NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, July 24, 2025

Episode Date: July 25, 2025

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dies at 71; Top DOJ official meets with convicted Epstein accomplice; Patients stunned by ‘facility fees’ for routine doctor visits; Newly released documents reveal chilling details about Idaho murders; Newly released documents reveal chilling details about Idaho murders; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the sudden death of an American icon and wrestling legend, Hulk Hogan, the shirt-shredding giant that entertained millions the world over, dying at a hospital in Florida, will retrace his explosive rise between the turnbuckles to movies as Hulkamania took over. An all-American persona in the ring and his battles outside of it. His use of steroids and a sex tape scandal that turned into a landmark lawsuit, plus his dramatic entrance into the world of politics. Also breaking tonight, the Deputy Attorney General meeting with Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirator

Ghislaine Maxwell at the same time. President Trump is under pressure about the handling of that case. Bank battle, the awkward photo op with the Fed chair as Jerome Powell and the president publicly disagree, correcting each other on live television. Our team inside of Gaza documenting the dire starvation emergency, the alarming images

as the crisis deepens, the children fighting for nutrition. In Idaho, the lead prosecutor in the Brian Coburger case, speaking to our Liz Kreutz, what Coburger said to a woman he met on a dating website about the scariest way to die, involving the type of knife used in the murders, the cost of denial. He went to a doctor's office for an injection and ended up being charged hospital prices.

Gotti Schwartz on the surprise facility fees showing up in more and more Americans' bills. And when her health kept her from her elementary school sendoff, her classmates, the community, even the high school marching band made a joyful noise for her return. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Knightly News with Tom Yamares. And good evening tonight, the death of a man known the world over who defined the face of wrestling, Hulk Hogan, known for his shirt shredding, signature mustache and muscles. Hogan skyrocketed to fame as pro wrestling took off in the 80s as he famously body slammed Andre the Giant.

His showmanship skyrocketed to popularity and captured a generation with Hogan appearing in movies like Rocky III and even his own reality show, Hogan Knows Best. Hogan became a fixture of Republican politics later in life appearing at the Republican National Convention just last year and the Wrestler also played a role in bringing down the website Gawker after posted graphic video of him Hogan faced allegations of racism a decade ago in the WWE removing him from the Hall of Fame

But his apologies leading to a reinstatement in 2018. Here's Joe fryer with more on his life and legacy. What Hulk Hogan created stretched far beyond a 20 by 20 foot wrestling ring. What what what you're going to do. Hulkamania will live forever. And what you're going to do brothers, a mania still alive today even after word of his death. Police say they were called to his home in Clearwater Florida just before 10 a.m.

I'm over a few 46 or 45 engine 46 cardiac arrest. Hogan whose real name was Terry Bollea died at the hospital. There are no signs of foul play or suspicious activity related to this call for service at this time. Bursting on the scene in the 1980's Hogan transformed pro wrestling using his mammoth biceps what he called his 24 inch pythons to shred t-shirts and the competition beating the iron sheik for his first world title body slamming the 500

pound on the giant. Hogan was unabashedly all American, often speaking directly to kids. Say your prayers, eat your vitamins. His appeal made him a cultural phenomenon. I'm looking at the size of your arms. I don't believe this. I wish I had anything that big. He starred in movies under lips is here, including Rocky three. I'm out of shape and Mr Nanny including Rocky III and Mr. Nanny. Later broke into reality TV, the VH1 series Hogan Knows Best.

Every day it's drama. It's just ridiculous. There were controversies. Hogan admitted to using steroids, and in 2015, audio surfaced of him using racist slurs. He apologized but was fired from WWE returning a few years later. He also made headlines for a sex tape published by the media company Gawker Hogan sued winning millions and forcing Gawker into bankruptcy. The jury agreed with me that privacy is something that we all deserve. Hogan also stepped into the political rings speaking at

last year's Republican National Convention. President Trump is reacting to his death writing Hulk Hogan was mega all the way strong tough smart, but with the biggest heart from Sylvester Stallone my heart breaks a wrestling legend Ric Flair says Hulkster no one will ever compare to you. Joe joins us now live in studio. And Joe, do we know more about how he died? Well, as we heard there,

the 911 call indicates cardiac arrest, but police in Clearwater say they will conduct a full investigation into his death, which they say is standard in cases like this. Hogan's manager tells us that he passed away surrounded by family, Tom. All right, Joe Fryer leading us off. Joe, thank you. state is standard in cases like this. Hogan's manager tells us that he passed away surrounded by family, Tom. All right, Joe Fryer leading us off, Joe, thank you.

Now to that meeting between a top Justice Department official and Jeffrey Epstein's convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney, saying she answered all the questions that she was asked today. Garrett Haik has the late details. Tonight, Attorney General Pam Bondi's top deputy meeting at a Florida courthouse with Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted accomplice of notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch meeting privately with Maxwell and her attorneys, posting, I'll continue my interview with her tomorrow and will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time. This tonight from Maxwell's attorney. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly, and to the best of her ability. The Trump administration seeking to cool the ongoing firestorm over its handling

of the DOJ's files on Epstein. Today's meeting blasted by Democrats. There is every reason to fear that Donald Trump could offer Ghislaine Maxwell a pardon in exchange for silence or even worse, phony exoneration. It comes 24 hours after the Wall Street Journal report, citing senior administration officials, that the president was briefed in May by Bondi that his name appears in the unreleased files.

The journal reporting the files contained what officials felt was unverified hearsay about many people, including Trump, who had socialized with Epstein in the past. And that being mentioned in the records is not a sign of wrongdoing. The White House calling the story fake news. NBC News has reviewed over a thousand pages of documents tied to Epstein or related investigations and conducted interviews with dozens of victims and attorneys, and none has suggested Trump committed a crime. All as President Trump tonight toured the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion building renovation,

which has already run over budget, squabbling over its costs with Fed Chair Jerome Powell. It looks like it's about $3.1 billion, went up a little bit, or a lot. So the $2.7 billion is now $3.1 billion. I'm not aware of that.7 is now 3.1. I'm not aware of that. Yeah, it just came out. You just added in a third building is what that is. That's a third building.

It's a building that's being built. No, it was built five years ago. We finished Martin five years ago. It's part of the overall work. The president asked what Powell could do to get him to back off his criticism. Well, I'd love him to lower interest rates. Other than that, what can I tell you? Garrett joins us now live.

Garrett, a lot of headlines involving President Trump tonight. The FCC has approved the eight billion dollar acquisition of Paramount, which also owns CBS. Yeah, Tom, the sale to Skydance Media comes on the heels of that 16 million dollar settlement between President Trump and CBS News over a 60 minutes interview with then Vice President Harris. The FCC says Skydance will make significant changes to the CBS broadcast network to ensure a quote diversity of viewpoints across the political spectrum. The FCC's lone Democrat dissenting with the decision, which she says threatens press freedom. Tom. All right, Garrett Hick, first Garrett. Thank you. Now to the extreme weather spreading and

smothering the country really. 134 million under heat alert stretching from the Mississippi Valley into the Midwest. You see it right here. It is so hot outside in so many places and the heat and humidity track east tomorrow into the mid Atlantic. And we're tracking new chaos tonight in Rioso, New Mexico. Look at this where crews rescued five people as wildfire burn scars turned into flash floods. Okay, now to those alarming stats from the UN today

that 9% of Gaza's children face severe malnutrition. Matt Bradley traveling to the border crossing where food aid is brought in, but critics say it's not enough. Yusuf El Safadi wasn't even two months old when hunger killed him. Now his father carries his son's body before he buries him. All this because of a lack of food and formula, his father said, there is nothing in the country. A new report from the UN humanitarian affairs office says as many as 9% of children in Gaza

are suffering severe malnutrition. But the Israeli government says they've put no restrictions on allowing aid into Gaza. There is no famine in Gaza. There is a famine of the truth. The Israelis blame aid agencies for not distributing food that's already been delivered. As we're hearing growing anger around the world about the famine conditions inside Gaza, the Israelis have brought us just inside Gaza now, where they're showing us all of this food aid

that they say aid agencies haven't been picking up and distributing it to the people who need it most. But the UN and other aid agencies say Israel's restrictive security conditions, as well as the dangers of operating inside Gaza, have made aid distribution extremely difficult. There is only one way to reverse this trajectory and that is by enabling sustained and unrestricted flow of aid into Gaza and enabling us to carry out our work. Well, as for a potential ceasefire deal, President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is headed home tonight saying that Hamas has shown a lack of desire for a deal that is not acting in good faith.

Tom? Okay, Matt Bradley and his team tonight. Matt, thank you. To Ukraine and the incredible story of a soldier returning from the front lines to meet his daughter for the first time all after he was blinded in war. Here's Richard Engel with that compelling story. Calls for Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop his war on Ukraine, including from President Trump, are falling on deaf ears.

Putin has been intensifying strikes on Ukraine's cities. But Ukrainians like Ruslan Kozachok are not throwing in the towel. Kozachok was injured by a Russian artillery shell in March 2023. He is now completely blind. He sees no shadows, no outlines. You realize that this darkness is forever, he told us. He was injured in Bahmut. We saw the Russian attacks there ourselves as artillery rained down.

24-7. One just landed a few seconds ago. What's more, hisachuk's wife was pregnant before he left for the front lines. Their only daughter, Isabella, was born after he came back blind. So Kozachuk has never seen her and only knows the two-year-old

by touch and smell and sound. He told us it's difficult here at the playground because his daughter doesn't know if she goes out of earshot. He can't find her or protect her She doesn't understand that she shouldn't go far away from her dad. I worry about it He said he is one of those rare types with an inconquerable will Refusing to be broken now. He's exercising throws a shot to build strength Now he's exercising, throws a shot to build strength, and rock climbs. And he is studying for a master's in psychology so he can be a counselor for other wounded

Ukrainians. Was it worth it? Of course, he said, I would definitely return to the front line. Richard, you've covered so much war. What stood out to you from this interview? That you can't defeat people like this. And the Russians have been struggling for over three years now in Ukraine

and have not been able to take over the country because of the unbreakable spirit of men like him. The Ukrainians are fighting for their houses. The Russians are fighting a war of choice. The Ukrainians are not. And this man shows that. Richard Engel, first, Richard, thank you for bringing us that story. Now to the latest back here at home on the murders at the University of Idaho, where

a gag order now lifted was lifted. NBC News spoke to the lead prosecutor in the case as documents reveal new chilling details about the crimes. Here's Liz Kreutz. Tonight with Brian Koberger now locked behind bars for life, lead prosecutor Bill Thompson finally able to share details on the case. You say that there's no sense of a motive still but you have any working theories that you can share.

There are lots of theories out there none that I can share because they're just speculative. Thompson speaking after that emotional hearing where Coburger was sentenced for the murders of Kaylee Gonzalez, Zena Cronoadal, Ethan Chapin and Madison Mogan. Matt, he was my only child that I ever had. Police also releasing hundreds of documents, one revealing that Kaylee Gonzalves told her roommates

she thought a man was following her, and around the same time, saw a man staring at her while walking her dog. I think that the roommates and Kaylee's sense that something was amiss probably was accurate. Could that have been Brian Coburger? Certainly could have been Brian Coburger. But we don't know.

We don't know. Another chilling revelation, a tip from a woman who says she mashed with Coburger on Tinder just before the murders. She says he asked her what would be the worst way to die. She responded, a knife, to which she said, like a K-bar, the exact weapon believed used in the killings. And as for that plea deal that took the death penalty off the table for Koberger.

What do you say to those families who feel like that was doing a deal with the devil? We made a proposal on our terms, not his. I think there's still those who feel like it's what he wanted was life in prison versus the death penalty. I don't know what was going through his head or what he wanted. One way or another, he's going to be in prison until he dies. Liz Kreutz, NBC News, Boise. In 60 seconds, the cost of denial. Tonight, how a trip to the doctor turned into a surprise bill from a hospital.

Gaudi Schwartz explains next. Back now with our series, The Cost of Denial. So many people across the country say they've received surprise hospital bills for what they thought were routine doctor visits. Our Gaudi Schwartz investigates. When you're having health issues, the last thing you want is so much aggravation. Todd Bash, a part time teacher from the Los Angeles area,

has been searching for a diagnosis for a spinal problem and an explanation from his insurer for his medical bills. What are these extra charges? And they informed me that it was a hospital facility fee, so I explained I wasn't at a hospital,

I just went to a doctor's appointment. But what he learned is that even outpatient doctor's offices like the one he went to can charge facility fees if they're owned by or affiliated with hospitals. This is a breakdown of an injection I had. After getting an epidural steroid injection at a pain center which has hospital branding his insurance was charged more than $14,000 just

for facility fees. Todd's out-of-pocket costs nearly $700 all for an injection that he says just took a few minutes. It's shocking even more shocking he was also being charged a facility fee for a telehealth appointment about the injection It seemed shady and dishonest and frustrating It's happening more and more in 2012 just about a quarter of US physicians were employed by hospitals or health systems today It's more than half critics say that leads to higher prices for the same care

half. Critics say that leads to higher prices for the same care. They're just pasting a giant corporate name on the front of the clinical facility and charging more. Dr. Brian Miller, an internal medicine physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital, studies health care policy. The level of service you're getting is actually the same. They're charging more 60 70% more money for it. And that's like paying for Mercedes and getting a Hyundai. Facility fees are frankly about maintaining access to care in a community. Molly Smith, the vice president at the American Hospital

Association says facility fees are essential and allow hospitals to maintain 24-7 care. We've spoken to several patients across the country who have described these facility fees as shady or a scam or dishonest. What would you say to them? I would say that facility fees are absolutely essential to maintaining healthcare services in their community. Without facility fees, I can't underscore this enough, physician practices are not going to be able to sustain themselves under their current business model.

It took Todd months to find an independent doctor, but he finally did he was able to get the same kind of injection that cost him $700 and this time my share is $37.17. $37 for the same service. The same exact thing. The only difference he says is the sign on the front of the building. Gadi Schwartz, NBC News, Los Angeles. All right up next the scary moment at the beach when 10 people had to be rescued from a sailboat crash. Stay with us. We are back now with a major settlement announcement

from Columbia University. The school's saying it will pay $200 million to the federal government. The university will get back the majority of federal funding that was cut by the Trump administration back in March. The Trump administration had accused Columbia of violating anti-discrimination laws specifically towards Jewish students.

The school did not admit to any wrongdoing. Now to an update on the death of Food Network chef Ann Burrell, the New York medical examiner saying she died by suicide last month after she was found unresponsive at her home, citing intoxication from multiple substances. She was 55 years old. And 10 people had to be rescued after a sailboat crashed into a jetty along the Jersey shore. Take a look at this, the Avalon Beach Patrol releasing this video showing the debris that was left behind after the boat was pushed right into the rocks. Everyone is now doing okay. Okay when we come back she was in the hospital and at a school for nearly two years. On her first trip

back a young girl's surprise homecoming. Stay with us. Finally tonight there's no place like home. How a town in Iowa welcomed back a very special little girl after 2 long years away. Here's Adrienne Brotis. I made it! Tonight after 682 days in the hospital. We're home! Ava Weidl is finally home with a new heart and kidney.

I feel so happy and thankful for everyone. Ava was born with a severe congenital heart defect and spent the last 2 years fighting for her life at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. What's the first thing you want to do now that you're home. First of all my friends there's been lots of FaceTime calls. We're just like happy to have her back and we really missed her. Turns out her friends aren't the only ones excited to welcome Ava home to Iowa. Ava's old school had a special surprise. Her very own clap out, the traditional send off

for fifth graders headed to middle school she missed while in the hospital. The homecoming celebration then moving to a park where the community showed its heart, celebrating Ava and her perseverance. She is truly a new miracle. And they never stopped fighting for her. And and most importantly Ava never stopped fighting. That fight is what made this day possible.

Never give up, stay strong, work hard and one day you'll be able to go home. A hero's welcome for the girl who never gave up. Adrienne Broaddus, NBC News, Clive, Iowa. So happy Ava's back. That's Nightly News for this Thursday. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching. Tonight and always, we're here for you. Good night.