This Morning's Political News: 4‑Minute Read
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Tuesday, May 19, 2026 · 8:00 a.m. ET
Federal Level
DOJ Launches $1.776B Fund for Biden-Era ‘Victims’
On Monday, the Justice Department formally established a $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund after President Trump dropped his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. The fund will compensate people who claim they were improperly targeted by the Biden administration, including roughly 1,600 people charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. Ninety-three House Democrats filed an amicus brief in federal court seeking to block it, arguing the settlement is unconstitutional because Trump controls both sides of the case. 1, 2
Trump Moves to Expand White South African Refugees
President Trump on Monday formally proposed to Congress that 10,000 additional refugee slots be reserved exclusively for white South Africans, citing what he describes as a racial emergency in that country. The administration has already admitted roughly 6,000 Afrikaners this fiscal year, virtually all of the refugees allowed into the country. The proposal drew immediate condemnation from civil rights groups, who noted that refugees fleeing violence in other countries are being turned away at the same time. 3, 4
Senate GOP Rewrites $72B Immigration Bill After Ruling
Senate Republicans circulated revised reconciliation text Monday after the Senate parliamentarian struck down several provisions as non-compliant with budget rules. The revised draft drops Secret Service funding linked to the proposed White House ballroom. Republican leaders are pressing to reach the Senate floor before their self-imposed June 1 deadline, with the Senate Budget Committee expected to formally assemble the bill this week. 5, 6
Supreme Court Sends Native American VRA Case Back Down
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered lower courts to reexamine a Voting Rights Act challenge brought by two Native American tribes in North Dakota, in light of its April ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that significantly narrowed Section 2 of the law. The 8th Circuit had ruled that only the federal government can enforce Section 2, conflicting with decades of precedent allowing private citizens to sue. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, arguing the original ruling should have been reversed outright. 7, 8
Bipartisan Bill Proposes $130 Annual Fee for EV Owners
House lawmakers unveiled a bipartisan $580 billion surface transportation bill on Monday that would require electric vehicle owners to pay a $130 annual fee, replacing the federal gas tax they do not pay, to fund road and highway repairs. The bill also repeals several Biden-era climate and emissions reduction programs. Senate Democrats have signaled opposition, arguing the fee penalizes consumers who bought EVs under prior government incentives and that stripping climate provisions is a political move unrelated to highway funding. 9, 10, 11
State Level
Massie vs. Gallrein: Kentucky’s $29M Primary Decided Today
Republican voters in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District go to the polls today in one of the most expensive House primaries in history, with combined spending surpassing $29 million. Eight-term incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie faces Trump-endorsed challenger Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL. President Trump has repeatedly called Massie ‘the worst Congressman in history,’ while Massie argues his record of fiscal conservatism reflects his constituents’ values. 12, 13
Georgia and Oregon Hold Key Primary Races Today
Voters in Georgia and Oregon cast ballots today in statewide primaries. Georgia holds its Democratic gubernatorial primary with several candidates competing to face the Republican nominee in November, as well as its U.S. Senate primary. Oregon holds its full statewide primary, including races for governor, U.S. Senate, and multiple House seats. Both states are considered competitive in November, making today’s outcomes significant for both parties’ midterm strategies. 14, 15
S.C. Redistricting Session Ends With No New Map
South Carolina’s redistricting special session concluded Monday without lawmakers voting on a new congressional map, leaving Rep. Jim Clyburn’s 6th Congressional District intact for now. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey acknowledged that opposition grew the more senators examined the proposed map. Governor McMaster had called the session after the regular legislative session closed without action, but Republican resistance in the Senate blocked any vote. 16, 17
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Article Sources
1. CNBC, May 18, 2026, https://www.cnbc COM/2026/05/18/trump-dismiss-irs-lawsuit.html
2. The Hill, May 18, 2026, https://thehill COM/regulation/court-battles/5883590-democrats-criticize-doj-anti-weaponization-fund/
3. New York Times, May 18, 2026, https://www.nytimes COM/2026/05/18/us/politics/trump-afrikaner-refugees.html
4. BBC, April 10, 2026, https://www.bbc COM/news/articles/c4g89kkvenqo
5. Politico, May 18, 2026, https://www.politico COM/live-updates/2026/05/18/congress/new-reconciliation-text-00925804
6. Town Hall, May 13, 2026, https://townhall COM/tipsheet/print/2676128
7. AP / SF Gate, May 18, 2026, https://www.sfgate COM/news/politics/article/supreme-court-sends-closely-watched-native-22264428.php
8. WSLS / AP, May 18, 2026, https://www.wsls COM/news/politics/2026/05/18/supreme-court-sends-closely-watched-native-american-voting-rights-decision-back-to
9. CNBC, May 18, 2026, https://www.cnbc COM/2026/05/18/house-lawmakers-propose-130-annual-ev-fee-to-pay-for-road-repairs.html
10. Reuters, May 19, 2026, https://www.reuters COM/world/us-house-lawmakers-propose-130-annual-ev-fee-pay-road-repairs-2026-05-18/
11. New York Times, May 19, 2026, https://www.nytimes COM/2026/05/19/business/energy-environment/electrc-vehicles-annual-fee-congress.html
12. Courier-Journal, May 19, 2026, https://www.courier-journal COM/story/news/politics/elections/2026/05/19/kentucky-primary-election-2026-results-thomas-massie-ed-gallrein/
13. Cincinnati Enquirer, May 19, 2026, https://www.cincinnati COM/story/news/politics/elections/2026/05/19/kentucky-republicans-to-decide-thomas-massie-vs-ed-gallrein
14. NPR, May 2026, https://apps.npr org/primary-election-results-2026/states/GA.html
15. Oregon Secretary of State, May 2026, https://sos.oregon gov/voting/Pages/current-election.aspx
16. WCIV / ABC 4, May 18, 2026, https://abcnews4 COM/news/lowcountry-and-state-politics/lawmakers-end-special-session-with-little-progress-on-redistricting
17. Democracy Docket, May 12, 2026, https://www.democracydocket COM/news-alerts/south-carolina-redistricting-lawmakers-reject-gerrymander-in-blow-to-trump/