New York state establishes AAPI Commission

Earlier this year, New York Gov. Kathleen Hochul, center, introduced some of the
commissioners of of the newly formed state AAPI Commission.

New York installs 13 members to the newly formed New York State Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission.

Thirteen Asian American leaders were sworn in at Queens College on Dec. 12, pledging to strengthen the connection between the Asian American community and New York State. 

Although New York State Governor Kathleen Hochul, could not join the swearing-in ceremony in person, her office shared her message.

"Welcome to the first-ever meeting of the NYS Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission. We established this Commission because your voices are essential to our state's future, and we are always looking to gain a deeper understanding of one another. We invested $35 million to protect Asian American New Yorkers from Hate Crime and set $30 Million to local AAPI organizations to serve their communities."

New York State is the home of more than 1.7 million AAPI, about 10% of the total population. New York City alone is home to more residents of Asian descent than any other city outside of Asia. T

The New York Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission is tasked with enhancing the community's economic and social well-being and addressing the health and educational needs critical to AAPI communities throughout the state. Its mandate includes making policy recommendations, coordinating programs, implementing public education campaigns, and raising awareness among AAPI individuals about state and local resources.

Hochul has been proactive in supporting the AAPI community, highlighted by her approval of legislation making Lunar New Year and Diwali public school holidays. 

Under her leadership, the state made historic investments last year, allocating $30 million to empower community organizations to fight hate and enhance wellbeing. This year's state budget includes an additional $30 million for these crucial initiatives and an extra $35 million to enhance security for organizations particularly vulnerable to hate crimes and vandalism.

The Commission will be led by Chair Gaurav Vasisht, the first Asian American and Indian American to lead the nonprofit New York State Insurance Fund, 

The other members of the commission are:

• Ambrosia Kaul, Coalition of Asian American Children and Families
• Andrew Sta. Ana, Asian American Federation
• Dr. Joyce Wu, Doctorate of Pharmacy
• Jeffrey Gu, Make Us Visible
• Faustina Sein, Karen Society of Buffalo
• Marjorie Hsu, Westchester Asian American Advisory Board
• Kyung Yoon, Korean American Community Foundation
• Peter Tu, Flushing Chinese Business Association
• Tal Shaw, Chair, Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association
• Tim Law, Chinese American Social Services Center
• Maf Misbah Uddin, Labor leader
• Neeta Bhasin, the founder of Diwali at Times Square, Sammaan for All

Hochul signed the bill establishing the commission earlier this year. The legislation was authored by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, the first Indian American elected to the New York Legisture.

“I introduced this historic legislation to meet this critical moment in time: Asian Americans are now the fastest growing ethnic group and making large gains in representation across many fields," said Rajkumar at the signing ceremony.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Rachel LaMont crowned winner of ‘Survivor’ and $1 million

SCREEN CAPTURE

Rachel LaMont after she was named Sole Susrvivor.

Updated Dec. 21, 12:30 a.m.

Rachel LaMont earned seven votes from the 8-person jury to become the winner of the 47th season of the reality TV series Survivor.

"I am the kind of person that believes that everything happens for a reason, and timing is everything," she said in a Parade interview after the last episode which aired Wednesday.

"And just being here and seeing all the people here and the vibe of this season, I genuinely feel like this is my season. This is the one that it was meant to be. And it's great."

The 34-yeaar old Bangkok-born Rachel won the competition by winning the final immunity challenge that included crawling through mud and winding up with a puzzle. As the challenge winner, she was assured of being in the final three and the power to choose who would be the second person in the final three, which turned out to be Sue

Rachel also had the power to choose who among would be the third finalist by having the other two -- Teeny Chirichillo and Sam Phalen -- compete aagainst each other by building fire.

As the final three answered the questions from the jury, made up of contestants they helped to eliminate, Rachel's onfidence wavered when Sam gave a convincing argument that he deserved the jury's vote.

