Will the next Pope be a Filipino?

The late Pope Francis, left, and Cardinal Luis Tagle had a close friendship.

ANALYSIS

With the death of Pope Francis on April 21, the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics are wondering who the next Pope will be. A Cardinal from the Philippines as a top contender to assume the Papacy, is on the edge of history. 

Immediately after the late Pope Francis' death on April 21, oddsmakers gave Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, 67, the edge. The former Archbishop of Manila is considered one of the frontrunners  for the Papacy. Tagle's name was brought up in 2013  when the College of Cardinals elected Pope Francis from Argentina. This time, Tagle is currently the betting favorite at 3:1 odds, according to some oddsmakers. 

With 80% of the current College of Cardinals appointed by the late Pope, the College might decide that the next Pope should carry on the legacy of Pope Francis, who many labeled a "progressive." As the first Latin American pope, Frances, known as the People's Pope, brought significant changes during his time as Pope emphasizing  social justice, environmental issues and a more forgiving and more inclusive Church. Sometimes called the "Asian Francis," Tagle could continue the late Pope's legacy.

There are those cardinals, especially from from Italy, who believe the Papacy should  select a European for the Papacy. "Some 213 of the previous 266 popes have been Italian and even though there has not been an Italian pope in 40 years, the pivot of the upper echelons of the Church away from Italy and Europe may mean there may not be another for now," writes the BBC.

There is a strong movement for picking someone from outside of Europe where the number of practicing Catholics is diminishing. The Church is growing rapidly in Africa. The Church in Latin America might need bolstering as it finds itself in competition from Evangelical Christians for followers. An American Pope could also strengthen the Catholic Church where attendance at Sunday mass has fallen in the past several decades. 

Filipino Catholicism

The Philippines is the only Asian country where Catholicism is thriving with 80% of its 115 million Filipinos baptized as Catholics. Pope Francis increased the number of Cardinals for the Philippines from one to five, three of whom are eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave. The other two are over 80 years old, therefore ineligible to cast a ballot.

Picking a Filipino as Pope would send a strong message throughout the world of a religion that truly is a universal church with doors open to more diversity in the pews.

Few countries have the religious fervor as the Philippines where it is not uncommon to see people stop what they are doing to attend a noontime Mass in a shopping mall, where some Filipino Catholics literally crucify themselves to demonstrate how devourt they are and he celebration of Christmas starts in September and lasts to January.

The Philippines made history on April 27, Divine Mercy Sunday, by becoming the first nation in the world to consecrate itself and its 90 million Catholics to Jesus through divine mercy. Some see this historic act as a lind of "lobbying" effort on Tagle's behalf

Tagle played host to Francis during the pope's 2015 visit to the Philippines. The combination of the two men together was effectively the Catholic Church's version of a rock star concert. Francis' final Mass in Manila drew more than 6 million Catholics in what is widely viewed as the largest papal event in history.

Tagle is considered a moderate who could bridge the gap between the conservative Cardinals who want to return to a Latin mass and strict adherance to conservative dogma and the more "progressive" Cardinals from America who want to open up the Church and more leniency for those Catholics who have fallen away from Church because of its perceived intolerance towards, LGBTQ, women as priests and divorce.

A word of caution: using the terms "progressive," "conservative" and "moderate" in the context of the College could be misleading. A Pope's perceived progressive positions could still be considered conservative in the context of the United States' culture wars. In other words, whether a conservative, a moderate or progressive picked as Pope, don't expect the new pope to change the Church's views on abortion and the beginning of life.

The 'Asian Francis'

Tagle's apparent "moderate" positions on social issues and an expresed sympathy for migrants are values that he shares with the late pope.

In an earlier speech Tagle delivered a message that could have been coming from Pope Francis: "How many factory workers are being denied the right wages for the god of profit? How many trees are being sacrificed to the god of 'progress'? How many poor people are being sacrificed to the god of greed?"

In the past, the Filipino Cardinal has called for the Church to reassess its "severe" stance towards gay people, divorcees and single mothers, saying past harshness had done lasting harm and drove people away from the Church. He has said that each individual deserved compassion and respect.

When he was still archbishop of Manila, Tagle criticized the bloody war on drugs waged by Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines’ president at the time. At the time, over 7,000 people were killed by vigilantes and authorities.

“We cannot allow the destruction of lives to become normal. We cannot govern the nation by killing,” Tagle said in a pastoral letter in 2017.

Though Tagle is fully capable of the task of being leader of the world's Catholics, like most individuals of Filiipino descent, he must overcome inherent biases and stereotypes held by other people.

