Top Story with Tom Llamas - Thursday, July 24, 2025

Episode Date: July 25, 2025

Tonight's Top Story has the latest breaking news, political headlines, news from overseas and the best NBC News reporting from across the country and around the world.

Tonight, the sudden death of wrestling legend and icon Hulk Hogan. He transformed the sport and entertained millions by shredding one shirt at a time, dead at the age of 71. You'll hear the 911 call from his Florida home as we look back at his meteoric rise to the top with his antics in the ring and on the big screen, and the controversies around his use of steroids and the sex tape scandal that led to a media takedown. Wrestling legend Titus O'Neill joins us live on Top Story. Also tonight, the DOJ sit down with Epstein accomplice Galane Maxwell, what the deputy AG is saying about the interview as the president faces renewed pressure over the handling of the Epstein files.

The lead prosecutor in the Brian Coburger case speaking out for the first time, plus the new documents revealing a troubling exchange on Tinder, Koberger asking a woman, what would be the worst way to die? The cost of war, our Richard Engel, speaks to a. Ukrainian volunteer soldier who became blind on the front lines. His wife, giving birth to a child, he will never get to see why he says he would do it all over again. Intense flash floods hit hard hit New Mexico, the rushing wall of water cutting off a road, a structure ripped to pieces caught up in the rapids. The dramatic sailboat rescue caught on camera, the vessel slamming

into a jetty, sending nearly a dozen people overboard. What happened next? And we're trying out viral products for summer in our series, is this real? A watermelon gadget, a sunscreen applicator, and a lemon juicer promising to squeeze every last drop. So are they too good to be true? Plus, breaking tonight, the FCC approving the burger between CBS parent company Paramount and Skydance. Top story starts right now. Good evening. He was a pro wrestling icon. who fought his way into the hearts of millions. Tonight, America is remembering Hulk Hogan, who died today at 71 years old.

Officials say police and firefighters responded to Hogan's Florida home this morning for a cardiac arrest call. He later died at the hospital, his family reportedly by his side. Hogan punched his ticket to wrestling stardom in the 1980s, his fight against Andre the Giant and the Iron Sheik, helping cement him and his sport in American culture. For generations of wrestling fans, a real-life super hero, he even came complete with a few catchphrases. Alka Mania is running wild like it's never ran before. And what you're going to do?

And what's you going to do, brothers, when the WWE rose wild on you? But Hogan also had a share of controversies to apologizing after audio emerged of him using racist slurs in 2015 and that infamous sex tape released by Gawker. eventually sued the publication, forcing it into bankruptcy. In recent years, the Hulkster even taking on politics, appearing at the 2024 Republican National Convention endorsing Donald Trump in his signature shirt-ripping style. Tonight, Hogan receiving a final salute from the Commander-in-Chief will tell you what he said. And just a moment, pro wrestling legend Titus O'Neill will join us live.

We'll ask him how he'll remember Hogan and their friendship. But we begin tonight with Joe Friar, who has our look back at Hulk Hogan's legacy, even in death, larger than life. Hulk Hogan is here! Hulk Hogan's here! What Hulk Hogan created stretched far beyond a 20-by-20-foot wrestling rings. What's a what you're going to do? Hulkomania will live forever.

And what's 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. Bravo, Rescue, 46, L.R. 45, engine 46, cardiac arrest. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bolaea, 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 1980s, 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 and body slamming the 500-pound. Andre the Giants. 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. Thunderlips is here. Including Rocky 3. I'm out of shape. And Mr. Nanny. Later broke into reality TV. 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 ring, speaking at last year's Republican National Convention. Let Trump a mania run wild, brother. 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.

While wrestling legend, Rick Flair, says, Hulkster, no one will ever compare to you. Well, police say the initial 911 call was for a cardiac arrest. They do plan to conduct a full investigation into Hogan's death, which is standard in cases like this. Hogan's manager tells us that he passed away, surrounded by family. Tom. Okay, Joe Friar leading us off here. To help us remember Hulk Hogan's legacy, we are joined now by a wrestling legend.

W.W.E. Hall of Famer, Thaddeus Bullard, known to most as Titus O'Neill. He wrestled for more than a decade with world wrestling entertainment and has gone on to be an ambassador. for the company and done so much when it comes to philanthropic efforts. He also hosted WrestleMania 36 in Tampa Bay with Hulk Hogan in 2020. Thadies, thank you so much for joining Top Story tonight. I am sorry for your loss. Talk to me about your relationship with Hulk Hogan and the influence he had on you and your career. Well, I mean, it's well documented.

My relationship with Hulk Hogan, the character has always been professional. And, you know, for years, you know, as a kid, much like many others around the globe, I was a Hulk Hogan fan. As I got older, obviously finding out Terry Belia, the man, you know, there were some differences of opinions and some differences in moral fibers between us, too, but it never stopped me from really idolizing what he set the table for me and many other WWE superstars to do. which is to perform on the grandest stage of them all. And I had the opportunity of a lifetime professionally

to host WrestleMania with him here in our hometown of Tampa. And it was an amazing experience that I'll never forget. And, you know, out of respect for the family and the fans, many of them that are grieving today, you know, it's not about my personal relationship with him is really more so about my professional idolization of what he did for the world of sports. and entertainment.

Yeah, talk to me about that because you told us earlier if there was a Mount Rushmore for wrestlers, Hulk Hogan would be on that monument. How did he elevate professional wrestling? He elevated not just professional wrestling, it's sports and entertainment. He was actually the literal reason why it's sports and entertainment today. What he was able to do inside of the ring was phenomenal, but also what he was able to do outside of the ring was also equally phenomenal. When you look at WW superstars that have made a transition to Hollywood, Hollywood Hogan was one of the first ones to do that.

When you see WW superstars legends that have stepped into the world of politics, Hulk Hogan allowed that to be cool or, you know, for people to be able to voice whatever opinion they want to and support whoever they want to support, long before it was popular today. And so, in my opinion, when you talk about Mount Rushmore of anything, you have to go with the cornerstone of what was built. The WWE was built on the back of many legends, and I think one of those legends ironically and iconically will always be Hulk Hogan. I do want to ask you about some of Hogan's controversies. He was terminated from the W.E and removed from the Hall of Fame over racist comments he had made. He was reinstated a few years later.

As a person of color, how did that impact you? And what did you think of all that? You know, as I said at the time, you know, to me, it wasn't necessarily about how I felt. It was really more so about what was the actual remorse for the comments. And, you know, it's well documented. It was a statement put out by me and many other superstars as well in regards to our feelings. on it. But at the end of the day, no one person is bigger than the WWE. And for me, as a person of color that has what I feel like has contributed to the sports and entertainment business

within WWE in a positive manner, for me, it is always going to be about people and giving people the opportunity to be the best versions of themselves. And, you know, some people will apologize and they will sit on fall on deaf ears regardless. And then some people will apologize and it will be the welcoming system back to them kind of getting back into good graces with folks for them to be remembered for who they are. Finally, how should he be remembered?

I think Hulk Hogan should be remembered for who he is. He's one of the most iconic WWE superstars, legends to ever grace the ring. He's one of the most polarizing figures to ever be an end. any and all of sports entertainment. And again, you know, he was a father. He's a husband.

He's been a servant to a lot of folks. And again, he's, there are a lot of people that grew up loving Hulk Hogan, but there are more people that are devastated because of Terribalea, the family, the friends, my heartfelt condolences to all of you because you're the ones that knew him more intimately than any of us could,

even though I worked alongside him, I can never say that I will know him as much as the people that were in his family and in his circle of friends. Thaddeus Bullard, so well put. We thank you for joining Top Story tonight. Thank you for sharing your memories, and we thank you for your time. Thank you for having me. We want to turn to Washington now and that other major news that we're following today, a top DOJ official meeting with Galane Maxwell, the convicted associate of Jeffrey Epstein, as the Trump administration faces growing calls to release the Epstein files. NBC's Garrett Haake has the very latest. Tonight, Attorney General Pam Bondi's top deputy meeting at a Florida courthouse with Galane Maxwell, the convicted accomplice of notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche meeting privately with Maxwell and her attorneys. Earlier this week, Blanche posted if Maxwell, quote, has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say. 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 Jislane 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 of 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 said. 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, one up a little bit, or a lot. So the 2.7 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.

Well, I know, but it's a building that's being built. No, it's been, 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, Rachel. Other than that, what can I tell you? All right, Garrett Hake joins us tonight from the White House.

Garrett, we are just learning now that Blanche will meet with Maxwell again tomorrow. So a bit of news on that Epstein front. I do want to switch gears. There's been a lot of headlines coming out of the White House, as you know. The FCC has approved. the $8 billion acquisition of Paramount which owns CBS? That's right, Tom. This sale to Skydance media comes on the heels of that $16 million settlement

between President Trump and CBS News 60 Minutes over their interview with Vice President Harris during the presidential campaign. In their announcement, the FCC says that Skydance is going to make significant changes to CBS news, including to ensure that they have what they call diversity of viewpoints across the political and ideological spectrum. Interestingly, the FCC's one Democrat opposed this merger deal, saying she believes it'll endanger press freedom. Tom? All right.

Garrett Hake first. Garrett, we thank you for that. We now want to turn back to the latest on the Epstein files and bring in Jennifer Freeman. She's a lawyer representing one of Epstein's alleged victims, Maria Farmer, who was one of the first to report Epstein to the FBI and was a key witness in Galane Maxwell's sex trafficking trial. Jennifer, we thank you so much for being on top story tonight. Your client and her sister made some of the earliest known reports of abuse by Epstein to the NYPD and the FBI back in 1996. What do you and your clients make of the DOJ meeting with Maxwell today? I believe it is deeply disturbing for this to be the focus of the Epstein case at this moment.

Galane Maxwell is not a reliable witness. I am concerned that she will say things to protect her future and not to hand. or in any way help victims. And that's really what needs to be addressed is how do we protect the victims, which is really being lost in all of this. And share for our viewers why you think Elaine Maxwell is such a liar? I didn't say she was a liar, but I don't think she's a reliable witness. I think it's impossible to be able to rely on what she says when her incentive is so serious.

The time to speak with her would have been before she was convicted, not after. The jury made their decision. And this is an important piece because this is one of the reasons why we brought a lawsuit very recently on Maria Farmer's behalf to hold the government accountable because they ignored the complaint that she put to the FBI in 1996. If only they had done their job, then 25 years of this abuse could have been prevented. Yeah, you don't want to call her a lot. I understand that, but do you think she will be truthful with Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general?

I think it would be very difficult to rely on her statements. So will she be truthful? I think she has every incentive to say whatever she thinks is in her best interest. Two more questions here for you. Do you think the grand jury that is being asked to, the judge just denied it, but do you think that testimony should be released to the public, number one? Do you think the unreleased Epstein files, even though they contain, obviously, very graphic images and a lot of graphic and very sad information, should they be released to the public as well, the ones that Pam Bondi has? The files should be released. Not every piece of paper, not every document, not every physical evidence, because we really do still have to protect victim privacy. But the file should be released, which again is one of the reasons we brought our lawsuit to get Maria Farmer's files released. which I've been trying to get for years now.

The last time I tried to get them, they sent me back a letter, the government sent me back a letter saying, we'll get back to you in November, 2027. Wow. As far as the grand jury testimony, I know you're a lawyer. Do you think that should be released? I believe that certainly portions of it could be released and still protect the secrecy of the grand jury, but that's really up to the court to decide.

That is an important principle in our, legal system and I think it needs attention too. But I don't think that's where the bulk of the issues are. It's not in the grand jury materials. There's plenty of other files to be released, including Maria's, and we should really focus on those. This story has dominated the news. How has that been for your client? Very difficult because this memorandum comes out two weeks ago and did they talk to a single victim before they issued their memorandum? I don't think so. Now they're talking to Galane Maxwell, they're not, again, focusing on the people that were hurt and taking responsibility and being accountable for what they did and failed to do. And that's what's really

important here. Jennifer Freeman, we thank you for your time. We thank you for joining Top Story tonight. Good to be with you. We want to return now to that awkward moment earlier today. President Trump touring the Federal Reserve headquarters while under renovation, led by Fed Chair Jerome Powell and confronting him on the cost of construction. You can tell from the visit here and this video, It's just the fourth time a sitting U.S. president has gone to the Fed, going back to 1937 when Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the building. For more on the visit, I want to get right over to NBC's senior business correspondent, Christine Romans. Christina, the video I was talking about there, you can clearly tell. You don't have to listen to it. It didn't go very well. What's your first takeaway from that exchange?

My first takeaway is, quite frankly, Donald Trump has been saying that he wants to get rid of Jerome Powell for some time, and he didn't do that today. He said that it was, there wasn't tension in this, and that he understood some of the cost overruns. of this building. Remember, he's been very critical of the Fed Sheaf. He wants him to lower interest rates. And he said that again here today. And many saw this tour of this over-budget renovation from the Fed as maybe the president fishing for something that he could use as a reason to fire the Fed Sheaf. But he didn't do that today. He stepped back from that brink. People are going to be watching this. People who maybe want to buy a home, refinance their home, maybe have credit card debt. What does this mean to the average American?

Yeah. Washington is gripped with this political drama. But for For a lot of people right now, they're like, when are we going to have lower interest rates? And it's probably not going to be next week when the Fed meets next. But maybe in September, you're starting to see some people on the Fed. By the way, it's not just Jerome Powell who decides interest rates. It's a committee of 12 people. You're starting to see some people think maybe they're getting closer to being able to lower interest rates a little bit in September. So lower rates are probably coming and probably coming this fall.

That's the betting wisdom on Wall Street right now. Do you think this is the end or do you think we keep hearing about this until May? Who knows. Who knows. He expires. His term expires in May. You know, was this sort of the end of it and the president's just going to let this thing move forward? Or could he get angry again and start demanding lower interest rates and say he found something in this building cost overrun? Who knows? It's an unpredictable administration sometimes, Tom. Christine Romans for us, Christine, we thank you for that. We want to turn to weather now. More than 120 million Americans are facing a dangerous heat wave as parts of New Mexico are hit once again by flash floods. New video out of Rudy Oso Show. showing this structure that was wiped away. Look at this. Minds us of what happened just last week. Another vantage point showing violent floods cutting off a street, crews rescuing at least five people. I want to bring a meteorologist Bill Karens. Bill, what's the latest on these flash floods? This community is just in a bad position. I mean, they had that huge fire in the mountains right near them,

and then the river goes through their town. So anytime they get heavy rain, they're getting all this mud and debris coming down, and the river quickly rises. This was the third major flood in the last year, ever since that fire, and the second one in two weeks. And they had a third. thunderstorm dropped just about two inches of rain upstream, and then it came down through Rudioso, and then that racetrack that you probably saw pictures of that flooded with the big events, kind of the famous, you know, most famous location here, Rudyo. So they had the problems with more water and more mud on the track again. That's like their biggest, you know, their income that comes into the community depends on Rudioso down. So that river has since

gone down. More rains in the forecast again, Tom. Anytime it rains hard, it's going to keep repeating. Yeah, no, I hear you on that one. And then talk to us about the brutal heat expected tomorrow and already affecting so many tonight. Yeah, there's no secret. This has been a long summer from the Gulf Coast all the way up through St. Louis. Today it was hot in Chicago. Thunderstorms have cooled you off, but we still have excessive heat warning St. Louis to Little Rock. And now we're going to watch the heat. It was hot today, but it wasn't quite as humid in the Northeast. Tomorrow we add in the humidity to that equation, too. D.C. will feel like 107. Areas like Memphis will feel like 106. That'll be very hot. We will see the temperatures cooling off in central and northern New England as

We go ahead towards the weekend, but we're still going to be a dangerously hot all afternoon. We have to watch out for thunderstorms tomorrow, too, Tom. Even here in New York City, we could have some severe weather to deal with. All right. Bill Cairnsworth Bill, thank you. And we are back in a moment with the disturbing details about those Idaho college murders revealed in court documents, including a tip from one woman who says Brian Koberger asked her a chilling question on Tinder just before the killings. Plus, the end of an era for pop culture TV, e-news, canceled after more than three decades what we're learning.

And our own Richard Engel, with an incredible story of a civilian-turned-soldier, blinded in battle, now finding new purpose away from the front lines in Ukraine. It's an incredible story. Stay with us. We're back now with the latest on the murders at the University of Idaho. Confessed killer Brian Koberger has now been moved to the state's only maximum security prison. Following yesterday's sentencing, tonight with the gag order now lifted. speaking to the lead prosecutor who made the case against him as newly unsealed documents reveal some very chilling details. 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 do 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, Xana Kurnodal, Ethan Chapin, and Madison Mogan. Maddie was my only child that I ever had. Police also releasing hundreds of documents, one revealing that Kaylee Gonzalez 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? Sure. 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 matched 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 he 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 Coburg, 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 head or what he wanted.

One way or another, he's going to be in prison until he dies. Liz Kroitz joins us tonight from Kuna, Idaho, right outside the prison where Brian Koeberger is being held. Liz, talk to us first about the location where you are tonight, and then some of the shocking details that came out. out of the documents that you and your team went through. Yeah, Tom, so this is Idaho's only maximum security prison. It is where Brian Coburger is now being held. We don't know if this is where he'll spend the rest of his life, but we do know that it has been listed as one of the harshest prisons in the country

with some pretty harsh working and living conditions, even prompting a hunger strike by some inmates recently. As for what we've gotten from those documents, There's some gruesome new details about the murder scene, including that Kaylee Gizalvas' face was disfigured from the attacks, and that Xanacronodal was stabbed more than 50 times, some of those from defensive wounds. Investigators also spoke to a friend of Coburgers who said that he had scratch marks on his face after the murders and that Coburgar had told him, oh, I was in a car crash. And investigators also spoke to a man who was in a jail cell next to Coburgar when he was being held at county jail. And he said that Kobiger had some annoying habits in his words that he would wash his hands multiple times a day, that he would take hour-long showers and that he never slept at night, Tom. All right. Liz Kroits for us. Liz, we thank you. Still ahead tonight, more on the news that stunned the wrestling world. Hulk Hogan, dead at 71. We'll look beyond his high octane moments in the ring to another colossal take down, the story of how he took on Gawker and won over a sex tape. And the cost of denial, patience hit with surprise,

hospital fees. The problem is they never set foot in a traditional hospital. We'll explain why this is happening. That's next. But first, top stories, top moment, and a special surprise for a first-time bride. Look at this. The staff at a medical facility in Winter Park, Florida, decided to throw a bridal shower for their co-worker who is marrying the love of her life at 62, and it left her speechless. Surprise! Welcome. It's your bridal showers. Come on, we've got a special scene for you. This is for me.

We love you. That is all for you. The video going viral on social media, even catching the attention of travel companies offering to help Sheila with her honeymoon. That's so great. What a special moment. Stay with us. We're back in a moment. Back now with Top Stories News Feed, a federal judge has cleared the way for the man accused of trying to assassinate President Trump at his Florida golf course to represent himself at trial.