‘I am so stressed out that I’m losing right now, but I’m also having so much fun," she told the NY Post. "Just talking, interrupting each other, talking over each other, correcting stuff for the jury. It was so much fun. It was the most dynamic moment.  Even thought truly there was a part of me that was like, ‘Am I about to lose the game at final tribal?’"

"I think Rachel will go down as one of the best overall players to ever compete on Survivor," said host Jeff Probst. "She made the most of every opportunity, and when in trouble, always found a way out. Her dominant challenge performance speaks for itself, and her final argument to the jury about why she deserved their vote was very well-crafted with just the right amount of confidence and humility.

"And in addition to all of those player qualities, she was also a really fun human. I enjoyed talking to her at challenges and Tribal Council."

Rachel, who immigrated to the US with her family at age 7, is married and a graphic artist from Southfield, Michigan. "I basically make apps that you interact with look pretty. So I design what they look like and the colors and all of that good stuff," she told Parade.

It might not be the last we see of Rachel. In a post-game interview with Entertainment Weekly, she responded to the question if she would play again. “How could I not? This is the most incredible adventure. I still think all the time about just sitting on Beka beach in the dirt with my friends around the campfire playing a crazy game, and if they called, of course I would go.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Will Rachel LaMont win Survivor this season? She gleefully eliminates her biggest rival

Rachel LaMont could be the first Tha American to win 'Survivor.'

Survivor 47 pulled a fast one last week when it broke up its finale into two parts. Part 2, when the winner of the reality series will be determined, is airing Wednesday (Dec. 19).

Part 1 aired last week saw Taiwanese American Rachel LaMont eliminate her chief rival, Filipino American Andy Rueda. Oddsmakers had put these two players as the most likly winners of O.G. reality show, now in its 47th iteration.

If she wins, the likeable and crafty Michigan resident would become the first Thai American to win the title of Sole Survivor.

With six players left, four of the contestants voted for Rachel to leave the show because they saw her as the biggest threat to walk away with the $1-million prize as Sole Survivor. 

What they didn't know was that she had an immunity idol. She played remainder of the game perfectly as ishe made it appear that she had accepted her ouster that evening, even shedding some tears along the way.

RELATED: Two Asian Americans frontrunners for Survivor.

Convinced Rachel was on her way out to become a member of the jury, Andy confided to Rachel  why he was voting against her. THoping to gain her jury vote, he laid out his strategy and even claimed that it was he who cooked up the scheme to vote out one of Rachel's allies making Rachel realize Andy's under-the-radar gameplay was the real threat to her winning the game.

As four players confidently voted for Rachel to leave the show, Rachel and her remaining ally put their vote on the underestimated player Andy. As she gleefully played her immunity idol, making all votes for the Thai American null and void.  Rachel and her remaining ally placed their votes on Andy. Goodbye, Andy!

Rachel also won the immunity challenge making her safe against any more secret plots by the remaining players and guaranteeing her a spot in the final four.

Rachel has one three of the last four challenges and its a good bet she will win again to wind up in the final three who would then try to convince the jury that they are worthy of being the Sole Survivor.

Rachel is the most deserving of becoming the Sole Survivor, but there is one scenario where she doesn't win.

'Anything is possible'

If by chance she doesn't win the challenge, there is an outside chance that the other three players would vote her out because she is the most likely and best player of this group of survivors. In order for that to happen, her last ally, Sue Smey, would have to flip and join the other two foes to vote for Rachel's ouster. However, for Sue, who has played with her heart, there is no love lost with the two remaining foes. She has shown her loyalty throughout the game. However, for a million dollars, there are no allies, severybody is playing for themselves. Anything is possible.

FYI: Survivor 47 is aired on CBS,  Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST.

There have been three Asian American winners of Survivor:

Yul Kwon
Won season 13, Survivor: Cook Islands, in 2006. Kwon is a former government official, lawyer, and management consultant. He later returned for the 40th season, Survivor: Winners at War, where he placed 14th. Kwon has said that he felt pressure to represent Asian American men positively on the show.

