The Excerpt

From Bad Bunny’s massive streaming numbers to Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl,” 2025 electrified music fans across the globe. There was a wild card this year, though – AI. As artificial intelligence continues to push the music industry into strange new territory, how might it impact what we call music? USA TODAY National Music Reporter Melissa Ruggieri joins The Excerpt to break down some of the year’s biggest stories in music. Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at [email protected]. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Baltimore has spent decades trying — and often failing — to solve one of its most stubborn problems: thousands of vacant homes hollowing out neighborhoods and fueling cycles of crime, poverty and disinvestment. Now city leaders say the stars may finally be aligned. In pockets of Baltimore, new housing is going up, crime has fallen, and officials are rolling out the most ambitious revitalization effort in a generation. But not every neighborhood is seeing change, and residents in some areas say they’re still being asked to wait. USA TODAY housing reporter Andrea Riquier joins The Excerpt to break down Baltimore’s “go hard, but intentional” strategy, the risks if private and philanthropic funding falls short, and what signs to watch in 2026 to know whether this renaissance is real — or could stall like past efforts. She also explains what Baltimore’s approach could mean for other cities struggling with urban blight.Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at [email protected]. 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.

Tributes to the beloved Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have poured in since their tragic deaths on Sunday sent shockwaves throughout the industry. Their son Nick Reiner was taken into police custody that same day and is now facing two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murder, among other charges. Reiner, whose career spanned more than five decades, was most known for his work on "All in the Family," "The Princess Bride," and "When Harry Met Sally” - all iconic productions that were defining cultural moments for Hollywood. What will his legacy be? USA TODAY Entertainment Reporter Ralphie Aversa joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss how Hollywood and America will remember the famed director.Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at [email protected]. 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.

Masked ICE agents have become the face of President Donald Trump’s nationwide deportation campaign, as viral videos of violent arrests captivate audiences on social media. But who are they and what motivates them to do the work? USA TODAY National Correspondents Lauren Villagran and Trevor Hughes join The Excerpt to share their reporting.Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at [email protected]. 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.

In 2007, she became the first woman to hold the position of Speaker of the House. She led Democrats in the House for two decades and was crucial in passing the signature legislation of Obamacare. Now after nearly four decades of service, Nancy Pelosi, Democratic representative of California, has announced she will be stepping down in January 2027. What will her legacy be? USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page sat down in an exclusive with Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi to get her take.Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at [email protected]. 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.