The Excerpt

Twenty-five years after 9/11, Mike Kelly, columnist for The Record of northern New Jersey and author of “After Ground Zero,” reflects on the ordinary Americans whose lives were forever changed. From survivors and first responders to grieving families, he explores the human stories behind the tragedy.

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In the now 25 years since the attack on 9/11, our world has drastically changed. The way we live our lives, the way we travel, the way we interact with our government, the way our government surveils us – all of it – changed. How exactly? USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page joins The Excerpt to share her insights.

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Flock cameras capture license plates and vehicle details, creating a searchable record of where cars have been seen. USA TODAY Investigative Data Reporter Austin Fast explains how USA TODAY's analysis of 75 million searches uncovered troubling patterns, including officers repeatedly tracking the same vehicles, and why the findings are intensifying concerns about privacy, surveillance and oversight. 

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Opposition to Big Tech is creating a rare point of agreement across the political divide. USA TODAY National Reporter Christopher Cann explains why communities are resisting massive data centers, AI-powered surveillance, Flock cameras and the rapid spread of artificial intelligence.

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Being White House press secretary means long days, constant travel and being available almost around the clock. For parents of young children, those demands can come with a high cost. Karoline Leavitt is leaving the role months after having her second child, saying she wants more time with her family. But she isn't the first. USA TODAY Government Accountability Reporter Erin Mansfield found that several recent press secretaries who were mothers described similar pressures. She joins The Excerpt to explain why mothers have tended to spend less time in the job than their predecessors and what their experiences reveal about a broader challenge facing working mothers.

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The end of Temporary Protected Status for many Haitian immigrants has transformed Miami's Little Haiti. Businesses are quieter and churches are emptier, while many families weigh impossible choices. USA TODAY National Correspondent Chris Kenning joins The Excerpt after reporting from the heart of the community to explore the economic and human toll of losing deportation protections.

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Democrats sharply criticized President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But many are now championing one of its biggest health care investments: a $50 billion Rural Health…. Why the change? And can the funding make a meaningful difference as millions of Americans confront rising healthcare costs? USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison joins The Excerpt to explain what the program does and whether it can offset looming Medicaid cuts.

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We’re now six months into the US-Israeli War in Iran, a war with seemingly no end in sight. It’s cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars and the lives of 18 servicemen. Does President Donald Trump have an exit strategy? USA TODAY Bureau Chief Susan Page breaks down where we are at the half year mark.

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Dolly Parton was more than a country music legend. She was a songwriter, storyteller, philanthropist and cultural force whose work helped people feel seen. From timeless songs like "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" to her commitment to childhood literacy and disaster relief, her influence reached far beyond entertainment. USA TODAY National Music Reporter Melissa Ruggieri joins The Excerpt to reflect on the legacy of Dolly Parton.

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For months, sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln remained at sea as their expected return home was pushed further and further back. Their families watched graduations, weddings and other milestones pass without them, while hearing accounts of supply shortages, broken facilities and difficult conditions aboard the carrier. Now, as the Lincoln finally begins its return, USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Chris Quintana joins The Excerpt to explain what families say sailors endured, what the Navy has said in response and why lawmakers are questioning whether the military is prepared to support crews through deployments this long.

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