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.

Senate confirms anti-DEI Indian American to lead DOJ's civil rights division

Harmeet Dhillon at her Senate Confirmation hearings.

OPINION

A far-right radical Indian American has been approved to head the civil rights division of the Department of Justice.

The US Senate along party lines, 52-45, confirmed Harmeet Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General to lead the Civil Rights Division at the federal Department of Justice on April 3.

Dhillon, a extreme-right attorney who embraced Donald Trump’s “big lie” about the 2020 election, will be in charge of protecting Americans’ civil rights — including their right to vote. Alaska's Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican to join 43 Democrats and one Independent in opposition. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) did not vote.

“Based on her lack of independence and her extensive record of going after the rights of the very people she would have the duty to defend,” the groups say that Ms. Dhillon is disqualified from serving as chief of the Civil Rights Division at DOJ, said a March 12 press release from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, which was supported by 65 national organizations.

Dhillon is also known to peddle the conservative movement’s “anti-woke” propaganda, which seeks to further marginalize racial and ethnic minorities and demonize LGBTQ people, reports MSNBC.

Like other Trump appointees, Dhillon will oversee an agency which is tasked to protect the civil rights of Americans even though she is antagonistic to the division's goals. MSNBC says, "Dhillon was chosen ... to pervert the DOJ’s civil rights division and ensure it suits Trump’s illiberal ambitions."

It is "not unusual for Republican administrations to significantly scale back the work in the Civil Rights Division," Dhillon is a "lawyer active in the culture wars" who will likely target DEI practices among institutions and corporations and shut down investigations of police violence and misconduct in her new role, reports The New York Times.

Dhillon was born in Chandigarh, India, to a Punjabi Sikh family and with her family, immigrated to the United States as a child. The family settled down in rural North Carolina when she was a child. Her parents were conservative Sikhs and, when they became citizens, registered as Republicans and raised funds for Republican candidates.

She earned her BA in Classical Studies at Dartmouth College, where she "bristled at the political correctness of liberal classmates," according to SF Gate

After a pair of unsuccessful campaigns for California Assembly and Senate, Dhillon has been active in supporting Trump's views. Her law firm, the Dhillon Law Group, represented the Republicans in cases in states questioning the legality of Trump being on the ballot in his 2024 campaign.

In 2018, she founded the Center For American Liberty, a conservative nonprofit that maintains a "nationwide network of attorneys to zealously advocate for individual liberty and to combat illegal discrimination," says the organization website.

Dhillon also filed unsuccessful lawsuits against California early in the COVID-19 pandemic, representing "pastors, gun shop owners, protesters, cosmetologists and beachgoers" who alleged they were harmed by Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home orders and business closures, according to Politico.

In recent years, she has become a fixture on conservative mouthpiece, Fox News, to rail against Democrats, cancel culture and the so-called “woke” liberal agenda.

The Leadership Conference points out that Dhillon strongly opposes the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore the Voting Rights Act to its full power. She authored an op-ed for Fox News in which she called the bill a “power grab,”

Based on her past history, Dhillon is, in many ways, "an enemy of civil rights," states the Leadership Conference letter, and the policies the division, in the past, sought to protect and enforce. 

“Especially at this fraught period in our nation’s history, the crucially important work of the division to enforce the promises made in our civil rights laws is more important than ever, and it requires an assistant attorney general with a demonstrated commitment to civil rights for all people,” the letter continues. “Unfortunately, ... Ms. Dhillon does not possess that commitment and is unfit for this critical position.”

Despite her questionable record on civil rights, Senate Republicans unanimously backed Trump's nominee.

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.

Taiwanese American helps UConn Huskies win national championship

UCONN

Kaitlyn Chen soaks in the triumphant moment surrounded by her UConn teammates.

She only scored two points but no one is denying the key role Kaitlyn Chen played in the University of Connecticut Huskies ecuring the NCAA Women's Championship by beating the South Carolina Gamecocks, 82-59, on Sunday.

Although Chen was born and raised in California, her parents are Taiwanese immigrants, making her the first Taiwanese American player to win an NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship. Chen shared in a recent interview with CT Insider that her parents have played a crucial role in her basketball journey.

Her parents would take red-eye flights to attend her games and support her as she traveled, she told the Insider. "I love when I get to look up in the stands and see them there. It means so much. And they’ve supported me throughout my whole journey. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them and their support. So, I'm just very grateful for that," said Chen.

