Error [DF-DFERH-01]

[commandblockguy]

The launcher stays on the "Download and Play: Please Wait" screen forever. In the console, the following errors can be seen

http request: https://android.clients.google.com/fdfe/uploadDeviceConfig, body = 
 (
http response body: 97Error retrieving information from server. [DF-DFERH-01]�
��������[�
v�{
api response body = commands {
  displayErrorMessage: "Error retrieving information from server. [DF-DFERH-01]"
}

qml: Failed to load news also appears, though this seems unrelated.

I am using Ubuntu 18.10. The error persists regardless of whether or not I am opted in to the Minecraft beta versions.