The Excerpt

America’s debt has crossed a striking threshold: it’s now bigger than the economy itself. Questions about what that means start to take shape when interest enters the picture. As the cost of carrying debt grows, its impact becomes harder to ignore. So, what should we do about the national debt, and just how worried should we really be? Marc Goldwein, senior policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, joins The Excerpt to talk about the impact of the scale of U.S. borrowing and what it likely means for future generations.

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For decades, late‑night television has provided us with a shared end‑of‑day ritual made up of monologues and jokes that shape our political conversations. And, while Stephen Colbert didn’t invent late-night TV, he sharpened it. Last July, when Colbert announced the end of The Late Show franchise on CBS, many wondered what happens when shows that function as cultural town squares begin to disappear. USA TODAY TV Critic Kelly Lawler joins The Excerpt to discuss rising production costs, shifts in viewing preferences and the demise of one of the pillars of late-night television.

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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, better known as the ATF, dramatically reduced the number of gun dealers who had their licenses revoked last year, signaling a new approach under President Donald Trump. One of the practices ATF has ended is publicly listing revoked dealers, holding a hearing just yesterday focused on how to protect the privacy of both gun owners and the gun industry. Is this a move toward fairer enforcement, or is it a step back from oversight? USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Nick Penzenstadler joins The Excerpt to discuss why the ATF stripped licenses from fewer gun shops in 2025. 

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From the moment the Trump administration toppled former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s longtime ally Cuba has been in the White House’s crosshairs. In the aftermath of that operation, President Donald Trump declared Cuba would be “next.” On April 10th, the U.S. gave Cuban leaders only two weeks to free political prisoners if they wanted to preemptively land a deal with the U.S. Cuba then made an offer to two of their higher profile prisoners – Maykel Castillo Pérez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara: They could either leave Cuba or stay and rot in prison. Both agreed to be exiled. Yet both still languish behind bars. USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Rick Jervis joins The Excerpt to talk about what’s next for Castillo and Otero as well as high-level negotiations between US and Cuban officials.

Please note: Cuban officials did not return USA TODAY interview requests for comment.

Responding to a request for comment from USA TODAY, a State Department official said the Cuban regime continues to show indifference to the suffering of the Cuban people and is still holding hundreds of political prisoners. The official reiterated that President Trump favors a diplomatic solution but will not allow Cuba to deteriorate into a greater national security threat. 

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Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, passed away last week at the age of 87. His impact on cable TV and the news industry writ large will endure for generations to come. Michael Socolow, a media scholar and a professor of communication and journalism at the University of Maine, joins The Excerpt to share his insights.

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Summer travel season is getting underway. But this year, travelers are facing a perfect storm of new pressures in the airline industry. The budget airline Spirit Airlines has collapsed after years of financial struggles, eliminating one of the country’s biggest low-cost carriers just as millions of Americans prepare to fly for their summer vacation. At the same time, the war in Iran is driving up fuel costs and disrupting global aviation routes, raising concerns about higher ticket prices and fewer options for travelers. Questions remain about what flying will look like in the months ahead — and whether the era of cheap, easy air travel is starting to disappear. USA TODAY Consumer Travel Reporter Zach Wichter joins The Excerpt to talk about what all of this means for summer travelers.

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La Niña may be gone, but its impact doesn’t end when the pattern fades, according to a new study from NOAA researchers and the Cooperative Institute. Now, as scientists watch for signs that El Niño could emerge in the Pacific, there are growing concerns about what comes next, including the possible return of an ocean heat wave known as “the Blob.” USA TODAY National Correspondent for Climate and the Environment Dinah Voyles Pulver joins The Excerpt to discuss the lingering impacts of La Niña and the potential impact of El Niño.

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Last week, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that will likely impact Black voters for generations. The 6-3 decision, which split along conservative and liberal lines, essentially nullified section 2 of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act which prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color or language minority status. In its wake, Louisiana, Tennessee and other states are redrawing their district maps, even though primary voting in some cases is already underway. The ramifications will reverberate for decades. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen joins The Excerpt to help unpack this story.

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The story of Murry Gunty is about more than a hockey dad interested in youth sports. It’s about a businessman who saw an opportunity to build a lucrative hockey empire and cashed in on it. Gunty claims that his company, Black Bear, took almost all of its profits and reinvested them back into the business, allowing more kids to play hockey. But a nine‑month USA TODAY investigation found that how Gunty built and ran his empire has raised serious concerns among legal experts, including potential abuse of monopoly power and using non-profit teams for private gain. USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Kenny Jacoby joins The Excerpt to share more on this investigation. 

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Gen Z workers are entering the job market, and in some cases, getting fired just as quickly. A recent survey found that many employers say they’ve let Gen Z hires go within months of their hire, citing gaps in communication, professionalism and expectations. But is this really a problem with young workers—or is it something deeper? NYU professor Suzy Welch breaks down what she sees as a fundamental mismatch between what employers want and what Gen Z values. She also explains how AI, remote work and a shifting job market are making it harder for early-career workers to find their footing.

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