Each week Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• Trump mired in Epstein controversy as Wall Street Journal reports on 2003 letter.
• House Republicans grasp for response to demands for transparency in Epstein case.
• Trump urged supporters to see conspiracies everywhere. With Epstein, that's coming back to haunt him.
• Most US adults think the GOP tax bill will help the wealthy and harm the poor, AP-NORC poll finds.
• A Texas family clung to life on their roof, capturing the terrifying flooding in photos and video.
• 'Gas station heroin' is technically illegal and widely available. Here are the facts.
• The grueling 135-mile journey of a 66-year-old runner through one of the hottest places on Earth.
• The biggest piece of Mars on Earth went up for auction in New York.
• Astronomers capture the birth of planets around a baby sun outside our solar system.
• Native American teens kayak major US river to celebrate removal of dams and return of salmon.
• Romance bookstores and online groups give fans a sense of community.
• Osprey came back from the brink once. Now chicks are dying in nests, and some blame overfishing.
• Most teens — and girls especially — see college as key to jobs and life skills, AP-NORC poll says.
• A designer dressed Chappell Roan with seaweed. But don't expect to find the approach in stores — yet.
• After 3 years in Russian captivity, Ukrainian soldier proposes to woman who waited for him.
• German customs officials show images of tarantulas hidden in spongecake boxes after smuggling bust.
• UN rapporteur calls for global action to stop 'genocide' in Gaza.
• On this week's AP Religion Roundup, a Tennessee town corrects the record with its own play on the Scopes trial.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

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The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX

• On today's episode: The House approved President Donald Trump's request to slash $9 billion in spending; a poll reveals most people believe the new tax law benefits the wealthy; the IRS will get a new leader; global shares opened trading Friday higher; the European Union will impose new sancitons on Russia.
• Nationwide protests begin against Trump's immigration crackdown and health care cuts.
• Trump won't recommend special counsel in Epstein investigation, spokeswoman says.
• Trump will visit Scotland, where his family has golf courses, and will talk trade with Starmer.
• House sends bill regulating stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency, to Trump.
• Trump is checked for lower leg swelling and diagnosed with a common condition in older adults.
• Urban League declares a 'state of emergency' for civil rights in the US in response to Trump.
• Just 1 in 4 US adults say Trump's policies have helped them, a new AP-NORC poll finds.
• Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' canceled by CBS, ends May 2026.
• Steve Miller Band says extreme weather is so dangerous it’s canceling its tour.
• Star-crossed singer Connie Francis, whose hits included 'Pretty Little Baby,' dead at 87.
• Puppies rescued from flood-stricken Texas arrive at Chicago shelter.
• An Idaho judge has lifted a sweeping gag order in Bryan Kohberger's quadruple murder case.
• Wall Street cruises to more records as PepsiCo and tech stocks rally.
• Juul can continue selling its tobacco and menthol e-cigarettes, FDA says.
• Funders commit $1B toward developing AI tools for frontline workers.
• Average long-term US mortgage rate rises to 6.75%, second straight uptick.
• Republican senators caution Trump against firing Fed chair Jerome Powell.
• Retail sales up a surprising 0.6% in June after a May pullback by consumers.
• US applications for jobless benefits fall for fifth straight week, hitting lowest level since April.
• American and English golfers are tied atop the British Open with a homeland hero lurking, an NFL record contract for an All-Pro linebacker, a rising receiver is sentenced to prison and the NFLPA head steps down, a nine-time NBA All-Star returns to Portland and the WNBA’s top star bows out of its All-Star weekend.
• Felix Baumgartner, the first skydiver to fall faster than the speed of sound, dies in crash in Italy.
• Syrian government forces set to re-enter Sweida province after renewed Druze-Bedouin clashes.
• Britain will lower its voting age to 16 in a bid to strengthen democracy.
• Zelenskyy shakes up Ukrainian Cabinet, appointing a new prime minister to reinvigorate war effort.
• 2 killed and several injured in Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Theme music

The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX

• On today's episode: The Senate passed about $9 billion in cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting; the Justice Department fired prosecutor Maurene Comey; there were new Israeli strikes in Gaza; a tropical weather system is forming over the Gulf; dangerous lightning struck in New Jersey; and Prince Harry has followed in the footsteps of his mother.
• Federal lawsuit seeks to stop ICE agents from arresting people at immigration courts.
• First the shoes went back on. Now, at US airport security, more liquid in carry-ons may be at hand.
• Jill Biden aide invokes Fifth to decline testimony in Republican investigation.
• Trump says he's “highly unlikely” to fire Fed's Powell after floating that idea in private.
• Trump slams his own supporters who are angered over how his team has handled the Epstein case.
• US sends third-country deportees under secrecy to the small African kingdom of Eswatini.
• Officials downgrade Alaska tsunami warning after 7.3 magnitude earthquake.
• Ex-NYPD commissioner sues NYC mayor, alleging he ran police department as a 'criminal enterprise.'
• Feds charge 5 in Louisiana, including 3 current or ex-police chiefs, over alleged visa fraud scheme.
• New York carriage horse's collapse spurs a criminal trial.
• Stocks bounce back after Trump says it's 'unlikely' he'll try to fire Fed chair Powell.
• Largest piece of Mars on Earth fetches meteoric $5.3 million at New York auction.
• A former All-NBA star is bound for Los Angeles, Caitlin Clark misses another game, an All-Star break trade in baseball, the NHL releases its upcoming season schedule and a former major winner is banned by a historic golf club.
• Pro-Palestinian protester takes issue with Israeli team at Tour de France.
• A fire at a mall in eastern Iraq kills more than 60 people.
• Netanyahu's governing coalition is fracturing. Here's what it means for Israel and Gaza.
• Death of Australia's 'Outback Killer' leaves whereabouts of British backpacker's body unknown.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Theme music

The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX