SPECIAL | James Patterson and Mychal Threets discuss book bans, library joy and their love of reading

Former President Donald Trump's hush money trial continued Friday in New York with more witness testimony.President Joe Biden says he's willing to debate Donald Trump.USA Democracy Reporter Erin Mansfield looks at how the Republican National Committee is getting involved with lawsuits around the country.The top official overseeing federal college financial aid will leave his role this summer.USA TODAY Pentagon Correspondent Tom Vanden Brook explains how the U.S. is upping its defenses against drones.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 updates several legal issues surrounding former President Donald Trump.Protests continue on college campuses over the war in Gaza. For a map of ongoing protests, click here. A New York appeals court has overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction.USA TODAY Congress & Campaigns Reporter Ken Tran looks at President Joe Biden's latest challenges with young, progressive voters.It was a good night to be a quarterback at the NFL Draft.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the past five years, a small group of Silicon Valley investors has spent nearly a billion dollars quietly buying up over 50,000 acres of farmland in northern California. The goal? To create an ambitious new California dream city, something that hasn’t been done in America for over a century. The California Forever project aims to create a livable, workable, walkable city that puts working families at the heart of its design, creating new housing for up to 400,000 people. Skeptics abound, but could this be the solution to one of California’s most intractable problems? The city’s designated architect, urban planner Gabriel Metcalf, joins The Excerpt to discuss the hurdles and possibilities of developing an entirely new city.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe recaps Supreme Court arguments over a state abortion ban.Israel appears set to launch a military offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza.A grand jury has charged Arizona Republicans and former aides to Donald Trump in a scheme to keep him in the White House by falsely certifying he won the state in 2020.The Arizona House has voted to repeal an 1864 abortion ban.New FAFSA rules opened up a 'grandparent loophole' that boosts 529 plans.USA TODAY Health Reporter Karen Weintraub talks about a woman with a new lease on life thanks to a heart pump and pig kidney transplant.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If a person is convicted of a crime, they may be sentenced to prison. Upon release, technically, they're free again. The catch is that now they have a criminal record that will likely follow them everywhere they go. So, when does the sentence end? For most people, the answer is never. 70 million Americans have some sort of criminal record. Twelve states have recently passed laws allowing low-level convictions to be expunged from records if certain requirements are met. In recognition of Second Chance Month, we ask: should everyone get a chance at a clean slate? Sheena Meade, CEO of the Clean Slate Initiative, an organization working to get all 50 states to offer automatic record clearance, joins The Excerpt to discuss the ramifications of living with a criminal record.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congress has passed legislation that puts the future of TikTok up in the air. USA TODAY Congress & Campaigns Reporter Riley Beggin breaks it down.Israel slams northern Gaza, while Hamas calls for an escalation. Plus, campus protests continue.The Department of Justice will pay nearly $139 million to survivors of Larry Nassar's sexual abuse in a settlement.USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent David Jackson looks at former President Donald Trump's ongoing strategy of campaigning from the courthouse.The Biden administration has announced a rule that would make millions of workers newly eligible for overtime pay.Contact has been restored with NASA’s Voyager 1 space probe.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee 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 Aysha Bagchi recaps opening arguments in Donald Trump's hush money trial.A judge approves safeguards for Donald Trump's $175 million civil business fraud appeal bond.Tensions over the Israel-Hamas war continue on college campuses.USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe breaks down a major case centered on ticketing the homeless.Britain approves a Rwanda asylum seekers plan.The World Anti-Doping Agency says 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive before Tokyo Olympics.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee 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 previews the second week of former President Donald Trump's hush money trial.The New York attorney general's office asks a judge to reject the $175 million bond in Donald Trump's civil business fraud case.It'll be a busy week at the Supreme Court.The House approves an anti-TikTok measure.USA TODAY National Immigration Reporter Lauren Villagran looks at why Donald Trump's comments on oil and immigration are at odds.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earth Day falls on April 22nd this year. And as with every Earth Day, it’s a chance to slow down and take stock of where we are with climate change and the state of the planet. While the drumbeat of alarming climate change news continues unabated - it's been the hottest year, we have the warmest oceans, and most severe weather on record - some scientists argue that humanity is actually on the cusp of broad, positive change. Even though the years ahead may be rough, as climate warms beyond what had been hoped for, these scientists are feeling “urgent optimism” for what could be the first generation to achieve a sustainable world. USA TODAY National Correspondent for climate and energy transition, Elizabeth Wiese, joins The Excerpt podcast to explain the many reasons to feel hopeful today about the future of our planet.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A man set himself on fire Friday at the Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump's hush money trial is taking place.A bill that could effectively ban TikTok picks up steam in Congress. Plus, another GOP lawmaker says he will support efforts to oust Mike Johnson from the speakership.USA TODAY Democracy Reporter Erin Mansfield discusses Republican efforts to push back on voter fraud.Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes the Michigan presidential ballot as an independent candidate.USA TODAY Senior Reporter Jessica Guynn discusses a wave of young people glorifying the Columbine shooters on the 25th anniversary of the high school shooting.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.