Politics

Why Asian Americans could decide this year’s election

Asian Americans, the nation’s fastest-growing electorate, could emerge as critical swing voters in November’s election. While the group traditionally leans Democratic, their shifting allegiances and unique voting patterns make them a crucial target for both major parties.

By the numbers: Asian American voters are notably independent, with twice as many identifying as purely independent compared to the general electorate. In 2020, Asian American turnout surged by 40%, playing a decisive role in battleground states like Georgia. Despite their small size — making up only 4% of the national electorate — Asian Americans exceeded the margin of victory in most battleground states in 2020. In November, some 15 million Asian Americans will be eligible to vote, according to Pew Research Center projections. Economic concerns, particularly inflation, are top priorities for Asian voters, with 31% naming it their primary issue this year, according to an AAPI Data/AP-NORC poll.

The big picture: Asian Americans’ weaker party affiliation makes them more persuadable, with only 59% of Democratic-leaning Asians identifying as “strong” Democrats. The Biden campaign previously recognized this, launching targeted ads and outreach programs. Huge turnouts are expected in states like Nevada, where Asians make up 12% of the population. “We're one of the only states that had more AAPI voters vote for the first time in 2022 than in 2018. That's an indicator of how much our community has grown and how crucial we are to the margin of victory,” Amy Koo, political director at One APIA Nevada, told KTNV.

Politics

San Francisco mayor gains ground among Asian American voters

Mayor London Breed is gaining support among San Francisco’s Asian American voters, a significant shift from earlier this year when she had the lowest approval ratings among this group. 

Poll results: According to a recent poll conducted on July 31 to Aug. 5, Breed’s approval rating among Asian American voters has risen to 43%. In February, 80% of Asian American likely voters disapproved of Breed's job performance, with only 19% approving and just 10% selecting her as their top mayoral choice. But in the most recent poll, her disapproval rating among Asian American respondents dropped to 57%, while her approval rating increased to 43%, aligning more closely with the general population.

Breed’s stance: This improvement is largely attributed to her more aggressive stance on public safety, the drug crisis and homelessness, which resonate strongly with Asian voters. “Her frequent messaging on how she’s been working with SFPD on giving them more of an ability to enforce law and support SFPD’s budget for more hiring, retaining officers as well as recruiting retired officers — I think those are messages that people want to hear,” Josephine Zhao, president of Chinese American Democratic Club, told the San Francisco Chronicle. However, the Asian American electorate remains divided, with Breed's opponents, like Daniel Lurie and Mark Farrell, also gaining significant support.

News

NJ family demands justice after woman fatally shot by police amid mental health crisis

The family of Victoria Lee, a 26-year-old Korean American fatally shot by Fort Lee police officer Tony Pickens in New Jersey on July 28, is demanding justice and accountability, arguing that Lee was not a threat when she was shot in the chest. 

Catch up: Lee, who had bipolar disorder, was having a crisis when her brother called 911 for medical assistance. Despite emphasizing her mental state and the presence of a small pocket knife, police forcibly entered the apartment at The Pinnacle complex and shot Lee, who had reportedly dropped the knife and was holding a water jug. 

Calls for justice: Henry Cho, the family's attorney, argues that lethal force was unnecessary and calls for improved police training for handling mental health crises. “She dropped the knife about seven feet away from the door, but she got shot right next to the door when she was holding a water jug,” Cho told Fox 5. “We believe they could have done it with a taser gun, but they used this lethal weapon, so we couldn't understand why it happened.” The family, who plans to hold a rally for justice on Thursday, is set to review police body camera footage on Friday.

News

“Rich Dad Poor Dad” author claims “California is going broke”

Robert Kiyosaki, the financial guru who predicted the 2008 Lehman Brothers collapse, has warned that California faces a grim future, as he believes the state is on the brink of a fiscal crisis. In a recent X post, Kiyosaki emphasized that California is a bellwether state, stating, "What happens in California happens to the rest of the U.S."

What he’s saying: “The problem is California is going broke. California will begin raising taxes and cutting subsidies to the poor, to prisons, environmental problems and teachers unions. That means crime will spread as police will be cut,” Kiyosaki, the author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” wrote. He concluded his post by asking, “which states will follow? Is it time for you to move? I moved.” In November 2023, Kiyosaki made a similar remark during his appearance on “Cavuto: Coast to Coast,” stating that “America is broke right now.”

Financial crisis: The Legislative Analyst’s Office published its budget report for California on December 7, 2023, noting that the state is facing a $68 billion deficit, largely attributed to “a severe revenue decline in 2022-23.” The official budget for California, passed in late June, included $16 billion in spending cuts.

News

Chinese mother wins visitation rights in landmark same-sex custody case

The Beijing Fengtai People’s Court granted a 42-year-old Chinese woman, known as Didi, visitation rights to her daughter in May, four years after she filed China’s first same-sex custody dispute for her two children. The ruling, which marks the first instance of the Chinese judiciary legally recognizing a child as having two mothers, is viewed as a major victory for LGBTQ+ rights in a country where same-sex marriage is illegal.

