In case you missed it: CBS special report on Asian Americans battle against pandemic and racism

 

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

Elaine Quijano hosted the CBS report "Asian Americans: Battling Bias."

CBS News aired a special report on "Asian Americans: Battling Bias" Friday morning making the first of the major networks to focus on the toll the coronavirus is having on AAPI communities.

Hosted by long-time journalist Elaine Quijano, the half-hour program made use of CBS' Asian American reporters including Nancy Chen, Michael George and White House correspondent Weijia Jiang.

Star Trek star George Takei gave a historical perspective of the role anti-Asian sentiment has had in the United States' history, citing his personal experience being incarcerated in the detention camps during WWII.

The special reported on the growing number of attacks against Asian Americans spurred on with the anti-Chinese rhetoric used by the Trump administration. "The South Asian and the Filipino American population are known to have higher rates of diabetes," which is known "to be a predisposing factor to worse outcomes," said Chicago cardiologist Dr. Nilay Shah.

The special examined the impact of the coronavirus on Asian-owned businesses, Economically, over 233,000 Asian American businesses have closed and unemployment has tripled. 

The documentary also looked at the growing alliance between Black and Asian American activists. "COVID-19 definitely sparked another awakening, where younger generations of Asian Americans have been for the first time experiencing — this more overt, in your face racism," said Tiffany Tso.

The new-found activism driven by the anti-Asian attacks, have also driven the growing political activism of Asian Americans and the potentially pivotal role they could play in the upcoming elections.

The special shows the advantage of having AAPI journalists on staff who can have editorial input and a personal stake. in giving an Asian American perspective on news of the day.

'Why don’t you ask China?' Trump tells Asian American journalist in confrontation

ASAM NEWS

Donald Trump abruptly ended a White House briefing after another confrontation with CBS News’ White House correspondent Weijia Jiang on Monday.

“You’ve said many times that the U.S. is doing far better than any other country when it comes to testing,” Jiang said during the briefing. “Why does that matter? Why is this a global competition to you if, every day, Americans are still losing their lives, and we’re still seeing more cases every day?”

“Well, they’re losing their lives everywhere in the world, and maybe that’s a question you should ask China,” Trump retorted.

But Jiang, who is Chinese American, didn’t let Trump get away with that answer.

“Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically, that I should ask China?” she asked.

Despite several reporters, including CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and PBS NewsHour’s Yamiche Alcindor, trying to cede their time to Jiang, Trump ignored them, abruptly ending the conference.

Trump faced immediate criticism over Twitter, many calling the incident “racist” and a “temper tantrum,” as well as applauding Jiang and the other reporters for their calm temperaments.

Other critics included former President Barack Obama’s Chief Strategist, David Axelrod, and MSNBC’s Joy Reid, who both noted the connection of Trump asking an Asian American reporter to refer her questions to China, as well as the ongoing trend of Trump’s dismissive attitude towards women reporters.

This isn’t the first confrontation between Jiang and Trump.

Trump told Jiang to “keep her voice down” during an April coronavirus task force briefing, complaining that he was being treated “unfairly.” (Jiang was calm throughout the entire exchange, and had not raised her voice or asked inappropriate questions.)

The same month, during another briefing, Trump called her tone while asking a question “very nasty,” then said, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself.” (Again, Jiang’s tone was not unusual, and she remained collected throughout the briefing.)

Jiang had also called attention to how coronavirus, or COVID-19, was being talked about by White House officials in March.

CBS reporter goes toe-to-toe with a condescending Donald Trump

ASAM NEWS

Donald Trump continuously lashed out at a woman reporter during a tense confrontation during a daily coronavirus task force briefing Sunday.

“Many Americans are saying… you should have warned them the virus was spreading like wildfire through the month of February instead of holding rallies with thousands of people,” said WeiJia Jiang, CBS News’ White House correspondent, in response to Trump’s false claims about his response to the coronavirus, or COVID-19.

“Why did you wait so long to warn them?” she continued

The president interrupted her, asking, “Who are you with?” (Jiang has also covered the Trump White House for about two years, and has traveled with him several times, according to USA Today.)

Trump then pointed to his late January ban of flights coming in from China.

“Chinese nationals,” Jiang then corrected, her voice not raised, “but by the way, not Americans who were also coming from China.”

“Nice and easy. Nice and easy,” Trump said. “Just relax. We cut it off.”

When Jiang attempted to follow up, Trump demanded for her to “keep your voice down” and said she should be thanking him for “closing up the entire country.” He also told her that she should “be doing her research,” quizzing her on case numbers when he implemented the Chinese nationals ban. (There was no widespread testing available during that time.)

“You’re never going to treat me fairly, many of you, and I understand that. I got here with the worst, most unfair press treatment they say in the history of the United States for a president,” Trump bemoaned. “They did say Abraham Lincoln had very bad treatment too.”

Critics of the president and other news media praised Jiang’s calm demeanor, with CNN’s Dana Bash noting that this incident was one of many times where Trump has treated female reporters more harshly than male reporters.

“I mean, come on. She was asking legitimate questions, just like our Jerry Diamond was,” Bash said. “But the way he reacts is different, and I think it’s time to say so.”

However, Trump supporters called Jiang an “anti-Trump activist” and “unhinged” on social media.

Jiang Tweeted the exchange, refuting many of the president’s claims later that day.