A closer look: Cecilia Wang presented a "master class" in defense of birthright citizenship

Cecilia Wang emerges into prominence for her performance at SCOTUS.

During the high-stakes showdown at the Supreme Court on April 1, 2026, ACLU National Legal Director Cecillia Wang didn't just show up to argue; she showed up to defend the very fabric of American identity. 

In the landmark case of Trump v. Barbara, Wang delivered a masterclass in constitutional law, standing firm against the administration’s attempt to dismantle birthright citizenship.

The energy in the chamber was electric as Wang anchored her argument in a simple, undeniable truth: the 14th Amendment means what it says. She told the justices that the American rule is clear — everyone born here is a citizen alike. It was a powerful opening that reminded the court that this principle was designed to be beyond the reach of any temporary political whim.

Wang clarified that this phrase in the 14th Amendment, based on English Common Law, applies to virtually everyone "born on US soil." She argued it excludes only a "closed set of exceptions," such as children of foreign diplomats or invading soldiers, who are subject to another sovereign's jurisdiction.

        RELATED: Justices skeptical on Trump regime's arguments

For Wang, this wasn't just a legal theory; as the daughter of immigrants from Taiwan  and a birthright citizen herself, her defense of the 14th Amendment carried a personal resonance that felt deeply authentic.

The legal battle centers on an executive order attempting to exclude children born in the US to certain non-citizen groups — including those who are here on special visas and DACA recipients — from automatic citizenship.

Wang’s performance was widely hailed by legal observers as a "masterclass" in constitutional law. Although well-known in legal circles, she is not one to grab the spotlight. From relative obscurity from her April 1 SCOTUS appearance, she emerges as a real heroic, brilliant figure. Her arguments focused on the bedrock principles of the 14th Amendment and the historical precedent that has defined American citizenship for over 150 years. 

“Cecillia Wang is one of the country’s great litigators, which is why she’s the ACLU’s top lawyer," said aid ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero.

The reception from the bench suggests Wang’s strategy hit the mark. Even some of the conservative justices seemed skeptical of the government’s "quirky" legal theories. 

Chief Justice Roberts notably pushed back on the idea that modern issues like "birth tourism" should change how we interpret the Constitution. Meanwhile, Solicitor General D. John Sauer faced a frosty reception, with Justices Roberts and Gorsuch questioning the logic of the administration’s stance.

While Wang admitted she would be happy to win on statutory grounds, she made it clear that a firm constitutional ruling is what the country needs for long-term stability.

The legal community is buzzing, with many observers noting that the ACLU’s team made up of co-counsels from several justice advocates including the Asian Law Caucus, seems to have the upper hand, but that doesn't guarantee a win for the Constitution. The conservative majority of SCOTUS is infamous for ignoring legal precedents and siding with wishes of the Trump regime such as right for women to determine their health choices, affirmative action and the weakening of voting rights.

For now, we hold our breath as we wait until the end of June 2026 for the final word.

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

Expansion, not job cuts: AAPI CEO says American bosses miss the point of AI

In the latest dispatches from the front lines of the silicon revolution, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is challenging the boardroom status quo with a message that’s as much about human potential as it is about processing power. 

Huang, who famously co-founded NVIDIA at a San Jose Denny’s in 1993, is calling out executives who see artificial intelligence merely as a tool for cutting heads. To Huang, using the "most powerful tool in human history" simply to reduce headcount isn't just a strategy—it’s a profound "lack of imagination." He argues that visionary leaders should be looking to do more with the talent they have, rather than figuring out how to do the same with less.

This philosophy of resilience and expansion is deeply rooted in Huang’s own journey as a Taiwanese immigrant. Arriving in the US at age nine with limited English, he was mistakenly sent to a Kentucky reform academy where he spent his days cleaning toilets and dodging bullies. 

Those early years, followed by graveyard shifts as a dishwasher and waiter at Denny's, forged the "grit" he now demands from modern leadership. 

For Huang, who survived two near-bankruptcies at NVIDIA by betting everything on unproven tech, the current AI boom is a moment for expansion, not retreat. He views every company as a future "AI factory," one that requires leaders to foster a "messy garden" of innovation rather than maintaining strict command and control.

Huang’s advice to CEOs is to embrace a future where human employees are amplified by "digital humans" and AI agents. 

He predicts a workforce where the metric of success shifts; for example, he suggests that if high-level engineers aren't consuming half their salary’s worth in AI tokens, they aren't working at their full potential. 

