The Excerpt

USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe gives some of the main takeaways from Wednesday's oral arguments debating whether bans on puberty blockers for transgender minors are discriminatory.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy may be exempt from ethics rules as Donald Trump's advisors. Plus, Donald Trump DEA pick Chad Chronister withdraws from consideration, and Trump taps Paul Atkins as SEC chairman.

The search for a shooter continues after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed in New York.

USA TODAY Reporter Andrea Riquier discusses the housing crisis, the American Dream and what the next Trump administration can do about it.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This year marked the end of a 20-year struggle to remove four hydroelectric dams from the Klamath River that runs along the California-Oregon state line. The first of the four dams was built in the 1910’s. Their construction ultimately resulted in a river basin high in phosphorus and toxic algae, which flowed downriver killing off fish such as salmon and steelhead, while creating river water that was unsafe for the tribes who called the Klamath River home. The hydroelectric dams also impeded fish migration for nearly a century. Now, all four dams have been taken down. So, what happens next? Indigenous Affairs Reporter Debra Utacia Krol with the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY network, joins The Excerpt to discuss the Klamath River's recovery and the Indigenous tribes working to reclaim their way of life.

Episode Transcript available here

Also available at art19.com/shows/5-Things

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President-elect Donald Trump wants his New York hush money case tossed.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers discusses how some Senate Republicans are calling for deeper vetting on Trump picks Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel.

The Supreme Court will consider if states can keep transgender adolescents from puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Listen to arguments live on USA TODAY's YouTube channel at 10 a.m. ET.

USA TODAY Wellness Reporter Alyssa Goldberg talks about Sabrina Carpenter and how views on sex are changing.

Billboard names Beyoncé the greatest pop star of the 21st century.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Bart Jansen breaks down the varied responses to President Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter Biden.

Mexican views of migration harden.

E-cigarette makers hope the Supreme Court will give President-elect Donald Trump a chance to greenlight flavored vapes.

USA TODAY Money Editor Charisse Jones discusses the potential impact on of Trump tariffs on consumers.

What's next for help with weight loss drug costs?

Episode Transcript available here

Also available at art19.com/shows/5-Things

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden.

President-elect Donald Trump threatens BRIC nations with tariffs if they 'move away' from the U.S. dollar.

USA TODAY Congress and Campaigns Reporter Riley Beggin discusses how President-elect Donald Trump is already testing checks and balances ahead of re-taking office.

Donald Trump is planning to nominate Kash Patel as director of the FBI, tapping the longtime loyalist to lead the the law enforcement agency he has often criticized.

USA TODAY National News Reporter Michael Loria discusses how Elon Musk is known for making radical cuts, and what it means for Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.

Episode Transcript available here

Also available at art19.com/shows/5-Things

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can we talk about “the change”? Former First Lady Michelle Obama recently joined talk show host Gayle King and comedian Samantha Bee in speaking publicly about the hormonal and physical changes that come with perimenopause and menopause, a natural part of the aging process that up until now, has rarely been discussed openly. The question is, why not? As millennials age into perimenopause, how is their activism changing the conversation? Dr. Judith Joseph, a psychiatrist and chair of The Women in Medicine Initiative for Columbia University, joins The Excerpt to talk about "the pause."

Episode Transcript available here

Also available at art19.com/shows/5-Things

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Canada's prime minister visited Mar-a-Lago Friday evening.

USA TODAY Senior National News Reporter Rebecca Morin discusses President-elect Donald Trump's election success in the Rio Grande Valley, a Latino-majority area along the border in south Texas.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes talks through President Joe Biden's legacy on trains.

French President Emmanuel Macron lauds artisans for restoring the Notre-Dame Cathedral ahead of its reopening next week.

Episode Transcript available here

Also available at art19.com/shows/5-Things

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President-elect Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke this week, touting a positive conversation.

USA TODAY Congress and Campaigns Reporter Savannah Kuchar discusses how anti-abortion leaders are approaching a second Trump term.

Reporter Ella Adams talks about the struggles of one community in Black Appalachia after Helene.

It was an eventful NFL Thanksgiving, featuring another heartbreaking Chicago Bears loss.

Episode Transcript available here

Also available at art19.com/shows/5-Things

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Americans hustle. We get after it. And, while having the ability, desire and energy to accomplish extraordinary things is commendable, it can also lead to burnout and high levels of stress. Is it time for some of us to slow down? Slow living is a radical approach to self-care which celebrates a less hectic pace of life along with making mindful choices to enhance our wellbeing. Is it possible to marry our desire to have it all with a slow living lifestyle? Author Rachel Schwartzmann, whose new book “Slowing” came out this fall, joins The Excerpt to give us a better understanding of the slow living movement.

Episode Transcript available here

Also available at art19.com/shows/5-Things

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israel killed more than a dozen Palestinians in Gaza strikes Thursday. Cease-fire talks in the Israel-Hamas conflict have stalled, while a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah appears to hold.

The FBI says several of Donald Trump's cabinet nominees were targeted with 'violent' threats.

American consumers say they're struggling. Tariffs will make inflation worse.

USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey talks about how to navigate politics at the Thanksgiving table (if at all).

A woman is set to reunite with her brother missing since 1999 after seeing his photo in a USA TODAY report.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.