Law enforcement officers working in plain clothes or undercover is nothing new. What is new is that some officers are now hiding their faces behind masks and refusing to show identification. Following a surge in arrests by armed, masked federal immigration agents in unmarked cars, some California Democrats are backing a new bill in Congress that would bar officials from covering their faces while conducting raids unless the masks were required for their safety or their health. What’s led to the rise of masked policing? And is this what law enforcement should look like in a democracy? Former FBI agent Mike German, a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to dig into those questions and more.

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Tsunami waves reached Hawaii and parts of the West Coast after one of the strongest earthquakes in recorded history.

USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Aysha Bagchi breaks down Ghislaine Maxwell's conditions for Congressional testimony.

The EPA will repeal the finding that climate pollution endangers human health.

The U.S. sets a new electricity consumption record amid summer heat.

USA TODAY Senior National Political Correspondent Sarah D. Wire breaks down what's next for library funding as E-books are on the line.

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There are major international starvation concerns in Gaza, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there is no starvation there.

A gunman killed four people, and then himself at a prominent Midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday.

President Trump sets a new deadline of '10 to 12 days' for Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

A federal judge has blocked enforcement of a provision in Trump's tax and spending bill that would deprive Planned Parenthood and its members of Medicaid funding.

USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer breaks down President Trump's comments about being 'allowed' to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell.

USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey takes a look at some upcoming governor's races and why they will be major referendums on Trump vs. Democrats.

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The U.S. has reached a trade deal with the European Union after President Donald Trump's weekend trip to Scotland.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Chris Kenning talks about his reporting on farmers facing a fork amid the immigration crackdown.

Israel pauses some military action in Gaza amid ongoing starvation concerns.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Deborah Barfield Berry discusses a bipartisan push for a new women's history museum.

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In July, the University of Pennsylvania agreed to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women's sports and strip the record of former swimmer Lia Thomas as part of an agreement with the Department of Education. It was the same month that the Supreme Court announced that it will review Idaho's and West Virginia's state bans on transgender athletes joining female sports teams. The moves mark the country’s latest grappling with issues surrounding transgender athletes. More than half the states have now passed laws preventing transgender athletes from competing on schools’ female sports teams, saying they are trying to prevent competitive advantages. Where does the American public stand on these issues? And what are the larger implications and influences playing into this conversation? USA TODAY Education Reporter Zachary Schermele joins The Excerpt to talk through the issues from political and educational lenses.

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President Donald Trump's four-day visit to Scotland is opening old wounds for some.

USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Chris Quintana takes a look at the man tapped to be the next to oversee higher education. Plus, the Trump administration will return more than $5 billion in public school funding it withheld.

The Department of Justice is inspecting state voter rolls.

This month's oppressive heat forecast isn't normal.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise talks about tarantulas ahead of mating season this fall.

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Israel and the United States recalled their delegations from Gaza ceasefire talks for consultations Thursday. Plus, hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks trying to reach food, mostly in mass shootings by Israeli soldiers posted near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution centers.

USA TODAY Senior National Columnist for Health and Wellness Laura Trujillo takes a closer look at President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein's relationship over the years.

Two GOP senators call for a special counsel to probe former President Barack Obama over the 2016 Trump-Russia investigation.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison discusses a new executive order that makes it easier for cities and states to remove homeless people from the streets.

Hulk Hogan has died at 71.

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If you suffer from insomnia, you're not alone. About one in 10 adults suffers from chronic insomnia, an inability to fall or stay asleep three nights a week for three months or more. The condition has potentially debilitating health impacts including an increased risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse and even car accidents. The question is: Why can’t we sleep? Jennifer Senior, a staff writer at The Atlantic who recently went on her own journey to solve her insomnia, joins The Excerpt to talk about what she learned along the way.

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