Ultimately, he believes that while AI will transform every role, it will be a net job creator—as long as leaders have the courage to stop obsessing over immediate ROI and start investing in the "superhuman" capabilities AI offers their teams.

This philosophy of resilience and expansion is deeply rooted in Huang’s own journey as a Taiwanese immigrant. Arriving in the US at age nine with limited English, he was mistakenly sent to a Kentucky reform academy where he spent his days cleaning toilets and dodging bullies. 

Those early years, followed by graveyard shifts as a dishwasher and waiter at Denny's, forged the "grit" he now demands from modern leadership. 

For Huang, who survived two near-bankruptcies at NVIDIA by betting everything on unproven tech, the current AI boom is a moment for expansion, not retreat. He views every company as a future "AI factory," one that requires leaders to foster a "messy garden" of innovation rather than maintaining strict command and control.

Crucially, but overlooked by most media, Huang’s vision extends beyond the engineering lab and into the heart of the humanities. He has recently suggested that the "digital divide" is closing because AI allows anyone to communicate with a computer using their native tongue—the ultimate "human language." 

For the philosopher, the historian, and the artist, AI acts as a bridge, translating complex data into the narratives and ethical frameworks that make a society worth living in. 

By automating the drudgery of research and data sorting, AI frees the humanistic mind to focus on empathy, moral reasoning, and the "why" behind our progress. 

In Huang’s world, a technologically advanced society is hollow without the context provided by those who study the human condition; AI simply gives them a more powerful megaphone to ensure the future remains deeply, fundamentally human.

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

In the latest dispatches from the front lines of the silicon revolution, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is challenging the boardroom status quo with a message that’s as much about human potential as it is about processing power. Huang, who famously co-founded NVIDIA at a San Jose Denny’s in 1993, is calling out executives who see artificial intelligence merely as a tool for cutting heads. 

To Huang, using the most powerful tool in human history simply to reduce headcount isn't just a strategy—it’s a profound "lack of imagination." He argues that visionary leaders should be looking to do more with the talent they have, rather than figuring out how to do the same with less.

This philosophy of resilience and expansion is deeply rooted in Huang’s own journey as a Taiwanese immigrant. Arriving in the U.S. at age nine with limited English, he was mistakenly sent to a Kentucky reform academy where he spent his days cleaning toilets and dodging bullies. Those early years, followed by graveyard shifts as a dishwasher and waiter at Denny's, forged the "grit" he now demands from modern leadership. For Huang, who survived two near-bankruptcies at NVIDIA by betting everything on unproven tech, the current AI boom is a moment for expansion, not retreat. He views every company as a future "AI factory," one that requires leaders to foster a "messy garden" of innovation rather than maintaining strict command and control.

Crucially, Huang’s vision extends beyond the engineering lab and into the heart of the humanities. He has recently suggested that the "digital divide" is closing because AI allows anyone to communicate with a computer using their native tongue—the ultimate "human language." For the philosopher, the historian, and the artist, AI acts as a bridge, translating complex data into the narratives and ethical frameworks that make a society worth living in. By automating the drudgery of research and data sorting, AI frees the humanistic mind to focus on empathy, moral reasoning, and the "why" behind our progress. In Huang’s world, a technologically advanced society is hollow without the context provided by those who study the human condition; AI simply gives them a more powerful megaphone to ensure the future remains deeply, fundamentally human.

Would you like to see a breakdown of AI research tools specifically designed for humanities scholars and ethical AI development?

First Asian American baseball player voted NL Rookie of the Year

Diamondbacks player Corbin Carroll voted NL Rookie of the Year.

When Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll was named the 2023 Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year Monday, he became the first Asian American to win that honor.

The vote was unanimous among the Baseball Writers Association of America for the 23-year old whose mother is from Taiwan.

“Definitely not the biggest guy out there on the field, but my ability to not be that guy and still be able to impact the game, that’s one piece of it,” Carroll told media during a conference call Monday.

“Not too many Asian Americans in this circumstance — I Definitely not the biggest guy out there on the field, but my ability to not be that guy and still be able to impact the game, that’s one piece of it, that I hope to inspire.”

The Seattle-raised Carrol is also the first D-back rookie in franchise history to earn the title. 

His performance this past season helped the team reach the World Series as the National League champs, eventually losing to the World Sries champ Texas Rangers.

When informed that he was the first Taiwanese American to play in the Fall Classic, he said: “Wow, that's really cool. I didn’t know that, My grandparents lived over there and my mom was born over there. Just bringing some pride and attention to Taiwanese baseball and that side of my heritage, I take a lot of pride in that.”

