As a bulwark against the flood of propaganda and misinformation coming from China and Russia, the United States Agency for Global Media is a global beacon of American freedom and democracy, reaching nearly 500 million listeners every day. Two of the six entities underneath USAGM are Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. While a March executive order by President Donald Trump to dismantle them has been reversed by the courts, their continued existence is uncertain as Republicans hammer out a new budget that aims to deliver on the president’s agenda. Why should Americans care? Japhet Quitzon, an associate fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, joins The Excerpt to talk about the agency's historic role in spreading American culture and values.

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There was some mixed news out of the courts Tuesday for President Donald Trump. The Supreme Court allowed his ban on transgender troops to take effect. Plus, a judge blocked him from shuttering an agency that funds museums and libraries.

USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes tells us about a women's group that quilts for democracy.

The Trump administration continues to suggest the Federal Emergency Management Agency could go away.

USA TODAY Senior Reporter Jessica Guynn talks about the waning support from brands ahead of Pride Month.

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Buried in an evidence room, a DNA swab held the key to catching a serial sex offender. But no one tested it for years. Detective Annie Harrison finally put the pieces together in two states 800 miles apart. This is the story of Untested, an exclusive true crime podcast from USA TODAY and Witness. The show's host, USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Gina Barton, joins The Excerpt to discuss the reporting that went into the series and why she thinks listeners should tune in.

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USA TODAY White House Correspondent Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy discusses a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul the Department of Health and Human Services.

Israel readies a plan to seize all of Gaza.

The Department of Homeland Security is offering $1,000 stipends and free airfare to immigrants who deport themselves.

Trump says he knew 'nothing' about an AI image of him as the pope.

USA TODAY Money and Personal Finance Reporter Medora Lee takes a look at new data showing seriously delinquent student loans jumped just as involuntary collections resume.

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We received so many responses about President Trump's first 100 days in office that we created a second episode on what Americans are really thinking about Trump and his administration. Forum is a series from USA TODAY's Opinion team, dedicated to showcasing views from across the political spectrum on issues that Americans are starkly divided on. If you'd like to weigh in on a different topic, you can find more questions at usatoday.com/forum. And if your submission is selected for print, we might invite you to add your voice to a future special bonus episode like this one. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.

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President Donald Trump expressed uncertainty whether he must uphold the Constitution to carry out his deportation agenda and said he's not looking at running for a third White House term during a wide-ranging interview with NBC's "Meet the Press."

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Since its inception, baseball has always had a place for female athletes. In fact, colleges and universities had women’s teams as far back as the 1860's. But at some point, women were shuffled into softball and opportunities to play hardball disappeared. Until now. Associate Professor of sports leadership and management at Miami University Callie Batts Maddox joins The Excerpt to talk about the launch of the Women's Pro Baseball League next year and what it will mean for women and girls who are passionate for the sport.

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President Donald Trump unveiled a budget blueprint on Friday. Plus, despite additions, some GOP senators slammed his defense budget for being too stingy.

USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey talks about Stephen A. Smith as Democrats grapple with celebrity populism.

A new policy means zero tolerance for visa holders.

President Trump says he's revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status.

USA TODAY Sports Columnist Dan Wolken discusses a renewed interest in aftercare for retired racehorses.

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