The judge signing off on a written request from Ryan Roth after he reportedly clashed with his public defenders. Those court-appointed attorneys will remain on standby counsel. Ralph has pleaded not guilty. And a former American Airlines flight attendant sentenced to 18 and a half years in prison for six. secretly recording minors in plain bathrooms. Federal prosecutors say Estes Carter Thompson, the third, used specific bathrooms as a, quote, secret recording studio, exposed thanks to a 14-year-old girl who discovered his cell phone

taped to the lid of a toilet. Thompson, who was immediately removed from service, held recordings of girls as young as seven. And a tragic update in the death of Food Network star Ann Burrell, a New York medical examiner revealing Burrell died by suicide. citing acute intoxication from multiple substances. The beloved chef was discovered unresponsive in her Brooklyn home last month, following reports of a cardiac arrest.

Fire officials declared her dead upon arrival. She was 55 years old. E-News has been canceled ending a more than three-decade run. The celebrity-focused newscast will officially end on September 25th, with E-News continuing on as a digital brand. E's linear network will continue to air other original programming. The move comes as many of NBCU. Universal's cable networks, including E, have been spun off, creating the new company, Versen.

And 10 people rescued off the coast of New Jersey after their sailboat struck a jetty. Take a look at this. The video shows the boat in strong winds striking the rocks near Avalon Beach. Eight teenagers and two sailing instructors seemed jumping overboard as it began to break into pieces. 40 lifeguards and several agencies were deployed in the rescue. Luckily, everyone is expected to be okay. Okay, now to our cost of denial series, NBC News spoke to dozens of people across the country who say they received surprise hospital bills for routine doctor visits, many without ever stepping

foot in a traditional hospital. Our Gotti 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 his spinal problem and an explanation from his insurer for his medical problem. 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. And with insurance deductibles increasing nearly 50% over the last decade, consumers are paying more for these fees. 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 U.S. 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.

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 just charging more 60% or 70% more money for it. And that's like paying for a Mercedes and getting a Hyundai. 19 states have passed facility fee laws, many requiring that providers warn patients about the fees. According to a budget watchdog, if providers charge the same price for the same service regardless of the location, Medicare would save $150 billion. And commercial markets would save $458 billion over the next decade.

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. What a patient has to pay out-of-pocket for a service is actually determined by the type of health care coverage that they have. The American Hospital Association is saying that this is partially the fault of the insurers. Insurers we've spoken to or saying the blame is on you. where does all of this leave the consumer? Hospitals are there to deliver services to their community, and frankly, that does take resources.

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 health care 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 when 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. Gotti Schwartz, NBC News, Los Angeles. And health care giant United Health Group revealing it is the subject of a DOJ investigation over its Medicare billing practices. In a filing, the company saying it, quote, has full confidence in its practices and is committed to working cooperatively with the department.

Okay, we want to head overseas now with Top Story's Global Watch, where officials say there are no survivors after a Russian passenger plane crashed in the country's far east. The Soviet era plane with 48 people on board dropped from radar screens when preparing to land. Video showing smoke rising from the scene, local officials announced three days of mourning. And at least 11 people died after multiple border clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers. Video showing people in Thailand fleeing a Thai defense ministry spokesman saying fighting spanned at least six locations in a Thai government organization, sharing video of smoke coming from a gas station, claiming the cause was BM21 shells from Cambodia. And an update on a story we've been following, an Ontario judge acquitted five former members of Kansas. Canada's World Junior Hockey Team in a sexual assault case that gained international attention. All five players had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in an encounter that took place back in 2018.

The judge acquitted all five players stating she did not find the victim's claims credible or reliable ending the eight-week trial. Now to a new report from the UN with an alarming look at life inside the Gaza Strip, the world body finding as many as 9% of Gaza's children are facing severe malnutrition. NBC's Matt Bradley traveling to the border crossing where food aid is brought in, as critics say, it's not enough. Yusuf al-Safati 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 U.N. 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 restrictions, 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 Whitkoff, is headed home tonight, saying that Hamas has shown a lack of desire for a deal. and is not acting in good faith. Tom? All right, Matt Bradley for us tonight. Matt, thank you. Now to a story of determination from Ukraine, one soldier who fought on the battlefield against Russia were turning back from war,

blinded in battle, meeting his child for the first time without the ability to see, telling NBC's Richard Engel he would do it again to defend his country. Calls for Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop his war on Ukraine, including from President Trump,

are falling on death. years. Putin has been intensifying strikes on Ukraine cities. But Ukrainians, like Ruslan Kozschechuk, are not throwing in the towel. Kozuch was injured by a Russian artillery shell in March 223. 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 Bahmoud. We saw the Russian attacks there ourselves as artillery rained down. 24-7. One just landed a few seconds ago. What's more is Kozichuk's wife was pregnant before he left for the front lines.