Natalie Anderson
Won Survivor: San Juan del Sur and later competed on "Survivor: Winners at War."

Erika Casupanan
Won season 41 in December 2021. Casupanan was the first woman to win in seven seasons, the first Filipino to win, and the first Canadian. She started a podcast called "Happy To See Me" to discuss her experience on the show.

Whether it be Shohei Ohtani being voted Major League Baseball's MVP; Sofronio Vasquez winning the singling competition 'The Voice," or Olivia Rodrigo coming out with anew  hit recording; or Moana 2 breaking box office records, or Andy Kim winning a Senate seat in New Jersey; every little nudge of an Asian presence in the US is a another victory against the invisibility of AANHPI in North American society. Whether she wins or not, Rachel LaMont's gameplay on one of the most popular reality shows sheds more light on AANHPI.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Man admits guilt for spying; harassing Chinese living in US

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Chen Jinping, right, and his co-defendant Lu Jianwang.

Not only do Chinese immigrants in the US have to worry about adjusting to life in an unfamiliar culture, they have to contend with harassment and threats from their country of irigin, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).

Chen Jinping, 60, of New York, New York, pleaded guilty today (Dec. 18) to conspiring to act as an illegal agent of the government of the PRC, in connection with opening and operating an undeclared overseas police station, located in lower Manhattan, for the PRC’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

“Today’s guilty plea holds the defendant accountable for his brazen efforts to operate an undeclared overseas police station on behalf of the PRC’s national police force — a clear affront to American sovereignty and danger to our community that will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to pursue anyone who attempts to aid the PRC’s efforts to extend their repressive reach into the United States.”

As alleged, Chen Jinping and co-defendant “Harry” Lu Jianwang , both US citizens, conspired to act as illegal agents of the PRC government and also obstructed justice by destroying evidence of their communications with an MPS official. While acting under the direction and control of the MPS official, the defendants worked together to establish the first known overseas police station in the United States on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of the MPS. 

The so-called police station — which closed in the fall of 2022 — occupied an entire floor in an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Lu and Chen helped open and operate the clandestine police station. None of the participants in the scheme informed the U.S. government that they were helping the PRC government surreptitiously open and operate an undeclared MPS police station on U.S. soil.

The "police station" occupied an entire floor of the glass building in New York City's Chinatown.

“Not only was the police station set up on the order of MPS officials, but members of the Chinese consulate in New York even paid a visit to it after it opened,” said Michael Driscoll, the FBI’s assistant director in charge of its New York office. “It is our belief that the ultimate purpose of this illegal police station was not to protect and serve but rather silence, harass and threaten individuals here in the United States.

The two suspects were alleged to be the leaders of a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 that described its mission as a “social gathering place for Fujianese people,” and over the past several years, he built what prosecutors describe as a “relationship of trust” with the Chinese government.

The nonprofit sent counterprotesters to Washington in 2015 when members of the Falun Gong religion protested Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to the U.S., and Lu helped the Chinese government locate other dissidents in the U.S.

In another instance, one of the alleged Chinese agents began harassing a Chinese American who was advising a California candidate for the US Congress.

In October 2022, the FBI conducted a judicially authorized search of the illegal police station. In connection with the search, FBI agents interviewed both defendants and seized their phones. In reviewing the contents of these phones, FBI agents observed that communications between the defendants and an MPS official appeared to have been deleted. 

In subsequent consensual interviews, the defendants admitted to the FBI that they had deleted their communications with the MPS official after learning about the ongoing FBI investigation, thus preventing the FBI from learning the full extent of the MPS’s directions for the overseas police station.

Chen faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Per Chen’s plea agreement, the government has agreed to dismiss the obstruction of justice charge against him. Lu has pleaded not guilty to both of the charges against him and is awaiting trial.

