slantyapolis/slant eye for the round eye

Suni Lee The Real Villain Over CJ McCollum? And She's In Beef Season 2? Nice Work If You Can Get It AKA I Want The Knicks To Implode (Unless Linsanity Comes Back)

2026-04-21T17:15:00.006-05:00

After last night's EPIC loss from the Knicks--the only great thing about them is the MSG (and obviously Kat), it wasn't actually CJ McCollum who turned out to be the ones Knick fans blamed.

It was Suni Lee:

Suni Lee attended the Knicks versus Hawks playoff game on Monday evening and became widely popular online for her influence on the game’s outcome [...]

One user questioned, “OG HOW YOU GONNA MISS BOTH FREE THROWS WITH HER WATCHING??” Another one added, “OG always reacts when she’s around.” One person mentioned, “This is the second year in a row they’ve blown a 4th-quarter lead in front of her.”

The online discussions happened after the Hawks won 107-106 against the Knicks, tying the playoff series at one game apiece.

Yup.

But maybe it sets Lee up for some more roles as she starts getting those cameos in.

In episode 6, Austin (Charles Melton) is thrown into the deep end in his new role as a physical therapist at the club's wellness center by the arrival of gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee.
"Josh says that you'll work with my team to get me right for L.A.," says Lee, before arching her back into a handstand and performing the splits. "Nobody's been able to figure out why, but I feel a slight pinch in my QL and my psoas when I do this."

Again - nice work if you can get.

SPIT: A Life in Battles By Jonnie Park AKA DUMBFOUNDEAD

2026-04-20T18:44:00.006-05:00

Check out the new book by DUMBFOUNDEAD AKA Jonnie Park

Born in Argentina to Korean parents and smuggled by a coyote across the US-Mexico border at age three, Park grew up in L.A. amid cultural dislocation, his father’s violent alcoholism, and the turbulent protests and riots of the early 1990s.

Searching for belonging, he found salvation in the highly competitive underground world of battle rap, where he was among the only successful Asian American battle rappers. He honed his freestyle superpowers at Project Blowed, the legendary South Central L.A. open-mic venue, amid a motley crew of characters who took him in as one of their own.

Told through the lens of his life’s greatest battles—his father’s rage, racist stereotypes, the “model minority” myth, the pressures of fame, and his own addictions—Park tells his story with his trademark humor, lyrical style, and unflinching honesty.

Like Eminem’s 8 Mile, SPIT charts the author’s course from high-school dropout to cultural pioneer, one verse at a time. Featuring a dozen vivid graphic novel–style illustrations that bring his journey to life, SPIT visualizes the inner demons and outer adversaries Park faced along the way. From open-mics in South Central to freestyle cyphers in Seoul to music festivals across the globe, Park’s memoir is a testament to creativity, grit, and the power of speaking your truth—even when the world isn’t ready to hear it.

More than just a chronicle of an artist’s path to success, SPIT is a groundbreaking story of identity, resilience, and reinvention. It is also the story of an American outsider who turned life’s challenges into his stage and battled his way to triumph.

Currently it is #1 in New Releases for Rap & Hip-Hop Musician Bio's.

Pick it up at: https://www.amazon.com/SPIT-Life-Battles-Jonnie-Park/dp/B0F7DY1ZNK

3 Days Left To Submit For slant'd Issue 08 Wild (Submissions Close 4/19

2026-04-16T08:54:00.005-05:00

From their PR:

If you've been sitting on a story idea, this is your sign.
Not sure if your idea is ready—or if YOU are ready? Here's what happens if your pitch gets selected:
Writers: First, our team will match you with a dedicated Editor and Layout Designer. The story development process will kick off with our signature story workshop, where you'll get to share more about the heart of your story and develop it further. Then, you'll work hand-in-hand with your Editor for 4-6 months to get it into its final form. Mid-way through the process, you'll meet your Story Artist, who will co-create an original piece of art made just for your story. It's truly a special and beloved process that is unique to Slant’d.
Artists: In addition to personal essays and poems, we also feature art pieces (think: illustration, photo essays). If you pitch a visual story and are accepted, you'll be matched with a dedicated Layout Designer who will help you sharpen your vision and make sure you feel amazing about the final piece before it goes to print.
We're looking for personal essays, short stories, poetry, art, and photography from AAPI creatives of all backgrounds. We believe that everyone is creative—no MFA, no agent, no previous bylines required here. All you need is a story worth telling and the willingness to pitch it.
See here for a breakdown of this issue’s theme, our editorial philosophy, and submission requirements.
If you still have questions, you can send us a note at editorial@slantd.com.