Their only daughter, Isabella, was born after he came back, blind. So Kozichok 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 unconquerable will, refusing to be broken. Now he's exercising, throws a shot put 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 Engle joins us tonight. Richard, you covered a lot of war, and you've spoken to a lot of soldiers and people who have been injured in combat. I'm sure this one's going to stay with you. What did you take away from the words he was saying?

You can't beat people like this. You can't defeat someone who is this motivated. The Russians are fighting a war of choice, and they're sending conscripts. They're sending people who really have no other economic possibilities. So they're taking people who are really broken down, have no choice. People from other countries. People from other countries, North Korean soldiers. And they're fighting a war of choice, either for pay or to get out of jail or because they have no other possibilities in life.

These people are volunteering. This guy volunteered, he was a tattoo artist, volunteered. And even when I'm standing there next to him, he's lost his sight, he's with his daughter, he tells me he'd do it again. You can't win against people like that. speaks to the will of those Ukrainian fighters. All right, Richard, we thank you so much. We thank you for bringing us that story. We're going to be right back.

And the leg drop. One, two. That was vintage Hulk Hogan there with a signature leg drop, taking down Randy Macho Man Savage. As we remember his legacy in the ring tonight, we also want to take a closer look at a media takedown. The late pro wrestler played a huge part in Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker over the publishing of parts of his sex tape ultimately led to the outlet to file for bankruptcy.

And as NBC Stephen Romo reports, he pulled it off with the help of one secretive billionaire backer. Hulk Hogan is in the building. In the ring, Hulk Hogan was best known for his leg drops. Huck, hook, hook, hox bombers, and body slams. But perhaps his most impactful takedown was a tag team. with a billionaire backer that unfolded in court. I was embarrassed what it did to me as a person. His opponent in that ring, the now defunct news and gossip website, Gawker, which in

2012 published portions of a sex tape involving Hogan and Heather Clem, the wife of his close friend, radio personality, Bubba the Love Spunch. Kids might look for WrestleMania 3 video and all of a sudden it pops up Hulk Hogan's sex tape. In portions of the tape released in later years, Hogan, whose real news, who's real. name was Terry Belaya was also heard using racial slurs. How did that affect your daily life, even your interaction with your fans? It made me cower. I still am not that standing tall the way I felt before. The libel lawsuit against Gawker went to trial in 2016. We have rights not just as members of the press and members of the free press, but we're also people expressing

ourselves on a story that's in the news. This guy's up in New York sitting behind a computer playing God with other people's lives. Bankrolled in part by Silicon Valley billionaire and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, who says he was outed as gay on Gawker's Media Tech blog in 2007, years before he was ready to make that declaration publicly at the R&C. I am proud to be gay. Backed by Teal, Hogan won the case, a jury ordering Gawker to pay $140 million in damages. The company filed for bankruptcy within months, and the blog shut down shortly their house. after. Teal, writing in a 2016 New York Times op-ed after the verdict, he funded the lawsuit because the site routinely published, thinly sourced nasty articles that attacked and mocked people.