The PRC's aggressive interference in the lives of Chinese immigrants not only violates their rights in the US, the strategy also gives red meat to racists' anti-Asian assaults, which rose signicantly during the pandemic and spurred by Trump's anti-Chinese rhetoric during his first term as President and  continued during his 2024 re-election campaign.

“Today's acknowledgment of guilt is a stark reminder of the insidious efforts taken by the PRC government to threaten, harass, and intimidate those who speak against their Communist Party,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch. 

“These blatant violations will not be tolerated on U.S. soil. The FBI remains committed to preserving the rights and freedoms of all people in our country and will defend against transnational repression at every front.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Three Filipino American labor leaders inducted into Hall of Honor

 

From left: Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and Peter Velasco were honored for their
role in the United States labor movement.

Three Filipino American labor leaders were recently inducted in the Hall of Honor by the Department of Labor.

The U.S. Department of Labor inducted Filipino American labor leaders Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, and Peter Gines Velasco into its Hall of Honor, on Nov. 20 recognizing their pivotal roles in advancing farmworkers’ rights during the 1960s. These leaders made significant contributions to the labor movement, particularly through their work during the Delano Grape Strike.

• Larry Itliong, born in the Philippines in 1913, immigrated to the United States in 1929. He became a prominent labor organizer, advocating for fair wages and improved working conditions for farmworkers. 

• Philip Vera Cruz, who arrived in the U.S. in 1926, was instrumental in organizing Filipino farmworkers and served as vice president of the United Farm Workers (UFW). 

• Peter Gines Velasco played a significant role in uniting Filipino and Latino farmworkers, particularly during the Delano Grape Strike, which became a defining moment in the labor movement.

Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su honored the inductees, stating, “Itliong, Vera Cruz, and Velasco rallied farmworkers… to courageously organize for fairer wages and humane treatment.” 

In 1965, these leaders orchestrated the Delano Grape Strike, where over 800 Filipino farmworkers protested against poor working conditions and low wages in California’s grape vineyards. Their efforts with Mexican American leader Cesar Chavez led to the formation of the UFW, marking a significant advancement in the labor movement.

The ceremony included performances from “Larry the Musical,” celebrating Itliong’s life and contributions. The induction highlights the significant contributions of Filipino Americans to the labor movement, inspiring future generations to continue advocating for workers’ rights and social justice.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Filipina American breaks glass ceiling when she was sworn into California legislature

 

X

Jessica caloza takes the oath of office for the California Assembly.

The historic moment was not lost on Jessica Caloza, the first Filipina elected to the California Legislature.

"As the first Filipina elected to the State Legislature, I’m honored to break this glass ceiling because women—especially women of color—belong in all spaces where decisions are being made, including at the Capitol.," said Caloza after being sworn in Dec. 3.

Caloza, a long-time public servant, immigrant and women’s right advocate, took the oath of office at the State Capitol in Sacramento to represent California’s 52nd Assembly District, which is home to South Glendale, East Los Angeles, Northeast Los Angeles, and Dodger Stadium.

"As an immigrant and the proud daughter of working-class parents, I’m deeply grateful for the outpouring of support," Caloza posted on social media. "Thank you to the voters of Assembly District 52 for placing their trust in me. From East L.A. to Northeast L.A. to Glendale, I am committed to serving the needs of all our diverse communities. 

"More importantly, I will work to deliver results for our most pressing issues—tackling the cost of living, building more affordable housing, creating good-paying jobs, protecting our environment, and investing in our public schools."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

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Woman who attacked Asian American student given six-year prison sentence

Though the attacks on Asian Americans are off the front pages, anti-Asian hate continues to spread rising to the point that it has apparently become accepted as normal behavior.

Billie Davis, 57, was sentenced Wednesday to 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing a federal hate crime when on a bus, she stabbed  an Asian American woman.

On Sept. 17, the Indiana white woman pleaded guilty to causing bodily injury to an 18-year old victim, identified in court papers only by her initials, Z.F., through the use of a knife, because of Z.F.’s actual and perceived race and national origin.