Other accomplishments that impressed the baseball writers:

• Became the first Rookie in MLB history to join the 25 homer and 50 stolen bases club.
• Became the first player in MLB history to record 10+ triples, 25+ homers and 50+ steals in a season.
• Became the ninth player to ever record a 20+-homer, 50+-stolen-base season.
• Ranked among Major League hitters in triples (2nd, 10), stolen bases (3rd, 54) and runs (7th, 116).
• Led MLB qualified Rookies in hits (161), triples (10), total bases (286) and runs (116).
• Became the 10th National League Rookie All-Star starter (since 1948) and first fan-elected Rookie starter since 2010…at 22 years old, he was the youngest player on either roster.
• Led the D-backs in hits (161), triples (10), runs (116), stolen bases (54), average (.285), OBP (.362), slugging percentage (.506) and OPS (.868).
• His 54 stolen bases marked the most by a Rookie in D-backs’ franchise history, ahead of Chris Young/2007 (27) and rank second all-time by a D-back in a season, behind Tony Womack/1999 (72).

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

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell votes against his own inter-racial marriage

Senator Mitch McConnell and his wife former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which includes the protection of interracial marriages, despite being married to former US Secretary for Transportation Elaine Chao, who is Taiwanese American.

The Respect For Marriage Act would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and would require each state to recognize marriages that are valid in the state where they were performed.

The RFMA was introduced out of fear that the conservative-majority Supreme Court, which earlier this year overturned Roe v. Wade, might do the same thing to the long-standing Loving vs. Virginia ruling that legalized interracial marriage and the Obergefell vs. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

McConnell, who was re-elected by the GOP Senate Minority Leader last week, never really explained his opposition to the RFMA, but Senate watchers speculated that it was his opposition to the same-sex marriage provision that prompted his nay.

He was equally mum when Trump delivered his racial slur against his wife via social media as he was criticizing McConnell's apparent support for some other Democratic legislation. However, on CNN, former McConnell aide said Trump's comments were out of line. "This is outrageous, it's beyond the pale, every Republican ought to say so," he said.

Trump insulted McConnell's wife in a post on his Truth Social website last month, calling Chao McConnell's "China-loving wife, Coco Chow." He also said McConnell had a "death wish" for backing "Democrat-sponsored bills," in the same post.

Despite McConnell's opposition to the RFMA, the Senate on Nov. 16 advanced legislation moving it closer to becoming law.

The 62 to 37 vote was a crucial test of support for the RFMA. With the backing of 12 Republican members, the Senate easily cleared the 60-vote procedural hurdle needed to move the legislation forward. Drafters of the plan were optimistic it would garner enough backing from the GOP after a bipartisan group of senators added amendments to the bill to include protecting religious liberty.

The RFMA passed the House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote in July.

Because of the amendment, the House will take another look at the bill before going to President Biden's desk for his signature. The White House urged passage of the measure.

"The right to marriage confers vital legal protections, dignity, and full participation in our society," the White House budget office said in a statement. "No person should face discrimination because of who they are or whom they love, and every married couple in the United States deserves the security of knowing that their marriage will be defended and respected."

Interracial marriage has become increasingly common in the United States: today, 17% of new marriages in the US are interracial, and “mixed race” was the fastest growing demographic category according to the 2020 census. Despite this increased acceptance, however, the recent increase of racism and hate crimes has created a challenging environment for many of those families.

Chao drew Trump's ire when she disapproved of the attempted coup on Jan. 6 and resigned her post five days later, the first administration official to do so in protest.

“I think the events at the capitol, however they occurred, were shocking. And it was something that, as I mentioned in my statement, that I could not put aside,” Chao said.

“And at a particular point, the events were such, that it was impossible for me to continue given my personal values and my philosophy,” she continued.

Chao added that “I came as an immigrant to this country. I believe in this country. I believe in the peaceful transfer of power. I believe in democracy. And so … it was a decision that I made on my own.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Slain doctor hailed as a hero for charging gunman at Taiwanese American church.

Dr. John Cheng was the lone fatality in a California shooting spree.

If not for the heroic sacrifice of Dr. John Cheng, the gunman in the Laguna Woods church shooting spree would have killed dozens more parishioners last Sunday afternoon.

Cheng, 52, is being hailed as a hero.