Cardinals are human and as such, they are susceptible to all the flaws and weaknesses of ordinary humans as the recent sex abuse scandals that have rocked the Church has shown us. That includes the dealing with the inherent racial bias that causes people to underestimate  the leadership capabilities of Filipinos. Some question if Tagle is too humble and too self-effacing. They question if he is tough enough to wrangle the politics of the Vatican and the intricacies of managing a worldwide Church with its diverse needs and problems.

But the late Pope saw something in the Fililpino Cardinal. In recent years, Tagle has spent more time at the Vatican, getting to know the Cardinals and other prelates across the globe. He been deeply involved as the Pro-Prefect for the Section of First Evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization, sometimes referrred to as "the Red Pope," overseeing promotions withn the church and the evangelic strategies in the developing world;  and as the President of Interdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious. 

As an act of faith in Tagle's capabilities, the late Pope Francis appointed the Filipino Cardinal to oversee Vatican City’s administrative functions during the papal vacancy. Tagle and two other cardinals have been named to be part of the “Particular Congregation” — the rotating post tasked with assisting the "Camerlengo" (chamberlain) — during the pre-conclave meeting of all College of Cardinals members also known as the fifth General Congregation, on Monday.

Besides Luis Tagle, center, the Cardinals are considering Fridolin Ambongo, right,
and Pietro Parolin, left.

However, Tagle record is not without flaws. As president of Caritas Internationalis, the world’s second-largest charitable association, from 2015 until 2022,Tagle and the rest of the leadership team were removed by Francis after a Vatican-led audit found “deficiencies” in management and procedures.

Other candidates for Pope

To be sure, there are others being considered for the post. There is a strong belief that after12 years under Pope Francis, considered a Vatican outsider, it is time to return the Church to Europe. Italy's Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis' secretary of state, was given 4:1 odds in the days immediately after Francis passed away.

However, since Francis became Pope, the 54 European Cardinals no longer have the majority of votes. Most of Francis new Cardinals come from Africa and Latin America. and Asia.

Since the late Pope's funeral conservative Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, the 65-year-old archbishop of Kinshasa has emerged as another favorite for the Papacy. Ambonggo would be the first Pope from Africa, where the Catholic Church has seen tremendous growth in the past decade. In addition, since the last conclave when Francis was elected, there are now 18 Cardinals from Africa.

Many of the members of the College of Cardinals have never met each other but, make no mistake, ever since Pope Francis died April 21, in the gardens,,, hallways and meeting rooms of the Vatican, the select group of prelates have been lobbying for their favorites.

The closed-door conclave that is convened to elect a new pope is set for May 7, when the 138 cardinals will meet for morning Mass at St. Peter's Basilica with the purpose of praying for the wisdom needed to choose the next pope. They will then proceed to the Sistine Chapel when the doors will be closed behind them and the Cardinals will give up their cell phones. and voting. Four rounds of voting take place every day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote.

Thousands of the Catholic faithful will wait for a new Pope to be named in St. Peter's Square. 

Catholics and visitors will wait in St. Peter's Square to watch for the signal for election results: At the end of the day, black smoke from the chapel's chimney signals an unsuccessful vote; white smoke means a new pope has been chosen.

in a 2018 interview, Tagle said: “If I were God, I would not choose me to be a bishop or a cardinal."

“But since I’m not God, God sees something in me probably that I don’t see in myself and I just have to trust God’s knowledge of me.”

A decade ago Tagle was asked how he viewed suggestions he could be the next Pope," in his typical self-effacing manner,Tagle  replied: "I treat it like a joke! It's funny."

Some Cardinals will see Tagle's humility as a weakness when they want toughness in the new Catholic leader; others will see the same quality reflective of the late Pope Frances. 

Despite his detractors,Tagle remains a figure of global stature—a bridge between continents, a voice from the unheard, and a contender for the Papacy as the Church looks toward the future.

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.

11 killed when driver smashes car through crowds of Filipino Canadians

A makeshift memorial at Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu festival began forming Sunday.

A Canadian celebration honoring a Filipino hero turned into a tragedy when a driver plowed his car into a crowd killing 11 and injuring dozens more.

The April 26 deadly attack occurred towards the end of the Lapu-Lapu festival in Vancouver, Canada and the majority of the crowd celebrating Filipino culture and foods went home.

Police arrested Kai-Ji Adam Lo, a 30-year old suspect who was chased and held by festival goers. Police say that there is no evidence of terrorism but the suspect is an mentally unstable individual with a history known by the authorities.

Vancouver interim police chief Steve Rai said at a press conference Sunday that it was the "darkest day" in the city's history.

"The number of dead could rise in the coming days or weeks," he told reporters, adding that men, women and young people were among the victims.

Prior to the car careening into a crowd, the Lapu-Lapu festival attracted tens of thousands.

The Lapu Lapu Day Block Party, which had attracted tens of thousand of people through the day, was winding down when the driver mowed down celebrants.

Kris Pangilinan, a Filipino journalist based in Toronto, told the CBC that as the vendors were packing up their supplies and cleanup crews had moved a barricade that had been blocking traffic to allow cars to enter. Suddenly one car speeded up and plowed through the street at high speed, said Pangilinan.

“Then we realized what was happening and everybody started yelling,” he told the CBC. “(The driver) just slammed the pedal down and rammed into hundreds of people. It was like seeing a bowling ball hit — all the bowling pins and all the pins flying up in the air.”

“It was like a war zone…. There were bodies all over the ground,” said Pangilinan, adding he saw “countless” people injured.

The Vancouver metro area is home for 173,000 people of Filipino descent. In the city limits, Filipinos make up about almost 6% of the total population.

The annual festival was a means celebrate their culltural heritage. The guest DJ was Filipino-American rapper Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas earlier in the day. Tthe festival was named after Lapu Lapu, a Filipino chieftain who had in the 1500s defeated the forces led by Ferdinand Magellan and his Spanish soldiers.

The Candadian province of British Columbia officially recognized April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, to acknowledge the cultural contributions of the Filipino Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the province.

Sunday, people began laying down flowers at the festival site.

RJ Aquino, the head of the Filipino BC organisation, said at a press conference Sunday that "last night was extremely difficult and the community will feel this for a long time."

"We know that there's a lot of questions floating about and we don't have all the answers, but we want to tell everybody that we're grieving," he added.

Police chief Rai said this is a dark day in Vancouver's history. "The actions of a single person shattered our collective sense of safety," he said. "It is impossible to overstate how many lives have been impacted forever by this lone individual."

FYI: A Google Doc has been created by a group of local members of the Filipino community, listing emergency response resources. The members are not associated with any organizations. That Google Doc can be accessed here. A Filipino Emergency Response website has been set up. This includes forms for support requests and a list of community spaces and gatherings. It also lists more resources. That can be accessed here.

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.

Nielsen Report: AANHPI consumers proving to be a goldmine in the US marketplace

If you are selling anything in the United States -- from clothing to automobiles; cell phones to homes -- you're missing the boat (that, too) if you are not targeting the consumer-ready Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) market.

AANHPI consumers are driving major shifts in digital commerce, sports engagement, and beauty trends, according to Nielsen's latest 2025 report – Breakthrough ROI: Investing in Asian American audiences and media.

As the media landscape continues to evolve, so will media consumption trends—especially when you consider the diversity of the AANHPI community, 63% of whom speak other languages besides English. Winning Asian audiences cannot be gained through a “general market” approach—there are distinct patterns of engagement, trust and affinity.

"Our latest AANHPI Diverse Intelligence Series report explores how to win Asian American audiences by building trust and inclusion," says the Nielsen report. "The what, where and how the audience connects with brands and media isn’t just about the AANHPI community; it’s about understanding the future of the U.S. consumer market."

AANHPI adults are more digitally connected, spending 9 hours and 6 minutes a week logged on to their computers, almost an hour more than all US adults. Since January 2025, streaming has dominated 53% of Asian Americans' total TV time, up from 45% last year. 20% of that viewing is on YouTube—almost twice that of the total US population.

"As digital media and commerce evolve, Asian American consumers are leading the charge, embracing interactive and shoppable ad experiences at higher rates than the general population," says Stacie M. de Armas, Senior Vice President of Diverse Insights & Intelligence at Nielsen.

        FYI: Download the 2025 report Nielsen report on the AANHPI consumers here.

As brands increasingly invest in digital advertising—83% of marketers planned to shift spending to digital channels in 2025—AANHPI audiences are proving to be a key force. They are digital-first shoppers, with 43% having clicked on a social media ad, compared to 36% of the total US population. In fact, Asian Americans spend nearly an hour more online than the total US adult population, and are more likely to find ads on retailer websites helpful for discovering new products.

 "Marketers who recognize the importance of cultural connection in their digital strategies will build stronger relationships with this influential and engaged audienc,."  said Armas.

AANHPI Sports Engagement Is on the Rise

According to the Nielsen report, AANHPI audiences are watching more live sports than ever—spending 15% more time viewing than the general public and 33% more likely to subscribe to sports-specific streaming platforms. Sports podcast listenership is also growing fast, up 28% between 2022 and 2024.

        RELATED: 

• The Golden State Warriors' Asian connection
• Filipinos make up a third of the Warriors Facebook followeers

These audiences are playing a vital role in amplifying major moments in sports, from the 2024 World Series—where Asian American viewership spiked 146%—to surging interest in women's basketball. AANHPI viewership of the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship jumped nearly 70% year-over-year, while the WNBA Draft saw a 240% increase. This year, the WNBA will see Natalie Nakase become the league's first Asian American head coach, leading the new Golden State Valkyries, as players like Te-Hina Paopao, of Polynesian heritage, continue to build momentum with fans.

There's also growing excitement around global sports with strong Asian roots, especially cricket. Now 13% of US adults identify as cricket fans, fueled in part by the country's fast-growing Indian population. The 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the  US, drew record crowds, and cricket's Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028 promises even greater visibility.

As fandoms grow, so does the desire for representation: 37% of AANHPI sports viewers say they want more culturally relevant advertising during games—signaling a clear opportunity for brands to show up with authenticity.

AANHPI Women Are Driving Beauty Trends

AANHPI women are shaping beauty trends and spending big on skincare and cosmetics, reports Nielsen. Influences like Korean beauty (K-beauty) and South Asian Ayurvedic hair care have gone mainstream, bolstered by cultural moments such as Bridgerton's depiction of traditional hair oiling and Beyoncé's Cécred haircare line, which features fermented rice water, a staple in Asian beauty practices. Nielsen's data shows that AANHPI women are 83% more likely to have spent over $500 on skincare and 53% more likely to have done the same for cosmetics and perfumes.

        RELATED: AANHPI women are trendsetters, influencers

AANHPI digital engagement is also fueling industry growth, as they are more likely than the general population to download beauty retail apps like Ulta and Sephora. This spending power is driving an 8% year-over-year increase in ad spend on toiletries and cosmetics, with strong growth in skincare categories such as facial cleansers (+28%) and moisturizers (+16%).

AANHPI Consumers Are Defining the Future of Media and Commerce

From shaping digital shopping habits to driving sports engagement and redefining beauty trends, AANHPI consumers are a vital audience that brands cannot afford to overlook.

"AANHPIs are a driving force in the economy, shaping markets as influential consumers and leaders," says Jeremy Tran, Executive Director and COO of Gold House. "In today's economic climate, their influence is more critical than ever—fueling industries from beauty to sports and beyond. By recognizing and investing in this community, brands and businesses can unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation."

Other key highlights of the 2025 report include:59% of AANHPI consumers expect brands to support causes they care about, compared to 51% of the tota US.

• 70% of AANHPI millennial consumers will stop purchasing from brands that devalue their community.

• On podcasts, unaided brand recall for CPG advertisers is 80% for AANHPI listeners, compared to 59% overall.

• Asian Americans aged 50-64 are 8% more likely than the total U.S. to rely heavily on the internet to evaluate products before buying.

• As of January 2025, streaming dominated more than half of Asian Americans' total TV time (53%), up from 45% last year. And about 20% of that viewing is on YouTube—almost twice that of the total U.S. population.

• AANHPI audiences over index the total U.S. for share of time spent with Netflix (128) and Amazon (198), which also have the highest percentage of programmes featuring Asian talent at 39.4% and 35.5%, respectively.

The what, where and how the audience connects with brands and media isn’t just about the AANHPI community, concludes the Nielsen report, it’s about understanding the future of the US consumer market.

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.

Time 's Top 100 influencers includes Asian and Asian American standouts

On Time's Top 100 are, from left: Jon M. Chu, Lisa Su and Daniel Dae Kim.

Time magazine named its 2025 Top 100 influencers; a list that includes 14 individuals of Asian heritage.

From artists, chefs to CEOs and performers, Asian influence is widespread throughout society. They include familiar names such as movie producer and director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Wicked) and actor/activist Daniel Dae Kim; and some less well-known individuals from business and the arts, such as Liang Wenfeng and Lisa Su.

"The 2025 Time100 list of the world's most influential people recognizes the leaders shaping the world today and defining its future," said Time Chief Executive Officer Jessica Sibley. 