“Racially motivated violence has no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Billie Davis

“This defendant pulled out a knife and viciously attacked a young woman who was simply riding a public bus to school, seriously injuring her because she was of Chinese descent. The sentence imposed for this heinous hate crime should send a strong message that perpetrators of hate-fueled violence will be held accountable.”

According to documents filed in connection with this case, on Jan. 11, 2023, Z.F., a woman of Chinese descent who was enrolled at Indiana University at Bloomington, was riding a Bloomington Transit bus on her way to school. Davis boarded the bus, sitting behind Z.F. As Z.F. stood to exit the bus at her stop, Davis reached for a folding knife from inside her pocket and stabbed Z.F. in the head approximately seven to 10 times. 

The student, who asked to remain anonymous out of safety concerns, has since returned home, says attorney Kathleen DeLaney, who is representing the student's family.

Davis later admitted to the police that she attacked Z.F. because she was Chinese and because Davis believed Z.F. was the “enemy.” adding that it "would be one less person to blow up our country" Davis used racist slurs when referring to Z.F.

Since the pandemic began when Donald Trump use racist slurs to connect the coronavirus to China, calling it "Kung Flu" or "China Virus," combined with anti-Chinese rhetoric in the ongoing trade wars between the US and China resulting in racists to believe that Asians were open game for their attack.

According to the Stop AAPI Hate Center, nearly 1900 hate crimes against Asian Americans were reported by victims, and around 69% of cases were related to verbal harassment, including being called the “Chinese Coronavirus.”

"The serious federal prison sentence imposed here should demonstrate our commitment to stopping this hate," said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana.

“Every person deserves to feel safe in their own community, and no one should be made to fear violence on their way to school simply because of who they are,” said Myers. “Violent hate should have no safe harbor in Indiana or anywhere in our great country. That’s why our Justice Department has prioritized prosecution of hate crimes and community outreach through our United Against Hate initiative."

Anyone who has suffered a potentially hate-based violent incident should call 911 to address immediate safety issues, and then report the event to the Justice Department or FBI. Together we can make our community safer for everyone.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

'Shogun' earns four Golden Globe nominations

'Shogun,s' Hirokuke Sanada, left, and Anna Sawai received Golden Globe nominations.

Shogun is the big hope for Asian American representation in this year's Glden Globe awards show. The series' actors were among the artists who received Golden Globe nominations. In total, the sweepingl saga that takes place in feudal Japan garnered four nominations.

Moana 2, Disney's sequel to the original Moana, a coming of age of Polynesian princess Moana, was nominated for Best Animated Motion Picture. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson reprises his role of the demi-god Maui.

Although there were no AANHPI nominated in the motion picture categories, there was a greater presence in the television nominations.

The epic saga that takes place in feudal Japan, Shogun, earned four nominations: Best Drama Series; Hiroyuki Sanada, Best Male Actor in a Drama Series, Anna Sawai for Best Female Actor in a Drama Series; Tadanobu Asano for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Maya Erskine earned a nomination for her role in Mr & Mrs. Smith in the Best Female Actor in a Drama Series. Mr. & Mrs. Smith was also nominated for Best Drama Series.

FYI: For complete list of Golden Globe nominees, click here.

Even though Wicked is a commercial success, which eaerned a nomination in the category Cinematic and Box Office Achievent, and a nod for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical, and its two lead actors, Cynthia Erivo and Arianna Grande, received nominations, director Jon M. Chu, failed to get recognized.

People magazine wrote: "The splashy adaptation of the Broadway musical has been hailed as one of the greatest — and most ambitious — movies of the year. Though the blockbuster itself landed one of the six coveted slots for best picture - musical or comedy, and two of its stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, were both honored for their acting, the visionary behind the movie, Chu was notably missing from the list of best directors."

In years past, AANHPI creatives have been overlooked but after mounting criticism of the lack of diversity, the association broadened its membership to include more journalists representing publications from Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Earlier this year, Shogun earned acting Emmy's for Sanada and Sawai and an Emmy for Best Drama Series.

