The Excerpt

On Tuesday night in Georgia, a crowded Republican field tested the strength of President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Republican Clay Fuller. In a race to fill the seat once held by former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, the question weighing over this year’s critical midterm elections, is whether the president’s backing is a help or hindrance? As these contests unfold alongside domestic economic concerns and major global tensions, what can they tell us about where American politics is heading? USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey joins The Excerpt to share his insights on the latest elections.

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Alarm bells on the health of the U.S. economy are ringing. An unexpectedly dismal jobs report, growing unemployment and the ensuing uncertainty over trade policy piled on top of surging oil prices--make the financial outlook particularly bleak this month. Could a recession be next? USA TODAY Money Reporter Andrea Riquier joins The Excerpt to share her latest insights as to where the economy is headed.

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Independent reporter Aaron Parnas has built one of the fastest-growing news audiences on social media, with millions of followers across TikTok and Instagram. Known for breaking down politics in a casual, direct style, Parnas has become a trusted source for many Gen Z viewers who aren’t watching traditional TV news. Parnas joins USA TODAY Senior Reporter Jay Stahl to discuss how he built that audience, why younger Americans are turning to creators for news and what the shift means for the future of journalism

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Tony Mitchell, who was held for nearly two weeks in a concrete cell known as “The Freezer” at the Walker County Jail. The medical examiner says he froze to death. Meahwhile, Sheriff Nick Smith denies any wrongdoing and is seeking reelection. What happened to Tony Mitchell inside cell BK 5? USA TODAY National Extremism Correspondent Will Carless and USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Gina Barton, who investigated Mitchell’s death and the jail, join The Excerpt to discuss why jailers in Walker County are facing civil rights charges.

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With rare access and unflinching restraint, the documentary The Alabama Solution exposes the human cost of confinement in stark – at times difficult to watch – detail. The film sets out and succeeds in offering a view of a mass incarceration system laid bare. If what we see is functioning as designed, should it be allowed to continue? The Alabama Solution was directed and produced by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, and co-produced by Alex Duran, program director at Galaxy Gives, an organization committed to criminal justice reform. The film has been nominated for Best Documentary at this year's Academy Awards. Andrew Jarecki and Alex Duran joined USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss the film.

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House Judiciary Committee oversight hearings are intended to hold federal agencies accountable. But the latest session involving Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has become a flashpoint in the debate over immigration enforcement. While Noem received strong support from Republicans on the committee, Democratic lawmakers pressed her on several controversial issues, including the shooting deaths of two Americans during a federal operation and allegations that the Department of Homeland Security obstructed oversight investigations. USA TODAY National News Reporter Lauren Villagran joins The Excerpt to share her insights.

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Crafting is having a moment. From knitting and crochet to embroidery and quilting, more people — especially younger adults — are picking up hands-on hobbies. But this trend isn’t just about nostalgia. Research suggests creative activities may reduce stress, improve mood and even affect how our brains and bodies function. Daisy Fancourt, professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London and author of Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives, joins The Excerpt to explain what science says about creativity, mental health and why making something with your hands can be so powerful.

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With U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by Tehran’s retaliation across the region, the U.S. is now engaged in open conflict with Iran. The question many Americans are asking is: are we, once again, at war in the Middle East? And in terms of military commitment and risks to American troops serving overseas, what does an open conflict with Iran mean for the U.S.? USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers joins The Excerpt to share her insights on what is quickly becoming a widening conflict in the Middle East.

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Primary season is here, and even though President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot, his influence is shaping races across the country. Republican candidates are aligning with him — or testing his grip on the party — while Democrats face their own internal debates over identity, strategy and the path forward. What will the primaries reveal about both parties? And how will the results could shape the fight for control of Congress in 2026?

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While the Clintons testified in closed-door Congressional hearings about what they know about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the fallout for the rich and powerful continues. Will more people be named and charged as co-conspirators from the Epstein investigation? And will Epstein’s victims ever see full accountability?

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