Following are the 14 individuals of Asian heritage recognized by the weekly news magazine:

• Ma Yansong, architect
• Jon M. Chu, motion picture producer/director
• Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, chef and restaurant owner
• Lisa Su, AMD CEO
• Bonnie Y Chan, COO of the Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing
• Daniel Dae Kim, actor, producer
• Nicole Scherzinger, actress, singer
• Yoshitomo Nara, artist
• Hiroyuki Sanada, actor
• Yoshiki, musician
• Lee Jae-myung, politician
• Demis Hassabis, scientist
• Rosé, singer (Black Pink)
• Liang Wenfeng, computer scientist

        FYI: For more details about Time's influencers, click here.

Influencers picked by Time could have a negative impact on the world as well as a positive one. For example, Donald Trump is on the list for the 7th time, more than any other person on the list this year.

Time will convene the 2025 Time100 list of the world’s most influential people in New York City at the Time100 Summit on April 23 and the Time100 Gala on April 24, which will air as a primetime television special on May 4 on ABC.

Of the 2025 Time 100 list, Time  Editor in Chief Sam Jacobs writes in his letter to readers: "Time's founders knew that focusing on the individuals who are transforming the world is the best way to help readers understand it. That belief animates much of what we do at Time.

"What does the 2025Time 100 tell us about the forces shaping our lives? he continues. "It includes six members of the Trump Administration; 16 corporate CEOs, a record, and a sign of the emergence of a class of business leaders who are filling a leadership void; nine leaders who are fighting for justice, equality, and democracy, at a moment when the rights of so many are at stake."

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.

California challenges legality of Trump's terrible tariffs

SCREEN CAPTURE

Attorney General Rob Bonta announces his 15th lawsuit against the Trump administration.

It is the 15th lawsuit California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed in his seemingly neverending battle against the Trump administration's allegedly illegal actions. This time, he's challenging Donald Trump's tariffs.

The Filipino American AG and California Gov. Gavin Newsom April 16 filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s unlawful use of power to impose tariffs and direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Patrol (CPB) to implement and enforce those tariffs without the consent of Congress.

“The President’s chaotic and haphazard implementation of tariffs is not only deeply troubling, it’s illegal. As the fifth largest economy in the world, California understands global trade policy is not just a game,” said Bonta in an April 16 press conference held on a farm in rural Turlock.

Since early February, the Trump Administration has issued over a dozen executive orders under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) to impose tariffs that have sent shockwaves through financial markets, businesses, and consumers in every corner of the globe.

In the latest lawsuit, Bonta and Newsom challenge Trumpt’s use of the IEEPA to levy those tariffs, arguing that the IEEPA does not authorize Trump to impose these tariffs. The emergency tariffs challenged under the lawsuit are projected to, at a minimum, shrink the US economy by $100 billion annually, increase inflation by 1.3%, and cost the average American family $2,100.

Bonta said Trump was “attempting to override Congress and steamroll the separation of powers” and that his “rogue and erratic tariffs” must be stopped to prevent further damage to California’s economy.

“Trump has had to resort to creating bogus national emergencies that defy reason,” Bonta said. “Bottom line: Trump doesn’t have the singular power to radically upend the country’s economic landscape. That’s not how democracy works.”

The economic impact of Trump’s unlawful tariffs could have resounding impacts on California’s economy, budget, and consumers. The state is the world's fifth largest economy - outpacing every US state and most countries - and is home to the largest shares of manufacturing and agricultural production in the US.

California is also a significant and frequent purchaser of goods impacted by the tariffs and the projected increase in cost to the state is significant.

        FYI: A copy of the complaint is available here.

California is the nation’s largest importer and second-largest exporter. Trump’s tariffs will impact California’s businesses, including its ports and small businesses that rely on trade. California’s agricultural sector, which exports goods around the world, will also face particularized challenges as other countries impose retaliatory tariffs and decrease trade in response to President Trump’s tariffs. Furthermore, the tariffs directly harm California’s ability to contract, purchase, and sell goods. These effects are already too real: vendors who contract with California have indicated that they will pass their increased costs from President Trump’s tariffs on to the state directly.

 “These tariffs are having a devastating downstream impact on San Francisco’s economy — especially our small businesses that rely on global supply chains and export markets to survive.," said Rodney Fong, CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. "From rising costs on imported goods to sudden disruptions in inventory and operations, our local entrepreneurs are bearing the brunt of an unpredictable trade policy. We support the state’s efforts to restore certainty and stability to the economic environment our businesses depend on.”

Claiming authority under the IEEPA, Trump has issued multiple executive orders to impose, pause, re-start, and modify 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and a universal 10% tariff on every other U.S. trading partner.