"Dr. Cheng is a hero in this incident," Orange County Sheriff Donald Barnes said Monday. "Without the actions of Dr. Cheng, it is no doubt that there would have been numerous additional victims in this crime."

Cheng was the only person killed in the mass shooting at the Geneva Presbyterian Church, where a Taiwanese church held services, in Laguna Woods, California. Five others were wounded by gunfire -- and if not for Cheng's efforts, more people could have been shot and killed, said Barnes.

About 40 group church members were gathered at a banquet outside the sanctuary to honor Rev. Billy Chang, a former pastor of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church visiting from Taiwan.Cheng, who was not a church members, was attending the reception with his recently widowed mother.

The gunman, 68-year old David Wenwei Chou, a former security guard from Las Vegas, Nevada, first shot at the ceiling.

While some bystanders thought it was a balloon popping, Chou, a martial arts instructor, saw the weapon and quickly charged at Chou despite being shot three times. This gave other parishioners time to join the fray to disarm and pin down the gunman.

The pastor, Billy Chang, struck the gunman with a chair, and others hogtied the man with an extension cord and took at least two handguns from him, officials said.

Cheng's quick action charging Chou caused the firearm to jam, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said.

"If that event had not occurred, in other words, if the gun had not jammed, that suspect, Mr. Chou, he was ready to kill everybody in that church," he said.

Chou lived in Las Vegas and was a US citizen who immigrated from China years ago, according to Barnes. Authorities found out that Chou had also secured the doors of the church from the inside using chains and super glue, and he also had a bag of Molotov cocktails and a bag of extra ammunition.

The attack is being seen by officials as politically motivated act.  The Chinese American suspect was apparently upset about political tensions between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. He has been charged with murder and nine other counts, Spitzer said.

The California mass shooting occurred days after a gunman shot at customers in a Korean nail spa, wounding several employees and customers, in Dallas Texas and a supermarket shooting spree in a supermarket that claimed the lives of 10 African Americans in Buffalo, NY. Both shooting incidents are being investigated as racial hate crimes.

Cheng leaves behind a wife and two children, worked as a family and sports medicine physician at the South Coast Medical Group in Aliso Viejo, California.

"Dr. Cheng was a natural protector and healer. It was characteristic of Dr. Cheng, to charge forward at the gunman. It doesn’t surprise any of us, that he was the HERO!," said a statement from the medical group. A GoFundMe page has been established for his family.

“No one should have to fear going to their place of worship,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom. “Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

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Tokyo Olympics: Taiwanese Americans lead U.S. fencing team to a bronze medal.

USA FENCING

Alexander Massialas, 2nd from right, and Gerek Meinhardt, far right, were part of the U.S.
team winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Sunday.

After a close loss to the Russian Olympic Committee in the semifinals, the U.S. men's foil team rallied to beat Japan 45-31 in the bronze medal match. 

Two of the  fencers who took on the trio from the home team were Alexander Massialas and Gerek Meinhardt, were Taiwanese Americans. They were joined by Race Imboden with Nick Itkin also having competed up until the second leg of the quarterfinal. 

The bronze is the second fencing medal for Team USA after Filipino American Lee Kiefer won gold in the women's individual foil. 

It is also the second consecutive bronze for the American men -- Meinhardt, Massialas and Imboden -- after the team beat Italy in Rio de Janiero in 2016. 

In the semifinals, the U.S. were upset by the Russian team, 45-41 in a see-saw battle with the lead exchanging several times before the ROC team came from behind to beat the Americans.

USA FENCING

Filipino American fencer Lee Kiefer made history with her gold medal win in individual foil.

On Saturday, the U.S. women's foil team of Lee Kierfer, Jackie Dubrovich, Nicole Ross and Taiwanese American Sabrina Massialas, lost its bid for a bronze medal when  it lost to Italy, 45-23. The U.S. women fenced for the bronze after giving the ROC team its stiffest test of the evening by losing 45-42. The Russians went on to easily win the gold by beating France, 45-23.

In the women's gold medal match, France demolished the team representing the Russian Olympic Committee, 45-28.

Newly crowned Olympic champion Kiefer said they were heartbroken that the U.S. women didn't win a medal, but fought hard the whole way.

“We lived like a family for five months and of course we wanted that medal,” said Kiefer, a Filipino American. “We’ve had such a fulfilling, beautiful journey that none of us knew was possible. We've taken our fencing to places that I think are incredible. I am filled with pride for my teammates. It hurts right now but we left it all out there. We have no regrets whatsoever.”

