Trump mired in Epstein controversy while House deals with demands for transparency

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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Hot Off The Wire is a collection of news, sports and entertainment reports. The program is produced by Lee Enterprises with audio provided by The Associated Press.