USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer breaks down what happened when officials shared detailed secret plans for a U.S. strike on Iran-backed militants in Yemen with a group chat of top Trump administration officials that accidentally included a magazine editor.

President Donald Trump says countries that buy oil and gas from Venezuela must pay a 25% tariff to the U.S.

Postal workers rally nationwide over Trump's plan to dismantle USPS.

USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Daniel de Visé explains how Democrats and Republicans seem to occupy separate realities when it comes to inflation. Hear more about what your fellow Americans think about the economy on this week’s edition of Forum, a new initiative from the USA TODAY Opinion team.

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Trump and Republicans campaigned aggressively in 2024 on the economy. So now that he’s in office, we asked: do you think that President Trump is doing enough to fix the economy? Do you think grocery prices will rise or go down? Forum is a new series from USA TODAY's Opinion team, dedicated to showcasing views from across the political spectrum on issues that Americans are starkly divided on. Today you’ll hear from a few folks detailing their opinions on the economy. If you'd like to weigh in on a different topic, you can find more questions at usatoday.com/forum. And if your submission is selected for print, we might invite you to add your voice to a future special bonus episode like this one. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.

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U.S. officials are meeting with Russian officials Monday for talks in Saudi Arabia.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes explains that experts warn federal spending cuts will make the country sicker and poorer as healthcare costs rise without new treatments.

An independent government watchdog agency will review the health and safety effects of President Donald Trump's mass firings.

USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Kenny Jacoby discusses how an NHL team's executives milked youth hockey families for profit.

Here's what readers told us about the economy.

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After suffering a devastating loss in last November’s elections, the Democratic party is at an inflection point. Having lost the backing and trust of the working class, how does it move on from the political desert it finds itself in and re-energize its base? Amanda Litman, Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director of Run For Something joins The Excerpt to share her take.

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USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes takes a closer look at the Trump administration's claims that recent Venezuelan deportees are tied to the prison gang Tren de Aragua.

President Donald Trump demands that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and the high court rein in federal judges who have issued injunctions that have impeded his policies. Plus, how secrecy sits at the center of Trump's clash with courts.

Federal employees who work at a tiny agency that funds the nation's libraries and museums expect to be put on administrative leave.

USA TODAY Congress Reporter Riley Beggin talks about angry constituents who met lawmakers at recent local town hall meetings.

George Foreman has died at 76.

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President Donald Trump signed an order Thursday aimed at dismantling the Department of Education. Check out our special Deep Dive episode on what's next.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers takes a look at what might be on the way in an expected travel ban.

A U.S. judge blocked Elon Musk's DOGE from accessing Social Security records.

USA TODAY Money and Personal Finance Reporter Medora Lee discusses why cash poor Americans often fail to get ahead.

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Technology and tradition are converging this spring training as AI-based umpires are tried out as part of MLB's evolution. The Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), which uses Hawk-Eye technology, a fixture in tennis matches, was rolled up from the minors into the majors for an experimental run this season. The system which accurately identifies a ball or strike but still allows players to challenge calls they feel are inaccurate, be it a strike, ball or walk. But could ABS automate the game a little too much for fans? USA TODAY MLB Reporter Gabe Lacques has seen the robot umpires in action and joins The Excerpt to share his impressions.

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President Donald Trump is set to sign an order aimed at delivering on a key campaign promise - elimination of the Education Department.

USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Aysha Bagchi explains how Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts' rebuke this week marks a growing Trump showdown with the judiciary.

The Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged.

USA TODAY Youth Mental Health Reporting Fellow Rachel Hale talks about sextortion and the prevalence of individuals or companies that charge a fee to retrieve explicit photos, and then may fail to do so.

Get your brackets in for March Madness!

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If you’ve paid attention to Washington politics since the start of the new Trump administration, one name is impossible to ignore – Elon Musk. After his ventures with electric vehicles, spacecraft, and social media, Musk’s focus now appears to be the Department of Government Efficiency, and his unorthodox role as part of President Donald Trump’s orbit. But who is Musk, really? And what are his motivations in this moment? Journalist Kara Swisher, who also hosts the podcasts "Pivot" and "On with Kara Swisher" and has been covering Musk for decades, joins The Excerpt to dig into it with us.

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Chief Justice John Roberts rebuked President Donald Trump after Trump called for a U.S. judge's impeachment. Plus, the Trump administration withholds details from a judge about deportation flights for Venezuelans.

USA TODAY Senior Reporter Jessica Guynn discusses how President Trump and Elon Musk have made federal employees America's punching bag.

A Tuesday call between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin ended with a limited agreement for Russia and Ukraine to stop attacks on energy infrastructure.

A federal judge has blocked DOGE from firing any more USAID employees. Plus, a stand-off between President Donald Trump's administration and an independent nonprofit comes to a head.

A pair of NASA astronauts return to Earth after their longer than expected stay in orbit. Watch or listen to our special episode with them and other astronauts on the International Space Station.

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