Most of the victims didn't fight back. Hogan personally awarded $30 million in a settlement with the company. Is that a big enough number? Maybe not, but it should be a deterrent for anybody else who ever tries to do anything like this, not to do it, that you will be held in. accountable. Stephen Romo joins us now in studio, and Stephen, this whole Gawker case was so bizarre, right? The best friend or the former best friend to Hogan is reacting to his death tonight? Yeah, telling TMZ, a DJ Bubba the Love Sponge, went on to say that he really regrets Terry Hulk Hogan's passing and really wishes he could have apologized to him. They had a falling out after that tape was released. They made amends on paper anyway, but never, I guess, talked after

that. He's expressing that to TMZ tonight. Regret for not telling him, I'm sorry. and trying to reconcile with them. Yeah. When Top Story returns, Is This Real? Is Back? Summer Edition, where we test out those viral products

so you don't have to. Tonight, a lemon squeezer, a watermelon slicer, and a mess-free sunscreen for the kids. Do they really work? Find out next. We are back now with the latest edition of Top Story's original series.

Is This Real? With brands turning to places like TikTok and Instagram to promote popular online products. We try them out to see if they're actually real. NBC's Maya Eagland has this installment of the most viral summer products that are turning heads.

It's summertime in New York City, and here in Central Park, people are out, and so is the sun. One of the most important things to remember is your sunscreen. Enter the Boone UV sunscreen applicator. It's just one of four viral products that caught our eye on social media,

and we wanted to check them out to see if they make a day, in the sun even more fun. On social, Boone UV sunscreen applicator claims to make applying sunscreen less messy with no hassle. Let's open it up. All right, we're gonna fill this all up. So let's see how long it takes

to apply the sunscreen using the dispenser versus just your hands. Start the clock. Now let's try just our hands. So at 23 seconds, we still have a bit of a cast and a long ways to go, I think. Overall, I think this is real. It definitely made the application process a lot faster,

but I did notice there was some products still stuck in this sponge. So just something to be mindful of. Either way, wear your sunscreen. Now that we have our sunscreen on, it's time for a picnic. And to help, we have a product that says it can keep things cool on the go. The Odiland Insulated Cooler Backpack is a portable cluer that says it can keep items refrigerated for up to 16 hours. It comes with these three ice packs, and these are nice.

cold. Our water is also nice and cold, so I would say this is real. It also holds a ton of stuff. And it wouldn't be a picnic without some refreshing summer snacks. And these next products promise to make it easier. The Adada watermelon slicer and cutter says it's portable, easy to use, and safe. This product going viral for its ability to make cutting up the signature summer fruit easy. We've got to cut it open and then it's going to cube it for us. Oh. Splash, though. Okay. And then you're going to lift it out. Let's take these off and give it one more go. I'm going to put it away because I don't want to splash on me like last time.

Honestly, like we have several chunks. So I would say this is real and a little messy, so be careful. And finally, the YZC lemon squeezer, which promises to maximize extraction and allows you to enjoy freshly squeezed pure juice. So it says you just push the squeezer into the stem of the lemon. You're going to twist the squeezer, and apparently juice will come out without any pulp or seeds. So I'm a little skeptical, but let's see if it's real. Honestly, I'm not seeing any seeds or pulse, so I think this is real. Let's see if the lime works. I feel like there's a lot of juice left in the fruit.

I'm not sure this is worth the hype. The core is still inside. There's a lot of juice left, so maybe this isn't real. You might be better off doing this the old-fashioned way. Cheers, Tom. Happy summer. All right, we'll stick to cutting limes. We thank Maya for that one. And finally tonight, a big surprise for a little patient in Iowa, a 13-year-old released from a two-year-old stay in the hospital after a heart and kidney transplant,

getting a warm welcome from her classmates. NBC's Adrian Broad us has this sweet story. I made it! Tonight, after 682 days in the hospital. We're home! Ava Weidel is finally home with a new heart and kidney. I don't feel like it's real. I feel so happy and thankful for everyone.

Eva was born with a severe congenital heart defect and spent in the last two 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? Well, first was hug 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. Eva's old school had a special surprise.

Her very own clapout, 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 they're, The community showed its heart, celebrating Ava and her perseverance. Thank you, everyone. She is truly a new miracle, and they never stopped fighting for her. 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 brought us NBC News, Clive Iowa. We thank Adrian for that powerful story tonight. We thank you for watching Top Story. I'm Tom Yamous in New York. Stay right there. More news on the way.