SUBMIT HERE: https://slantd.submittable.com/submit

Film Project: The Adoptees + Seed&Spark Campaign + From The Voices Of Vietnamese Adoptees

2026-04-14T11:51:00.010-05:00

The film is a new project from the perspective of an older Vietnamese Adoptee who was on Operation Babylyft and from what I've seen of the first 9 minutes (as I am sitting on the advisory committee as well) is something very new and needed from a Vietnamese Adoptee film perspective as there is nothing out there that I am aware of, that handles some of the material in such an authentic way.

Here is some information on the project from the SEED&SPARK campaign which has around 15 days left:

Mission Statement

The stories of Vietnamese adoptees have long been reduced to a simplistic "saved" versus "stolen" narrative. The true story of their adoption is far more complex, lasts a lifetime, and is now being told by adoptees themselves. Our film aims to change the conversation by centering adoptee voices.

For many Americans, this is where the story ended, but Mike Frailey's story was just beginning.

He was just eight years old when he was put on a plane destined for Missouri alongside his best friend. In Vietnam, they were Thọ and Nga. In America, they became Mike and David.
Evacuated together during Operation Babylift, Mike and David were adopted by American families living on the same street in Missouri. While Mike embraced assimilation and the promise of the American Dream, David struggled to let go of their past and grappled with their memories of war. Their paths ultimately diverged, and they had a major falling out as teenagers.
In 2009, at the age of 42, Mike traveled back to Vietnam for the first time and began recording his experiences with photos and videos, and the seed of a documentary was born. In 2024, the discovery of a handwritten ledger in Mike's orphanage prompted him to reexamine his story and David's while mounting a search for his birth family.

While the film's main focus will be on Mike and David, there will also be some other Vietnamese Adoptees adding to the film's story as well.

Definitely check out the campaign and the site and if you are so inclined give it a little post on your social media and/or donate if you can.

BINI Performs At Coachella. Makes History As First Filipino Group There

2026-04-12T16:47:00.000-05:00

The group released their junior EP called Signals before their Coachella debut and will return for the festival's second week end on April 17th according to reports.

Markiplier + Iron Lung + $50 million + Breaking Boundaries

2026-04-11T16:07:00.000-05:00

A little late to this (not too much though) - but I think this is just another example of how different pathways that allow anyone to create, can do something great, and how Asian Americans have done so much with YouTube.

If you are not sure who Markiplier is here's a little bit from the Wiki's:

After joining YouTube in 2012, Fischbach became popular on the platform with Let's Plays of Amnesia: The Dark Descent and the Five Nights at Freddy's series; as of February 25th, 2026, his channel had over 38 million subscribers.[4] He signed with talent agency William Morris Endeavor in 2016. While with the agency, he released a clothing line, wrote and directed the YouTube Original series A Heist with Markiplier (2019) and In Space with Markiplier (2022), and hosted or co-hosted two podcasts, which reached No. 1 on Spotify.
In 2023, Fischbach signed with United Talent Agency and was nominated for a Children's and Family Emmy Award. He starred in the series The Edge of Sleep (2024) and made his theatrical debut directing, producing, writing, and starring in the horror film Iron Lung (2026).

[...]

Mark Edward Fischbach was born on June 28, 1989, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father Cliffton Morris Fischbach Jr. was a German American military officer who met his mother, Sunok Frank, while stationed in South Korea.[5] Fischbach's maternal grandfather was a North Korean defector and his maternal family history is covered in the 2022 documentary film Markiplier from North Korea.[6]
After Fischbach was born, the family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio,[7] but his parents divorced when he was still young. Fischbach graduated from Milford High School in 2007 and enrolled at the University of Cincinnati in a biomedical engineering program.[7][8] His father died in 2008 when Fischbach was 18 years old.[9][10] Fischbach met Wade Barnes in sixth grade and roomed with Bob Muyskens in his freshman year—they would both become his long-term friends and collaborators.[11]
In 2012, Fischbach was beset by many different issues: he went through a breakup, was laid off from his job, moved to an apartment after his mother kicked him out of her house, had an emergency appendectomy, and went into debt. After being hospitalized because of an adrenal tumor, he "decided that he wanted to do something else.

And then here's a little but from an article on Slate:

This past weekend saw one of the oddest box-office victories in recent times. No, I’m not talking about Melania, the first lady–produced documentary that Amazon reportedly spent $40 million on for the rights alone, with an additional $35 million for the marketing. I’m talking about Iron Lung, a self-financed film by a beloved YouTuber named Mark Fischbach, who goes by the handle Markiplier, and who has more than 38 million followers to his name. The movie, an adaptation of an indie horror video game, had a budget of approximately $3 million—an amount that Iron Lung has already earned back seven times over, with a box office of $21.7 million worldwide. Markiplier’s secret to getting his passion project into an impressive 3,000 theaters? According to an interview with Matt Belloni’s podcast The Town, he tapped into his network of fans, many of whom apparently work at movie theaters, and who vouched for the film to their managers. This is one of the rosier byproducts of his years cultivating a relationship with followers through videos that are usually—though not always—about gaming.

