First Trump Tariff Refunds Expected Around May 11
WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 21, 2026
The Trump administration is expected to begin issuing the first tariff refunds around May 11, according to an order filed Tuesday in the U.S. Court of International Trade. The timeline comes more than two months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the sweeping tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act illegal.
Judge Richard Eaton, who is overseeing the refund process, stated that about 21 percent of entries subject to the tariffs have been accepted for removal of duties through the new Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries, or CAPE, system. Roughly 3 percent of those entries have been liquidated and are now in the refund stage, which includes the issuance of payments by the U.S. Treasury.
As of April 26, approximately 1.74 million accepted entries had been liquidated and were moving through the refund process. Court documents indicate the overall refund effort could cover about $166 billion in duties paid by more than 330,000 importers on roughly 53 million entries.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued its 6-3 ruling on February 20, determining that President Donald Trump lacked authority to impose the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The decision left unresolved the specific mechanics of how importers would be repaid, leading to uncertainty over the refund timeline and procedures.
Following the Supreme Court ruling, President Trump described the decision as “terrible” and “totally defective.” In response, the administration imposed a new 10 percent global tariff.
The Court of International Trade is now managing the repayment process for duties already collected. Officials have not released a complete schedule for all refunds, but the May 11 target marks the beginning of payments for the first group of accepted entries.
The case highlights ongoing legal and policy debates over the use of emergency powers for tariffs and the balance between executive authority and judicial oversight in trade matters. The refund process is expected to continue in phases as more entries are reviewed and liquidated through the CAPE system.
Further updates on the exact timing and scope of additional refunds are anticipated as the process advances.
6-3 RULING - Supreme Court Deals Brutal Blow to Hakeem Jeffries
Washington, D.C. - June 5, 2026
Supreme Court Allows Alabama to Proceed with New Congressional Map for 2026 Midterms
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an unsigned 6-3 order on Tuesday permitting Alabama to use a newly enacted congressional district map in the 2026 midterm elections. The decision lifts a lower court injunction and is expected to result in a congressional delegation of six Republicans and one Democrat.
The ruling came after Alabama had already held its congressional primary elections in May. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation authorizing special elections in August for affected districts, contingent on final court approval of the map.
The order relied in part on the Purcell principle, which generally discourages federal courts from altering election rules close to an election. The majority stated that the district court had improperly intervened in Alabama’s efforts to conduct its elections under maps selected by the state’s elected representatives. The court noted that while federal courts should avoid last-minute changes, states retain authority to determine whether such adjustments serve their interests.
Connection to Voting Rights Act Precedent
The decision follows a 6-3 ruling issued by the Supreme Court on April 29 regarding the Voting Rights Act. That earlier decision established that claims alleging racial discrimination in districting generally require plaintiffs to demonstrate a strong inference of intentional discrimination before proceeding with litigation.
The current order addresses ongoing redistricting litigation in Alabama. The new map is anticipated to alter the composition of the state’s seven-member congressional delegation. Democratic Representatives Shomari Figures of the 2nd District and Terri Sewell of the 7th District are currently the only Black members of Alabama’s House delegation. The new configuration could affect representation in one of those districts.
Dissenting Opinion
The three liberal justices dissented from the unsigned order. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the majority’s approach had created turmoil and harm. She argued that the court was doubling down on prior decisions that she viewed as undermining protections under the Voting Rights Act.
Broader Redistricting Context
The Alabama case is one of several redistricting disputes before the Supreme Court involving states such as Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, and California. With control of the U.S. House expected to be closely contested, these cases have taken on added significance for both parties ahead of the November elections.
The Supreme Court’s recent interventions have already influenced district boundaries in multiple states. Additional litigation remains pending, and further developments could continue to shape the partisan balance of the House in the upcoming midterm cycle.
The Alabama order permits the state to move forward with its chosen map while legal proceedings on related matters continue. The full impact on the composition of Alabama’s congressional delegation will depend on the outcome of the August special elections and any subsequent legal challenges.
GHOST VOTERS' REVEALED — California Elections Rocked After Stunning Discovery
Sacramento, California - June 5, 2026
Lawsuit Filed Against California Secretary of State Alleging Failure to Remove Inactive Voter Registrations
A federal lawsuit has been filed against California Secretary of State Shirley Weber alleging that the state has failed to remove hundreds of thousands of inactive voter registrations from its rolls in violation of federal law. The complaint was brought by Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner, a Republican candidate for Secretary of State, and the American Independent Party of California, with assistance from Judicial Watch.
