The Excerpt

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. Some say it’s a distraction. Others think MSG will be the big party “for everyone they’ve ever met,” while the actual ceremony will be somewhere private and intimate. So, what is really going on? From the celebrity guests to the luxe venue, music performances to the wedding dress we are breaking it down. USA TODAY Reporters Bryan West, Melissa Ruggieri and Morgan Evans join Senior Entertainment Correspondent Ralphie Aversa on this special episode of The Excerpt.

* An earlier version of this podcast referenced a prior release of Toy Story that included a Taylor Swift song. It was Toy Story 5. 

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 will no longer have access to the kind of real-time cyber and physical threats that only the federal government can provide. USA TODAY Senior National News Reporter Sarah Wire joins The Excerpt to explain what the memo says, why states are trying to fill the gaps themselves and what this could mean for November’s midterms.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 

Episode transcript available here. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 and work. The ruling is a major win for President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration agenda, raising urgent questions about what happens next for affected families. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe joins The Excerpt to walk through the decision and what happens next.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Americans are stretched thin and you probably know why: Housing. It’s become increasingly, persistently unaffordable, and for many, simply out of reach. Americans are moving less, are forming fewer households and are spending too much of their income on housing according to an annual report just released by Harvard. Will Trump end up signing the 21st Century Road to Housing Act now on his desk and if he does, will it make housing any more affordable? Francis Torres, Director of Housing & Infrastructure for the Bipartisan Policy Center, joins The Excerpt to share his analysis of the crisis.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 

Episode transcript available here. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump is testing his own party’s patience on Capitol Hill. Last week, he told Senate Republicans to cancel a major confirmation hearing, complicating their effort to renew a key antiterrorism law and adding to a growing list of frustrations for GOP lawmakers. Trump’s approach has some Republicans warning that the president is undermining the very results he wants. Will they be able to find common ground while they still have the power to execute on Trump’s agenda? USA TODAY Congressional Reporter Zach Schermele joins The Excerpt now to explain why Senate Republicans are scrambling and what it could mean for the party heading into the midterms. 

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 

Episode transcript available here. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In “The God Test,” Robert Wright argues that the real challenge of AI isn’t just building smarter machines—it’s deciding whether we can evolve, morally and politically, fast enough to develop an AI that’s mutually beneficial. As these systems begin to mirror—and amplify—human intelligence, agency, and even our flaws, the stakes become existential. Humans have shown that we can evolve. The question is: Will we? Author Robert Wright joins The Excerpt to talk about his new book.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 

Episode transcript available here. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BookTok helped readers find community online. Now, some fans are taking that connection into the real world through literary tourism. USA TODAY Books Reporter Clare Mulroy joins The Excerpt to talk about joining a Percy Jackson-inspired trip through Cairo, Athens and Rome, where readers visited ancient sites, completed quests and bonded over the books that shaped them. She also explains why literary tourism is growing, what readers are really paying for and how book lovers can build their own story-inspired experiences closer to home.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 

Episode transcript available here. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Foreign and national dignitaries, former presidents, acclaimed musicians and actors, friends, neighbors and family joined Former First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama in a dedication ceremony at the Obama Presidential Library which opens today, Juneteenth, on Chicago’s South Side. The former president delivered a speech that emphasized American ideals and the promise of America’s democratic experiment at its founding. USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page joins The Excerpt to share her thoughts on this historic opening.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 

Episode transcript available here. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump wrapped up his attendance at the G7 yesterday, sharing news of a 14-point agreement with Iran. Does this realistically signal the end to the war in Iran? This was also the first time Trump met with European leaders since the Iran war began - the source of much disagreement within NATO. Will the US reaffirm their commitment to the strategic alliance when it meets in July? White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers joins The Excerpt to break down the latest following the G7 Summit and talk about the future of NATO.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As concerns grow over children’s mental health, addictive algorithms and age-inappropriate content online, governments around the world are considering tougher rules for social media. Australia has already enacted a ban for kids under 16, Britain is weighing a similar move and U.S. states are testing their own approaches. Cato Institute Senior Fellow David Inserra joins The Excerpt to discuss whether social media bans work, why age verification raises privacy and free speech concerns and what parents can do to help children navigate social media more safely.

Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. 

Episode transcript available here. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.