'Beef,' Ali Wong, Steven Yeun receive nominations for 75th Emmy Awards

A24 / BEEF

Both Ali Wong and Steven Yeun received Emmy nominations this year.

The growndbreaking series Beef, the production that threw Asian stereotypes out the window, was nominated for 13 Emmy's.

Four Asian American actors in Beef were nominated in acting categories including leads Steven Yeun and Ali Wong and supporting actors Joseph Lee and Young Mazino, as announced July 12.

Pakistani American Kumail Nanjiani was the only Asian American actor receiving a lead actor nomination for his portrayal of Somen "Steve" Banerjee, the founder of the cultural phenomenon male dance revue in the limited series Welcome to Chippendales.

Maria Bello, who plays Wong's character's mentor in Beef, also received a nod for supporting actress.

Beef is a dramedy about angry and mentally unstable Asian Americans (Yeun and Wong) involved in a road rage incident, thus breaking down the quiet, submissive,  model minority stereotype that hangs over all Asian Americans.

The Netflix series has received eight non-acting nominations in major categories, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.

Lee Sung Jin was nominated in two categories for his behind-the-camera work: Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing for in the Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

Another Beef  director, Jake Schreier, was also nominated for Outstanding Director for a different episode in the 10-episode series.

The other non-acting categories Beef received nominations included Charlene Lee and Claire Koonce in Outstanding Casting For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie and a nomination for Nat Fuller and Laura Zempel in Outstanding Picture Editing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie.

Penny Harold, Andrew Garrett Lange and Sean O’Malley were nominated for Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie for the episode "The Great Fabricator."

Helen Huang, Beef's assistant costume designers Austin Wittick and YJ Hwang, and costume supervisor Mark Anthony Summers, received nods in Outstanding Contemporary Costumes.

Beef was produced by A24, the same independent studio that produced the Oscar winning feature Everything Everywhere All At Once.

FYI: For complete list of Emmy nominees, click here.

Padma Lakshmi was nominated for two Emmys: Outstanding Host of Nonfiction Series of the 20th season of the popular Bravo cooking series Top Chef and Hulu's Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi. 

Indian Matcchmaking was nominated in the category of Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program.

The nominations for the 75th Emmy Awards are dominated by Succession, The Last of Us, and The White Lotus, which represent the three most-nominated shows of the year.

Among the nominations for HBO's Succession, Indian American Andrij Parekh received a nod for Outstanding Direction for the episode "America Decides." 

The 2023 Emmy Awards is slated to be held at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 18 but if the members of the Screen Actors Guild is still on strike, the show could be postponed or cancelled.  

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

10-month old Filipino American chosen as this year's Gerber's 'spkesbaby'

COURTESY OF MENDOZA FAMILY

10-month old Maddie Mendoza captured the hearts of the Gerber Baby Contest judges.

Gerber's 2023 Gerber Baby looks a lot like my daughters and nieces. from the topknot of black hair to her sparkling almond eyes to the skin, a golden shade of brown. A Filipino American toddler from Colorado was picked to represent Gerber, the baby-food making giant.

Madison “Maddie” Mendoza, along with her remarkable parents, captured the attention of the judges with a standout throwback submission and story full of love and resilience.

According to Gerber, Maddie is a “rainbow baby” – the name for a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of an infant.

“Being a rainbow baby, Maddie has brought us immeasurable joy with every milestone, snuggle and moment spent with her enriching our lives and making every day more meaningful and beautiful,” said Crystal Mendoza, Maddie’s mom.

“We look forward to witnessing her grow into a kind, compassionate, strong, independent and worldly individual as we hope to be stationed overseas again to teach Maddie about all the different parts of the world.”

At almost 10 months old, Maddie enjoys her baby music classes, thrives in her swim lessons, loves hiking with her parents and fearlessly explores new foods.

Just like mom, Maddie came into this world with a full head of hair, captivating expression and the most joyful attitude. Together as a family, they enjoy the outdoors, photography, trying different foods and restaurants and interacting with animals.

