News Briefs Nearing the Weekend

 

Trump trials: A New York appeals judge rejected Donald Trump’s third legal challenge in three days to delay his impending hush money criminal trial.

Congress: A band of far-right agitators revolted against Republican leaders by blocking renewal of a powerful surveillance program that is expected to expire next week. The move by 19 conservatives throws the GOP-led House into chaos once again.

WikiLeaks: President Joe Biden said he is “considering” a request from Australia for the U.S. to end the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

LGBTQ politics: A federal judge temporarily blocked a law in Florida that barred a transgender teacher from using pronouns that don’t align with her birth sex, saying the law violates her First Amendment rights.