The Excerpt

Most of us can say that we’re fans of something – music, sports, art, books. But what does it mean to be part of a fandom? You’ve probably seen devoted super fans participating in cos play at Comic-Con, painted in their team’s color at a football game or dressed up as their favorite characters at a midnight screening of a film series. But is there something deeper than just fun at play here? Something that aligns more with religion or even sacredness? That’s the argument of sociologist Michael Elliott, a professor at Towson University who has studied the culture of Comic-Con for 7 years. Elliott joins The Excerpt to share the results of his deep research into fandoms.

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Russia slammed Ukraine's capital overnight in the biggest attack on the city this year.

USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page discusses some concerning polling news for President Donald Trump on the economy.

President Trump signs an executive order boosting AI in K-12 schools. Plus, Trump signs other orders ranging from accreditation to school discipline.

USA TODAY Health Reporter Karen Weintraub explains how budget cuts are impacting important Alzheimer's research. Plus, you can listen to our special episode about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s impact on Health and Human Services here.

It's NFL Draft Night.

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One of the most talked about and controversial cabinet appointments made by President Donald Trump has been that of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic who has embraced several debunked health conspiracies. As secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, he now controls the Centers for Disease Control, which led the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Food & Drug Administration which looks after food safety, and many other consequential health subdepartments which safeguard the public's health. What changes has RFK Jr. enacted so far and what does the future of American health under his leadership look like? Dr. Richard Besser, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the CDC, joins The Excerpt to share his concerns.

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USA TODAY National Correspondent Marco della Cava talks about his experience covering conclaves and what to expect from the process to select a new pope.

The Trump administration proposes a major shake-up of the State Department.

Health Secretary RFK Jr. says eight artificial dyes will be phased out of the U.S. food supply.

USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Nick Penzenstadler discusses the latest on a pair of men deported to El Salvador.

Tesla profits plummet.

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The world continues to react to the death of Pope Francis. His funeral is set for Saturday in Vatican City. Plus, what do American Catholics want from the next pope?

USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise discusses a list of America's Climate Leaders when it comes to the corporate world.

Harvard sues the Trump administration.

Collection of defaulted student loans will restart May 5 for the first time since the pandemic.

USA TODAY Economy Reporter Rachel Barber breaks down what 2025 graduates want from their future employers.

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We asked: Why did Democrats lose in November? Does the Democratic Party need to transition ideologically? Forum is a 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 about how they view the current state of the Democratic Party. 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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Tennessean Religion Reporter Liam Adams discusses the life and legacy of Pope Francis.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared Yemen attack plans with his wife, brother and lawyer in a group chat, according to a source.

USA TODAY White House Reporter Zac Anderson discusses how President Donald Trump is leaning into the deportation fight as a battle he thinks he can win.

USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe breaks down the high court's decision to take on children's books and LGBTQ+ messages in school.

Today's written version of Forum is here.

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If you haven’t heard of The Onion, a satirical news publication, you’ve no doubt come across the many memes and parodies inspired by its style. The Onion began with a group of scrappy Gen-Xer's who wanted to poke fun at mainstream news. It’s evolved into an at times biting, oftentimes comic, cultural critic. What role does humor play in making the world make sense? Author Christine Wenc, a member of The Onion’s original staff, joins Dana Taylor on the Excerpt to discuss her new book “Funny Because It’s True,” which is on bookshelves now. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected].

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Kilmar Abrego Garcia said he's been traumatized by his experience in Salvadoran custody. Plus, an ambiguous Supreme Court ruling may have invited the Trump administration to refuse to try to return him.

The Supreme Court temporarily halts deportations of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act.

USA TODAY Entertainment Reporter Patrick Ryan discusses the federal government's sex-crimes case against Sean "Diddy" Combs.

New records show the suspected FSU shooter had a fascination with hate groups.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Will Carless explains what experts say about military service remaining the 'single strongest predictor' of involvement in violent extremism, 30 years after the Oklahoma City bombing.

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Sen. Chris Van Hollen met Thursday with Kilmar Abrego Garcia. But the wrongly deported Maryland man remains in custody.

The U.S. will abandon Ukraine peace efforts if no progress is made soon, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Police allege the son of a local sheriff's deputy opened fire at Florida State University.

President Donald Trump lashes out at Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Trump predicts trade deals with China and the EU. Plus, he floats a plan to nix the federal income tax and replace revenue with money from tariffs.

USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe puts in context the Supreme Court's move to weigh in on Trump plans to restrict birthright citizenship.

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