Outlet profile

USA TODAY

60 graded reports on Clad. Volume is public; the outlet's average grade, lean & social sentiment unlock with a free account.

Clad has been grading USA TODAY segments since Jun 2026 — 60 reports so far, published most weeks. Its most-covered subjects on Clad: Trump, Courts & Law, Iran. Every report checks the segment's load-bearing claims against primary sources, then scores the coverage for factual accuracy, political lean, and how the public received it — so you can see how USA TODAY's reporting holds up story by story, not just take its word for it.

USA TODAY's average grade, average political lean & social sentiment across all 60 reports unlock with a free CladFacts account — no card required.

Latest reports

Grade & lean — See grades free

Tennessee halts executions after Christa Pike survives two doses of pentobarbital

Oct 2, 2026

The USA TODAY segment reports on the failed September 30, 2026, lethal injection of Christa Pike at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. Pike, the only woman on Tennessee's death row and convicted in the 1995 torture-murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, received two doses of pentobarbital after last-minute legal delays. Witnesses heard her breathing, snoring and speaking; she remained alive with a detectable heartbeat. She was transported to a hospital for treatment. Governor Bill Lee ordered a third-party investigation and postponed the state's remaining 2026 execution. The report draws primarily from Pike's attorneys' emergency filings and statements, media witnesses' accounts, and the Tennessee Department of Correction's confirmation that protocol was followed. No independent medical experts appear; the segment highlights prior execution issues in the state and ends with the governor's commitment to review.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Veterans, lawmakers protest Trump’s 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington

Oct 1, 2026

The USA TODAY segment covered an October 1, 2026, protest at Memorial Circle organized by Public Citizen against President Trump’s proposed 250-foot “Triumphal Arch” near Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. Speakers, including veterans and Democratic lawmakers, denounced it as an illegal vanity project that desecrates sacred ground, disrupts historic sightlines, and circumvents Congress. The clip featured emotional rhetoric labeling it a monument to Trump’s ego, linking it to other projects like a White House ballroom, and rejecting the national-security rationale for arming it with drones and snipers. Sourcing was limited to on-site protesters and critics; no administration officials, Republican voices, or neutral experts appeared. Graphics were minimal, and the report aligned with lawsuits by veterans arguing lack of congressional approval.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Zuckerberg, Musk endorse voluntary AI self-policing accord at White House

Sep 29, 2026

The USA TODAY segment covers the September 29, 2026 White House meeting where President Trump and AI leaders including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sundar Pichai, Dario Amodei, and Greg Brockman signed the 'White House Accord on Super Intelligence.' The one-page voluntary document commits companies to four layers of internal controls, audits, and board oversight to ensure frontier models behave as intended, particularly around cybersecurity and unintended access. Zuckerberg is quoted describing it as a starting point for industry standards that builds public confidence. The clip also features Zuckerberg highlighting positive outcomes of superintelligence, predicting an 'age of abundance' beyond universal basic income. Musk is referenced as weighing in supportively.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Trump airs taxpayer-funded ads resembling 2024 campaign spots ahead of midterms

Sep 28, 2026

The USA TODAY segment reports that the Trump White House is spending federal funds on television advertisements featuring the president that closely resemble his 2024 campaign spots, including one warning of a "final battle" against the deep state and another with "love me" lyrics. It notes the ads carry a "Paid for by the U.S. Government" disclaimer and are defended by the administration as non-political public service announcements since Trump is not on the November ballot and they contain no explicit get-out-the-vote message. Democrats, Public Citizen, and some Republicans including Sen. John Kennedy have criticized the spots as inappropriate or illegal misuse of taxpayer money. The report states there is no clear mechanism to force their removal and they are expected to continue. Sourcing relies on the ads themselves, statements from the White House, Democratic lawmakers' letter, Public Citizen's GAO complaint citing propaganda and Hatch Act violations, and Kennedy's CBS interview. No named administration officials beyond the general White House position are quoted; graphics or specific ad footage are implied but not detailed in the transcript.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Utah Judge Binds Tyler Robinson Over for Trial in Charlie Kirk Murder

Sep 2, 2026

The USA TODAY clip shows a Utah district court hearing in which the judge rules that Tyler James Robinson (also referred to with the middle name Round in the transcript) is bound over for trial in the Fourth Judicial District Court on multiple counts related to the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk. The judge reminds that Robinson remains presumed innocent. Defense counsel then waives reading of the information and enters not-guilty pleas on all counts on Robinson's behalf. The segment is a brief excerpt of the procedural conclusion of a preliminary hearing.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Doug Ford unveils Lake Ontario sign days after Trump executive order renames it Lake America

Aug 29, 2026

The USA TODAY clip shows Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiling a large 'Lake Ontario Now and Always' sign at a lakeside park near Hamilton on August 29, 2026. Ford states the lake will remain Lake Ontario 'now and forever' regardless of U.S. actions, notes calls from governors, and emphasizes Canadian resilience and sovereignty. The segment includes brief remarks from event organizers and ends with the unveiling. Sourcing relies on Ford's live comments and on-site footage; no additional experts or data graphics are featured.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Burning Man 2026 draws ~70,000 to Black Rock Desert Aug 30–Sept 7

