The Excerpt

These Senate races weren’t supposed to be this close

Senate control could come down to races that barely looked competitive a year ago. Arit John, a USA TODAY senior politics correspondent, explains why Republicans are spen

Can influencers actually swing the midterms?

Republicans built an early advantage with podcasts and online creators. Now Democrats are trying to catch up. USA TODAY Politics Trending Reporter Emily Condon breaks dow

Midterm election polls: Why a Democratic wave isn't guaranteed

A blue wave could be on the horizon. But how accurate are the polls? USA TODAY chief political correspondent Phillip Bailey breaks down what's at stake in the 2026 midter

The Ohio governor race gets personal after a controversial attack ad

Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy faces criticism after releasing an attack ad that featured the estranged mother of his opponent, Democrat candidat

Trump’s $1 million voter fraud offer: How would it work?

President Trump is offering $1 million for reports of voter fraud that lead to an arrest and conviction. But how would the reward actually work, and how widespread is vot

Is Trump fueling a blue wave?

President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot, but he’s a major force in the midterms as the Senate battleground expands. USA TODAY National News Reporter Zac Anderson expla

Republicans and Democrats agree on almost nothing

Republicans rank patriotism as the value America needs most. Democrats rank it last. USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page examines what a striking new survey reve

500 applications. Still no job.

One job seeker has submitted more than 500 applications over two years and still hasn't landed a permanent role. Carl Van Horn, public policy professor at Rutgers Univers

New Mexico’s nuclear past collides with U.S. weapons expansion

In The Hidden Cost of Nuclear Deterrence, USA TODAY explores how New Mexico still lives with the legacy of the Trinity test, as the U.S. plans to expand nuclear weapons p

The first 24 hours after deportation to Haiti

What happens after a U.S. deportation flight lands in Haiti? USA TODAY National News Reporter Chris Kenning explains what deportees face after arrival, from limited assis

Can an insult change your vote?

Political insults aren't new, but they're becoming a central campaign strategy. Why are candidates in both parties betting on nicknames, personal attacks and viral moment

What happens if the Colorado River keeps shrinking?

As water levels decline at Lake Powell, long-submerged sections of Glen Canyon are reemerging, fueling a renewed debate over the future of the dam itself. Trevor Hughes,

Could Latino voters actually turn Texas blue?

Could Latino voters help turn Texas blue? Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY senior national news reporter, breaks down what she’s hearing from voters, why some Republicans may spl

Will Trump's Russia diesel deal actually lower prices?

A new diesel supply deal between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin aims to ease pressure on fuel markets, but will it make a meaningful difference? Daniel de Visé, personal

The ketamine blind spot on college campuses

Why are more people talking about ketamine? USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer explains what the drug does and why researchers say there's still limited

Why DOGE is back at the Supreme Court

Why is DOGE back before the Supreme Court? USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe explains the fight over government transparency, what records watchdog gro

ICE said it wasn't tracking protesters. Then we got records.

USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Nick Penzenstadler explains how reporters fought for months to obtain ICE records and what they uncovered inside an "agitator" tracking s

Why 5 million Americans lost SNAP benefits

Five million Americans have already fallen off SNAP rolls, and experts say that may be just the beginning. Sarah D. Wire, senior national news reporter for USA TODAY, exp

Christa Pike's lawyers warned of issues before her botched execution

Convicted murderer Christa Pike was sentenced to death by lethal injection on September 30th, but somehow survived. Her situation has surprised many, but new reporting su

The warning signs Nicole Brown Simpson’s family missed

Author and domestic violence advocate Denise Brown reflects on the warning signs her family missed before Nicole Brown Simpson’s death. She explains what she later learne