WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has selected conservative activist Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, as his new White House press secretary, a move that would place a prominent conservative political figure at the center of the administration’s public communications operation.

The Pentagon has announced plans to sell advertising slots around the broadcast execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people, on Dec. 3. 

According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, ads will appear before the livestream and during scheduled breaks, rather than over the execution itself. Officials say the arrangement could offset production, distribution and security costs associated with the broadcast. Blackrock Security and Red Bull have reportedly expressed interest in sponsoring the event.

OTTAWA — Canadian writer Anne Carson has offered her Nobel Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump in a move widely interpreted as an attempt to persuade the administration to lift tariffs on Canadian goods.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., sought to explain questions that arose after his exchange with former special counsel Jack Smith during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week, saying he had been unfamiliar with the history and popularity of women’s basketball.

In an interview with Fox News, Schmitt was quoted as saying, “I’d never heard of women playing basketball. I certainly didn’t know there was a women’s league. I’m sure I’m not the only one.”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump unveiled a new AI-powered government website Tuesday, presenting America.gov as a centralized digital gateway for Americans seeking information and services from the federal government.

The launch took an unexpected turn later in the day when reporters began using the system to ask questions about Trump's economic policies.

WASHINGTON — FBI co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey announced Monday that he was stepping down from his post to devote himself full time to pursuing unresolved questions surrounding the crimes and associates of financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny of the government's handling of the Epstein case following the release of millions of pages of investigative records.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday announced a new exemption from selected import tariffs for golf and tennis equipment, after members of several of his private clubs complained that higher duties were pushing up the prices of clubs, racquets and related gear.