Slamming Korean Adoptees For Their Pronounciation (AKA WTH Is Wrong With People...Oh Yeah)

2026-04-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

So I'll just start out by quoting out some of the substack article from K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim:

In another edition of You’re Not Korean Enough, we have a contingent of cruel and clueless people on the internet who are taking a Korean adoptee to task for not being a real Korean. Why? Because she initially mispronounced the name of a Korean folk song, “Arirang” (아리랑).
Are you done rolling your eyes yet? Because I’m not.
A few days ago, Kat Turner made an informative video explaining the significance of the Korean folk song “Arirang” as it applies to her. Thanks to BTS annoucing that Arirang is the title of the group’s highly-awaited comeback album, “Arirang” has become a buzzword that is being dissected on social media. What could the significance of Arirang possibly mean? [...]
All of this brings me back to Turner’s video on Instagram. While the post went viral — drawing praise from BTS fans, adoptees, and the general public — there was a contingent of loud and entitled naysayers (most of whom appear to be westerners and/or Korean Americans) who criticized her at every turn for being a clout chaser, an imposter, and — most egregiously — a Korean wannabe.
Why? Because she mispronounced the word “Arirang.”

Here is Kat Turner's response via IG as well.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KAT 문순자 (@thekatturner)

I think what I like most about this, is how she told all the naysayers where to go, in a nice way, and that after journalist Jae-Ha Kim wrote the piece in substack, Min Jin Lee, the bestselling author of Pachinko, shared it and the same day, invited Kat to a speaking engagement, even when it was sold out.

How cool is that?

Adoptees all over the world have to deal with stuff like this and I'm glad to see other Koreans standing up for their people (because Adoptees are part of the diaspora too). Things like this can take an Adoptee from wanting to learn about the culture they were taken out of, to not wanting anything to do with it at all, and that's a sad state.

So make a note of that if you know some Adoptees trying to make their way, love their motherland and culture and language--remember that they had it pretty hard in that way, and to make those jumps, to do the work--it takes a lot of courage and heart.

Don't dismantle them.

Help build them up to be the best version of who they can be, and who they want to be.

And just for the record--I know a lot of Adoptees, who didn't group up familialy with their culture and knowledge and language, who now know it better than some of those that did here in America.

We all learn. We all grow.

Slant'd Accepting Submissions For Issue 08: Wild

2026-03-31T13:10:00.005-05:00

From the email/release:

Hi there,

We're excited to share that the next issue of our literary magazine is in the works!

For Issue 08 (Wild), we invite you to share your stories of adventure. We’re looking for stories of people venturing off the beaten path and bravely going against societal convention. We want stories of travel—the sights you saw, the people you met, and the insights you gained along the way. Wild includes stories of spiritual awakening and the freedom that comes from embracing your full, vibrant self. Wild asks us to reconnect with nature and examine our role in this world. Issue 08 will be a celebration of what happens when we follow our curiosity and dive in head first into the vast, uncharted wilderness of our lives.

What to submit:
We welcome original works of creative nonfiction (personal essays), poetry, illustration, and photography. Don’t worry about submitting a finished draft—we only need your story pitch and an outline.

Who can submit:
Anyone! No MFA, no agent, no previous bylines needed. We prioritize potential over polish and art over accolades. You don't even have to call yourself a "writer" to pitch us. You just have to have a story worth telling—and we'll help you bring it to life.

This especially goes for AAPI writers and artists who identify as disabled, neurodivergent, trans and LGBTQIA+, or are over the age of 30. Your story has a home here.

What the process is like:
Every contributor is paired with a dedicated editor, layout designer (and if you're a writer, then you'll also be paired with an artist!) to workshop their story from idea to page. Think of it like developmental editing meets coaching.

Here's what one of our writers from Issue 07 had to say about it:

"My experience with Slant'd was one of both validation and growth. I start with validation because, at every point in the editorial process, I was reminded that I belonged and that my work was of worthy quality, which helped me process feedback and tackle each challenge with the confidence needed to not only improve what we were working on but also grow as a creative more broadly. - Dakota S.

Know someone with a wild story to tell? Forward this email or tag them on our Instagram post!

Share your wild story by 4/19 at 11:59 PM PST

ACLU’s Cecillia Wang Challenges Taking Birthright Citizenship Away. Set For A Supreme Court Fight

2026-03-31T13:06:00.005-05:00

Glad to see that we are right in the thick of things and not leting these moments pass us on by.

Wang, the group’s national legal director, will urge the justices to reaffirm the Supreme Court’s 1898 ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which held that children born in the US to foreign nationals are citizens under the Constitution. Wang said that decision has become the foundation of post-Reconstruction America.
“Our entire country has been built on the basis of birthright citizenship,” Wang said. “To reinterpret, or overturn—which the government is really asking them to do—would shatter the foundation of American life.”

