To face the growing water crisis, America needs a plan

Texas Republicans have passed a new state congressional map intended to flip five Democratic-held U.S. House seats up for grabs in the 2026 elections. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe discusses the Justice Department's push for the high court to make clear that regular pot smokers – and other drug users − shouldn’t be allowed to own firearms. USA TODAY First Amendment Reporting Fellow BrieAnna J. Frank breaks down a federal judge's move to temporarily block several Texas school districts from enforcing a law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.  The Trump administration is painting the U.S.-Mexico border fence black to make the steel so hot migrants won't climb it. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Con artists are everywhere. What are some of the red flags?

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced Tuesday that President Donald Trump had directed her office to revoke security clearances from 37 former intelligence officials. USA TODAY Reporter Zachary Schermele takes a look at potential plans from Democrats to bring Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Congress to face hearings. Texas says the measles outbreak at the center of record U.S. case numbers is officially over. USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Rachel Barber puts AI to the test when it comes to money advice. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers breaks down Monday's meeting between President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others. Texas Democrats return home, ending a redistricting standoff against the GOP. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Bart Jansen takes a look at Trump's threat to end mail-in voting. Hurricane Erin is a Category 3, but is expected to steer clear of the U.S. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders will meet with President Donald Trump in Washington Monday. Plus, details of the Alaska summit were left on a hotel printer. USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise takes a look at the state of clean energy amid Trump cuts. Protests were held over the weekend against the Trump administration's push for Texas to redraw its congressional map in favor of Republicans. USA TODAY Women and the Caregiving Economy Reporting Fellow Madeline Mitchell discusses the fear of dying first for parents of children who require 24/7 care. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is American cuisine and who gets to define it? Is it barbecue or blueberry pie, hot dogs or lobster rolls, chili or gumbo? American food culture is as complex and complicated as we are. And, in addition to what lands on our plates, there’s everything that comes along with it, from tipping to whether the check should come before dessert. While most of us walk or drive to try out new restaurants, British food writer Felicity Cloake chose to fly to the US with a green touring bike she calls Eddy, to cycle from coast to coast in search of American cuisine. She joins USA TODAYs The Excerpt to share her view from the outside looking in, which is also detailed in her new book “From Peach Street to Lobster Lane,” available on bookshelves now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers recaps President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The District of Columbia has sued President Donald Trump and his administration over his federal takeover of the city's police force. The FBI returns a 16th-century stolen document signed by conquistador Hernán Cortés to Mexico. USA TODAY Trending News Reporter Michelle Del Rey tells us why some whales are going silent. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes takes a look at some of the reasons a meeting in Alaska makes sense for President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces a special election to re-draw maps. Hunter Biden drops expletives on Melania Trump's Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit threat. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe gives us some background after the Supreme Court declined to block a state law limiting kids' use of social media – for now. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From laptops to electric cars, lithium-ion batteries are in so many of the products we use every day. It’s hard to imagine there’s an alternative. But a half century ago sodium-ion batteries were also on the table as an option. Today, with metals like lithium harder and more expensive to source, electronics firms are taking another look at sodium-ion to power our modern devices. With greater availability, lower manufacturing costs and more stable chemistry, could sodium-ion batteries be the key to powering our future? Shirley Meng, a University of Chicago professor and materials scientist who has studied sodium-ion batteries, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to dig into their potential. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY Government Accountability Reporter Erin Mansfield takes a closer look at redistricting fights playing out across the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Thursday ahead of President Donald Trump's expected meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday in Alaska. USA TODAY Reporter Andrea Riquier discusses how some empty churches are being converted into residences. