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners

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What happens after a U.S. deportation flight lands in Haiti? USA TODAY National News Reporter Chris Kenning explains what deportees face after arrival, from limited assistance and separation from family to gang-controlled roads, violence and a devastating humanitarian crisis.

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