The article also quotes more from Wang on being a second gen immigrant and the meaning of the 14th Amendment.

“I’m one of countless millions of second-generation Americans for whom the birthright citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment is very meaningful,” Wang said. “And there are many, many millions more, tens of millions of people, who have an ancestor who was a citizen of the United States because of the 14th Amendment.”
“There’s a merging of how I feel personally about this case with how millions of Americans feel about this case,” Wang said of the birthright litigation. “What the executive order does is profoundly counter to this fundamentally American principle that all of us born in this country are American citizens, one and all, and that we have equal rights as citizens.

Read the article in full.

TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill On DHS Shutdown

2026-03-31T13:00:00.002-05:00

In a recent artcicle Ha Nguyen McNeil said:

"We are being forced to consolidate lanes and may have to close smaller airports if we do not have enough officers. It is a fluid, challenging and unpredictable situation. This is a dire situation. We are facing a potential, perfect storm of severe staffing shortages and an influx of millions of passengers at our airports in less than 80 days".

Nguyen McNeil was referring to the start of the FIFA World Cup.

While there is an executive order it does not specify what happens with latter checks in the DHS shutdown.

Best Of: Jeremy Lin on Luka Doncic

2026-03-31T12:54:00.001-05:00

Nice to see Lin making the rounds not only here but also on other shows/podcasts as well, making sure that he gets his due not only as an NBA player, which is important, but as an Asian American one.

Love it.

Jimmy O. Yang - Finally Home Trailer

2026-03-19T21:06:00.006-05:00

Will definitely have to get to the theater for this one:

FINALLY HOME - My 3rd comedy special will be in the movie theaters! The first Asian comedian to ever have a special in theaters 🥹🙇🏻 HK 3/20 | US, Canada 3/27 HK tix on sale now, America on sale next Tuesday Jimmy O. Yang returns home to Hong Kong for five massive arena shows for his newest comedy special - FINALLY HOME! It’s about coming home, his hilarious family, fighting for the bill, great Karaoke and so much more! This comedy special is funnier, bigger and more epic than ever. The film will be premiering in theaters only 3/20 in Hong Kong, 3/27 in US & Canada. The film is in English with some Cantonese mixed in (subtitled). Follow me on other socials: IG: https://www.instagram.com/funnyasiandude/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@funnyasiandude?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/funnyasian/ #JimmyOYang #FinallyHome #StandUp #StandUpComedy #MovieTrailer #ComedySpecial #HongKong

Tzi Ma, Rae Dawn Chong and Aileen Wu + Charlie Chan Is Back?

2026-03-19T21:00:00.008-05:00

This sounds good to me - and so many great people attached to the project:

“Our series is a bold and necessary reinvention — a proud reclamation of a complicated legacy,” said Lee and Sager in a joint statement. “By crafting an authentic and modern hero, we are transforming a once-offensive cultural caricature into a complex, dignified protagonist for a new generation.”

Chong said she was drawn to the project’s global scope and its BIPOC representation, calling it “smart, quirky and very global.” Ma, meanwhile, spoke to the broader imperative of reclaiming culturally appropriated characters, and described Vancouver as an ideal backdrop given its embrace of multiculturalism. “We have the opportunity to lead the charge,” said Ma, “and provide this so-called ‘day player town’ the opportunity for the world to see the wealth of our Canadian talents.”

Read it in full at Variety: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/charlie-chan-series-tzi-ma-rae-dawn-chong-aileen-wu-1236685930/

Suni Shouts Out Asian Women Representation And Alysa Liu and Chloe Kim

2026-03-19T00:41:00.003-05:00

This is just a great clip of Suni Lee shouting out to Asian Woman Representation.

Can't wait to see Lee's next projects.

Did White Liberalism Win The Oscars (AKA Gimme The Real AKA Sinners Got Robbed AKA But Junglepussy Was So Beverly Hills)

2026-03-19T00:28:00.001-05:00

First of all, I am not saying that OBAA was a bad movie or that it had bad performances, or that it did not have a diverse cast.

I'm not trying to besmirch the good names of Benicio del Toro, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, Chase Infiniti or Shayne A McHale AKA "Junglepussy". As I finish that sentence I can't help but wonder what road I may be driving off.

But hear me out (and beware there are spoilers).

First OBAA has Leonardo DiCaprio...I mean, I feel like this is self explanatory. And his character is a hippie pot smoking "revolutionist".

Second, it's helmed by P.T.Anderson...how much more liberal Whiteness can we get there? Magnolia. Punch-Drunk Love. Boogie Nights. Cigarettes & Coffee.

All great movies. Starring White People.

The canvas is set because you don't do all those movies with casts so trắng and move away from that (I mean one can argue it's almost impossible).

Does it get into immigrant struggles, BIPOC struggles, etc.

Yes.