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Across the planet, the actions of humans are creating novel ecosystems which, according to the BBC, have been dubbed ‘freakosystems’ by the daughter of a professor of ecology. ‘Freakosystems’ are places where unfamiliar species mix with native species in unexpected ways. Research into the Hawaiian island Oahu’s lush landscape demonstrates how the actions of humans have radically changed the natural world. What do these emerging ecosystems tell us about both the resilience and fragility of life on Earth? Corey Tarwater, an ecologist at the University of Wyoming who has been researching Oahu's ecosystems for more than a decade, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss her findings. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Members of the Washington, D.C., National Guard have reported for duty across the nation's capital under President Donald Trump's orders to fight crime and reduce homelessness in the city. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy talks about how Trump's real estate history shapes his presidency. President Trump's pick to be the new U.S. commissioner of Labor Statistics suggests suspending monthly jobs reports. USA TODAY Breaking News Reporter Karissa Waddick tells us how America’s farmers are aging, and what that means for our food supply. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY Pentagon Correspondent Tom Vanden Brook takes a closer look at President Donald Trump's moves this week surrounding the National Guard and police in the nation's capital. An explosion at a steel plant in Pennsylvania left two people dead Monday. Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations next month. President Trump says he's looking at reclassifying marijuana at the federal level. USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise discusses government plans to drop a horde of flies over the Texas border. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israel's military says it targeted and killed Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif. USA TODAY Health and Wellness Reporter Adrianna Rodriguez discusses the ongoing feud between medical groups and RFK Jr. The Trump administration is using hundreds of federal police officers to target crime in Washington, D.C. Plus, Trump says homeless people in Washington "have to move out, IMMEDIATELY." AOL will shutter its dial-up internet service. USA TODAY Deputy Wellness Editor David Oliver tells us about his experience at grief camp. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Valeriana is an ancient, lost city in Southern Mexico hidden under jungle canopy for centuries, recently discovered via a Google search. How did that happen you ask? Luke Auld-Thomas’ research on Mayan settlements had him poking around on the internet which led him to a LIDAR survey - a laser-based technology used in this case for terrain mapping. When he ran the data, he realized there was an entire city, of a significant size, entirely covered in dense vegetation. Could there be more of these ancient settlements, just a few clicks away, waiting to be found? Tulane doctoral student Luke Auld-Thomas joins The Excerpt to share how he stumbled into the discovery of a lifetime. (This episode originally aired on January 1, 2025.) Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode Transcript available here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet next week in Alaska to discuss an end to Russia's war on Ukraine. President Trump and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement Friday at the White House. For The Win Staff Writer Meghan L. Hall tells us what's really going on with sex toys being thrown on court at WNBA games. The Department of Justice opens an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. Legendary astronaut Jim Lovell has died at 97. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to take control of Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week that Israel intended to take military control of the entire Gaza Strip. President Donald Trump nominates CEA Chair Stephen Miran to a temporary Federal Reserve board vacancy. USA TODAY First Amendment Reporting Fellow BrieAnna Frank breaks down Trump's recent religion memo for federal workers. The National Weather Service has taken steps to begin filling some of the positions left vacant by federal cutbacks. USA TODAY Senior Reporter Jessica Guynn tells us how shoppers are returning just about everything, taking advantage of stores' lax return policies. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. It's International Cat Day! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Squirmy and Grubs are not your typical YouTube stars. One is them is able-bodied. The other is not. How they navigate the challenges that dichotomy presents is the point. So is how normal their lives as an interabled couple really are. The story of Hannah and Shane Burcaws’ relationship and others like it is captured in their new book, "Interabled: True Stories about Love and Disability." They joined The Excerpt to talk about what they hope abled couples understand about interabled love. (This episode originally aired on January 22, 2025.) Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode Transcript available here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New tariffs take effect on Thursday after a new tariff announcement from President Donald Trump penalizing India for importing Russian oil. Plus, Apple announces $100 billion in new U.S. investment. A U.S. Army sergeant is in custody after a shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia. USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page discusses the potential legacy of President Trump's new White House ballroom. USA TODAY Breaking News Reporter Karissa Waddick breaks down how climate change is revealing archeological treasures. A new species of 'Jurassic sea monster' has been identified in an old fossil. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.