🍵Trump Praises Xi’s 'Iron Fist,' Internalized Racism Study Alarms, and World Series Ticket Prices Skyrocket

Good Morning – October 29,2024

Your daily update on stories impacting the Asian and Asian American community, along with key insights into business, culture, and trends.

TOP STORIES

Comedian known for anti-Asian racism targets Latinos at Trump rally

Stand-up comedian Tony Hinchcliffe sparked outrage on Sunday after launching a series of racist jokes at a Donald Trump rally in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. His remarks, denounced by members of both political parties, bring back to memory his history of making anti-Asian comments.

• What happened: Hinchcliffe delivered a set filled with racist slurs targeting various minority groups at the rally, which was meant to serve as a key event before Election Day. His most inflammatory comments included derogatory references to Latinos, describing them as having an uncontrolled population growth. “[They] love making babies. There’s no pulling out. They come inside, just like they do to our country,” he quipped. Hinchcliffe also disparaged Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” The rally’s tone darkened further as Hinchcliffe’s jokes extended to antisemitic and Black stereotypes. His performance was met with groans and sporadic laughter from the crowd but sparked fierce criticism outside the venue. In an X post, U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Florida) said Hinchcliffe’s racist rhetoric “does not reflect GOP values,” while Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-New York) noted that “the only thing that’s ‘garbage’ was a bad comedy set.” Meanwhile, Democrats capitalized on the uproar, with figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saying, “When you have some a-hole calling Puerto Rico ‘floating garbage,’ know that that’s what they think about you.”

• The big picture: Sunday’s controversy follows a familiar pattern for Hinchcliffe, who faced backlash in 2021 after openly mocking Chinese American comedian Peng Dang with a racial slur and a fake Asian accent. His comments, which ridiculed Asian stereotypes, occurred amid rising anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. and were widely condemned on social media. Dang at the time told NextShark that he was shocked and upset, recalling the moment he introduced Hinchcliffe to the stage in Austin, Texas, only to be called a “filthy little f*cking ch*nk.”

Trump praises Xi’s “iron fist” rule of China

Former President Donald Trump lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping’s authoritarian rule during a three-hour interview with podcaster Joe Rogan on Friday. The recorded interview came ahead of a Michigan rally where supporters waited hours in cold temperatures due to Trump’s delayed arrival.

• What he said: Trump praised Xi for his autocratic style of governance in China. “He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist. I mean, he’s a brilliant guy, whether you like it or not,” Trump told Rogan, adding that it drives the press “crazy” when he recognizes Xi as such. Rogan acknowledged the irony, calling Xi both “brilliant” and “dangerous,” but Trump responded by pointing to “evil people” within the U.S. The former president reinforced his claims of an “enemy from within,” a term he recently used to describe Democrats who oppose his policies. Trump has praised other authoritarian leaders in the past, including North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, whom he also mentioned in the interview, saying the U.S. faces bigger threats internally than from Kim.

• Other discussion points: Taped in Austin, Texas, Rogan’s interview spanned familiar rally anecdotes and new topics, from UFOs to economic policy. Rogan questioned Trump on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s possible role in his administration, with Trump endorsing Kennedy’s potential to “focus on health.” On taxes, Trump shared his interest in reverting to tariffs over income taxes, citing President William McKinley’s tariff policies from the 19th century. In discussing Taiwan, Trump alleged that the self-governing island “stole our chip business” and criticized U.S. protection efforts without compensation, likening it to “mob” practices. In an earlier interview this month, Trump said he can deter China from invading Taiwan thanks to the “very strong” relationship he had with Xi, who “respects me” and “knows I’m f*cking crazy.”

ELECTION INSIGHTS

Andrew Yang advocates against voting for a third party candidate in November

In a Newsweek opinion piece, Andrew Yang explained his decision to start the Forward Party in 2021 while advising against voting for a third-party presidential candidate in the upcoming election. 

• The Forward Party: Yang said he was concerned over the two-party system's inability to address pressing issues like poverty and automation, so he started the Forward Party “to reform the way we vote and provide more choices for Independents.” He previously argued that the U.S. must rethink its bipartisan system, which he believes has devolved into sabotaging opponents. He criticized Democrats for funding extreme Republican candidates to face easier opponents, reminiscent of their 2016 miscalculation with Trump. Yang suggested that many Americans were dissatisfied with a potential Biden-Trump rematch and promoted his Forward Party as a solution. The Forward Party aimed to modernize politics through open primaries and ranked-choice voting, seeking to represent the 62% of Americans who feel the current system isn't working.

• Yang’s opinion: However, Yang revised his stance on third-party candidacy, focusing on the practical implications of his actions. “We're adults and this election is going to matter,” he wrote. He emphasized the importance of making strategic voting choices, especially in swing states, where votes could determine whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins, urging voters to ensure their votes align with their preferences. Yang believes supporting local candidates and reform initiatives can drive long-term change in the political landscape without risking a greater status quo. He asserted, “We deserve better. I don’t think Donald Trump is the path to get there. Vote accordingly.” He encouraged Americans to engage in the political process while remaining mindful of the immediate consequences of their votes.

BUSINESS AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS

Man sentenced to prison for robbery of “easy target” Asian woman

An East Bay man  was sentenced to two years in federal prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in Northern California.

• What happened: Freddie Lee Davis III, 27, and his co-defendant, Sene Malepeai, 27, targeted an Asian woman in a robbery at a Costco parking lot in San Leandro on June 17, 2021, driven by the belief that “Asians are easy targets who don't fight back” and “have more money,” according to federal prosecutors. During the incident, the victim was dragged by a moving car while holding onto her purse, resulting in injuries. The robbers divided the stolen goods, which included cash, credit cards and cell phones. 