But it's all done in many ways (with some exceptions simply because of what the actors brought) through the eyes of a White lens. White stories. It's like Operation Babylift--sure there were Vietnamese on those planes but the stories are told by White people, where in many ways, it's less about the Vietnamese babies and more about the people "saving" them.

Perfidia was in a weird love triangle with a racist White guy and pot-smoking-didn't-understand-her White guy who btw happens to be named "Ghetto" Pat Calhoun. Some could argue she's the Black man trope in a woman's body. And you can have some crazy BFWM dynamics but who dedicates a large portion of the movie to said racist White guy trying to find and then have his daughter killed while having that countered with a pot smoking step-in dad trying to find her, taking care of business while the Black mother is gone?

White people. They eat that up.

For a moment, why not delve into the possible and say she has that baby on her back fighting the revolution. Showing her the tools of the trade, molding her into that strong Black daughter. Why must she abandon her and move into the shadows?

Who controls what Willa knows about her mom?

The answers are all White people.

Compare it to Sinners.

Original screenplay.

Mainly BIPOC cast.

Through the lens of POC trying to make their own way in a White world.

A Black writer and director.

If we look at Sinners addressing the same issues as OBAA, just in a different time, we see completely different ways it handles the storyline, the characters, the history.

Everything about Sinners is what great cinema is supposed to be. It has layers upon layers of histories and dreams rooted in the past, connecting us as viewers. It's camera work, the direction, the acting, the storylines--those luscious shots out in the country deep with so much weight in beauty and tragedy.

We're there in the Blues. The music that opens gateways. Delta Slim (and as an aside, why is that White actors who play roles of drunks and drug addicts get far more praise than Black and other POC actors who do the same--is it because some people don't think it's that much of a stretch for non-White actors?).

We're in worlds both known and unknown, celebrating life, telling the story of struggle and revolution.

And to be honest, I don't know if liberal White people got it as much as POC did.

I don't know if it interested them as much, even though they have similar themes.

It's almost as if there is that feeling of allyship without real friendship and understanding.

And to me some aspects of the endings tell the real story--Colonel Lockjaw in OBAA dies at the hands of the Christmas Avengers, which we should root for, but the Xmas Avengers are still there. The racist White guys still win and the family is still estranged--albeit being kept together by the White Savior Leo.

In Sinners, Smoke cleans up the Klan, killing all the Klan members there, sacrificing his life, reuniting with Annie and his daughter, while Stack lives on--living a dream of being a Black man controlling his own destiny with limitless power (albeit as a vampire--because nothing is free).

When you think about what Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan created together (and thankfully they both got Oscars for their achievements) in comparison to OBAA and the world they made, Sinners is the real.

There's just no way around it.

And just like Stack says---give me the real.

P.S.

And let's always remember the power of those ending credit scenes intertwined with the music that was the lifeblood of the film, and how they tie so much together, and as viewers, how they also gave us surprise and wonderment.

It Just Feels Like Maybe We Could Use Some Retro Covers By Cathy Nguyen, Andrew Garcia, AJ Rafael, And Adinah

2026-03-12T00:15:00.002-05:00

It just feels like maybe we could all use a little bit of this retro Cathy Nguyen and Andrew Garcia.

That's it.

Okay.

Maybe one more retro cover.

XO.

These MN Senators Want A Statue Of The Racist And Bigotted Charlie Kirk: State Sen. Nathan Wesenberg, Sen. Eric Lucero, Sen. Steve Drazkowski, Sen. Bill Lieske, and Sen. Michael Holmstrom

2026-02-28T09:08:00.001-06:00

From Yahoo News:

A cohort of five Republican legislators have proposed a bill that would appropriate $25,000 of state money for a statue of Charlie Kirk to be erected on the University of Minnesota ‘s Twin Cities campus.
State Sen. Nathan Wesenberg, Sen. Eric Lucero, Sen. Steve Drazkowski, Sen. Bill Lieske, and Sen. Michael Holmstrom co-authored the bill. Last year, Drazkowski notably authored legislation designating "Trump Derangement Syndrome" as a mental illness.

Why a statue for such a racist, anti-LGBTQIA+ person?

As a reminder, here's what he's said.

1. "Prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people" Said on The Charlie Kirk Show podcast, circa 2023–2024. This statement falsely portrays Black people as predatory criminals targeting white people — a classic racist trope.

2. "If I see a Black pilot, I'm going to be like, 'Boy, I hope he's qualified'" Said on The Charlie Kirk Show ("Thoughtcrime" segment with Jack Posobiec), January 18, 2024. Verified as accurate by FactCheck.org and Newsweek. It implies Black pilots are unqualified by default — a racist assumption.

3. "You had to go steal a white person's slot to go be taken somewhat seriously" Said on his podcast, directed at Black women like Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. This frames Black advancement as illegitimate theft from white people.

