🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 104 (from laksa151)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa104.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-tariff-illegal-supreme-court\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-tariff-illegal-supreme-court\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.ms.now\/opinion\/trump-tariff-illegal-supreme-court","crawl_time":1776435544,"first_indexed_time":1772364702,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"now,ms!www,\/opinion\/trump-tariff-illegal-supreme-court s443","src_root_hash":"15459566131319385504","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"How Congress can give Americans some relief from the costs of Trump's illegal tariffs","meta_descriptions":["Congress can pass a bipartisan law to help American businesses and taxpayers recover money lost under Trump’s illegal tariff system."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Mar. 1, 2026, 6:00 AM EST\nBy \nRay Brescia\nLooking back to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promises, two currently stand out: He was going to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and he pledged to impose sweeping tariffs. \nWhen he didn’t make good on the first vow,\nseveral members of the president’s party\nin Congress bucked him to help pass the bipartisan\nEpstein Files Transparency Act\n. When President Trump fulfilled his second promise regarding tariffs, the Supreme Court\nfound them illegal\n, but failed to create a clear remedy for the thousands of American businesses that paid\nroughly $175 billion in tariff revenue\ncollected under that illegal system. \nCould a bipartisan coalition in Congress emerge once again to right an egregious wrong? Perhaps it’s time for a “Tariff Transparency and Reparations Act.”\nIn the face of Trump administration intransigence around releasing the Epstein files, Congress passed legislation to force it to do so. Due to that effort, the Justice Department released millions of files. The Epstein files have been an albatross for the administration for months. When the public pressure to release the files became overwhelming, and the administration’s position utterly indefensible, the president succumbed to that pressure — only when it appeared there was no viable path to continue resisting congressional action.\nSimilarly, there is nothing the administration can do to hold onto the money collected through those illegal tariffs, other than to fight a similarly indefensible and illegitimate rear-guard action through the courts. And that is exactly what the administration appears poised to do.\nSpeaking last week before the Economic Club of Dallas, Treasury Secretary\nScott Bessent expressed\nhis “sense” that payment of the revenue from the tariffs “could be dragged out for weeks, months, years.” He would add, “I got a feeling the American people won’t see it.”\nTrump has echoed these sentiments:\n“We’ll end up being in court for the next five years.”\nCongress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole.\nIn other words, Trump is treating this $175 billion like a bad debt on one of his failed real estate ventures: You can take him to court, but he’ll fight having to pay a penny tooth and nail. What makes this fight different, however, is now he has the full weight and power of the Justice Department behind him, doing his bidding at public expense.\nBut the administration shouldn’t have the last word on the subject. And Congress shouldn’t sit idly by while the administration treats this money like its own, forcing businesses and taxpayers to go through the trouble and expense of having to claw back what is rightfully theirs.\nJust as in the case of the Epstein files, a bipartisan coalition should agree that when Americans have been victimized by lawless action — here, businesses and taxpayers who forked over billions in illegal tariffs — the administration should not stand in the way of real relief for those victims. This harm certainly pales in comparison to the damage done to the survivors at the hands of the Epstein class. Here though, it is difficult to obscure, obfuscate or ignore the perpetrator and the victims: The administration imposed lawless tariffs, and the rule of law requires it to return the fees collected to those who paid them.\nOn Monday, a group of Democratic senators released a bill that\ntakes steps in this direction\n, but it leaves the details to the administration. In the case of the Epstein files, we see where that has led us, with the administration continuing to drag its feet when it comes to releasing the files, even when ordered to do so by Congress.\nInstead of relying on the administration to reimburse Americans fairly and expeditiously, Congress can create an independent fund capitalized by the billions taken in as illegal tariffs. A special master can then assess these claims. When the claimant can show that they did not simply pass the costs on to their customers, they can receive a refund. If the company did not absorb the costs of the tariffs, that money could stay in the fund and serve as the basis of a rebate to taxpayers.\nCongress does this sort of thing with some frequency, as in the wake of the terrorist attacks on\nSept. 11, 2001\n, for those\nexposed to the toxic chemicals at the\nCamp Lejeune military base\n, and those harmed in the Deepwater Horizon disaster through the\nGulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund\n. While such interventions typically follow a national disaster, here, the disaster for the economy was the president’s illegal tariffs. And the federal government is literally holding the bag.\nWith the illegal tariffs the administration collected, Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole, and can do so without taking it on faith that the administration will follow the law.