How to determine to what hosts Android apps are connecting (root)? How does one determine to what hosts Android apps are connecting (or trying to connect)?

Want to know this information even if the host is being blocked by an entry in the hosts file.

Assume the device has root privileges.
I can recommend "Charles Proxy" for Windows.

It acts like a SSL MITM proxy, you set it's IP/PORT on your Phone and most of the traffic gets redirected/dissected.