The Excerpt

Picture this, a powerful synthetic opioid that quietly morphs into one of the nation’s most lethal drug crises. A drug that can be slipped undetected into heroin, counterfeit pills...the nation’s bloodstream. You’ve seen and may have even been touched by the devastating impact of fentanyl. And now, a different class of ultrapotent synthetic opioids called nitazenes are following an eerily familiar path. Just how dangerous are these drugs and where are they coming from? Dr. Gregory McDonald, chair of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to unpack those questions and more.

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USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer takes a look at Wednesday comments from Epstein victims, as they push for the release of more records.

President Donald Trump responds to this week's military parade in China.

USA TODAY National Immigration Reporter Lauren Villagran explains how the Trump administration plans to expand ICE detention into the notorious Angola prison.

More than 1,000 HHS workers demand RFK Jr. resigns.

A judge rules the Trump administration unlawfully cut Harvard's funding.

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America’s young men are lost. At least, that’s what they’re telling us online. From feeling disconnected in school, relationships, and even purpose, to loneliness, our nation’s boys are turning to the internet for answers and guidance. And that’s where they find the “manosphere”: a world of influencers promoting strength, stoicism… and often, misogyny. “Extremely Normal," a new investigative series by USA TODAY’s National Correspondent Will Carless examines how extremist and fringe ideas and movements have moved into America’s mainstream. He joins us on USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to dive into one part of “Extremely Normal”: The “manosphere.” What is it and how can it devolve from ideas about fitness and discipline into something darker? Will stepped into the manosphere space to see what teenage boys and young men in their 20s are consuming online – and to understand how it’s shaping their world view.

You can watch Will's full video on this topic here.

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An appeals court has rejected President Donald Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans.

Military strikes killed 11 on an alleged 'drug vessel' from Venezuela.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen breaks down a judge's move blocking President Trump's deployment of the National Guard in California. Plus, Illinois responds to Trump's troop plans.

The House Oversight Committee released thousands of pages of documents from the government's investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.

USA TODAY First Amendment Reporting Fellow BrieAnna Frank talks about her reporting trips to Smithsonian museums amid Trump criticisms that they're too woke.

*This audio was corrected to reflect that the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in 2016.

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USA TODAY's Zachary Schermele takes a look at some of the major looming issues as lawmakers return from an August recess.

China's President Xi Jinping convened the leaders of Russia and North Korea Tuesday.

Former CDC directors say Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health actions should alarm every American.

USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe discusses what the high court might consider in a case centered on whether vanity license plates are protected speech.

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A judge Sunday issued a restraining order blocking the Trump administration from deporting 10 unaccompanied migrant Guatemalan children.

President Donald Trump says he will sign an executive order mandating a voter ID requirement.

USA TODAY Government Accountability Reporter Erin Mansfield talks about the popularity of mail-in voting, even as Trump wants to eliminate it.

At least hundreds are dead after a devastating earthquake in Afghanistan.

USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Daniel de Visé looks back on a 2010 pledge by billionaires to give away half their wealth. Are they actually doing it?

It's Kind Time! Hear about a golden retriever with a heart of an angel, and her military veteran owner Kevin. Plus, find more from USA TODAY's HumanKind here.

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Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, the landmark musical venue of Preservation Hall is once again the center of the city's lively community of musicians. Ben Jaffe, its creative director, shared his story of resilience and hope with USA TODAY National Correspondent Rick Jervis.

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A divided U.S. appeals court ruled Friday that most of President Donald Trump's tariffs are illegal.

USA TODAY's Zach Schermele discusses the conversation over whether taxpayer money should be used for private schools' safety.

The Trump administration is making plans for an immigration crackdown in Chicago as soon as next week.

USA TODAY Money Reporter Bailey Schulz breaks down what economists are saying about possible Fed rate cuts.

It's a big weekend for college football!

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Families remembered 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski the day after this week's Minneapolis shooting.

USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page talks about lessons from Hurricane Katrina 20 years later.

Thousands settled elsewhere after Katrina hit New Orleans. See a map here.

USA TODAY Reporter Andrea Riquier discusses how Katrina became 'the storm that told us what was to come' for climate and insurance.

This week's immigration arrests of firefighters renewed debate about White House priorities.

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The vice president sat down with USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers to share his thoughts on issues both controversial (the firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, the deployment of National Guard troops to American cities, the contentious White House meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy back in February) and mundane (President Donald Trump’s new White House décor and the engagement of Travis Kelce to superstar Taylor Swift) in this wide-ranging conversation. Francesca joins The Excerpt to share her takeaways and a few choice clips from the vice president.

You can watch the full interview with Vice President JD Vance here.

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Podcast transcript available here.

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