• Guilty plea: Davis pleaded guilty on Aug. 1. He and Malepeai reportedly used the stolen MasterCard credit card to make fraudulent purchases, such as merchandise at a shoe store in San Leandro. In addition to his prison sentence, Davis was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount yet to be determined and will serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.

Tropical storm Trami hits Vietnam after killing over 100 in the Philippines

Tropical Storm Trami made landfall in Vietnam on Sunday, after causing severe flooding in the Philippines. The storm, described as the deadliest storm to hit the Southeast Asian country so far this year, left at least 110 dead in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Office of Civil Defense on Saturday, 66 people were injured and an additional 34 remain missing. 

• Trami’s destruction: Moving west across the South China Sea, Trami brought maximum wind speeds of 55 mph and posed risks of flooding and landslides in Danang, Vietnam, on Sunday. Flights were suspended at four airports in central Vietnam. In the Philippines, the storm, which made landfall on Oct. 24, forced over half a million people to evacuate, damaged nearly 28,000 homes and disrupted power across 150 cities and municipalities. 

• Climate change: Last month, Typhoon Yagi also claimed at least 20 lives in the Philippines, 42 in Thailand and four in southern China, where millions have been displaced. Vietnam was the hardest hit, with almost 300 fatalities. Meanwhile, another storm, Kong-rey, is expected to brush the coast of Luzon, Philippines, and head toward Japan’s Ryukyu Islands. While Southeast Asia experiences heavy monsoon rains annually, experts warn that human-driven climate change is intensifying weather patterns and typhoons, heightening the risk of more destructive floods.

CULTURE AND TRENDS

Meet Japan’s “Instant Ramen King” Who Eats Ramen Daily

Sokusekisai Oyama, Japan's "Instant Ramen King," has dedicated over 30 years to his passion for instant noodles, consuming at least one serving daily and totaling over 10,000 cups. A former illustrator, the 65-year-old gained fame after winning TV Tokyo's Instant Noodle Championship in 1995, leading to numerous TV appearances and events. He initially fell in love with instant ramen while studying engineering at Tokyo's Gunma University, and he began collecting instant noodle packaging, amassing an impressive collection of over 6,000 items. In 2018, he was crowned the TV Champion Goku Kiwami Cup Ramen Arrangement King for enhancing instant noodles. As a professional critic, he also shares his insights on social media, where his opinions are highly regarded. Despite instant noodles' health concerns, Oyama maintains a balanced diet with gourmet varieties that include real meat and vegetables. 

This 43-Year-Old Chinese “Spider-Woman” Climbs Cliffs Without Safety Gear

A 43-year-old resident from China’s Guizhou province has been dubbed "Spider-Woman" for her extraordinary free solo climbing skills. Featured in a September Weibo post by Shandong TV, Luo Dengpin has scaled a 108-meter cliff effortlessly with her bare hands. As a member of the Miao ethnic group, Luo's skills stem from an ancient practice of high-altitude burials, which were practiced based on the belief that the deceased can “look toward their ancestral homeland.” Affirming that “men and women are equal,” she began climbing at 15 alongside her father, who initially hesitated to teach her the tradition because she is a woman. Luo is reportedly the only female practitioner of the male-dominated tradition, which is currently used to gather herbs and bird droppings. Although she once moved away to find a job, she returned to her hometown in 2000 to start a family and continue the tradition. Now, she uses her skills to earn money by demonstrating to tourists how to scale cliffs without safety gear.

How a 20-year-old Singaporean man stole over $230 million in crypto

Malone Lam, a 20-year-old Singaporean man who was previously arrested by the FBI over a conspiracy to steal and launder money, appeared in court on Oct. 23, with both prosecution and defense requesting 60 days to negotiate a plea deal to avoid a trial. Lam and his co-conspirator, Jeandiel Serrano, 21, were previously charged with stealing over $230 million in cryptocurrency, which they used to fund a lavish lifestyle of international travel, luxury cars, jewelry, nightclubs and high-end rental properties in Los Angeles and Miami. Court documents reveal how Lam and Serrano laid the groundwork through sophisticated social engineering, pretending to be Google support team members to send fake hack attempt alerts to the victims while using VPNs to disguise their locations. They would convince victims to share security codes to access their.

ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Want to see Shohei? World Series tickets are the most expensive ever

Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers is breaking records with the most expensive tickets in history. The average ticket price for the first two games of the series has more than doubled from last year, reaching $1,700. This surpasses the previous high set in 2016 when the Chicago Cubs ended their long World Series drought. The high demand is driven by the iconic teams, star players like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani and the fact that this is the first Yankees-Dodgers World Series matchup since 1981. Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on Monday is projected to be the priciest ever, with an average ticket cost of around $2,624 and standing-room-only tickets going for almost $1,500, according to TickPick. Premium seats are even more exorbitant, with a fifth-row seat behind home plate listed for over $16,000 and parking spots fetching $3,000. Body

QUICK HITS

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang assures AI won’t take jobs but warns that those who leverage AI will gain a competitive edge.

• Philippine Ex-President Duterte accepts legal responsibility for his controversial anti-drug campaign, amidst ongoing ICC investigations.

• Internalized Racism Study links increased suicidal thoughts among Asian Americans, with findings pointing to a need for culturally tailored mental health support.

Stay informed, stay inspired. We’ll be back tomorrow with more stories that matter to the Asian and Asian American community.