2028 primary map fight heats up among Democrats

As Democrats turn the page on 2024, a new high-stakes fight is underway over which states will kick off the 2028 presidential primaries. Twelve states made their pitches to the Democratic National Committee, which ranged from racial diversity to electoral history. The coveted early spots can shape the entire race and bring a surge of campaign spending and national media attention. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers explains the political stakes and which states may have the edge. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [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.

On May 16, the World Health Organization called the Ebola outbreaks in eastern Congo and Uganda a global health emergency. So far, there have been more than 900 suspected cases and over 200 suspected deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. There is no vaccine. No treatment. Behind it all is a global health funding system at its lowest level since 2009, with the largest single donor, the U.S., having walked away. A recent shift in U.S. health policy now has the U.S. keeping suspected American cases abroad – sending some to quarantine facilities in Europe and others to Kenya. Why can’t they be treated back home? And what does that say about U.S. preparedness for a deadly outbreak? Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss the policy shift and what it means for public health, travel restrictions, and preparedness in the United States. She is also editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News and an opinion contributor for USA TODAY. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [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.

A significant change to the green card application process announced last week could upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in America. The change, released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services which oversees the program, will require non-citizens to apply for a green card from their host countries. What might this change mean for applicants and their families who are already in the US, studying, working and living with their families? And what’s behind the change? Adriel Orozco, senior policy counsel at American Immigration Council, joins The Excerpt to share his insights.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [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.

Millions of children in the U.S. live with grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives, often after a family crisis. But many kinship families take in children with little help navigating housing, legal rights or financial support. USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Jayme Fraser joins The Excerpt to discuss her three-part series, “Caring for Kin,” what families told her and why the systems intended to help children can leave relatives largely on their own.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [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.

You can’t tell the story of American music without the blues, which means you can’t tell it without Memphis. From Beale Street’s blues bars to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music to Graceland – the city’s influence on nearly every genre of music is immense. But for a city that helped shape the sound of America — why hasn’t it fully shared in the wealth it created? USA TODAY National Correspondent Chris Kenning joins The Excerpt to discuss efforts to revitalize the modern Memphis music scene, its rich music history and how the story of music in Memphis is being written today. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected]. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new $1.776 billion Justice Department fund is raising big questions — about who could qualify and how the money might be used. The “anti-weaponization fund” stems from a settlement tied to a $10B lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the IRS. The DOJ says it’s meant to compensate people who were unjustly targeted by Justice. But the details leave key questions unresolved. Could some January 6 defendants be eligible? What role will a commission play in deciding payouts? And what does this mean for the Justice Department’s independence? USA TODAY Justice Correspondent Aysha Bagchi breaks down what we know — and what remains unclear.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [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.

Ever since Indiana state Republicans failed to heed Trump’s redistricting demand, President Donald Trump has been on a tear, working to reshape the Republican Party by pushing hard against those who have opposed not only his leadership, but his vision of America and its place on the world stage. The president has been successful in forcing foes within his own party out of office – most recently in a wildly expensive and pivotal race in Kentucky between incumbent Representative Thomas Massie and challenger Ed Gallrein. Like others Trump has rallied against, Massie, too, fell in Tuesday night’s elections. USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page joins The Excerpt to help make sense of the mismatch between Trump’s approval ratings and his hold on the Republican Party. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [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.

A deadly cluster of hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship has raised new questions about how rare diseases spread, and whether another pandemic could be on the horizon. Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, explains what makes the Andes strain different, why experts do not expect this outbreak to become another COVID-like crisis, and what it reveals about the growing threat of zoonotic spillover events.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [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 debt has crossed a striking threshold: it’s now bigger than the economy itself. Questions about what that means start to take shape when interest enters the picture. As the cost of carrying debt grows, its impact becomes harder to ignore. So, what should we do about the national debt, and just how worried should we really be? Marc Goldwein, senior policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, joins The Excerpt to talk about the impact of the scale of U.S. borrowing and what it likely means for future generations.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [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.

For decades, late‑night television has provided us with a shared end‑of‑day ritual made up of monologues and jokes that shape our political conversations. And, while Stephen Colbert didn’t invent late-night TV, he sharpened it. Last July, when Colbert announced the end of The Late Show franchise on CBS, many wondered what happens when shows that function as cultural town squares begin to disappear. USA TODAY TV Critic Kelly Lawler joins The Excerpt to discuss rising production costs, shifts in viewing preferences and the demise of one of the pillars of late-night television.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [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.