The Excerpt

It's been four years since COVID-19 hit, spreading like wildfire around the globe and taking millions of lives in the process. While safe and effective vaccines have given us back a sense of normalcy, we wanted to ask: are we any better prepared for the next one? What are the big takeaway lessons from the pandemic and are we confident that nationally and globally, we’re ready this time around? USA TODAY Health Reporter Karen Weintraub joins The Excerpt to discuss the important issues.

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The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Donald Trump's appeal over the Colorado ballot dispute.

USA TODAY National Political Correspondent David Jackson looks at the impact of Jan. 6 on 2024 presidential campaigns.

The Supreme Court allows Idaho to enforce its strict abortion ban in emergency rooms.

NRA Executive Wayne LaPierre resigns.

USA TODAY Health Breaking News Reporter Eduardo Cuevas talks about how owning pets may help slow cognitive decline among older people.

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Police say a 6th-grader was killed in an Iowa school shooting.

USA TODAY Congress and Campaigns Reporter Riley Beggin looks at the importance of democracy guardrails.

Bill Clinton and Mar-a-Lago are mentioned in the latest batch of released Jeffrey Epstein documents.

USA TODAY Breaking News and Education Reporter Zach Schermele explains the challenges and benefits of erasing student loan debt through bankruptcy court.

The American Kennel Club welcomes its 201st dog breed.

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Last November, orcas sank a yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar. This wasn't anything new; these marine mammals have sunk vessels several times over the past few years. The question is why. Orcas have highly complex social structures and there's a lot we don't understand about their behavior. Can studying their interactions with boats give us some insight? Michael Weiss, research director at the Center for Whale Research, joins The Excerpt to discuss these highly intelligent and social marine mammals.

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Trump has appealed the ruling disqualifying him from Colorado's ballot to the Supreme Court.

USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page looks at polling data that finds many Trump supporters are ready to believe election fraud in 2024.

Dozens of names have been mentioned in released Jeffrey Epstein court documents.

Hundreds of migrants were evicted from a tent city in Denver.

What happened during a deadly runway crash in Japan this week?

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They're faster, heavier and more dangerous than ever. But can we share the road with them safely? As micromobility devices continue to multiply, especially in urban areas, we look at ways to accommodate them that will keep all of us safer. Stefanie Seskin, Director of Policy and Practice at the National Association of City Transportation Officials joins The Excerpt to talk about how we can get this right.

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A top Hamas leader was killed in a strike in Lebanon. USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer puts the move in context.

Donald Trump sues Maine's secretary of state for disqualifying him from the state's primary ballot.

USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page looks at what polling tells us about who Trump supporters want as a running mate.

Harvard President Claudine Gay has announced her resignation.

A major snowstorm may again hit the East Coast after years without one in some major cities.

CORRECTION: This episode has been corrected to say that Hamas leader Saleh al-Aruri was killed in an apparent Israeli strike, outside Beirut, according to Lebanon's state-run News Agency and the Hezbollah-linked Al-Mayadeen media outlet. Israel has not yet commented on the alleged strike, and the Israel Defense Forces had no immediate confirmation when asked by USA TODAY.

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The Israeli Supreme Court strikes down a key part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reform.

President Joe Biden is struggling with key parts of his Democratic base in new polling.

USA TODAY 2024 Campaign Reporter Karissa Waddick looks ahead to the New Hampshire primary.

2023 was the hottest year on record.

USA TODAY Education Reporter Alia Wong examines the conversation around cell phone bans in schools.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says fighting will go on for months.

USA TODAY National Political Correspondent David Jackson looks at the uncertainty for Donald Trump in 2024.

Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts says courts will be affected by artificial intelligence.

USA TODAY Breaking News Reporter Claire Thornton has the latest SB4 developments.

A new FAFSA form is here.

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There’s no doubt about it, we are heading into a contentious presidential election year. And while there are several ongoing global conflicts to be concerned about, Americans have their plates full with concerns here at home. What are the hot topics going to be in the new year? USA TODAY National Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey expects disgust over a possible rematch and shares some other trends that could show up in the new cycle.

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