\n
![\"FILE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/d458d9c7a05b84488a43d9256dfac010_England_Dallaglio_Auction_24988.jpg.webp\")
<\/p>\nFILE – England Rugby 2015 ambassador Lawrence Dallaglio poses for photographs with the Webb Ellis Cup, in London, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015. (AP Photo\/Christophe Ena, File)<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
Three news outlets President Donald Trump abruptly banished from White House grounds this month asked a federal court to block the ban until the case is resolved, saying the administration has \u201cpersisted in unpredictably and inconsistently implementing its ban\u201d despite a judge\u2019s restraining order \u2014 including selectively barring CNN from White House pool duties.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the White House has spent days fiercely defending three taxpayer-funded advertisements that glorify Trump and are nearing at least $1.5 million in public spending, calling them public service announcements like those used in past administrations. But the ads attracted mounting criticism Monday, including from members of Trump\u2019s own party.<\/p>\n
Here’s the latest:<\/p>\n
Smith told lawmakers in his opening statement that he stands by the criminal cases he brought against Trump, saying investigators developed \u201cproof beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith said his team\u2019s actions were \u201cbased on the facts and the law\u201d without regard to President Trump\u2019s political beliefs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf asked whether to prosecute a former president today based on the same facts, I would do so regardless of whether the president was a Republican or Democrat,\u201d Smith told the Senate Judiciary Committee.<\/p>\n
Republicans have accused Smith of bending ordinary procedures in an overzealous and politically motivated pursuit of the president.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor who brought criminal charges against Trump is expected to be grilled by senators about his team\u2019s access to the phone records of GOP lawmakers, among other things.<\/p>\n
Smith has previously defended the subpoenas as \u201ccommon practice\u201d in investigations.<\/p>\n
According to a copy of his prepared remarks, Smith will tell senators that he \u201cwill not be silenced by continued threats of prosecution\u201d from the Trump administration and that he believes the rule of law is being threatened like never before.<\/p>\n
U.S.-Canada relations, already tense, are likely to deteriorate further after the United States went ahead early Tuesday with a decision to ban nearly $1 billion worth of Canadian imports, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motorcycles.<\/p>\n
The ban amounts to barely a ripple in $880 billion worth of annual two-way trade between the two northern neighbors. But it marks another ratcheting up of President Trump\u2019s second-term trade war with America\u2019s longtime ally and trading partner.<\/p>\n
The import ban \u201ccertainly won\u2019t do anything to help the trade tensions between the United States and Canada,\u2033 said trade attorney Patrick Childress, a partner at Holland & Knight and a former U.S. trade official.<\/p>\n
\u25b6 Read more<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s currency fell to a new record low Tuesday, with traders in Tehran exchanging more than 2.5 million rials to the U.S. dollar in a stark reflection of how the war in the Middle East has steadily eroded the Iranian economy.<\/p>\n
The latest decline came just 27 days after the rial hit its previous record low of 2.2 million to the dollar Sept. 2. The currency has repeatedly reached new lows since the war began in February.<\/p>\n
The Iranian economy has been under duress for years in the face of international sanctions. But a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian oil and new sanctions imposed since the start of the war have sent it into freefall.<\/p>\n
\u25b6 Read more<\/p>\n
The White House has spent days fiercely defending three taxpayer-funded advertisements that glorify President Donald Trump and are nearing at least $1.5 million in public spending, calling them public service announcements like those used in past administrations.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t let the Fake News get away with their lies about our epic Public Service Announcements that have been running on tv,\u201d White House communications director Steven Cheung posted on X on Sunday.<\/p>\n
But the Republican administration\u2019s ads attracted mounting criticism on Monday, including from members of Trump\u2019s own party.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt shouldn\u2019t be paid for with taxpayer dollars,\u201d Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters.<\/p>\n
Multiple legal experts consulted by The Associated Press said the ads appear to run afoul of federal statutes, including a law against congressionally appropriated funds being used for \u201cpublicity or propaganda\u201d and a law that limits the partisan political activities of government employees.<\/p>\n
\u25b6 Read more<\/p>\n
Three news outlets President Donald Trump abruptly banished from White House grounds this month asked a federal court to block the ban until the case is resolved, saying the administration has \u201cpersisted in unpredictably and inconsistently implementing its ban\u201d despite a judge\u2019s restraining order \u2014 including selectively barring CNN from White House pool duties.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe White House\u2019s words and actions leave little doubt that it will immediately reinstitute a complete ban of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO if allowed the opportunity,\u201d lawyers for CNN, MS NOW and Politico wrote in a filing late Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201dBecause the ban is an unlawful assault on the most fundamental First Amendment freedoms and will inflict irreparable harm on Plaintiffs and the public if not restrained, this Court should preliminarily enjoin its enforcement pending the resolution of this case,\u201d the filing said.<\/p>\n
The filing came a day after the Trump administration made clear it was not backing down from its contention that the sudden ban, which began Sept. 19, was justified.<\/p>\n
\u25b6 Read more<\/p>\n