Custody battle: Although homosexuality is no longer a crime in China since 1997, same-sex couples still face legal barriers, including being unable to marry or adopt children. Didi and her wife married in 2016 in the U.S. and both conceived through IVF using her wife's eggs and a donor's sperm. After their relationship ended, Didi's wife took both children to Beijing and severed contact. While Didi is now permitted monthly visits with her daughter, she is still not allowed to see her son since she has no genetic ties with him. 

Battle half-won: Didi traveled to Beijing in July to see her daughter after four years of no contact. “I think maybe she still remembers me,” she said. “I really love both my children, I want to look after them.” Didi’s lawyer, Gao Mingyue, noted that while courts are becoming more willing to protect the rights of children born out of wedlock due to falling birth rates, arrangements between same-sex couples remain unprotected.

News

Eileen Gu blasted by Chinese netizens over ties with “arrogant” French swimmer

Olympic champion skier Eileen Gu is facing a backlash after videos of her dancing intimately with French swimmer Leon Marchand — who previously sparked controversy for allegedly snubbing a Chinese coach — surfaced. The videos, which emerged after the Paris Olympics, show Gu and Marchand in a nightclub, with Gu holding a gold medal and making a kissing gesture, fueling speculation about their relationship.

Backlash by association: Marchand's perceived disrespect toward Chinese coach Zhu Zhigen following his 200-meter individual medley win on Aug. 2 ignited criticism from Chinese netizens, who called him “arrogant and disrespectful.” Although he apologized, the backlash extended to Gu due to her apparent interactions with Marchand. 

Calls for boycott: Netizens are calling for brands to reconsider their endorsements of Gu and instead support Chinese athletes like tennis player Zheng Qinwen. Despite deleting the posts, Gu continues to face criticism, with some accusing her of opportunism. Sports commentator Li Pingkang remarked on Weibo, “There’s nothing wrong with commenting, knowing, or even being friends with someone, but immediately distancing yourself when it might cause controversy proves that she is opportunistic and utilitarian.”

Final Bites

Haley urges Republicans to “quit whining” about Harris: Former GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley called on fellow Republicans to “quit whining” about Vice President Kamala Harris and urged former President Donald Trump’s campaign to focus on policy issues in a Fox News interview on Tuesday. With Harris leading Trump in recent polls, Haley criticized the Trump campaign for focusing on topics such as crowd sizes and Harris’ race. “You can't win on those things. The American people are smart. Treat them like they're smart,” she said. She urged her party to instead target key voter demographics — including suburban women, independents, college-educated and conservative Democrats — by addressing substantive issues, including Harris’ stance on taxes, fracking and immigration. Despite her critiques, Haley expressed her support for her former boss and rival, saying, “There is no question that I want to see Donald Trump win this election.”

Carlos Yulo’s father spotted in Manila welcoming parade crowd: Filipino double Olympic gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo’s father, Mark, was spotted among the crowd in Manila during the Filipino Olympians’ welcome home parade on Wednesday. Mark was seen being carried by a man with a banner behind him that read, “Caloy, Dito Papa Mo” (“Caloy, your father is here”) during GMA’s live broadcast of the parade. Yulo won two gold medals each in the floor exercise and vault events at the Paris Olympics.

John Mulaney talks about his Vietnamese in-laws: Comedian John Mulaney opened up about his wedding with Olivia Munn in his appearance on Monday’s episode of “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” Addressing their wedding for the first time, Mulaney shared that marrying Munn was “one of the most fun things” he has done in life. “I've been in a lot of interesting situations. Marrying into a large Vietnamese family is one of the most fun things I've ever done,” he said. Mulaney also did an impression of his in-laws’ Vietnamese-Oklahoman accents and said his marriage to Munn has introduced him to "new fruits" and Asian grocery stores like H Mart, Orange County’s Little Saigon and Oklahoma City’s Super Cao Nguyen. Mulaney was joined by Munn’s mother, Kim Schmid, who was sitting in the audience during the interview. Mulaney and Munn held their wedding ceremony at a friend’s house in New York in July.

$15,000 raised for stray dog’s face surgery: Animal lovers raised 20,000 Singaporean dollars ($15,200) to help cover a stray dog’s surgery after an alleged hit-and-run incident in Singapore left him with a fractured face. Local charity Causes for Animals announced the good news in an Instagram post on Wednesday, noting that the dog, known as Da Bai, “is now undergoing hospitalization and treatment” at Animal World Veterinary for six to eight weeks. Local feeders found Da Bai, who has been living in a container yard near Tuas View Circuit since 2019, injured on Aug. 5. A feeder named Karen will reportedly rehome Da Bai after his recovery.

Analysis exposes significant lack of Asian American broadcasters: The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) has released a groundbreaking analysis titled “The State of Asian American Female and Male TV Broadcasters,” which reveals persistent disparities among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander broadcasters. It found that AANHPI women, who make up only 5% of broadcasters in the top 20 TV markets, have no on-air presence in 25 out of 94 stations. AANHPI men are also significantly underrepresented, constituting just 1% of broadcasters, with 67 stations having no AANHPI men on air. Despite a 170% improvement since 2002, AANHPI men remain far from full representation. The analysis also outlines seven recommendations, including the promotion of AANHPI talent to prominent roles and the establishment of partnerships between media, academia and government to improve diversity and representation in the industry.