\nRay Brescia\nRay Brescia is a professor of law at Albany Law School and author of the book “The Private Is Political: Identity and Democracy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism.”","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/opinion\/trump-tariff-illegal-supreme-court#wp--skip-link--target)\n\n[Opinion](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/opinion)\n\n[Morning Joe](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/morning-joe)\n\n[RacheL Maddow](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/rachel-maddow-show)\n\n[Deadline: White House](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/deadline-white-house)\n\n[The weekend](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/the-weekend)\n\n[NEWSLETTERS](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/newsletters)\n\n## Featured 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(Opens in new window)LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/opinion\/trump-tariff-illegal-supreme-court?share=linkedin&nb=1)\n\nOpinion\n\n# Americans deserve relief from the costs of Trumps illegal tariffs — Congress can help\nCongress can pass a bipartisan law to help American businesses and taxpayers recover money lost under Trump’s illegal tariff system.\n\n0 of 6 minutes, 24 secondsVolume 0%\n\nPress shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts\n\nKeyboard Shortcuts\n\nEnabledDisabled\n\nShortcuts Open\/Close\/ or ?\n\nPlay\/PauseSPACE\n\nIncrease Volume↑\n\nDecrease Volume↓\n\nSeek Forward→\n\nSeek Backward←\n\nCaptions On\/Offc\n\nFullscreen\/Exit Fullscreenf\n\nMute\/Unmutem\n\nDecrease Caption Size\\-\n\nIncrease Caption Size\\+ or =\n\nSeek %0-9\n\nSubtitle Settings\n\nOff\n\nEnglish\n\nCC\n\nFont Color\n\nWhite\n\nFont Opacity\n\n100%\n\nFont Size\n\n100%\n\nFont Family\n\nArial\n\nCharacter Edge\n\nNone\n\nEdge Color\n\nBlack\n\nBackground Color\n\nBlack\n\nBackground Opacity\n\n50%\n\nWindow Color\n\nBlack\n\nWindow Opacity\n\n0%\n\nReset\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\n25%\n\n200%\n\n175%\n\n150%\n\n125%\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\nArial\n\nCourier\n\nGeorgia\n\nImpact\n\nLucida Console\n\nTahoma\n\nTimes New Roman\n\nTrebuchet MS\n\nVerdana\n\nNone\n\nRaised\n\nDepressed\n\nUniform\n\nDrop Shadow\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\n25%\n\n0%\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\n25%\n\n0%\n\nAuto540p (1745 kbps)\n\n1080p (4738 kbps)\n\n720p (3511 kbps)\n\n540p (1745 kbps)\n\n360p (928 kbps)\n\n270p (466 kbps)\n\n270p (263 kbps)\n\nLive\n\n00:02\n\n06:22\n\n06:24\n\n[Congressional Republicans give Trump’s tariff lie a standing ovation](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/ms-now\/watch\/trump-touts-his-use-of-tariffs-denounces-unfortunate-supreme-court-ruling-2489046083555)   February 24, 2026 \/ 02:48\n\nMar. 1, 2026, 6:00 AM EST\n\nBy   Ray Brescia\n\nLooking back to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promises, two currently stand out: He was going to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and he pledged to impose sweeping tariffs.\n\nWhen he didn’t make good on the first vow, [several members of the president’s party](https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/magazine\/2026\/02\/17\/thomas-massie-epstein-files-trump-bondi-interview-00781625) in Congress bucked him to help pass the bipartisan [Epstein Files Transparency Act](https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-bill\/4405). When President Trump fulfilled his second promise regarding tariffs, the Supreme Court [found them illegal](https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/25pdf\/24-1287_4gcj.pdf), but failed to create a clear remedy for the thousands of American businesses that paid [roughly \\$175 billion in tariff revenue](https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us-tariff-revenue-risk-supreme-court-ruling-tops-175-billion-penn-wharton-2026-02-20\/) collected under that illegal system.\n\nCould a bipartisan coalition in Congress emerge once again to right an egregious wrong? Perhaps it’s time for a “Tariff Transparency and Reparations Act.”\n\nPlay\n\n![](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772069135472_n_weeknight_sen_ed_markey_260225_1920x1080.jpg?w=860&h=484&crop=1)\n\n[‘Main Street into pain street’: Sen. Ed Markey slams Trump’s tariffs for squeezing everyday Americans](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/ms-now\/watch\/trump-touts-his-use-of-tariffs-denounces-unfortunate-supreme-court-ruling-2489046083555)   February 24, 2026 \/ 02:48\n\nIn the face of Trump administration intransigence around releasing the Epstein files, Congress passed legislation to force it to do so. Due to that effort, the Justice Department released millions of files. The Epstein files have been an albatross for the administration for months. When the public pressure to release the files became overwhelming, and the administration’s position utterly indefensible, the president succumbed to that pressure — only when it appeared there was no viable path to continue resisting congressional action.\n\nSimilarly, there is nothing the administration can do to hold onto the money collected through those illegal tariffs, other than to fight a similarly indefensible and illegitimate rear-guard action through the courts. And that is exactly what the administration appears poised to do.\n\nSpeaking last week before the Economic Club of Dallas, Treasury Secretary [Scott Bessent expressed](https:\/\/fortune.com\/2026\/02\/23\/scott-bessent-tariff-supreme-court-ruling-refunds\/) his “sense” that payment of the revenue from the tariffs “could be dragged out for weeks, months, years.” He would add, “I got a feeling the American people won’t see it.”\n\nTrump has echoed these sentiments: [“We’ll end up being in court for the next five years.”](https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/business\/business-news\/tariff-refunds-supreme-court-trump-rcna259968)\n\n> Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole.\n\nIn other words, Trump is treating this \\$175 billion like a bad debt on one of his failed real estate ventures: You can take him to court, but he’ll fight having to pay a penny tooth and nail. What makes this fight different, however, is now he has the full weight and power of the Justice Department behind him, doing his bidding at public expense.