The lawsuit claims that California has not removed approximately 873,092 inactive voter registrations as required under the National Voter Registration Act. Federal law mandates that states remove certain registrations after voters fail to participate in multiple consecutive federal election cycles and do not respond to address verification notices.
Court filings state that more than 873,000 registrations remained on the rolls despite being inactive through at least three consecutive federal elections. The complaint further alleges that over 151,000 registrations remained active after four consecutive election cycles without voter participation.
California maintains more than 23 million registered voters, the largest voter registration system in the United States. Plaintiffs argue that the state’s practices violate requirements under the National Voter Registration Act for maintaining accurate voter lists.
Previous Actions and Current Allegations
In 2019, Judicial Watch reached a settlement with California and Los Angeles County that resulted in the removal of more than 1.2 million inactive voter registrations. The current lawsuit contends that similar issues persist across much of the state despite those prior efforts.
The complaint notes that 20 California counties removed 50 or fewer inactive registrations over a recent period, even as census data showed substantial population shifts and migration out of the state.
The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring California to implement a more aggressive program for removing registrations that no longer meet federal eligibility requirements. It also asks the court to prevent future violations of federal election law.
State Response and Context
California officials have maintained that the state’s election system includes multiple safeguards, including signature matching, voter identification checks where required, and criminal penalties for fraud. State representatives have stated that the system is secure and employs verification procedures designed to prevent illegal voting.
The lawsuit was filed amid ongoing scrutiny of California’s election processes. Recent incidents include damage to a mail ballot drop box that was vandalized and set on fire, as well as a report of an unsecured ballot center in the Bay Area discovered by a voter outside normal operating hours.
The case will proceed in federal court, where judges will evaluate whether California’s voter registration maintenance practices comply with federal requirements. The outcome could affect procedures ahead of future elections, including the November general election.
California Election Bombshell - The United States Department of Justice Is Now Investigating The Situation, According to Trump
Los Angeles, California - June 5, 2026
President Trump Accuses Democrats of Election Interference in California Amid Delayed Vote Counting
President Donald Trump posted multiple statements on Truth Social on Thursday criticizing the pace of vote counting in California’s June 2 primary elections. He accused Democrats of attempting to influence the outcomes of the gubernatorial primary and the Los Angeles mayoral primary through large numbers of late mail-in ballots.
Trump stated that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles is investigating the delays in vote counting. He called for Republicans to support the Save America Act, which would require voters to present photo identification, provide proof of U.S. citizenship, impose restrictions on mail-in ballots, prohibit men from competing in women’s sports, and ban transgender surgeries for minors.
State election officials have indicated that processing the remaining mail-in ballots could take additional weeks. Los Angeles County alone has reported more than 700,000 ballots still unprocessed as of recent updates.
Response from California Officials
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office posted an explainer video featuring CNN correspondent Elex Michaelson. The video defended California’s counting process as consistent with state law and suggested that faster counting in states such as Florida and Texas prioritizes speed over giving voters additional time to decide.
Newsom’s office stated that it wishes the votes were counted faster while pushing back against claims of misinformation regarding the process.
Los Angeles Mayoral Race Developments
In the Los Angeles mayoral primary, incumbent Democrat Karen Bass leads with approximately 35 percent of the vote based on the most recent tallies. Independent candidate Spencer Pratt holds second place at roughly 30 percent, while Democratic City Council member Nithya Raman trails in third at about 23 percent.
Late batches of mail-in ballots have continued to be processed in the days following the election. Raman has seen gains from these additional ballots, and prediction markets have shifted in her favor. Bass did not reach the 51 percent threshold required to avoid a runoff, setting up a likely November contest between Bass and Pratt.
Broader Context on California Election System
Critics of California’s election procedures have pointed to changes implemented since 2016, including expanded use of mail-in ballots that can be counted after Election Day. These procedures have resulted in slower final results compared with many other states that held primaries on the same day.
New Jersey has reported approximately 93 percent of ballots counted, while New Mexico and Montana are nearing 98 percent completion. Observers have noted that the extended timeline in California has raised questions about the transparency and timeliness of the process.
President Trump’s statements have intensified partisan debate over the counting procedures and the potential impact on closely contested races. State officials maintain that the process follows established legal requirements, while critics argue that the delays create opportunities for questions about the integrity of the final results.
