The Excerpt

It’s been a busy few months in the world of federal pardons. It started on day one of the Trump administration with more than 1500 people pardoned for their roles in the January 6th Capital riot. And the pardons just keep coming. The past few weeks we’ve seen a spate of controversial clemency grants, including a couple of reality TV stars who were found guilty of defrauding community banks out of tens of millions of dollars, a former nursing home executive whose mother recently attended a 1-million-a-plate fundraiser, and a Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery in what prosecutors called a “cash-for-badges scheme.” The pardons are all legal, but do the optics possibly show a two-tiered system of justice? Former U.S. Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer joins The Excerpt to talk about the stringent rules that most pardon attorneys follow when evaluating clemency requests and why some of Trump's pardons are so troubling.

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USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen tells us how three Democratic governors today will push back against federal immigration enforcement actions during a House hearing.

President Donald Trump and Chinese officials announced they have agreed to a framework for a trade deal.

USA TODAY Senior National Political Correspondent Sarah D. Wire explains what to expect during "No Kings" Day protests this weekend. They'll be held the same day as President Trump's military parade.

Harvey Weinstein has been convicted on a sex-crimes charge and acquitted on another in a retrial.

Brian Wilson dies at 82.

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The story of the American alligator is one of survival. From 1967 to 1987, they were officially listed as an endangered species. But the wetlands of Louisiana, Florida’s Everglades National Park and many other southern habitats are now teeming with roughly five million alligators. And their story continues to evolve. Recent studies suggest alligators shape how carbon is stored in soil. Could alligators be an unexpected ally in the fight against climate change? Christopher Murray, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Southeastern Louisiana University, joins The Excerpt to share insights from his recent study published in Nature.

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USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes joins us again from Los Angeles as protests also spread to other cities.

USA TODAY Pentagon Correspondent Tom Vanden Brook discusses President Donald Trump's push for 20,000 troops to help his immigration crackdown.

Trump says he's restoring the names of military bases that honored Confederate soldiers.

Water from the faucets of at least 42 million Americans is contaminated with unacceptable levels of “forever chemicals."

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700 Marines have been deployed to Los Angeles. But California has sued the Trump administration to block deployment of the National Guard and the Marines. Plus, USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes reports from on the ground in Southern California.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired all of a committee that advises the federal government on vaccine safety.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison discusses what's next for DOGE after the departure of Elon Musk and the recent collapse of the Trump-Musk alliance.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has been deported from Israel after the Israeli navy prevented her and a group of fellow pro-Palestinian activists from sailing to Gaza.

Funk pioneer Sly Stone has died at 82.

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Under President Donald Trump's second administration, LGBTQ+ rights are back in the spotlight as he issues executive orders banning transgender military servicemembers and rescinding funding from educational institutions that allow trans athletes to compete in sports. So far in 2025, more than 500 bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community have been introduced across America.

As Pride Month 2025 gets underway across the country (albeit with fewer corporate sponsors), we asked what pride means to you – not just the parades, protests and community, but also your feelings, fears and hopes – and whether it can continue to exist in its current form. Here's what you told us.

Forum is a series from USA TODAY's Opinion team that is dedicated to showcasing views from across the political spectrum on issues that Americans are starkly divided on. 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.

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Tensions escalated in Los Angeles late Sunday between law enforcement and protesters as California National Guard troops arrived.

USA TODAY National Immigration and Border Reporter Lauren Villagran takes a look at Trump's 'invasion' claims.

Proud Boys who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 sue the government for $100 million.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen discusses disputes among Republicans about parts of Trump's major tax bill.

Cole Escola makes nonbinary history at the Tony Awards.

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John Arthur’s vows to Jim Obergefell came during a unique wedding ceremony that changed the course of American history. It was 2013 and at the time, Arthur was dying of ALS. Due to the generosity of friends and family the couple were able to exchange vows from within a medical plane parked in Maryland, where gay marriage was legal. Obergefell and Arthur’s fight to get their marriage recognized by their home state of Ohio went all the way to the Supreme Court, ultimately paving the way for nationwide marriage equality for same-sex couples 10 years ago. John, tragically, passed before the ruling, but the couple’s story endures as a milestone for the LGBTQ+ community. Jim Obergefell joins The Excerpt to share more about his historic journey.

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Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been returned to the U.S. He now faces human trafficking charges.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy discusses some of the concerns from LGBTQ+ advocates this Pride Month over Trump administration actions.

The Supreme Court blocks the disclosure of DOGE operations. Plus, the court lets DOGE access Social Security data.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers talks about new Trump executive orders centered on flying cars and high speed air travel.

Nonalcoholic beer is on track to become the world's second-largest beer category.

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USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer has the latest on the feud between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. Plus, Josh takes a look at how the feud might end.

Here's what you need to know about this week's travel ban.

The Department of Homeland Security is ending its Quiet Skies surveillance program.

The Supreme Court sides with a straight woman in a 'reverse discrimination' case.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise tells us about invasive Asian needle ants.

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