America widened its campaign against suspected drug-smuggling boats to the Pacific. Pete Hegseth, the secretary of war, said the armed forces had bombed two “narco-terrorist” vessels near Colombia, killing five people. America had previously confined its strikes to the Caribbean, where it has hit at least seven boats since September. But most cocaine trafficked to America by sea comes through the Pacific. Meanwhile Donald Trumpsaid America planned to hit drug traffickers “very hard when they come in by land”.
More than 100 federal agents, including immigration agents, are set to arrive in San Franciscoon Thursday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, and Rob Bonta, the state’s attorney-general, said they would “file a lawsuit immediately” if the National Guard is also dispatched. Mr Trump, who has deployed troops to other Democrat-led cities, said as recently as this weekend that he planned to target San Francisco.
Mr Trump is demolishing the White House’s East Wing to construct a ballroom, despite having promised in July that the addition would not “interfere” with the existing structure. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a group created by Congress, earlier this week asked the administration to pause construction so that plans could be publicly reviewed. But the wing could be demolished by this weekend. “It’s being paid for 100% by me and some friends of mine,” said Mr Trump.
The University of Virginia, whose former president was forced out in June, reached an agreement with the Trump administration. The Justice Department will pause its investigations into UVA’s admissions and other policies, and the university will provide quarterly data showing that it is complying with federal civil-rights law. Unlike private universities that have struck deals, UVA will not pay a financial penalty.
Immigration agents arrested nine undocumented street vendors allegedly hawking counterfeit goods on Canal Street in New York City. They also detained four citizens. Officials in the city criticised the raid. On Wednesday Letitia James, New York’s attorney-general, called on New Yorkers to share pictures and videos of the raid. The city’s police department said it was not involved.
Jeff Merkley, a Democratic senator from Oregon, spoke on the Senate floor for 22 hours and 39 minutes to “ring the alarm bells” on Mr Trump’s policies. During his marathon speech—a procedural tool used to protest—he criticised the president’s deployment of the National Guard into American cities. Earlier this year his Democratic colleague Cory Booker held the Senate floor for 25 hours and five minutes.
