Lame-duck politician seeks to dissolve Congress' ethnic caucuses

With nothing to lose, Rep. Nancy Mace is leaving Congress attacking minority initiatives.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace is trying to leave Congress with a bang. Following a humiliating loss in her 2026 gubernatorial primary bid and with her exit from office locked in for January 2027, the South Carolina congressmember  introduced a resolution that would dissolve the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).

Besides CAPAC, the resolution to ban race- and ethnicity based caucus would target the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, known collectively as the Congressinal Tri-Caucus? Not coincidentally, the three caucuses are dominated by Democrats and strong critics of the Trump regime.

“Race-based caucuses are not about diversity. They are segregation sanctioned by the legislative branch of the federal government,” says Mace. “You do not get to lecture America about inclusion while running an organization checking skin color at the door or advocating for Americans of one race over another.”

“Nancy Mace rose to infamy for her cheap political stunts, and this is just the latest distraction from her failed primary and complete inability to deliver for her constituents. Members of Congress have every right to organize around shared policy priorities and the constituencies they serve.," reads a combined statement from the Tri-Caucus.

        RELATED: Read Nancy Mace's resolution

"There are dozens of bipartisan congressional caucuses dedicated to ethnic communities, geographic regions, industries, veterans, faith traditions, and countless other interests. Singling out the Congressional Tri-Caucus—which represents nearly half of all Americans—is racist and a shameless attempt to silence the voices of minorities," the statement continues.

Mace took to social media to blast the historic groups, calling them "federally-sanctioned segregation" and telling minority lawmakers to "kiss your little clubs goodbye."

While she frames the resolution as a battle for a "colorblind" society, critics point out it aligns with her dramatic pivot toward radical right culture-war populism, designed to secure her conservative relevance after being rejected by voters in her home state.

The resolution has virtually no chance of passing the House, serving instead as a loud, final piece of political theater.

Asian American lawmakers and the broader Democratic leadership are not letting her walk away quietly. CAPAC Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), alongside fellow Tri-Caucus leaders, fired back with a blistering joint statement. They dismissed the resolution as a "racist and shameless attempt to silence the voices of minorities" and a desperate distraction from her own failed primary race.

The roots of Mace’s anti-diversity crusade

To understand why Nancy Mace is spending her final months in Washington waging a war on identity politics, you have to look back at her personal history—specifically, her time as the first female graduate of The Citadel military college in 1999.

Mace survived a notoriously brutal, male-dominated environment by leaning into a philosophy of strict individual merit, asserting that rules should be entirely uniform without regard to group identity.

Once a moderate Republican who supported LGBTQ+ advocacy, her stinging primary defeat in 2026 accelerated a desperate shift toward right-wing grievance politics, leading her to weaponize her "trailblazer" background against modern diversity initiatives.

Barred from achieving higher office and heading toward political unemployment, she is leveraging this "individualist" ideology to try and dismantle institutional support systems for minorities before she goes.

For Asian American members of Congress and their allies, Mace's weaponization of her personal history is an insult to the actual work of civil rights.

“The Tri-Caucus does not need a lecture about what constitutes federally sanctioned segregation—least of all from a member who has repeatedly made racist and bigoted comments about minority communities over the course of her tenure in Congress.

“The Congressional Tri-Caucus was formed to address the needs and concerns of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander American communities that are too often ignored in the halls of power. These caucuses existed long before Nancy Mace arrived in Congress, and will remain long after she fades into irrelevancy.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Filipino Americans propel the Filipinas to next year's FIFA Women's World Cup

The Filipinas celebrate their win at the Women's Asian Cup qualifying them for the World Cup.

If you are still hyped up over the FIFA World Cup concluding last week with Spain taking home the coveted trophy, wait until next year when the Philippine women's national football team takes the pitch in the Women's FIFA World Cup.

It is no surprise that the United States will field  a strong team, but our heart might be with another group of Americans. Over 80% of the current Filipinas are Americans of Filipino descent. The Filipinas' heavily stacked rosters — including the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup squad — feature 22 to 25 US-born players out of 26 call-ups. 

The Filipinas' biggest regional triumph was securing the gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games, where they defeated Vietnam 6-5 in a penalty shootout qualifying for the FIFA World Cup taking place in Brazil.

This incredible influx of talent relies heavily on elite United States college soccer pipelines and a deep dive into specific FIFA heritage guidelines.

Mainstream sports coverage often misses the cultural nuances of how dual-citizen athletes bridge their American upbringings with their ancestral homelands. 

The backbone of the Filipinas consists of women who are currently playing professionally in international leagues and high-performing NCAA veterans and rising collegiate prospects who have chosen to wear the Philippine flag, include:

• Sarina Bolden (Forward) – Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
• Olivia McDaniel (Goalkeeper) – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Chandler McDaniel (Forward) – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Hali Long (Defender / Team Captain) – University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Quinley Quezada (Midfielder) – University of California, Riverside
• Katrina Guillou (Forward) – University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Jessika Cowart (Defender) – University of Washington
• Malea Cesar (Defender) – Trinity University (Texas)
• Natalie Oca (Midfielder) – University of California, San Diego
• Mallie Ramirez (Forward) – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Kaiya Jota (Goalkeeper) — Stanford University
• Rhea Chan (Defender) — Cal Poly Humbolt
• Tahnai Annis (Midfielder/Captain) — University of Florida
• Reina Bonta (Defender) — Yale University & Santa Clara University
• Katrina Guillou (Forward) — UNC Wilmington
• Dominique Randle (Defender) — University of Southern California
• Alicia Barker (Defender) — University of Illinois
• Carleigh Frilles (Forward) — Coastal Carolina University
• Kiara Fontanilla, (Goalkeeper) Eastern Oregon University

World Cup Qualification Path

They secured their second consecutive World Cup berth on March 19, 2026, by defeating Uzbekistan 2-0 in the play-in match at the AFC Women's Asia Cup in Gold Coast, Australia. 

The Filipinas clinched their spot on the global stage after an intense campaign at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup. After advancing to the knockout round as one of the best third-place finishers, they were defeated by Japan in the quarterfinals, which sent them to the crucial play-in match against Uzbekistan.

In that decisive game, rising star Jael Guy delivered two crucial assists in the second half, leading to goals by Angela Beard and Jackie Sawicki to seal the 2-0 victory and tournament qualification.

The Filipinas made history four years ago by appearing the World Cup when the event was co-hosted by the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. It was the first time any Philippines team, men or women, played in the international tournament. Although they didn't make it to the knockout round, they celebrated their lone victory over New Zealand.

Japan won the Women's Asia Cup by defeating host Australia 1-0. Besides the Philippines, Japan, Australia, China PR, North Korea and South Korea are the six Asian nations that secured direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Navigating FIFA eligibility

How do these American-born athletes legally clear the hurdle to play on the global stage? It comes down to a strict alignment between international soccer bylaws and Philippine nationality laws.

FIFA rules dictate that a player must legally hold the passport of the country they wish to represent. Under the Philippine Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act, any child born abroad to at least one biological Filipino parent is automatically a dual citizen from birth.

To prevent random naturalization, FIFA requires a biological link. Because these players have a parent or grandparent born on Philippine territory, they satisfy the lineage clauses and bypass the standard 5-year continuous residency requirement.

Many of these women grew up in the U.S. youth national team pipeline. Post-2020 FIFA eligibility updates allow players to make a official switch via the FIFA Change of Association Platform as long as they held dual nationality during those early matches and did not play a senior World Cup match before turning 21.

While the reliance on the diaspora has drawn occasional critique from local purists who want to see homegrown talent on the pitch, the results speak for themselves. The pipeline has pushed the Filipinas to historic milestones—including their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup appearance in 2023 and a competitive edge in Asia. It is a modern Asian American story: utilizing the elite training spaces of the US to elevate representation on the global stage.

The players and coaches of the Filipinas qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup next year.