Chen attended Flintridge Preparatory School in La Cañada, twice earning All-Area Player of the Year honors. Ranked a four-star prospect by ESPN, After high school, she chose Princeton to continue her basketball dreams. During her time with the Tigers, she captured Ivy League Player of the Year honors (2023) and landed three-straight Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player nods.

For her efforts, Princeton nabbed three NCAA Tournament appearances. When she entered the transfer portal for her last year of eligibility, she drew plenty of interest fromsome top notch basketball powerhouses. 

Chen wound up picking UConn because of its championship history and a chance to play under legendary coach Geno Auriemma. When she arrived on campus at the start of the year, Auriemma quickly took a liking to her.

“She’s not afraid to use her voice; she walk(ed) into a situation that any kid would be intimidated by,” Auriemma told the Daily Princetonian. “I’ve trusted Kaitlyn Chen since the minute she walked on campus.”

During the run to the championship with the UConn team, Chen averaged 7.1 points on 52.5 percent shooting from the floor, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.

Chen's leadership and the trust developed between her and her teammates  eventually led to the Huskies 12th national title (April 6, 2025).

She will enter this year's draft, where several WNBA teams have already expressed interest in the guard's leadership and ball handling skills.

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.

Trump 'punishes' Pacific and South Asian islands with retaliatory tariffs

Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on the goods provided by residents of Fakaolo, Tokaeau.

ANALYSIS

Self-described tough guy Donald Trump is punishing a couple of islands with new tarriffs, part of so-called "genius" strategy to bring jobs back to America.

Tokelau Islands, consisting of three far-flung islands in the South Pacific, roughly midway between Hawaii and New Zealand is one of the target nations feeling Trump's wrath. The dependent territory of New Zealand will face a 10% tariffs on any goods entering the United States.

The main industries of the about 2600 residents is fishing and subsistence farming.

I'm pretty sure the residents of Tokelau are shrugging their shoulders wondering what they did to offend the great and mighty United States to be targeted with tariffs.

The economic genius Trump, who bankrupted seven businesses including two casinos, announced Wednesday new tariffs on almost the whole world with the intention to bring jobs back to the US.

Keeling Islands, halfway between Sri Lanka and Australia, with a population of 593, also got hit with a 10% tariff because ... uh ... just, because.

Those two territories should be relieved they didn't get slapped with the 25% tariffs targeting Canadian products.

Residents of Tokelau territory transfer imported goods to their atoll.

Economists can't figure out where Trump came out with his figures that claim the world's tariffs against US products. His sweeping tariff policy would be laughable if not for the havoc it wreaks on a global scale and the impact it will have on the American consumers.

Asian countries were hit hard by Trump's planned tariffs. He said he plans to impose 34% tariffs on China, 37% against Thailand, 17% on the Philippines, 26% vs. India, 46% against Vietnam and 24% on Japan. 

By contrast, Europe was slapped with a 20% tariff. Curiously, Russia and North Korea were spared Trump's wrath.

The average cost to American households will mean an increase in spending by thousands of dollars. Didn't Trump campaign on lowering costs? And people believed him despite his record of lying. 

So expect an increase in prices for clothes, cars, shoes, artichokes, electronics, washing machines and energy because tariffs are actually paid by the American company importing those goods, not by the country sending those products to the US. American companies such as Nike, Ford and grocers will naturally pass those extra costss onto the consumer -- you and me.

Will the Trump tariffs hurt Americans? Most certainly. Lower income families will be harmed the most by the tariffs because they spend a greater share of their household income on everyday goods.

However, higher-income households will feel the impact by the tariffs announced Wednesday: An average of $4,600 per household per year for those in the top 10% and $1,700 for those in the middle. That $1,700 represents a larger share of the middle-income household's disposable income.

How will it "punish" the residents of islands of Tokelau and Keeling? They'll probably just shrug and go fishing like their ancestors have been doing for centuries.

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.

AAPI advocates challenge Trump and GOP seeking to suppress voting

ANALYSIS

In yet another attempted power grab and effort to intimidate immigrant communities, which historically voted Democratic, Donald Trump signed last week an executive order misleadingly titled, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.”