Emelia Perez, the musical about a trans drug lord, led the entries for mmotion pictures with eight nominations. 

The Bear, with five nominations, led the television entries.

The 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards is set to air live from the Beverly Hilton on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Two Asian Americans are odds-on favorites to win 'Survivor 47'

SCREENSHOT / SURVIVOR

Andy Rueda, left, and Rachel LaMont strategize for the final episodes of "Survivor 47."

If you're a fan of Survivor, the reality show, you're in for a rare treat with two Asian Americans poised to be among the finalists for the $1 million dollar prize.

Andy Rueda and Rachel Mont, a Filipino American and Thai American respectively, are among the final six contestants in the reality show.

It is not the first time an Asian American has been among the finalists, but it is the first time that there are two Asian Americans in position to win Survivor, one of the most popular of the reality show genre, currently in its 47th season.

Oddsmakers say the two Asian Americans contestants are the two most likely winners of Survivor 47.

According to the betting odds in the days before the finale aired Wednesday, LaMont is the most likely to win. According to Bet Carolina, LaMont had a 38.5% chance of winning Survivor 47. Right behind her is Rueda, who has a 26.7% chance.

Despite having partly grown up in Dexter, Michigan, LaMont was actually born in Thailand and spent her first few years in that country. As she explained to Entertainment Weekly, she feels her ability to “assimilate” gave her a leg up on Survivor:

“I was born in Thailand and lived there until I was seven, but I never spoke Thai. Then I moved to the US and didn’t understand American culture. I was the youngest in my family by nine years. I’ve always been forced to understand social dynamics to assimilate from a young age, and I think I’m pretty good at it as a result.”

Though the graphic designer of Southfield, Michigan was nearly voted out she was saved by another Asian American player, Sol Yi, who awarded her immunity. The episode included a brief snippet when Yi and LaMont discussed their Asian upbringing. She has been able to not only recover but has been able to ally herself to an alliance of underdogs to put herself in great standing among the final six.

In last week's episode, despite losing a key ally, Caroline Vidmar, Rachel enters the Final Six with a Block-a-Vote advantage that she must use at the next Tribal Council. Knowing how savvy Rachel has been with advantages, it's safe to say she would use it to help take out one of the two threats left, Genivieve Mushaluk or Sam Phalen. From there, she has an idol no one knows she has, which she can play at the Final Five. Next, LaMont  would probably be the odds-on favorite to win immunity at the Final Four, given she's won it the most of anyone left.

LaMont is well liked, hasn't burned anybody or betrayed any confidences putting her in a strong position for the final three grilling where the last three survivors try to convince the jury, made up of ousted players, why they deserve to chosen as the final survivor, 

FYI: The two-hour Survivor 47 finale will be aired on CBS, 8 p.m. EST.

Aside from LaMont, Survivor 47 has another remaining player that the betting odds say also is likely to win the season. According to Bet Carolina, Filipino American  Rueda, of Buffalo, NY, had a 26.7% chance of winning Survivor 47.

After coming up with an intricate plan, "Operation Italy," conceived during an Italian meal prize with Genevieve Mushaluk and Sam Phalen. As a result of Andy's intricate plan working to perfection, the three underdogs were able to vote out a member of a bigger alliance.

Despite his successful plan weakening the larger alliance, Rueda's impressive move may come too late in the game. In the past, Survivor players have spoken about how hard it can be to change the jury members' initial perception of a player late in the game. If that is the case with Survivor 47's jury, they may be influenced by Ruda's apparent emotional breakdown in episode one when he felt he was being dismissed by the other players on his tribe and practically begged to be voted out.

(He was right to be hurt. Maybe a bit of racism came to the fore when his tribemates cheered on a white player broke open a coconut. When Rueda did the same thing, the reaction was "meh.")