Tokyo Olympics: U.S. fencing team has a point to prove

Gerek Meinhardt scores a point in foil.

Three Taiwanese Americans and a Filipino American are members of the United States Olympic Fencing Team. All of them will represent the U.S. in foil.

The U.S. fencing team had one of its best Olympic showings in Rio five years ago. Team USA brought home four medals, including bronze in men’s foil and women’s saber and individual medals in men’s foil and men’s saber.

With 18 competitors nnd six replacements, the U.S. sending its largest fencing team to Tokyo. Four of the AAPI members are expected to win medals.

Following are the four AAPI fencers:

Gerek Meinhardt, Men's Foil

Taiwanese American Gerek Meinhardt (San Francisco, Calif. / Massialas Foundation / Notre Dame) was one of five athletes who earned his qualification spot for Tokyo prior to the yearlong shutdown of competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The youngest male fencer to represent Team USA in history, Meinhardt was just 18 years old when he competed at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. He went on to compete at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, earning bronze in the team event in Rio. The only U.S. man to win two individual medals at the Senior World Championships (bronze in 2010 and 2015), Meinhardt also was a member of the team that won its first-ever Senior World Championship gold in 2019 as well as the squads that earned three silvers in 2013, 2017 and 2018. Meinhardt qualified for his fourth Olympic Team in 2020 after winning his second international medal of the season with gold at the Torino Grand Prix. In the first tournament after the COVID-19 shutdown, Meinhardt won gold at the Doha Grand Prix in March and is now ranked No. 2 in the world. Meinhardt will fence in Tokyo with his wife, foil fencer Lee Kiefer (See below). Both Meinhardt and Kiefer also are students at the University of Kentucky Medical School where Kiefer is in her third year and Meinhardt his first.

Alexander Massialas, Men's Foil

The reigning individual silver medalist from the 2016 Olympic Games, Taiwanese American Alexander Massialas (San Francisco, Calif. / Massialas Foundation / Stanford) secured his position on his third straight Olympic Team with a silver medal finish at the Torino Grand Prix in 2020, followed by a bronze medal win in Cairo. Now ranked No. 5 in the world, Massialas won individual silver at the 2015 Senior World Championships and holds four Senior World medals in the team events, including gold in 2019. Three members of the Massialas family will be represented on Team USA with three-time Olympian Greg Massialas serving as the men’s foil team coach and Alexander’s sister, Sabrina Massialas (See below), who will travel as the replacement athlete for the women’s foil team.

Lee Kiefer, Women's Foil

After winning bronze at the 2011 Senior World Championships as a 17-year-old, Filipino American Lee Kiefer (Lexington, Ky. / Bluegrass Fencers’ Club / Notre Dame) has gone on to become one of the most successful women’s foil fencers in history, winning 20 individual medals on the World Cup circuit and leading Team USA to three podium finishes at the Senior World Championships, including the squad’s first-ever gold in 2018. Ranked No. 5 in the world, Kiefer is in her third year of medical school at the University of Kentucky and is eyeing the ability to add both “doctor” and “Olympic medalist” to her long resume.

Sabrina Massialas, Women's Foil

The younger sister of Alexander, Sabrina Massialas (San Francisco, Calif. / Massialas Foundation / Notre Dame) followed in her brother’s footsteps with a successful junior career that included individual gold at the 2016 Junior World Championships and winning the 2014 Youth Olympic Games title. A 2017 Senior World Team member, Sabrina Massialas battled injuries throughout her career, but earned a position as the replacement athlete for the women’s foil team after a top-32 result in Doha.

The U.S. Olympic fencing roster will be the largest in history should all 24 athletes compete in Tokyo.

Women’s Sabre
Mariel Zagunis, Eliza Stone, Dagmara Wozniak, Francesca Russo

Men’s Sabre
Eli Dershwitz, Daryl Homer, Andrew Mackiewicz, Khalil Thompson

Women’s Foil
Lee Kiefer, Jackie Dubrovich, Nicole Ross, Sabrina Massialas

Men’s Foil
Gerek Meinhardt, Alexander Massialas, Nick Itkin, Race Imboden

Women’s Foil
Lee Kiefer, Jackie Dubrovich, Nicole Ross, Sabrina Massialas

Men’s Foil
Gerek Meinhardt, Alexander Massialas, Nick Itkin, Race Imboden

Women’s Epee
Courtney Hurley, Kelley Hurley, Katharine Holmes, Anna van Brummen

Men’s Epee
Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald, Yeisser Ramirez, Alen Hadzic