The order, signed March 25, threatens our democracy by intending to require burdensome documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, encouraging the purging of eligible voters from error-prone database comparisons, and attempting to pressure states from counting mail-in and absentee ballots properly mailed on Election Day. 

 “We are dismayed by President Trump’s attempt to undermine civic engagement and vilify immigrant communities, including Asian Americans. Voting is a fundamental right, not a privilege, for all who are eligible, and all eligible votes must be counted during elections," said Asian Americans Advancing Justice in a statement

"Documentary proof of citizenship, like a passport, is onerous because many Americans don’t have it readily available or even handy when they register to vote."

FYI: Read the lawsuit, League of Women Voters et. al. v. Trump et. al.:, 

The Constitution clearly specifies that Congress and the states can set the rules for our elections, not the President. 

Nevertheless, the White House claims that the executive order is necessarily to prevent noncitizens from voting even though there is no evidence they do in significant numbers in the United States. The order threatens states that do not comply with the loss of federal funding.

Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary, called the order “the farthest-reaching executive action taken” in the country’s history.

The Order’s misguided focus on database matching is alarming because it is prone to errors due to outdated and contradictory information," responds AAAJ. "We know that these Homeland Security databases generally don’t contain information about US-born citizens. As a result, those who are caught in this unwarranted fishing expedition are most likely to be eligible voters who are naturalized citizens. Past attempts to match voter lists at the state level have already erroneously removed many eligible voters."

“This executive order is rooted in baseless rhetoric around voter fraud and noncitizen voting, which is extremely rare, proving yet again that the ultimate goal of this administration is to prevent American citizens who are disfavored by this Administration from voting," says AAAJ. 

"This executive order comes from the same xenophobic impulse as the suspension of federal grants to community organizations helping immigrants naturalize. We saw that same rhetoric in the attempt to slash the Constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship. We stand firm in our commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and making sure that every eligible individual can make their voice heard at the ballot box.”

AAAJ is part of a coalition filing the lawsuit challenging Trump’s unlawful executive order. Other groups in the coalition include Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote, Organization of Chinese Associations-Asian Pacific American Advocates and a host of other civil rights organizations including the Hispanic Federation, National League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters of Arizona, League of Women Voters Education Fund, NAACP, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of D.C., the Legal Defense Fund, and LatinoJustice PRLDEF.

The groups are challenging the order’s usurpation of powers, including its directive for the US Election Assistance Commission to change the federal voter registration form to require burdensome submission of documents to prove citizenship, which many Americans do not have or cannot easily acquire.

Under current law, would-be voters are required to swear, under penalty of perjury, that they are US citizens and eligible to vote, and to provide a driver's license number, state ID number or Social Security number. Those who attempt to vote illegally can face prison time, fines or deportation.

Several audits by nonpartisan groups and states, including those that voted for Trump and even the conservative think-tank, the Heritage Foundation, have not found any evidence that noncitizens are registering to vote at significant rates.

The coalition which filed the lawsuit against the executive order, released the following joint statement:

“The president has no constitutional or statutory authority to unilaterally dictate how elections are run. This executive order is a blatant violation of the separation of powers. Election rules are decided by Congress and the states, and any attempt by the executive branch to override their power violates the Constitution. This order, based on a persistent false and racialized narrative, could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. It mirrors the SAVE Act, which would add unnecessary barriers to voter registration and silence the voices of American citizens. These unlawful attacks on voting rights are part of a broader effort to undermine our democracy. We have filed suit to stop this executive order and to keep it from interfering with eligible voters’ participation in our elections.”

The executive order and the SAVE Act are just one facet of the overall Republican strategy to weaken the Democratic voters influence. The GOP depends on voter suppression to narrow the margin between Democrats and Republicans because there are more people registered Democrat than Republican. In addition to presenting obstacles to voting and making large portions of the US citizenry ineligible to vote, the GOP use a barrage of lies and misinformation to woo voters to more conservatie policies and Republican candidates.

Prior to a vote on the Executive Order, also known as the SAVE Act, Rep. Terri Sewell n, D-Alabama, sargued against the bill on the House floor on April 1: 

"In reality, this legislation would purge thousands of eligible voters from the rolls. It would create significant barriers for the 69 million women who currently got married and changed their last names, so their birth certificates do not match their marriage certificates, and thus it would be harder for these women, almost 70 million women, to vote, and the 140 million Americans that do not have a passport, and those with military IDs and tribal IDs, none of which would be able to prove their birth citizenship. These are not included in the bill as proper forms of ID that will allow someone to show their citizenship."

