The Excerpt

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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Hundreds are dead after large-scale Israeli airstrikes, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen discusses the timeline surrounding the Trump administration's deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants.

A Tuesday Trump call with Russian President Vladimir Putin will cover a possible Ukraine ceasefire.

With an executive order, Trump slashes funding for Voice of America, the largest U.S. international broadcaster.

Trump plans to release unredacted JFK assassination files Tuesday.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Dinah Voyles Pulver explains what happened during a deadly weather event over the weekend.

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It’s almost impossible to go through your day without getting some news coverage about what the president is doing. We asked: is it too much? Are you experiencing Trump fatigue? 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 political media coverage. 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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USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe discusses how judges are calling out the Trump administration for flimsy legal arguments.

President Donald Trump uses a 1798 law to deport nearly 300 Venezuelans despite a judge's order to block the move.

USA TODAY National Immigration Reporter Lauren Villagran talks about how ICE is detaining those married or engaged to U.S. citizens who have visa overstays or other discrepancies.

Severe storms leave dozens dead.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will soon be on their way home from space.

Get ready to submit your brackets! March Madness is here.

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Recent moves by President Donald Trump and his administration could signal the beginning of the end for the nearly 50-year-old Department of Education, delivering on a campaign promise to knock out the federal agency and send schooling back to the states. The department distributes billions of dollars to schools each year. It also outlines and enforces educational rights for students with disabilities and collects copious amounts of national data on education, among other things. What impact could the dismantling of ED have on students, families and schools? USA TODAY Education Reporter Zach Schermele joins The Excerpt to lay out the downstream impacts.

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A government shutdown has been averted.

USA TODAY Economy Reporter Rachel Barber takes a closer look at what's actually going on amid economic uncertainty.

Elon Musk's 'Hitler didn't murder millions' repost draws outrage.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes talks through data that shows more foreign-born people call the United States home today than ever.

Diddy pleads not guilty again.

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