\n\n### More from MS NOW Daily\nMust reads from Today's list\n\n[![Catherine Hanaway participates in a forum on Jul 26, 2016 in Jefferson City, Mo.](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/260209-catherine-hanaway-zz.jpg?w=80&h=80&crop=1)](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/opinion\/missouris-failed-dei-suit-vs-starbucks-offers-lessons-to-big-business)\n\n### [Missouri’s failed DEI suit vs. Starbucks offers lessons to Big Business](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/opinion\/missouris-failed-dei-suit-vs-starbucks-offers-lessons-to-big-business)\n[Ja’han Jones](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/author\/jahan-jones \"Posts by Ja'han Jones\")\n\n[![Rep. Byron Donalds.](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/251229-byron-donalds-es.jpg?w=80&h=80&crop=1)](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/opinion\/byron-donalds-faces-racist-attacks-in-floridas-ugly-gop-gubernatorial-primary)\n\n### [Byron Donalds faces racist attacks in Florida’s ugly GOP gubernatorial primary](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/opinion\/byron-donalds-faces-racist-attacks-in-floridas-ugly-gop-gubernatorial-primary)\n[Ja’han Jones](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/author\/jahan-jones \"Posts by Ja'han Jones\")\n\nBut the administration shouldn’t have the last word on the subject. And Congress shouldn’t sit idly by while the administration treats this money like its own, forcing businesses and taxpayers to go through the trouble and expense of having to claw back what is rightfully theirs.\n\nJust as in the case of the Epstein files, a bipartisan coalition should agree that when Americans have been victimized by lawless action — here, businesses and taxpayers who forked over billions in illegal tariffs — the administration should not stand in the way of real relief for those victims. This harm certainly pales in comparison to the damage done to the survivors at the hands of the Epstein class. Here though, it is difficult to obscure, obfuscate or ignore the perpetrator and the victims: The administration imposed lawless tariffs, and the rule of law requires it to return the fees collected to those who paid them.\n\nOn Monday, a group of Democratic senators released a bill that [takes steps in this direction](https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-tariffs-refunds-senate-democrats-supreme-court-c2fc0ed663858a90bd2ddabf60aeda56), but it leaves the details to the administration. In the case of the Epstein files, we see where that has led us, with the administration continuing to drag its feet when it comes to releasing the files, even when ordered to do so by Congress.\n\nPlay\n\n![](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771987914265_n_msnow_trump_tariffs_260224_1920x1080.jpg?w=860&h=484&crop=1)\n\n[Trump touts his use of tariffs, denounces ‘unfortunate’ Supreme Court ruling](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/ms-now\/watch\/trump-touts-his-use-of-tariffs-denounces-unfortunate-supreme-court-ruling-2489046083555)   February 24, 2026 \/ 02:48\n\nInstead of relying on the administration to reimburse Americans fairly and expeditiously, Congress can create an independent fund capitalized by the billions taken in as illegal tariffs. A special master can then assess these claims. When the claimant can show that they did not simply pass the costs on to their customers, they can receive a refund. If the company did not absorb the costs of the tariffs, that money could stay in the fund and serve as the basis of a rebate to taxpayers.\n\nCongress does this sort of thing with some frequency, as in the wake of the terrorist attacks on [Sept. 11, 2001](https:\/\/www.vcf.gov\/), for thoseexposed to the toxic chemicals at the [Camp Lejeune military base](https:\/\/www.navy.mil\/clja\/), and those harmed in the Deepwater Horizon disaster through the [Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund](https:\/\/home.treasury.gov\/policy-issues\/financial-markets-financial-institutions-and-fiscal-service\/restore-act). While such interventions typically follow a national disaster, here, the disaster for the economy was the president’s illegal tariffs. And the federal government is literally holding the bag.\n\nWith the illegal tariffs the administration collected, Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole, and can do so without taking it on faith that the administration will follow the law.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MSNOW-grayscale-1.svg)\n\nRay Brescia\n\nRay Brescia is a professor of law at Albany Law School and author of the book “The Private Is Political: Identity and Democracy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism.”\n\n![MS NOW](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/MS_NOW_ICON_WHITE-3-1-1.png?w=1000;w=1000;w=1000;w=1000;w=900)\n\n- [About](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/msnow\/msnbccom-digital-contacts-rcna53317)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/information\/msnbc-info\/contact-us-n1301857)\n- [help](https:\/\/msnow.zendesk.com\/hc\/en-us)\n- [Careers](https:\/\/careers.versantmedia.com\/)\n- [AD Choices](https:\/\/www.versantprivacy.com\/privacy\/cookies#accordionheader3)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/versantprivacy.com\/privacy\/?intake=MSNOW)\n- [Your privacy choices](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/opinion\/trump-tariff-illegal-supreme-court)\n- [CA Notice](https:\/\/versantprivacy.com\/privacy\/california-consumer-privacy-act\/?intake=MSNOW)\n- [Terms of Service](https:\/\/versantmedia.com\/terms\/)\n- [MS NOW Sitemap](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/archive)\n- [Closed Captioning](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/closed-captioning-n1241553)\n- [Advertise](https:\/\/together.nbcuni.com\/advertise\/?utm_source=msnow&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=property_ad_pages)\n- [Join the MS NOW insights Community](https:\/\/cnbcrsh.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_3TUNjdZGhQ6s3ZA?Origin=msnowwebsite)\n\n© 2026 Versant Media, LLC\n\n![](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/MS_NOW_PRIMARY_LOGO_WHITE_RGB-2-1.png?w=1024;w=1024;w=1024;w=1024;w=900)\n\n[search by queryly](https:\/\/www.queryly.com\/)\n\n[Advanced Search]()\n\n![close](https:\/\/www.queryly.com\/images\/whitecloseicon.png)\n\n# Search results\nFilters\n\nShow filters\n\nSort by:\n\nRelevance\n\n•\n\nNewest\n\n•\n\nOldest\n\n## No results found\n## Filter options\n\nClose Search\n\n[Search powered by Jetpack](https:\/\/jetpack.com\/upgrade\/search\/?utm_source=poweredby)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Mar. 1, 2026, 6:00 AM EST\n\nBy   Ray Brescia\n\nLooking back to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promises, two currently stand out: He was going to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and he pledged to impose sweeping tariffs.