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.

 

Ice skater Alyssa Liu's trimphant return to the rink garners a gold medal

Alysa Liu couldn't believe her own performance at the World's Skating Championship.

At the ripe, old age of 19, ice skater Alysa Liu came out of retirement. On Friday, she won the gold medal at the 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships.

"This means so much to me after everything that I've been through," Liu said at the press conference after her championship performance Friday in Boston. "My last skating experience, my time away... and (now) this time around. I'm so happy... I'm mostly glad that I could put out two of my best performances."

After two years away from the sport, Liu became the first US woman to win a world title in 19 years.

After finished seventh at the 2022 Winter Olympics in in Beijing, the best finish of the the three US women, followed by a bronze at World's, the then-16-year old surprised everyon by announcing she decided to hang up her skates.

Up until then, she was on the brightest stars in the US. She expected to compete for the gold medal after beicoming the yuongest woman to win the US championship title when she was 13. A year later, she was the first American to do the quadruple jump.

When she made her retirement announcement, Liu, who had been skating since age 5 and trained in Oakland, Calif., said that she had reached all of her skating goals and was ready to move with her life.

Before enrolling at UCLA as a freshman, a ski tirp to Lake Tahoe sparked the realization that she loved being an athlete. From there, a few calls to former coaches and she began her journey to get back into competition shape.

FYI: US ice dance team capture gold medal

“Moments like these make me realize 16-year-old me was so right,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t decide to retire for a little bit. So I’m glad that I listened to myself.”

With her victory at Worlds, Liu joins the elite company of American women who have won the world title, including Tenley Albright, Carol Heiss, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Linda Fratianne, Elaine Zayak, Rosalynn Sumners, Jill Trenary, Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan, Tara Lipinski and Kimmie Meissner.

With the gold medal in her pocket, Liu has set herself up for the Olympics that will be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in 2026.

Her performance in the long skate was nearly flawless using seven triple jumps to cement her victory. After her skate, she couldn't believe her accomplishment, ecclaiming, "What the hell!" repeatedly all the way back to her coaches.

“That was the best performance I’ve laid down all season, even my practice programs have not been that good,” she treporters after her winning performance. “I really thought if I did clean skates I’d be hopefully top 10, definitely not first. This moment is so unreal, that’s the only word I can use to describe it. I still have to process it to be honest.”

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.

Madison Chock and partner win 3rd straight gold at World's Figure Skating championship

The US ice dance team of Evan Bates and Madison Chock finished their performance at World''s.

It seems that the ice dance team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates have been around for years. And, they have!

Chock and Bates won their third straight gold medal at the 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships on Saturday (March 2).

“This one definitely feels extra special. To do it in front of a home crowd and to have two of our best skates of the season, I don't think we could have done anything better than that,” Chock said. 

“To have the programs come to fruition like you imagine them at the beginning of the season and to execute them like that at the world championships is a dream come true and one that we've worked really hard for.”

Madison's full name is Madison La'akea Te-Lan Hall Chock, reflecting her Chinese-Hawaiian heritage on her father's side.

        FYI: Ice figure skater Alysa Liu back from her retirement

In winning their third crown at World's, Chock and Bates, became the most decorated US ice dance team at the World Championships in history, became the first US ice dance team ever to win three World titles and the first ice dance team to three-peat worldwide. With three golds, a silver, and two bronze medals, the duo has brought home hardware from half of their dozen appearances in the global championships.

“This has been such a magical week,” Chock said in the press conference after their winning performance. 

“We had two incredible skates. I could not be prouder of Evan, and I am so grateful for our coaching team and our family and friends who have supported us. It’s certainly not easy to do this and chase your dreams year after year, so we are just grateful and appreciative to everyone who has helped us on this journey.”

The three-peat makes the husband-wife team and marks them as gold medal favourites heading into the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games to win the ice dancing gold medal, an accomplishment that has eluded them in the past four  Olympics.

"We're going to soak this one in for now," Bates said. "Certainly our goal is to be on top of the podium in Milan. This doesn't really change that."

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.