Breaking barriers

The locker room of the Filipinas national football team is a masterclass in diaspora diplomacy, successfully navigating language barriers and cultural divides to forge unbreakable sisterhood. While critics routinely question if the U.S.-born heritage players are "Filipino enough," the athletes themselves have shut down the noise by completely immersing themselves in the culture. 

The introduction of US-born players initially sparked local resentment as homegrown veterans felt sidelined by the massive influx of foreign talent. However, the raw passion and humility of the FilAm athletes quickly shifted the locker room dynamics from skepticism to genuine belonging.

Through shared music, learning the language, and cross-cultural humility, the American-born and homegrown players have built a unified squad that leaves no doubt about their collective identity.

When the recruitment pipeline initially brought dozens of NCAA standouts together, English was the dominant language for most of the US arrivals. This created an immediate, quiet hurdle when communicating with locally raised players and connecting with local media.

Instead of remaining inside an American bubble, the FilAm players proactively adapted. Longtime media observers note that players who spoke exclusively English during early training camps are now confidently speaking Tagalog to local journalists. Soccer, as a universal language, bridge the initial communication gaps on the field, while off the field, the team used immersive, everyday moments to blend their worlds.

The deep personal impact of this journey is best captured by the players themselves:

Goalkeeper Kiara Fontanilla, Fullton-raised and who played for colleges in Oregon and California,  addressed the heritage debate directly: "There’s no such thing that we’re not Filipino enough. We all have a heart of Philippine gold."

The squad intentionally designed spaces to integrate both sides of the diaspora. They bonded over pre-match rituals, traditional Filipino food, and music, transforming cultural differences into team strengths. Homegrown players introduced their American teammates to the daily nuances of life in Manila, while the US-based players shared their elite training habits.

 "This team has been more welcoming to me than any other group that I've experienced... being able to connect with these girls on another level, a cultural level, isn't something that I can do at home," says defender Malea Cesar, who grew up in Newport Beach, California.

With the Asia Cup and Southeast Asian tournaments behind them, the Filipinas regrouped in San Diego, California as the women began the next phase of their growth through a training camp and friendlies against southern California teams. So far the player pool is made up of 30 women, including team members and invited prospects with more additions to come as manager Mark Torcaso continues to scout out talent in the Philippines and internationally.

View from the edge

Under the Torcaso's leadership, the Filipinas secured a berth for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. He has guided the team into the top 40 of the world rankings and has actively set his sights on reaching the knockout stages.

By refusing to let borders dictate their identity, the Filipinas created a culture of mutual respect, proving that their shared devotion to the flag matters far more than where they first learned to kick a ball.

Former head coach Alen Stajcic frequently defended this unity against outside critics, summarizing the bond: "I don't really care where they're born... I just know that this team has Filipino heart and blood and courage and spirit."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Who silenced the scientist whose research humiliated China's work in the W. Philippine Sea?

RIP Dr. Kent E. Carpenter, 1936-2026

An American scientist who studied and championed the diversity of the seas of the Philippines and whose research was instrumental in gaining worldwide support for the Philippines' territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea, was found slain in his home in the southern Philippines. 

The international scientific community and Asian American academic circles are reeling from a devastating loss. On July 12, Dr. Kent E. Carpenter—an eminent American marine biologist and long-time Old Dominion University (ODU) professor—was shot and killed inside his home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, Philippines.

Local authorities have four of six suspects are in police custody. The Phlippine Natinal Police maintaine that robbery is the primary motive behind the killing although speculation of that he was killed because of his work continues to circulate.

What was supposed to be a celebratory final research lap ahead of the planned retirement  of  the 73-year-old has instead plunged his family, colleagues, and local authorities into a murky, high-stakes investigation. Was his death a tragic, random home invasion, or did a lifetime of environmental activism and geopolitical testimony make him a target?

Carpenter’s legendary career was built on a foundation of rigorous American scholarship and a deep, lifelong connection to the Pacific: He earned his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, a world-renowned hub for marine research.

In 1976, he first arrived in the Philippines as a US Peace Corps volunteer. That assignment sparked a 50-year dedication to protecting the archipelago's delicate coral reefs.