\n\nWhen he didn’t make good on the first vow, [several members of the president’s party](https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/magazine\/2026\/02\/17\/thomas-massie-epstein-files-trump-bondi-interview-00781625) in Congress bucked him to help pass the bipartisan [Epstein Files Transparency Act](https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-bill\/4405). When President Trump fulfilled his second promise regarding tariffs, the Supreme Court [found them illegal](https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/25pdf\/24-1287_4gcj.pdf), but failed to create a clear remedy for the thousands of American businesses that paid [roughly \\$175 billion in tariff revenue](https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us-tariff-revenue-risk-supreme-court-ruling-tops-175-billion-penn-wharton-2026-02-20\/) collected under that illegal system.\n\nCould a bipartisan coalition in Congress emerge once again to right an egregious wrong? Perhaps it’s time for a “Tariff Transparency and Reparations Act.”\n\n![](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772069135472_n_weeknight_sen_ed_markey_260225_1920x1080.jpg?w=860&h=484&crop=1)\n\nIn the face of Trump administration intransigence around releasing the Epstein files, Congress passed legislation to force it to do so. Due to that effort, the Justice Department released millions of files. The Epstein files have been an albatross for the administration for months. When the public pressure to release the files became overwhelming, and the administration’s position utterly indefensible, the president succumbed to that pressure — only when it appeared there was no viable path to continue resisting congressional action.\n\nSimilarly, there is nothing the administration can do to hold onto the money collected through those illegal tariffs, other than to fight a similarly indefensible and illegitimate rear-guard action through the courts. And that is exactly what the administration appears poised to do.\n\nSpeaking last week before the Economic Club of Dallas, Treasury Secretary [Scott Bessent expressed](https:\/\/fortune.com\/2026\/02\/23\/scott-bessent-tariff-supreme-court-ruling-refunds\/) his “sense” that payment of the revenue from the tariffs “could be dragged out for weeks, months, years.” He would add, “I got a feeling the American people won’t see it.”\n\nTrump has echoed these sentiments: [“We’ll end up being in court for the next five years.”](https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/business\/business-news\/tariff-refunds-supreme-court-trump-rcna259968)\n\n> Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole.\n\nIn other words, Trump is treating this \\$175 billion like a bad debt on one of his failed real estate ventures: You can take him to court, but he’ll fight having to pay a penny tooth and nail. What makes this fight different, however, is now he has the full weight and power of the Justice Department behind him, doing his bidding at public expense.\n\nBut the administration shouldn’t have the last word on the subject. And Congress shouldn’t sit idly by while the administration treats this money like its own, forcing businesses and taxpayers to go through the trouble and expense of having to claw back what is rightfully theirs.\n\nJust as in the case of the Epstein files, a bipartisan coalition should agree that when Americans have been victimized by lawless action — here, businesses and taxpayers who forked over billions in illegal tariffs — the administration should not stand in the way of real relief for those victims. This harm certainly pales in comparison to the damage done to the survivors at the hands of the Epstein class. Here though, it is difficult to obscure, obfuscate or ignore the perpetrator and the victims: The administration imposed lawless tariffs, and the rule of law requires it to return the fees collected to those who paid them.\n\nOn Monday, a group of Democratic senators released a bill that [takes steps in this direction](https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-tariffs-refunds-senate-democrats-supreme-court-c2fc0ed663858a90bd2ddabf60aeda56), but it leaves the details to the administration. In the case of the Epstein files, we see where that has led us, with the administration continuing to drag its feet when it comes to releasing the files, even when ordered to do so by Congress.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771987914265_n_msnow_trump_tariffs_260224_1920x1080.jpg?w=860&h=484&crop=1)\n\nInstead of relying on the administration to reimburse Americans fairly and expeditiously, Congress can create an independent fund capitalized by the billions taken in as illegal tariffs. A special master can then assess these claims. When the claimant can show that they did not simply pass the costs on to their customers, they can receive a refund. If the company did not absorb the costs of the tariffs, that money could stay in the fund and serve as the basis of a rebate to taxpayers.\n\nCongress does this sort of thing with some frequency, as in the wake of the terrorist attacks on [Sept. 11, 2001](https:\/\/www.vcf.gov\/), for thoseexposed to the toxic chemicals at the [Camp Lejeune military base](https:\/\/www.navy.mil\/clja\/), and those harmed in the Deepwater Horizon disaster through the [Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund](https:\/\/home.treasury.gov\/policy-issues\/financial-markets-financial-institutions-and-fiscal-service\/restore-act). While such interventions typically follow a national disaster, here, the disaster for the economy was the president’s illegal tariffs. And the federal government is literally holding the bag.\n\nWith the illegal tariffs the administration collected, Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole, and can do so without taking it on faith that the administration will follow the law.