4. Calling prominent Black women "affirmative action picks" A recurring theme on his show throughout 2023–2024, applied to figures like Justice Jackson, implying Black women in prominent roles didn't earn their positions.

5. Questioning whether a Black woman in customer service was hired via affirmative action Documented on his show, 2023–2024. Singling out a random Black service worker as likely unqualified is textbook racial prejudice.

6. Calling George Floyd a "scumbag" Said publicly on his show/at events. Using a dehumanizing slur for a man whose killing sparked a national reckoning on race reflects contempt for Black lives and the movement for racial justice.

7. Invoking "Great Replacement" rhetoric Repeatedly on his show and at events, Kirk warned that Democrats wanted "America to become less white" — language directly drawn from white nationalist conspiracy theories about the deliberate replacement of white Americans.

8. Calling affirmative action the only reason prominent Black women advanced in their careers A broad, sweeping claim made repeatedly on his podcast in 2023, denying the qualifications and achievements of Black professionals categorically.

9. Calling FAA air traffic controllers "morons and affirmative-action people" Said on his show in January 2024 in the context of airline safety debates, equating diversity hiring with incompetence across an entire workforce.

10. Denying systemic racism while attributing racial disparities to Black culture and family structure A consistent theme across his show and speeches, 2022–2024, which dismisses documented structural inequalities and instead blames Black Americans for their own disadvantages — a form of racist scapegoating.

On the LGBTQ+ Community

1. "Stoning of gay people... God's perfect law" In a June 2024 episode of his podcast, Kirk invoked Leviticus 18, saying: "thou shall lay with another man shall be stoned to death. Just saying." He called this "God's perfect law when it comes to sexual matters." FactCheck.org This came in response to a YouTuber quoting "love thy neighbor."

2. Transgender people are a "throbbing middle finger to God" In 2023, Kirk took the stage at a megachurch and called transgender people an "abomination" and a "throbbing middle finger to God." The Advocate

3. The transgender movement is a gateway to becoming machines In February 2022, Kirk said: "The transgender movement actually matters even more than biomedical fascism... the transgender movement is an introductory phase to get you to strip yourself of your humanity to mesh with machines." The Advocate

4. Gay people "want to corrupt your children" In 2022 on his YouTube show, Kirk said conservatives mistakenly thought same-sex marriage would be the end of it, concluding that gay people "are not happy just having marriage. Instead, they now want to corrupt your children." Wikipedia

5. Being gay is an "error" comparable to drug addiction Kirk claimed that being gay was an "error" and likened homosexuality to drug addiction. Wikipedia (Wikipedia, sourced to contemporaneous reporting)

6. Suggesting transgender people should be treated "the way we used to" in the 1950s and '60s In early 2023, he said that transgender women in women's locker rooms should be "taken care of the way we used to take care of things in the 1950s and '60s." The Advocate As the article notes, that era's "treatments" included lobotomy, shock therapy, and involuntary institutionalization.

7. Calling for "Nuremberg-style trials" for doctors who provide gender-affirming care Kirk proposed that health professionals who provide gender-affirming care be subjected to a "Nuremberg-style trial." Factually

8. "Transgenderism and gender 'fluidity' are lies that hurt people and abuse kids" In an October 2021 op-ed for The American Mind, Kirk wrote: "the facts are that there are only two genders; that transgenderism and gender 'fluidity' are lies that hurt people and abuse kids." Wikipedia

9. Called LGBTQ activists the "alphabet mafia" Kirk called LGBTQ activists the "alphabet mafia" and described Obergefell v. Hodges (the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage) as "a national takeover of our laws." Wikipedia

10. "Pride is a sin" Kirk proclaimed "Pride is a sin" and dismissed "gay corporations that hate America." Washington Blade

And yes - he was a HUGE proponent of spreading the RACIST/XENOPHOBIC "China Virus" lies which made even more Asian Hate among Asian Americans while at the same time subscribing to the Model Minority stereotype.

So call out State Sen. Nathan Wesenberg, Sen. Eric Lucero, Sen. Steve Drazkowski, Sen. Bill Lieske, and Sen. Michael Holmstrom and let them know this is not okay.

Alysa Liu Wins Gold!

2026-02-20T16:51:00.003-06:00

I don't know about you all, but my goodness--that was one AMASIAN skate!

And she made it to the Everest Base Camp?

The world is yours Alysa Liu and how wonderful that is to see.

Truly Golden.

On This Day: Executive Order 9066 AKA We've Been Trying To Make People Aware We're American Since Day One. As AANHPIs 80+ Years Later Collectively And Historically It's Just Exhausting.

2026-02-19T11:07:00.004-06:00

Wiki: By Dorothea Lange (this image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3a24566).

