Love gore and horror, the dark and scary? There’s a scientific reason why.

True crime, horror movies, even haunted houses — psychologist Coltan Scrivner says they all tap into a survival instinct. He explains how morbid curiosity evolved to help humans face threats and why those drawn to darkness might be more compassionate than we think.Episode transcript available here.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.

At 28, Malala Yousafzai’s life so far has been anything but ordinary. When she was just 15, she was shot by the Taliban on her way to school, targeted for advocating for girls’ rights to education. At 17, she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize, opening schools and speaking around the world with the Malala Fund. Now Malala is sharing a different side of herself in a new memoir, “Finding My Way.” USA TODAY Books Editor Clare Mulroy sat down with Malala to talk about her new memoir and how she feels about embracing her more ordinary self.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.

It has been 29 days since the federal government entered a shutdown, now just a week away from this becoming the longest government shutdown in US history. As the government has ground to a halt, millions of Americans face financial uncertainty while essential services tied to food assistance, heating, and healthcare hang in the balance. What will it take to reopen the government? USA TODAY Congress Reporter Zach Schermele joins The Excerpt to break down where we are with it all.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.

The stock market is surging again, led by a handful of tech giants betting big on artificial intelligence. But is this genuine growth or déjà vu from the dot-com era? USA TODAY personal finance reporter Daniel de Visé joins host Dana Taylor to examine what’s driving record highs on Wall Street, why the “Magnificent Seven” stocks wield so much influence, and what warning signs analysts are watching. From inflated valuations to money-market hedges, this episode unpacks whether AI optimism is fueling the next great bubble and how everyday investors can prepare.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.

What do you get when you mix the NBA with the Italian mafia and then add in some poker? Perhaps one of the most explosive gambling scandals the sports world has ever seen. Over thirty people have now been indicted according to U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. as part of two investigations known as Operation Royal Flush and Operation Nothing But Net. Beginning as early as 2019, defendants in the case are accused of using wireless cheating technology to run rigged poker games in places like the Hamptons, Miami, Las Vegas and Manhattan. How did defendants allegedly pull it off? USA TODAY Sports Reporter Mark Giannotto joins The Excerpt to unpack this muti-layered story.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.

Who doesn’t like a weekend getaway? A nice hotel room, spa treatments, room service, sure – but a cabin with strangers? Adult sleepaway camps are having a moment, but what’s driving the boom? These retreats promise connection in a time when many adults feel lonelier than ever. Are adult sleepaway camps a good way to make genuine connections or are they just a bit of fun? USA TODAY Mental Health reporting fellow Rachel Hale packed a bag and set off for luxury camp Camp Social, where the tagline is “99% arrive solo, 100% leave as friends.” She joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to share her experience as an adult camper.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.

The H-1B visa program — a key pipeline for skilled foreign workers in tech — has recently been upended by President Donald Trump. A recent executive order now mandates that companies to pay $100,000 per application, a move the White House says will protect American jobs.But critics warn it could shrink the talent pool, raise costs and push innovation overseas. So what’s really changed, who benefits the most and how might this impact the economy? Daniel Costa, director of immigration law and policy research at the Economic Policy Institute, joins The Excerpt to unpack the issues.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.

America’s high school seniors are falling behind. The decline in math and reading scores is more than a statistic. It’s a warning sign about our future. If the next generation is leaving high school and stepping into adulthood with fewer core educational skills than the generation before, where does that leave them as they try to compete at colleges and universities, and in the workforce? And where does it leave the nation when it comes to our global competitiveness? Martin West, Academic Dean at Harvard Graduate School of Education, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to dig into the Nation’s Report Card.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.

As the contract deadline of October 31st approaches, negotiations are at a standstill, and players and fans alike are contemplating the very real possibility of no 2026 season. What are the big sticking points and how might players pivot? USA TODAY Sports Columnist Nancy Armour and USA TODAY's National Women's Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson join USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to dig into all of it. 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.

California voters are already casting ballots in what is likely the most important contest of 2025, one that will play a substantial role in deciding which party controls the U.S. House for the last two years of President Donald Trump's time in office. Many voters are frustrated, angry and wanting to push back against President Trump or Governor Gavin Newsom − from the rural, Republican North State to liberal enclaves along California's coast − with just weeks to go before the consequential November 4 election. USA TODAY Senior National Reporter Sarah D. Wire joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to dig into what this special election means, not just for California, but for the country.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.