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.ms.now\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MSNOW-grayscale-1.svg)\n\nRay Brescia\n\nRay Brescia is a professor of law at Albany Law School and author of the book “The Private Is Political: Identity and Democracy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism.”","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/Law_and_Government\":904,\"\/Law_and_Government\/Legal\":850,\"\/Law_and_Government\/Legal\/Business_and_Corporate_Law\":555,\"\/Finance\":466,\"\/Finance\/Financial_Planning_and_Management\":301,\"\/Finance\/Financial_Planning_and_Management\/Asset_and_Portfolio_Management\":163}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":996,\"\/Article\/News_Update\":748}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":980}","meta_language":"en-us","attrs_author":"Anthony L. 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How Congress can give Americans some relief from the costs of Trump's illegal tariffs

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Congress can pass a bipartisan law to help American businesses and taxpayers recover money lost under Trump’s illegal tariff system.

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Mar. 1, 2026, 6:00 AM EST By Ray Brescia Looking back to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promises, two currently stand out: He was going to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and he pledged to impose sweeping tariffs. When he didn’t make good on the first vow, several members of the president’s party in Congress bucked him to help pass the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act . When President Trump fulfilled his second promise regarding tariffs, the Supreme Court found them illegal , but failed to create a clear remedy for the thousands of American businesses that paid roughly $175 billion in tariff revenue collected under that illegal system. Could a bipartisan coalition in Congress emerge once again to right an egregious wrong? Perhaps it’s time for a “Tariff Transparency and Reparations Act.” In the face of Trump administration intransigence around releasing the Epstein files, Congress passed legislation to force it to do so. Due to that effort, the Justice Department released millions of files. The Epstein files have been an albatross for the administration for months. When the public pressure to release the files became overwhelming, and the administration’s position utterly indefensible, the president succumbed to that pressure — only when it appeared there was no viable path to continue resisting congressional action. Similarly, there is nothing the administration can do to hold onto the money collected through those illegal tariffs, other than to fight a similarly indefensible and illegitimate rear-guard action through the courts. And that is exactly what the administration appears poised to do. Speaking last week before the Economic Club of Dallas, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed his “sense” that payment of the revenue from the tariffs “could be dragged out for weeks, months, years.” He would add, “I got a feeling the American people won’t see it.” Trump has echoed these sentiments: “We’ll end up being in court for the next five years.” Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole. In other words, Trump is treating this $175 billion like a bad debt on one of his failed real estate ventures: You can take him to court, but he’ll fight having to pay a penny tooth and nail. What makes this fight different, however, is now he has the full weight and power of the Justice Department behind him, doing his bidding at public expense. But the administration shouldn’t have the last word on the subject. And Congress shouldn’t sit idly by while the administration treats this money like its own, forcing businesses and taxpayers to go through the trouble and expense of having to claw back what is rightfully theirs. Just as in the case of the Epstein files, a bipartisan coalition should agree that when Americans have been victimized by lawless action — here, businesses and taxpayers who forked over billions in illegal tariffs — the administration should not stand in the way of real relief for those victims. This harm certainly pales in comparison to the damage done to the survivors at the hands of the Epstein class. Here though, it is difficult to obscure, obfuscate or ignore the perpetrator and the victims: The administration imposed lawless tariffs, and the rule of law requires it to return the fees collected to those who paid them. On Monday, a group of Democratic senators released a bill that takes steps in this direction , but it leaves the details to the administration. In the case of the Epstein files, we see where that has led us, with the administration continuing to drag its feet when it comes to releasing the files, even when ordered to do so by Congress. Instead of relying on the administration to reimburse Americans fairly and expeditiously, Congress can create an independent fund capitalized by the billions taken in as illegal tariffs. A special master can then assess these claims. When the claimant can show that they did not simply pass the costs on to their customers, they can receive a refund. If the company did not absorb the costs of the tariffs, that money could stay in the fund and serve as the basis of a rebate to taxpayers. Congress does this sort of thing with some frequency, as in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 , for those exposed to the toxic chemicals at the Camp Lejeune military base , and those harmed in the Deepwater Horizon disaster through the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund . While such interventions typically follow a national disaster, here, the disaster for the economy was the president’s illegal tariffs. And the federal government is literally holding the bag. With the illegal tariffs the administration collected, Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole, and can do so without taking it on faith that the administration will follow the law. Ray Brescia Ray Brescia is a professor of law at Albany Law School and author of the book “The Private Is Political: Identity and Democracy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism.”