Aug 29, 2026

USA TODAY segment previews the start of Burning Man 2026, noting the return after the muddy 2023 event and the arrival of roughly 70,000 participants in the remote Nevada desert north of Reno. It describes the event as a mix of dance party and art exhibit where everything is built from scratch, vanishes after Labor Day, and operates on gifting, radical self-reliance, and a strict no-commerce rule. The piece highlights the challenges of heat, dust, wind, and mud while emphasizing the unique appeal for longtime attendees. Sourcing is limited to general knowledge and historical references; no named experts or on-site footage appear in the transcript.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Puerto Rico water rationing hits 180,000 households as tourists urged to conserve

Aug 27, 2026

The USA TODAY segment reports on Puerto Rico's ongoing water crisis driven by severe drought, critically low reservoir levels (especially Carraízo), aging infrastructure, and a major pipeline rupture earlier in 2026. Since early August, rotating 48-hour water shutoffs have affected over 180,000 households in the San Juan metro and nearby areas, forcing residents to collect water from springs, trucks, or public points, while many hotels and resorts continue normal operations via cisterns and backups. Officials are not discouraging tourism but urge visitors to check their accommodations, conserve water through shorter showers and other measures, and engage more deeply with local realities. The piece quotes community advocates saying the crisis disproportionately burdens residents, not tourists. Sourcing includes statements from Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), Gov. Jenniffer González, Discover Puerto Rico's 'Keep the Island Singing' conservation campaign launched Aug. 20, and unnamed local sources. No on-camera guests; visuals likely show rationing impacts contrasted with tourist areas. The throughline stresses the two-tiered experience while encouraging responsible travel.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Gary residents endure two weeks without power after Aug. 11 derecho

Aug 24, 2026

The USA TODAY video reports on the prolonged power outages in Gary, Indiana, and nearby areas following a massive storm system on August 11, 2026. It features on-the-ground interviews with residents describing survival challenges: spoiled food, flooded basements, inability to flush toilets due to failed pumps, pitch-black streets, downed trees blocking roads, price gouging on generators, and feelings of abandonment. Community events providing food offer temporary relief but underscore ongoing needs. Reporter Sophie Hartley from the Indianapolis Star notes incremental restorations but skepticism about timelines. Sourcing relies primarily on resident testimony and the reporter's observations, with references to NIPSCO's statements that power should return in Gary this week (targeted for Aug. 25). No named utility executives appear; the piece highlights human impact over official metrics, noting the storm's severity but focusing on lived experiences in this majority-Black, high-poverty city.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Resnick Testifies Clancy Grieved with Daily Crying, Blunted Affect in 2023 Evaluation

Aug 21, 2026

This USA TODAY clip shows defense attorney Kevin Reddington questioning forensic psychiatrist Phillip Resnick about his May 2023 evaluation of Lindsay Clancy at Tewksbury Hospital, four months after she killed her three children. Resnick describes interviewing Clancy for three hours and her parents for nearly two, noting her paralysis from a suicide attempt, cooperative demeanor, detailed recall of events, blunted or muted affect, and that nurses reported she was crying daily about the loss while still grieving and medicated. The testimony supports the defense's lack-of-criminal-responsibility argument based on severe postpartum mental illness. Resnick is a prominent expert who has consulted on cases including Andrea Yates.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Chaplain testifies Lindsay Clancy said children 'safe' after voice command

Aug 20, 2026

This USA TODAY clip presents testimony from hospital chaplain Sheila Cavanaugh in the ongoing murder trial of Lindsay Clancy. On day 17 of the trial (August 20, 2026), Cavanaugh described meeting Clancy over 200 times since January 2023, beginning while Clancy was intubated. Clancy expressed deep love for her children, ongoing grief, and relief that they were "safe." Cavanaugh responded that they were "safe in heaven with God" and the two prayed together. Clancy also recounted hearing a persistent voice that commanded her to kill the children, saying that if she did not obey, neither she nor her children would be safe. The segment is drawn from live trial coverage. Cavanaugh, a board-certified chaplain at Brigham and Women's Hospital, was called by the defense. The testimony supports the insanity defense centered on postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder. Supporters rallied outside the Plymouth, Massachusetts, courthouse wearing pink. The psychologist for the defense previously testified Clancy was not criminally responsible.

▶ Source: USA TODAY

Grade & lean — See grades free

Trump tours White House helipad construction, claims Canada trade deal and Xi visit

Aug 19, 2026

The USA TODAY video shows President Trump touring the South Lawn helipad site during construction, highlighting granite work, new grass, flagpoles, and dual-use for events and helicopters. He answers questions on the ballroom/military complex project, a potential Supreme Court ruling, the Canada trade deal, Iran, Kim Jong-un, and oil flows.

▶ Source: USA TODAY