While he was able to survive that first vote, (because his rivals didn't see him as a threat) it seemed like his tribemates didn't take Andy seriously during the first several episodes of the season. However, lo and behold, Andy was routinely shown talking about how he was secretly manipulating the game during his confessional interviews. Is Rueda  just a great actor and a secret genius strategist? We'll find out tomorrow.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Despite winning the majority of older voters, Republicans eye cuts to social security

 

ANALYSIS

President-elect Donald Trump should thank older voters for his victory on Nov. 4. But, that don't hold your breath for any words of gratitude.

In fact, older Americans may be among the first to feel the negative repercussions of Trump's administration. Republican leaders have announced their intention to  make drastic cuts to the social safety net programs such as Social Security, Medicaid and Trump's continuing efforts to erase any vestiges of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare.

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said Dec. 4 that lawmakers suggested cuts may be coming to social welfare programs.

“We’re going to have to have some hard decisions. We got to bring the Democrats in to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare. There’s hundreds of billions of dollars to be saved, and we know how to do it, we just have to have the stomach to actually take those challenges on,” McCormick told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo.

During the recent campaign, Trump vowed he wouldn't touch Social Security in order to woo the votes of older Americans who depend on the program, sometimes the only income they receive. However, most Trump has been known lie.

Trump's promises don't prevent his emboldened extreme right supporters from trying to implement cuts and then pass them on the White House where Trump will likely sign them.

In 2022, the average annual Social Security income for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander men 65 years and older was $16,633, compared to $13,348 for women.

A new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), requested by House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan F. Boyle, found that Republican Social Security plans would result in steep benefit cuts for American workers while failing to extend the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund. CBO found that raising the retirement age to 69 — as proposed by the Republican Study Committee, the Heritage Foundation, and other Republican groups — would result in an average yearly benefit reduction of about 13% for those subject to the full cut.

“Social Security is a sacred promise that after a lifetime of hard work, Americans have earned the right to retire with dignity,” said Democrat Boyle. “This independent, nonpartisan report shows just how devastating Republican plans to rip away hard-earned Social Security benefits would be for American workers. 

"Instead of saving Social Security by making the ultra-rich pay their fair share," said Boyle, "the GOP is hell-bent on gutting benefits for the middle class. Democrats will never stop fighting to keep the promise of Social Security and defend Americans’ retirement security from Republican attacks.”

A majority of 50-plus voters backed Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris last month, 52% to 47%, according to Associated Press' VoteCast.

While Democrats put their efforts in generating support from the younger GenZ voters, older Americans still made up a majority of the electorate. Older Americans historically have been the most reliable voter group in a presidential election in recent history, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

According to AP VoteCast, seniors made up 52% of the voters. Traditional exit polls put that number at 55%.

Middle-aged voters were especially influential in tilting the election to Trump. A commanding 56% of voters ages 50-64 cast ballots for Trump, with 43% voting for Harris, exit polls show. The candidates were tied at 49% among voters 65 and older. The two age groups together comprise well over half of the national electorate, meaning they provided the critical difference for the returning president-elect.

Asian American voters for Donald Trump won the attention of mainstream media.

However AANHPI voters went against the national trend, according to a survey conducted by Asian Americans Advancing Justice in partnership with other ethnic groups. Both men and women over 60 eyars of age voted almost 2-to-1 for Harris over Trump. Granted the percentage points is less than 2022 and 2020 when AANHP voters were almost 3-to-1 in favor of the Democratic candidates and issues, but a two-thirds majority ffrom older AAANHPI voters is still a landslide preference for the Democrats.

Despite the overwhelming support for Harris and Democratic issues among AANHPI votrers, in a classic case of "man-bites dog" news values, mainstream media chose to focus on the few  voters who voted more conseratively with headlines like "Asian Americans shift to Republicans."

However Trump did indeed improved his overall performance among voters of all ethnicities who were 50 years to 64  years old by 4 percentage points from his previous presidential run in 2020, exit polling shows.