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Play/PauseSPACE Increase Volume↑ Decrease Volume↓ Seek Forward→ Seek Backward← Captions On/Offc Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf Mute/Unmutem Decrease Caption Size\- Increase Caption Size\+ or = Seek %0-9 Subtitle Settings Off English CC Font Color White Font Opacity 100% Font Size 100% Font Family Arial Character Edge None Edge Color Black Background Color Black Background Opacity 50% Window Color Black Window Opacity 0% Reset White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 200% 175% 150% 125% 100% 75% 50% Arial Courier Georgia Impact Lucida Console Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop Shadow White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% Auto540p (1745 kbps) 1080p (4738 kbps) 720p (3511 kbps) 540p (1745 kbps) 360p (928 kbps) 270p (466 kbps) 270p (263 kbps) Live 00:02 06:22 06:24 [Congressional Republicans give Trump’s tariff lie a standing ovation](https://www.ms.now/ms-now/watch/trump-touts-his-use-of-tariffs-denounces-unfortunate-supreme-court-ruling-2489046083555) February 24, 2026 / 02:48 Mar. 1, 2026, 6:00 AM EST By Ray Brescia Looking back to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promises, two currently stand out: He was going to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and he pledged to impose sweeping tariffs. When he didn’t make good on the first vow, [several members of the president’s party](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/02/17/thomas-massie-epstein-files-trump-bondi-interview-00781625) in Congress bucked him to help pass the bipartisan [Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405). When President Trump fulfilled his second promise regarding tariffs, the Supreme Court [found them illegal](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf), but failed to create a clear remedy for the thousands of American businesses that paid [roughly \$175 billion in tariff revenue](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-tariff-revenue-risk-supreme-court-ruling-tops-175-billion-penn-wharton-2026-02-20/) collected under that illegal system. Could a bipartisan coalition in Congress emerge once again to right an egregious wrong? Perhaps it’s time for a “Tariff Transparency and Reparations Act.” Play ![](https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1772069135472_n_weeknight_sen_ed_markey_260225_1920x1080.jpg?w=860&h=484&crop=1) [‘Main Street into pain street’: Sen. Ed Markey slams Trump’s tariffs for squeezing everyday Americans](https://www.ms.now/ms-now/watch/trump-touts-his-use-of-tariffs-denounces-unfortunate-supreme-court-ruling-2489046083555) February 24, 2026 / 02:48 In the face of Trump administration intransigence around releasing the Epstein files, Congress passed legislation to force it to do so. Due to that effort, the Justice Department released millions of files. The Epstein files have been an albatross for the administration for months. When the public pressure to release the files became overwhelming, and the administration’s position utterly indefensible, the president succumbed to that pressure — only when it appeared there was no viable path to continue resisting congressional action. Similarly, there is nothing the administration can do to hold onto the money collected through those illegal tariffs, other than to fight a similarly indefensible and illegitimate rear-guard action through the courts. And that is exactly what the administration appears poised to do. Speaking last week before the Economic Club of Dallas, Treasury Secretary [Scott Bessent expressed](https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/scott-bessent-tariff-supreme-court-ruling-refunds/) his “sense” that payment of the revenue from the tariffs “could be dragged out for weeks, months, years.” He would add, “I got a feeling the American people won’t see it.” Trump has echoed these sentiments: [“We’ll end up being in court for the next five years.”](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/tariff-refunds-supreme-court-trump-rcna259968) > Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole. In other words, Trump is treating this \$175 billion like a bad debt on one of his failed real estate ventures: You can take him to court, but he’ll fight having to pay a penny tooth and nail. What makes this fight different, however, is now he has the full weight and power of the Justice Department behind him, doing his bidding at public expense. ### More from MS NOW Daily Must reads from Today's list [![Catherine Hanaway participates in a forum on Jul 26, 2016 in Jefferson City, Mo.](https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/260209-catherine-hanaway-zz.jpg?w=80&h=80&crop=1)](https://www.ms.now/opinion/missouris-failed-dei-suit-vs-starbucks-offers-lessons-to-big-business) ### [Missouri’s failed DEI suit vs. Starbucks offers lessons to Big Business](https://www.ms.now/opinion/missouris-failed-dei-suit-vs-starbucks-offers-lessons-to-big-business) [Ja’han Jones](https://www.ms.now/author/jahan-jones "Posts by Ja'han Jones") [![Rep. Byron Donalds.](https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/251229-byron-donalds-es.jpg?w=80&h=80&crop=1)](https://www.ms.now/opinion/byron-donalds-faces-racist-attacks-in-floridas-ugly-gop-gubernatorial-primary) ### [Byron Donalds faces racist attacks in Florida’s ugly GOP gubernatorial primary](https://www.ms.now/opinion/byron-donalds-faces-racist-attacks-in-floridas-ugly-gop-gubernatorial-primary) [Ja’han Jones](https://www.ms.now/author/jahan-jones "Posts by Ja'han Jones") But the administration shouldn’t have the last word on the subject. And Congress shouldn’t