Since joining ODU's Department of Biological Sciences in Virginia in 1996, he served as an Eminent Scholar, mentored generations of global researchers, and spearheaded the IUCN Global Marine Species Assessment.

Defining the "Center of the Center"

Carpenter didn’t just study fish; his research fundamentally redefined global conservation and drew international maritime boundaries.

"Dr. Carpenter's contributions to Philippine marine science were profound and enduring," the Philippine Association of Marine Science posted Tuesday on social media.

"As a US Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s, he worked with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and helped train the country's first coral reef science team. His early papers on Philippine coral reef fisheries resources, including his work with National Scientist Angel C. Alcala on muro-ami and kayakas reef fisheries, were landmark contributions that shaped the country's understanding of reef fisheries and the urgent need for science-based management," the statement continued.

In 2005, Carpenter co-authored a landmark study declaring the Verde Island Passage as the absolute "Center of the Center" of global marine shore fish biodiversity. The concentration of about 60% of the world's shoreline species, the water passage is the marine equivalent of the Amazon River basin.

Most notably, Carpenter served as a vital expert witness for the Philippine government during the historic 2016 UN Permanent Court of Arbitration case against China. His scientific testimony provided undeniable, damning evidence of the catastrophic environmental destruction caused by China’s aggressive dredging and island-building in the South China Sea.

Why would someone want Carpenter silenced?

On the night of July 12, three masked men entered Carpenter's home, shooting him in the head while he was watching television. The intruders reportedly fled with a backpack, cash, and his laptop.

While initial local headlines pointed to an opportunistic robbery, the environmental and political weight of Carpenter’s work immediately sparked fears of a targeted execution.

Investigators are currently exploring the possibility that Carpenter's death was result of his research.

Carpenter’s scientific data legally humiliated a global superpower at the Hague. By systematically documenting the destruction of coral reefs by foreign fleets, his work remains a cornerstone of the Philippines’ ongoing maritime claims.

Carpenter was also actively campaigning to have critical habitats, including the Verde Island Passage, designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This protective status directly threatens massive industrial plans—such as liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals, heavy commercial shipping routes, and coastal mega-developments—making him an adversary to powerful corporate syndicates.

The thieves bypassed major valuables to steal his laptop. As an active researcher holding decades of sensitive environmental spatial mapping, illegal fishing tracking, and conservation data, his computer was a literal goldmine of ecological intelligence.

However, the plot has since grown more complicated. The Negros Oriental Police have designated Carpenter’s live-in partner and her sibling as persons of interest. According to reports from ABS-CBN, authorities noted glaring inconsistencies in her statements regarding how the intruders managed to breach the home without signs of forced entry.

View from the edge

"Dr. Carpenter devoted his life to protecting the Philippines' marine heritage. We owe it to him to honor that legacy by continuing his work and demanding justice for his tragic and untimely death," concluded the statement from the Philippine Association of Marine Science.

Whether this tragedy was a geopolitical hit, an environmental silencing, or a domestic plot masked as a robbery, the world has lost a giant of marine conservation. As the Filipino and scientific communities demand a transparent investigation, all eyes remain on local Philippine authorities to deliver swift justice for Carpenter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Trump’s unfounded claims of China election meddling spark fear in Chinese American community

Donald Trump used unsubstantionated 

Oh no! He didn't. But he did. Donald Trump blamed China for interfering with US elections. Here we go again.

Trump is reviving his greatest hits of grievance, but this time, the needle is dropping on a track that has the Chinese American community bracing for impact. Without offering a shred of proof, Trump is now claiming that Beijing meddled in the 2020 election, explicitly accusing China of "stealing voter files." He just can't accept that he lost that year.

Trump's intent is clear. If you need a bogeyman as a distraction, blame China or immigrants. In Trump's primetime address July16, he blamed both.

“We have seen this playbook before," said the Asian  Law Caucus Executive Director Aarti Kohli. "Time and again, the Trump administration has sought to cast doubt on our elections and the Americans who get to participate in them. We’ve seen it recently with his renewed pressure on Congress to pass the SAVE Act, a bill with the clear intent to see fewer people vote."