Interestingly, voters of age 65 and older preferred Harris.  The Woodstock generation, which lived through the fight for civil rights, the birth of women's rights  and saving the environment and were against the Vietnam War, apparently still maintained those progressive values. You got to love those Baby Boomers!

The CBO report also found that:

• Increasing the retirement age from 67 to 69 for all beneficiaries younger than age 59 today would lead to smaller lifetime benefits for all recipients. 

• For workers currently in their 30s and 40s who are subject to the full retirement age increase, the average annual benefit cut would be 13%, or around $3,500 a year.
• Average lifetime Social Security benefits would be reduced by 8 percent for those subject to the full increase in the retirement age.

• Increasing the retirement age would push some beneficiaries to claim disability benefits, modestly increasing expenditures for that program.

• Though increasing the retirement age would reduce spending, it would not create enough savings to change the expected exhaustion date of the Social Security Trust Fund, which is projected to be unable to pay full benefits by the end of Fiscal Year 2034.

“The older voters showed up,” says Republican pollster Bob Ward, a partner with Fabrizio Ward who teamed up with a Democratic counterpart to conduct AARP’s bipartisan preelection surveys this year. “It was big, and we didn’t see any surge of younger voters coming out in full force…. It’s the reason why Trump is now the president-elect.”

But if Republican discussions about cutting social security and Medicare gives any indication about the mindset of the incoming administration, there could be a huge wave of regret among older Americans who voted for Trump.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Almost forgotten, the day after December 7, 1941

Nearly 10,000 POWs died in the Bataan Death March.

Most Americans remember December 7as the day forces of Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The bombing in Hawaii thrust the United States into World War II. On the other side of the Pacific, in the Philippines, and the rest of Southeast Asia, the Day of Infamy was the following day, Dec. 8, 1941.

The Philippines, which was a US colony, is a day ahead of the US and Hawaii because of the International Dateline. News of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached the Philippines, at about 2:30 a.m., Dec. 8. By 8:30 a.m., some small US Army installations in northern Luzon were under attack. By 12:30 p.m., the Japanese were dropping bombs on the main US bases, especially the Philippines' five major airfields.

The bombing in the Philippines destroying almost all of a new fleet of P-40 fighters and B-17 bombers, as well as many other military aircraft. 

The attack was the beginning of a five-month defense of the Phiippines doomed to fail that killed and wounded thousands, including those killed in the Bataan Death March of April 1942.

 FYI: For more details of Dec. 8, 1941 in the Philippines and its aftermath, click here.

Although FDR did not highlight this attack in his famous announcement about the Pearl Harbor bombing, the United States took immediate action in the Philippines. In early December, US officials began imprisoning Japanese people living in the Philippines without cause (this was three months before FDR signed an executive order establishing Japanese internment camps). By the end of the month, Japanese military forces freed these civilians.

RELATED:

• Legacy of the 'Battling Bastards of Bataan'
• Bataan to be included in California history textbooks

US forces, including the thousands of Filipinos who fought alongside the US military, resisted the Japanese invasion.  The JapaneseImperial leaders estimated that they would conquer the Philippines in a two-week campaign. It took four months before the Japanese could claim victory.

Despite being outmanned, outgunned, nearly starving and a shortage of medical supplies,  American and Filipino military personnel, it was not until May 1942 before the US surrendered. Nevertheless, the Japanese timetable  of conquest was delayed. That was enough time for Australia and the US to reinforce defenses to prevent further expansion of the Japanese Empire.

Nearly 80,000 men and women of the US armed forces surrendered, the largest defeat suffered by the United States. In a 60-mile forced march tin the tropical heat and weakened by malaria and lack of water, many of the American and FIlipino prisoners of war who fell to the wayside were killed by their captors. It is estimated that nearly 10,000 prisoners died in what became to be known as the Bataan Death March.

Unfortunately, perhaps because of the defeat of US forces, the story of WWII that took place in the Philippiens, is rarely covered in US textbooks. California and Haqwaii are the only states that mandates teaching this chapter of US history in its schools.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.