sit idly by while the administration treats this money like its own, forcing businesses and taxpayers to go through the trouble and expense of having to claw back what is rightfully theirs. Just as in the case of the Epstein files, a bipartisan coalition should agree that when Americans have been victimized by lawless action — here, businesses and taxpayers who forked over billions in illegal tariffs — the administration should not stand in the way of real relief for those victims. This harm certainly pales in comparison to the damage done to the survivors at the hands of the Epstein class. Here though, it is difficult to obscure, obfuscate or ignore the perpetrator and the victims: The administration imposed lawless tariffs, and the rule of law requires it to return the fees collected to those who paid them. On Monday, a group of Democratic senators released a bill that [takes steps in this direction](https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-refunds-senate-democrats-supreme-court-c2fc0ed663858a90bd2ddabf60aeda56), but it leaves the details to the administration. In the case of the Epstein files, we see where that has led us, with the administration continuing to drag its feet when it comes to releasing the files, even when ordered to do so by Congress. Play ![](https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1771987914265_n_msnow_trump_tariffs_260224_1920x1080.jpg?w=860&h=484&crop=1) [Trump touts his use of tariffs, denounces ‘unfortunate’ Supreme Court ruling](https://www.ms.now/ms-now/watch/trump-touts-his-use-of-tariffs-denounces-unfortunate-supreme-court-ruling-2489046083555) February 24, 2026 / 02:48 Instead of relying on the administration to reimburse Americans fairly and expeditiously, Congress can create an independent fund capitalized by the billions taken in as illegal tariffs. A special master can then assess these claims. When the claimant can show that they did not simply pass the costs on to their customers, they can receive a refund. If the company did not absorb the costs of the tariffs, that money could stay in the fund and serve as the basis of a rebate to taxpayers. Congress does this sort of thing with some frequency, as in the wake of the terrorist attacks on [Sept. 11, 2001](https://www.vcf.gov/), for thoseexposed to the toxic chemicals at the [Camp Lejeune military base](https://www.navy.mil/clja/), and those harmed in the Deepwater Horizon disaster through the [Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund](https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-markets-financial-institutions-and-fiscal-service/restore-act). While such interventions typically follow a national disaster, here, the disaster for the economy was the president’s illegal tariffs. And the federal government is literally holding the bag. With the illegal tariffs the administration collected, Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole, and can do so without taking it on faith that the administration will follow the law. ![](https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/MSNOW-grayscale-1.svg) Ray Brescia Ray Brescia is a professor of law at Albany Law School and author of the book “The Private Is Political: Identity and Democracy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism.” ![MS NOW](https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MS_NOW_ICON_WHITE-3-1-1.png?w=1000;w=1000;w=1000;w=1000;w=900) - [About](https://www.ms.now/msnow/msnbccom-digital-contacts-rcna53317) - [Contact](https://www.ms.now/information/msnbc-info/contact-us-n1301857) - [help](https://msnow.zendesk.com/hc/en-us) - [Careers](https://careers.versantmedia.com/) - [AD Choices](https://www.versantprivacy.com/privacy/cookies#accordionheader3) - [Privacy Policy](https://versantprivacy.com/privacy/?intake=MSNOW) - [Your privacy choices](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-tariff-illegal-supreme-court) - [CA Notice](https://versantprivacy.com/privacy/california-consumer-privacy-act/?intake=MSNOW) - [Terms of Service](https://versantmedia.com/terms/) - [MS NOW Sitemap](https://www.ms.now/archive) - [Closed Captioning](https://www.ms.now/closed-captioning-n1241553) - [Advertise](https://together.nbcuni.com/advertise/?utm_source=msnow&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=property_ad_pages) - [Join the MS NOW insights Community](https://cnbcrsh.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3TUNjdZGhQ6s3ZA?Origin=msnowwebsite) © 2026 Versant Media, LLC ![](https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MS_NOW_PRIMARY_LOGO_WHITE_RGB-2-1.png?w=1024;w=1024;w=1024;w=1024;w=900) [search by queryly](https://www.queryly.com/) [Advanced Search]() ![close](https://www.queryly.com/images/whitecloseicon.png) # Search results Filters Show filters Sort by: Relevance • Newest • Oldest ## No results found ## Filter options Close Search [Search powered by Jetpack](https://jetpack.com/upgrade/search/?utm_source=poweredby)