Separately and in addition, Trump’s actions have goaded China into a full-blown trade war, with tariffs reaching 145% on Chinese goods, and China imposing reciprocal 125% tariffs on US goods. Additionally, Trump has imposed individualized reciprocal tariffs of up to 50% on nearly 90 specific countries; they are currently paused for 90 days before going into effect. Once the 90-day “pause” expires, the harms will only compound further. And new tariffs are being contemplated or announced nearly every day.

To justify his tariffs, Trump has declared national emergencies and extended prior declared emergencies beyond the bounds of reason. But with or without emergencies, the President does not have the power to levy tariffs under the IEEPA.

The impacts of President Trump’s dizzying array of tariff plans have already wreaked havoc on our financial systems: the U.S. stock market suffered the largest two-day loss in its history in the two days following the announcement of President Trump’s most sweeping tariffs. These actions and the near-daily threats to impose new tariffs have already inflicted and continue to inflict serious financial harms on California.

The latest complaint alleges that the Constitution expressly gives the authority to impose tariffs to Congress, not the President, and the IEEPA does not provide the required congressional authorization for Trump to impose tariffs — Congress enacted the IEEPA to limit Presidential authority and to prevent Presidential abuse of power — not to give the President these powers. The complaint asks the court to declare that tariff orders made under the purported authority of the IEEPA are unlawful and void and to halt DHS and CPB from implementing and enforcing these orders.

"Our latest survey shows that economic pressure isn’t just theoretical — it’s showing up in rent, grocery bills, and the rising costs of essentials," says Jason Pagiou, President and CEO of the Asian Business Association of San Diego.

“Californians are bracing for fallout from the impact of the President’s choices — from farmers in the Central Valley, to small businesses in Sacramento, and worried families at the kitchen table — this game the President is playing has very real consequences for Californians across our state," said Bonta.

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.

First Vietnamese American woman into space back on the ground

 

BLUE ORIGIN

Amanda Nguyễn steps out of the Blue Origin capsule in achieving one of her dreams.

A successful, star-studded space launch took place in the West Texas desert early Monday morning. An all-woman crew, including pop star Katy Perry and television personality Gayle King and Amanda Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American woman to fly to space.

The mission, called NS-31, included Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. Also on the New Shepard rocket were scientist Aisha Bowe and film producer Kerianne Flynn.

Blue Origin successfully completed its 11th human spaceflight for the New Shepard program. The astronaut crew included Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez, who brought the mission together.

Including today’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 58 people to space, including four people who have flown twice.

Launching from Blue Origin’s private west Texas ranch, Launch Site One, the pilotless New Shepard reached supersonic speeds, surpassing 2,000 mph during its ascent.

Around the 3-minute mark, the rocket booster separated from the crew capsule, at which point the women aboard became weightless as their spacecraft continued toward apogee, or its highest point.

The capsule then began what Blue Origin calls a "stable freefall" — plummeting back to Earth. 

The female crew could soon be heard whooping in joy as three massive parachutes deployed after about nine minutes into the flight. Two minutes later, the capsule made a soft landing in the desert, sending up plumes of dust.

Fifteen minutes after launch, the capsule was back on the ground with the crew safe and sound.

Nguyễn stepped out of a windowed white capsule in the West Texas desert on Monday (April 14), placed her hands firmly on her chest, then punched them toward the sky, beaming with joy. Having just flown beyond the Kármán line — recognized as the division between Earth and the rest of the universe — she'd just become the first Vietnamese woman to fly to space. 

BLUE ORIGIN

Prior to launch Monday morninig, the all-female crew posed in front of the Blue Origin rocket.

 Amanda Nguyen is at far right.

She'd also just closed the loop on a dream she paused for 10 years to advocate for civil rights, keeping a promise to her younger self that she would "return to her."

Nguyễn , a sexual assault survivor, carried a hospital bracelet — from a visit following her assault — on the flight, which she has previously described as part of her healing process. 

Nguyễn, who is also a bioastronautics research scientist, was on her way to train as an astornaut. That dream was put on pause for ten years during which she became an outspoken advocate for sexual assault survivors.

She is credited with hellping pass the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights Act, which entitles survivors to free medical exams, mandates that forensic evidence be kept for at least the statute of limitations on rape, and provides the option of extending that timeline in certain circumstances. Because of this accomplishment, she was also a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.

Nguyễn also brought a few in-orbit projects to conduct during the 10.5-minute flight as well.