Caption: Oakland, Calif., Mar. 1942. A large sign reading "I am an American" placed in the window of a store, at [401 - 403 Eighth] and Franklin streets, on December 8, the day after Pearl Harbor. The store was closed following orders to persons of Japanese descent to evacuate from certain West Coast areas. The owner, a University of California graduate, will be housed with hundreds of evacuees in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration of the war

Summary: Photograph shows the Wanto Co. store located at 401 - 403 Eighth and Franklin Streets in Oakland, California. The business was owned by the Matsuda family. Tatsuro Matsuda, a University of California graduate, commissioned and installed the "I am an American" sign. (Source: researcher R. Yee, Oakland Museum of California, 2017) Lange took this photograph while working for the War Relocation Authority, and the OWI acquired a copy for its own files.

EXECUTIVE ORDER TRANSCRIPT

Executive Order No. 9066

The President

Executive Order

Authorizing the Secretary of War to Prescribe Military Areas

Whereas the successful prosecution of the war requires every possible protection against espionage and against sabotage to national-defense material, national-defense premises, and national-defense utilities as defined in Section 4, Act of April 20, 1918, 40 Stat. 533, as amended by the Act of November 30, 1940, 54 Stat. 1220, and the Act of August 21, 1941, 55 Stat. 655 (U.S.C., Title 50, Sec. 104);

Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of War, and the Military Commanders whom he may from time to time designate, whenever he or any designated Commander deems such action necessary or desirable, to prescribe military areas in such places and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded, and with respect to which, the right of any person to enter, remain in, or leave shall be subject to whatever restrictions the Secretary of War or the appropriate Military Commander may impose in his discretion. The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to provide for residents of any such area who are excluded therefrom, such transportation, food, shelter, and other accommodations as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Secretary of War or the said Military Commander, and until other arrangements are made, to accomplish the purpose of this order. The designation of military areas in any region or locality shall supersede designations of prohibited and restricted areas by the Attorney General under the Proclamations of December 7 and 8, 1941, and shall supersede the responsibility and authority of the Attorney General under the said Proclamations in respect of such prohibited and restricted areas.

I hereby further authorize and direct the Secretary of War and the said Military Commanders to take such other steps as he or the appropriate Military Commander may deem advisable to enforce compliance with the restrictions applicable to each Military area hereinabove authorized to be designated, including the use of Federal troops and other Federal Agencies, with authority to accept assistance of state and local agencies.

I hereby further authorize and direct all Executive Departments, independent establishments and other Federal Agencies, to assist the Secretary of War or the said Military Commanders in carrying out this Executive Order, including the furnishing of medical aid, hospitalization, food, clothing, transportation, use of land, shelter, and other supplies, equipment, utilities, facilities, and services.

This order shall not be construed as modifying or limiting in any way the authority heretofore granted under Executive Order No. 8972, dated December 12, 1941, nor shall it be construed as limiting or modifying the duty and responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with respect to the investigation of alleged acts of sabotage or the duty and responsibility of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice under the Proclamations of December 7 and 8, 1941, prescribing regulations for the conduct and control of alien enemies, except as such duty and responsibility is superseded by the designation of military areas hereunder.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The White House,

February 19, 1942.

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2026-02-19T10:07:00.004-06:00

Eileen Gu On Gold Medals

2026-02-19T10:00:00.003-06:00

CAAM Partners With 3 Midwest Stations to Launch Asian American Community-led Storytelling + Let's Not Forget Our Other Communities Either

2026-02-19T09:58:00.001-06:00

From there PR:

CAAM is partnering with Detroit PBS to launch a two-year initiative to tell Asian American stories throughout the Midwest with public media stations in the region and their local Asian American communities. Detroit PBS along with PBS Wisconsin and Nine PBS in St. Louis— will produce shorts in collaboration with local community content advisory committees, culminating in a series for national PBS distribution.

The last decade has seen exponential growth for Asian American populations in the United States. In the wake of continued violence and hatred towards Asians and Asian Americans and an increasingly polarized political climate, the need for providing more nuanced and accurate portrayals of this growing, diverse community is more vital than ever. These stations represent areas with growing Asian demographics, whose experiences may not be as well-known as those on the East and West Coasts.

"We’re thankful for the opportunity to join the Midwest Public Media Initiative to expand our work fostering deep connections within communities, build lasting relationships rooted in trust and share authentic stories of AAPI life in Wisconsin."
- Kelly Saran, Series Producer, PBS Wisconsin

Being part of the Midwest Public Media Initiative strengthens our commitment to amplifying diverse community voices and deepening understanding across our region. Through collaboration with trusted partners, we expand our ability to create meaningful content and ensure our communities are seen, heard, and supported.
- Meaghan Anselm, Director of Content Partnerships, Nine PBS

"The Midwest Public Media Initiative presents an incredible opportunity for us to continue our work of storytelling in connection with the diverse communities we serve, including our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Southeast Michigan."
- Zosette Guir, Manager of Content Ops and Production for Journalism, Detroit PBS

In this spirit, CAAM is deeply committed to shifting the misconception that regions in the US have no significant Asian American experience, and to explore the implications of what these communities mean to the redefinition of American identity. Asian Americans have been in the Midwest since before the U.S. was founded, and the region is home to key sub-communities, such as Korean American adoptees and the Hmong American community in Minneapolis, Michigan’s Muslim American communities, Nebraska’s Vietnamese American communities, refugees, and mixed-race individuals, among many others.

