December 20, 2025

What Americans think about giving cash as holiday gifts

21 minutes

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

What Americans think about giving cash as holiday gifts, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

US tariffs are having an uneven effect on holiday prices and purchases.

A nightly tradition brings light and hope to children at Michigan hospital.

Young conservative women find a home in Turning Point with Charlie Kirk's widow at the helm.

DOJ vowed to punish those who disrupt Trump's immigration crackdown. Dozens of cases have crumbled.

Along the Texas Coast, a new sanctuary aims to protect the endangered and rare whooping crane.

More loons are filling Maine's lakes with their ghost-like calls.

Rubio fields questions on Russia-Ukraine, Gaza and Venezuela at wide-ranging news conference.

Justice Department will not release all its Jeffrey Epstein files Friday,, which is the deadline set in law.

The Kennedy Center has started work on adding Donald Trump’s name to the building.

Jury finds Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal agents.

Dry needling is common around the NFL, and players aren't worried despite Watt's collapsed lung.

How sewage can be used to heat and cool buildings.

New York City is getting its first 3 Las Vegas-style casinos.

Teen drug use remains low, but survey finds small rise in heroin and cocaine use.

Gaza amputees struggle to rebuild lives as the enclave faces shortages of prosthetic limbs.

Millions are pledged to a Syrian Australian man who stopped a gunman and became a national hero.

Louvre reopens fully after staff vote to suspend strike.

Syria welcomes the permanent repeal of sweeping US sanctions.

On this week's AP Religion Roundup, a Hanukkah message from the late Rob Reiner and New York has a new Catholic archbishop.

—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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