One of those experiments involves testing material for wound dressing in microgravity; Nguyễn has said that the results of this experiment could have applications for women's health in space. Better absorption technology in microgravity conditions would make it possible for engineers to create space-friendly pads or tampons for women astronauts who menstruate. It is especially pertinent, seeing as Nguyễn's Blue Origin mission was the first spaceflight in 60 years to not have a man on board. (Her crewmates were former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, filmmaker Kerianne Flynn, journalist Gayle King, pop star Katy Perry and journalist and author Lauren Sánchez, who is the fiancee of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos.)

"Historically, NASA barred women from becoming astronauts, and one of the reasons they cited the most was menstruation," Nguyễn told The Guardian. "That's why I’m doing it."

Afterwards, Nguyễn offered a message to survivors of sexual assault: "I just want every survivor and every person who's ever had a dream deferred to know that your dreams are valid," she said. "And even if your dreams are as wild as going to space, they matter. And you can get there too. If I can get there, you can get there too."

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.

Poll: AANHPI disagree with Trump's policies on economy, diversity, climate change but split on immigration

Donald Trump's radical policies returning America back to the 1950s when racial segregation was in full flourish and opportunities for minorities were limited is not sitting well with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 

As the Trump administration continues to enact its agenda, a new AAPI Data/APNORC Poll finds that many AAPI adults disapprove of how Trump and Elon Musk are handling a host of key policy issues.

AAPI adults are more likely to disapprove each of these issues than the general population.  Seventy-one percent of the respondents don't like Trump's handling of the economy and trade, managing the federal government (68%), and government spending (63%).

About half (55%) say Trump is mostly focusing on the wrong policies, while just 18% say he is mostly focusing on the right priorities.

        FYI: Read the entire AAPI Data/APNORC Poll

A majority of AAPI adults (76%) agree that Elon Musk, the head of the new Department of Government Efficiency, has too much influence on the US federal government. They are largely opposed to the cuts to federal agencies that DOGE has either implemented or proposed. About 7 in 10 oppose eliminating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (69%) and the Department of Education (67%), while about half (55%) oppose eliminating the US Agency for International Development.

AAPI adults are opposed to federal cuts to diversity and equity programs. Two-thirds oppose eliminating initiatives that seek to broaden access to federal resources, policies, and programs for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Two-thirds also oppose cuts to federal funding for K-12 schools that teach about the ongoing impact of slavery and racism in America.

Although Trump and the Republican-dominated Congress are responsible for the extreme measures proposed by Trump, Musk and his Cabinet, in the eyes of the AAPI respondents, Democrats have not been able to make any headway in gaining their confidence.

Democrats are more trusted than Republicans on issues like climate change (56% vs 15%), education (50% vs 19%), health reform (45% vs 18%), and foreign policy (42% vs 25%).

“Many in the AAPI community are concerned about which policies the Trump administration is focusing on,” says Jennifer Benz, deputy director of The AP-NORC Center. “Neither party has the faith of the community to address high-priority issues such as economic issues and inflation.”

On immigration, AAPI adults and the general population largely share similar views on policies addressing those living the United States illegally. Forty-three percent of AAPI adults support deporting all immigrants living in the United States illegally. However, just 20% of adults aged 18-29 support this policy, compared to 36% of adults aged 30-44 and about half of those aged 45 and older.

Context also matters for AAPI opinion on deportation policies. Both AAPI (83%) and general populations (82%) support deporting all immigrants living in the United States illegally who have been convicted of a violent crime. About 9 in 10 AAPI adults aged 45 and older support this policy, compared to two-thirds of young adults aged 18-29. Just 27% support these deportations if it means they will be separated from their children who are citizens. About half of AAPI adults oppose arresting people who are in the country illegally while they are in the hospital (60%) or at church or other places of worship (52%). These views are nearly identical to those of the general population.

About half of AAPI adults oppose eliminating birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are here on a temporary work or student visa (56%) or are in the country illegally (50%). Similarly, half oppose reducing the number of family-sponsored visas available for immigrants living in the U.S. legally to bring their relatives here, as well as cutting the number of temporary work visas, such as H-1B visas, available for foreign workers.

“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders widely disapprove of the Trump administration’s handling of many issues, including the economy, trade negotiations, government spending, and policies on diversity and inclusion,” says Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data and researcher at UC Berkeley. “They also oppose the elimination of federal agencies like the Department of Education and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.”

On experiences with climate change, similar to findings from a year ago, about 8 in 10 AAPI adults have experienced an extreme weather event in the last 5 years. Sixty-five percent have experienced extreme heat waves, 46% have experienced severe winter storms, and 32% have experienced wildfires.