This program follows CAAM’s ongoing initiatives to shine light on regional Asian American stories, such as our work with programs such as the Sauce Fellowship, the Hindsight series in collaboration with Reel South and Firelight Media and the Homegrown in collaboration with Reel Midwest and Firelight Media.

This program is made possible with funding from the Wyncote Foundation.

Stay tuned for more details about talent development programs for filmmakers telling stories about Asian Americans in the Midwest and other updates.

I do wonder how they are missing out on the Twin Cities, and while I like hearing some of that inclusion overall in their statement, I would also just push our own community groups to acknowledge even more of the diversity--i.e. not just Hmong and Korean Adoptees in Minneapolis (and if you look at our demographics people really need to start referencing Saint Paul).

Again, great start, but let's keep continuing to expand even our own senses of our communities.

Standing with Thi Dua for Justice and Healing

2026-02-10T06:53:27.830-06:00

From the gofundme:

Thi Dua Vang came to the United States as a refugee from Vietnam, seeking safety, stability, and the hope of a better life. She followed every legal requirement, arrived with all proper documentation, and was lawfully admitted into the country. She did everything right.
Despite this, on January 8, 2026, Thi Dua was suddenly and unjustly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.). Without warning, her life was thrown into chaos. After spending 24 hours in a temporary facility in the Twin Cities, she was transported far from her family—first to the El Paso Detention Center in Texas, and then to the Houston Processing Center. She remained detained for nearly two weeks, separated from her loved ones, frightened, and unsure of her future.
During her bond hearing on January 20, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security representative was unable to give any reason for her detention. The judge ordered that she be released on bond. However, she was not actually released until the next day, January 21, 2026. Even then, her ordeal continued. I.C.E. did not notify her family or coordinate her safe release. Instead, she was let out alone onto the streets of Houston around 8:00 PM—exhausted, scared, and with no support. Her husband and brother, who had already begun the long drive from Minnesota, arrived around 11:00 PM. For three long hours, Thi Dua had to fend for herself in a completely unfamiliar city at night.

This wrongful detention has deeply traumatized Thi Dua and her family. They had to hire legal counsel to fight for her freedom, placing a heavy financial burden on them. On top of the emotional toll, Thi Dua lost her job because of her detention. The family is now trying to rebuild from the ground up—emotionally, financially, and physically—but the road ahead is difficult.
They are doing their best to regain stability, but the damage has been profound. Any financial support you can provide will not only help this family rebuild their lives, but will also support any future legal representation that Thi Dua may need as she continues navigating her immigration case and works to secure lasting stability in the United States. Your generosity will ease the heavy burden they are carrying and remind them that they are not alone in this struggle.

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2026-02-10T06:52:00.004-06:00

Gofundme Links For AAPI Families In Minnesota + Operation PARRIS

2026-02-09T12:50:00.005-06:00

Here are some links to som of the current gofundme's for affected families here in MN from the AAPI commuity--and let's also levelset that this is not an exhaustive list of those who need help, this is a snapshot of current fundraisers to help families.

When you listen to other stories, and some of these are more personal in nature for me, it's the same across the board: checked-in, no issues before this, but now--for quotas, xenophobia and racism, and Operation Metro Surge and Operation PARRIS--people are just getting swept up.

If you aren't sure what Operation PARRIS is (because I don't think everyone knows) here is the lowdown:

The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have launched Operation PARRIS in Minnesota, a sweeping initiative reexamining thousands of refugee cases through new background checks and intensive verification of refugee claims. They have now begun referring cases of fraud and other crimes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Basically another excuse to pick people up...

Here are the links from AAPI United:

https://gofund.me/8a1b63c49 (Reunite Our Family: Help Bring Dad Home)

https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-chew-thao-his-family-torn-apart-by-ice

https://gofund.me/54f9dcbd7 (Support Naly & Blong During This Crisis)

https://gofund.me/b67e18df2 (Support ChongLy Family After ICE Raid Trauma)

https://gofund.me/86ddca61e (Bring Pao Xiong Home)

https://gofund.me/3c369db46 (Support a Family Torn Apart by ICE - Saeng)

https://gofund.me/7d9c2f852 (Standing with Thi Dua for Justice and Healing)

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-keep-our-family-together-unacy (Help Keep Our Family

Together)

https://gofund.me/63d423b2a (Support for Kham and His Family During Deportation)