While US intelligence agencies have already thoroughly rejected these allegations and Beijing has called them entirely fabricated, the damage in our current political climate doesn't require facts to do real-world harm. For Chinese Americans, the rhetoric feels dangerously familiar — and terrifying.

Trump also used the occasion to claim 250,000 noncitizens took part in the 2020 vote although there is no evidence to back that claim. State attorneys general, even those of GOP-controlled states like Florida and Texas, have had to reduce initial claims of thousands of noncitizen voters to only a handful after further investigation.

The immediate fallout: Fear and defensiveness

Community advocates and leaders are already sounding the alarm over what this baseless finger-pointing will mean on the ground. The consensus is clear: when Washington targets Beijing, it’s Asian Americans who pay the price on the street.

“Our research this year found that a majority of Americans believe the rhetoric used by President Trump about China and US-China relations has a negative impact on the treatment of Chinese Americans,” said Paul Cheung, president of the Committee of 100, a group of prominent Chinese Americans created when Trump's "China Initiative" began targeting Chinese and Chinese Americansresearchers and academics.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Anti-Asian hate has surged since the pandemic and hasn't gone away.

Activists in the Asian American community are bracing for a multi-front wave of repercussions:

A resurgence of xenophobia: Just as the "Chinese virus" rhetoric of the early 2020s directly triggered a terrifying surge in anti-Asian hate crimes, community leaders fear this new political scapegoating will paint a target on the backs of Chinese Americans once again.

Civic chilling effect: The fallout is already hitting everyday community participation. Volunteers and campaign workers—like Elaine Peng, who has led Chinese American grassroots efforts—worry that ungrounded political suspicion will make everyday citizens terrified to engage in the democratic process, fearing they’ll be labeled as foreign agents.

The "perpetual foreigner" Trap: Trump's rhetoric repeated by his army of minions, reinforces the toxic stereotype that Chinese Americans are inherently loyal to a foreign power rather than their own home, eroding decades of civil rights progress.

The Feds' verdict: No infrastructure breaches, no flipped votes

The US intelligence community has completely debunked the idea that China manipulated the 2020 ballot box.

A sweeping, unclassified intelligence assessment concluded there is absolutely zero evidence that any foreign adversary modified a single ballot, altered voter registrations, or compromised vote tabulations.

While it is true that Chinese entities compiled data on roughly 220 million Americans, analysts from platforms like PBS NewsHour quickly pointed out the boring truth. This information wasn't stolen via cyberwarfare; it was legally bought and downloaded from ordinary commercial marketing sites and public databases. It is information accessible by any Tom, Dick or Harry.

There was a minor split in the intelligence community, with one cyber official suggesting Beijing used basic social media posturing to sour public opinion on Trump. However, even that dissenting view explicitly stated there was no information suggesting China tried to interfere directly with the election mechanics.

Because the American voting infrastructure is intentionally decentralized across thousands of local, disconnected jurisdictions, county by county, state by state, national security experts reiterate that a centralized cyberattack capable of flipping an election outcome is practically impossible.

View from the edge

Let’s be completely clear: US intelligence has found no evidence supporting these claims. But in an election season where anti-China sentiment is standard currency for both sides of the aisle, Trump’s latest baseless accusations are throwing gasoline on an already volatile fire.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian wasted no time labeling Trump’s claims as "pure fabrication" and political mudslinging designed to stir up voters ahead of the election cycle.

“I hope every American is seeing what is happening right before our eyes: The Trump Administration is flinging desperate and unsubstantiated attacks on our elections," says the Asian Law Caucus' Kohli, "Trump forced himself on your TVs and phone screens trying to undermine your confidence in the integrity of our elections in real time. But we won’t let it happen."

For the Asian American community, specifically Chinese Americans — the fear isn't abstract — it's a matter of daily safety, civic survival, and demanding that political leaders stop using an entire diaspora as a political football.

The data proves the claims are empty political theater. But as Asian Americans, we know the danger isn't the validity of the conspiracy — it's how easily the rhetoric turns our neighbors into targets.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.