Compared to a recent poll among the general population, AAPI adults are more likely to say that climate change has had or will have a major impact on their lives or health. For example, 21% of AAPI adults say that climate change has already had a major impact on their health, and 53% say it will have major impact in the future, while just 26% think it will not. Expectations are similar for the impacts of climate change on their lives overall, as well as on air quality and water availability in their communities.

Like recent findings among the general public, there is broad support among AAPI adults for government aid in the aftermath of natural disasters. Most support the federal government providing money to local residents to help them rebuild (58%) or make their property more resistant to natural disasters (62%). Additionally, 60% support providing homeowners’ insurance in at-risk communities for those who cannot obtain private insurance.

Highlights of the AAPI Data/APNORC Poll:

• Immigration surged to the top of AAPI adults’ policy priorities in January 2025, with 42% citing it as a top issue—a sharp rise from 29% the year before.

• 71% of AAPI adults disapprove of President Trump’s handling of the economy, and a majority (55%) say he is focused on the wrong policies.

• Three-quarters of AAPI adults believe Elon Musk has too much influence over the federal government, and strong majorities oppose efforts to dismantle key federal agencies like the Department of Education, USAID, and the CFPB.

• 8 in 10 AAPI adults have experienced extreme weather in the past five years, and 3 in 4 believe climate change is happening and will affect their health or daily life.

• 79% of AAPI adults say lowering healthcare costs should be a top federal priority, and majorities blame pharmaceutical companies, private insurers, and the federal government for high medical expenses.

• 64% of AAPI adults believe the federal government spends too little on education, and most say state and federal governments—not families—should bear the primary responsibility for financing college.

• 8 in 10 AAPI adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases—and a similar portion also believe abortion and reproductive rights face a threat in 2025, with over half calling it a major threat.

• AAPI adults are more likely than the general public to say rights like free speech, freedom of the press, and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure are under threat in 2025.

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.

 

Millions of US citizens could lose their right to vote after House passes restrictive SAVE Act

WIKIA

AANHPI voters may find it more difficult to do so if the SAVE Act is signed into law.

When it coes time to vote for Congress in 2026, Asian and Pacific Island American voters should remember the latest legislation introduced after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed legislation that would disenfranchise millions of AANHPI, other minorities and women.

The  US House of Representatives  on Thursday voted, 220-208, to pass  the misleadingly named Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The legislation purportedly aims to block non-citizens from voting, which is already illegal and is very rare. Four Democrats joined the GOP majority to advance the bill.

“House Republicans’ so-called SAVE Act is nothing more than a shameful attempt to silence the voices of millions of Americans. This bill will prevent Americans from using their driver’s license or military ID in order to register to vote. It will also eliminate existing voter registration methods, including registering via mail or online," said a statement from Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus chair Grace Meng and Rep, Bobby Scott, Congress' lone Filipino American who chairs CAPAC's Civil Rights and Voting Rights Task Force.

“If this bill were to become law, military service members deployed overseas would be forced to return to the U.S. to register to vote. Married women who have changed their surnames would not be allowed to use their birth certificate to prove their citizenship. Twenty-one million eligible voters would need to pay significant fees to obtain documentation needed to cast their ballot," continues the joint statement.

“Adding unnecessary and expensive barriers to vote will disenfranchise millions of U.S. citizens and disproportionately impact the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. A majority of Asian American eligible voters are naturalized citizens who may lack immediate access to documentation required under this restrictive law.

“Moreover, President Trump is curtailing language access for individuals with Limited English Proficiency—making up one-third of the AANHPI community—which may affect multilingual assistance in voter registration. He also signed an executive order that would prevent Americans from using their birth certificate to register to vote—an apparent reference to his unlawful order revoking birthright citizenship. These are extreme measures that will suppress AANHPI participation in our elections.

“To be clear, it is already illegal under federal law for noncitizens to cast a ballot. This legislation is not about safeguarding elections; it is a blatant assault on the constitutional rights of millions of Americans."

If that is not enough, voting rights groups have said the bill will pose a barrier for millions of American women and others who have changed their legal name because of marriage, assimilation to sound more "American," citizenshp or to better align with their gender identity. An estimated 69 million American women and 4 million men do not have a birth certificate that matches their current legal name.

“Many eligible voters including those in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community do not have readily available documents to meet SAVE Act requirements.," says Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIAVote.

"Furthermore, our communities rely on methods such as online, mail and voter registration drives, and this draconian measure would effectively end those options," says Chen. "With the bill passing in the House today, the battle now shifts to the Senate where we will be working hard to make sure that our Senators know this bill that will prevent eligible voters from casting their ballot.."

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.