In this clip from her audiobook, learn the incredible story of Illinois senator and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth and see what inspired her to follow the path that made her who she is today.

"Every Day Is A Gift" excerpt by Senator Tammy Duckworth

Oresa Napper-Williams talks about her son as much as she can. She started her nonprofit to help kids before they get caught in gangs and gun violence. She does all of this to keep her son's legacy alive.

Oresa Napper-Williams is trying to keep her son's legacy alive

Napper-Williams had her son when she was a senior in high school. She says the "grew up together."

Oresa Napper-Williams on what she misses about her son

Napper-Williams says her son was different than most kids his age. He played classical music, attended a summer program at Juilliard and got an award for roller blading.

Oresa Napper-Williams on her son's summer at Juilliard

Not Another Child hosts tournaments for kids in New York City and offers group counseling for mothers who have lost their children to gun violence.

Oresa Napper-Williams on starting Not Another Child

Napper-Williams says that she froze when she got the call that her son had been shot.

Oresa Napper-Williams on finding out her son had been shot

Two USA TODAY opinion editors talk about the outcome of the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial and their experiences existing while Black in America.

When it comes to existing while Black, 'you never know which way it's going to go'

U.S. Justice Anthony Kennedy reads the 5-4 majority opinion in the case of Garcetti v. Ceballos, a decision that first amendment advocates say brought particularly devastating consequences for police whistleblowers.

2005 Term

Garcetti v. Ceballos - Opinion Announcement - May 30, 2006

In a lawsuit agains the Saginaw County, Mich. Sheriff's Office, Garrett DeWyse said Sheriff William Federspiel reassigned him to pick up roadkill after he complained about the office's practices in using forfeiture money. The following is a recording of a meeting DeWyse recorded and presented to investigators in the case.

Garrett DeWyse audio recording of meeting with Sheriff William Federspiel

Staying could mean death. The escape nearly killed her.

Read along as you listen to this story: https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/world/2021/09/30/afghanistan-evacuation-fatema-hosseini-escape-taliban-checkpoints-kabul-airport/5822817001/

How one woman fled Afghanistan for freedom

Atlantic Council nonresident fellow Terrell Jermaine Starr on what's going on in Ukraine hours after Russia's invasion began.

Atlantic Council's Terrell Jermaine Starr on what's going on in Ukraine

Oleksiy Honcharuk, former Ukrainian Prime Minister and distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, on the conditions in Ukraine just hours after Russia begun missile strikes on the country.

Former Ukrainian Prime Minster Oleksiy Honcharuk Russia's invasion

Jaden Amos, of USA TODAY Opinion, talks about Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Listen to the encouraging words from kindergarteners.

Listen to encouraging words from a kindergartener on the "Peptoc Hotline"

Here's a sample of an AI voice generator at work.

Jennifer Jolly's AI voice generator sample.

Carmine Lania threatens his wife, Lena Hale, and her children during a recorded phone conversation.

Recorded call from Lania (Warning: This call may be difficult for some listeners to hear.)

Noah Rosenzweig, 23, lives in northwest Washington, D.C. with his dog, Pilot. He graduated from Georgetown University in May 2020. 

Before the pandemic, Rosenzweig envisioned graduation as a set of twin finish lines: he'd be a degree-holder and he could finally medically transition. Then lockdowns hit and everything was put on pause. Rosenzweig wouldn't be seeing his family for months and there was suddenly less pressure to stick to the planned timeline. 

In April, one month before graduating, Rosezweig began a testosterone regimen. Then he got top surgery in September. 

To offset medical bills and ensure he could pay rent, Rosenzweig got a retail job at Nordstrom in October. Just like so many Americans during the pandemic, Rosenzweig is working in-person to maintain financial stability, even though it means putting his health at risk. The bright side: since working in-person post-operation, Rosenzweig says he hasn't been misgendered once.

This audio story is part of the larger USA TODAY feature article "Pandemic lockdowns gave young people freedom to explore gender identities," by Sammy Gibbons and Claire Thornton.

This audio story was produced by USA TODAY audio editor Claire Thornton.

For Noah Rosenzweig, the pandemic was the right time to start gender-affirming care

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