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Mar. 1, 2026, 6:00 AM EST By Ray Brescia Looking back to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promises, two currently stand out: He was going to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and he pledged to impose sweeping tariffs. When he didn’t make good on the first vow, [several members of the president’s party](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/02/17/thomas-massie-epstein-files-trump-bondi-interview-00781625) in Congress bucked him to help pass the bipartisan [Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405). When President Trump fulfilled his second promise regarding tariffs, the Supreme Court [found them illegal](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf), but failed to create a clear remedy for the thousands of American businesses that paid [roughly \$175 billion in tariff revenue](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-tariff-revenue-risk-supreme-court-ruling-tops-175-billion-penn-wharton-2026-02-20/) collected under that illegal system. Could a bipartisan coalition in Congress emerge once again to right an egregious wrong? Perhaps it’s time for a “Tariff Transparency and Reparations Act.” ![](https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1772069135472_n_weeknight_sen_ed_markey_260225_1920x1080.jpg?w=860&h=484&crop=1) In the face of Trump administration intransigence around releasing the Epstein files, Congress passed legislation to force it to do so. Due to that effort, the Justice Department released millions of files. The Epstein files have been an albatross for the administration for months. When the public pressure to release the files became overwhelming, and the administration’s position utterly indefensible, the president succumbed to that pressure — only when it appeared there was no viable path to continue resisting congressional action. Similarly, there is nothing the administration can do to hold onto the money collected through those illegal tariffs, other than to fight a similarly indefensible and illegitimate rear-guard action through the courts. And that is exactly what the administration appears poised to do. Speaking last week before the Economic Club of Dallas, Treasury Secretary [Scott Bessent expressed](https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/scott-bessent-tariff-supreme-court-ruling-refunds/) his “sense” that payment of the revenue from the tariffs “could be dragged out for weeks, months, years.” He would add, “I got a feeling the American people won’t see it.” Trump has echoed these sentiments: [“We’ll end up being in court for the next five years.”](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/tariff-refunds-supreme-court-trump-rcna259968) > Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole. In other words, Trump is treating this \$175 billion like a bad debt on one of his failed real estate ventures: You can take him to court, but he’ll fight having to pay a penny tooth and nail. What makes this fight different, however, is now he has the full weight and power of the Justice Department behind him, doing his bidding at public expense. But the administration shouldn’t have the last word on the subject. And Congress shouldn’t sit idly by while the administration treats this money like its own, forcing businesses and taxpayers to go through the trouble and expense of having to claw back what is rightfully theirs. Just as in the case of the Epstein files, a bipartisan coalition should agree that when Americans have been victimized by lawless action — here, businesses and taxpayers who forked over billions in illegal tariffs — the administration should not stand in the way of real relief for those victims. This harm certainly pales in comparison to the damage done to the survivors at the hands of the Epstein class. Here though, it is difficult to obscure, obfuscate or ignore the perpetrator and the victims: The administration imposed lawless tariffs, and the rule of law requires it to return the fees collected to those who paid them. On Monday, a group of Democratic senators released a bill that [takes steps in this direction](https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-refunds-senate-democrats-supreme-court-c2fc0ed663858a90bd2ddabf60aeda56), but it leaves the details to the administration. In the case of the Epstein files, we see where that has led us, with the administration continuing to drag its feet when it comes to releasing the files, even when ordered to do so by Congress. ![](https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1771987914265_n_msnow_trump_tariffs_260224_1920x1080.jpg?w=860&h=484&crop=1) Instead of relying on the administration to reimburse Americans fairly and expeditiously, Congress can create an independent fund capitalized by the billions taken in as illegal tariffs. A special master can then assess these claims. When the claimant can show that they did not simply pass the costs on to their customers, they can receive a refund. If the company did not absorb the costs of the tariffs, that money could stay in the fund and serve as the basis of a rebate to taxpayers. Congress does this sort of thing with some frequency, as in the wake of the terrorist attacks on [Sept. 11, 2001](https://www.vcf.gov/), for thoseexposed to the toxic chemicals at the [Camp Lejeune military base](https://www.navy.mil/clja/), and those harmed in the Deepwater Horizon disaster through the [Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund](https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-markets-financial-institutions-and-fiscal-service/restore-act). While such interventions typically follow a national disaster, here, the disaster for the economy was the president’s illegal tariffs. And the federal government is literally holding the bag. With the illegal tariffs the administration collected, Congress can move, and move quickly, to make American businesses and taxpayers whole, and can do so without taking it on faith that the administration will follow the law. ![](https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/MSNOW-grayscale-1.svg) Ray Brescia Ray Brescia is a professor of law at Albany Law School and author of the book “The Private Is Political: Identity and Democracy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism.”

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