While her sweet smile won over the Gerber judges, her parents also want people to know she has a strong spirit and a mind of her own. When she was born, she had trouble breathing and needed supplemental oxygen. After a few nights, she apparently decided she’d had enough oxygen, tore off her tubes and breathed just fine, say her parents.

“She was able to tell us when she was ready to go home,” dad Jun Mendoza told TODAY in an interview before the broadcast from his office in Colorado Springs. “That kind of aligned with her adventurous, independent spirit.”

As part of her tenure as the 2023 Gerber Baby, Maddie will work with Gerber to help the next generation of babies grow and thrive.

Maddie's parents, who have been together for 22 years, have a heart-warming love story. From their days as high school sweethearts to enduring a long-distance relationship for 9 years, their bond has only grown stronger.

As a US Air Force Academy grad, dad Jun is now a Lieutenant Colonel physician in the Air Force and has been serving for 16 years. Crystal, Maddie’s mom, is a dentist.

Both parents are from first-generation immigrant families from the Philippines. Like many Filipinos, both of Maddie’s grandfathers served in the US Navy and came to the United States with very little. Their journeys are a testament to resilience and love.

For this year’s photo search, parents were encouraged to submit a throwback picture of themselves as babies and a photo of their own child. When applying, Crystal (Maddie’s mom) sent a picture of herself and her newborn daughter, Madison “Maddie” Mendoza.

After Gerber unveiled the winner, the company posted both photos of the mother-daughter duo on social media and the resemblance is uncanny. From the rosy round cheeks to their fluffy black hair, Crystal and Maddie practically look like identical twins.

GERBER

Maddie and her parents, Jun and Crystal.

“Gerber has always believed in the magic of babies, and Maddie's story, filled with love, resilience, and adventure, embodies the spirit of generations of Gerber babies,” said Tarun Malkani, Gerber President & CEO. “The throwback submission of Maddie and her mom brought a smile to the judges’ faces and perfectly captured the spirit of this year’s program. We’re excited to partner with Maddie and her family throughout the next year to highlight the full-circle journey from baby to parent.”

This year’s Photo Search winner will serve as the 2023 Gerber Baby and will be featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year. Additionally, Maddie and her family were awarded a $25,000 cash prize, free Gerber products for up to one year, a new wardrobe provided by Gerber Childrenswear, as well as surprise perks from our partners. Gerber will also match Maddie’s cash prize with a donation to support March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs.

“With Gerber’s continued support of March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs, together, we can make a lasting impact on maternal and infant health, ensuring that every baby has the best start in life," said Kelly Ernst, SVP, Chief Revenue & Impact Officer. “We’re proud to be part of Photo Search again and join Gerber in congratulating Maddie and her family!”

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

Another Asian American will host 'Top Chef' after Padma Lakshmi's departure.

INSTAGRAM / KRISTEN KISH

Kristen Kish, right, will take over Top Chef hosting duties from long-time host Padma Lakshmi.

It turns out that the next Top Chef host knows what it’s like to compete in the culinary competition firsthand. Kristen Kish, who won Season 10 of the series back in 2013, will be taking the reins from Padma Lakshmi, who helmed the show for 19 seasons.

"I started my journey with Top Chef first as a competing chef, then a guest judge, and now as a host. I have the honor of helping to continue to build this brand,” Kristen, 39, expressed in a press release on Tuesday.

"I'm thrilled to sit alongside Gail [Simmons] and Tom [Colicchio] as we get to know new incredible chefs and see what they cook up. It feels like coming home.”

Born in South Korea, Kish was adopted by a Michigan family when he was just four months old. As a teenager, she pursued a career as a model but it was the culinary world that was her passion. She enrolled in Chicago's renowned Le Cordon Bleu where she earned her Associate's degree in culinary arts. 

In 2012, she auditioned for the Top Chef. Her signature soup dish in the qualifying round won her a spot for the series' 10th season.

Despite facing an initial setback when she was eliminated in the 11th episode, Kristen's cooked her way back into the competition after securing five consecutive victories in the Last Chance Kitchen. This triumphant comeback resulted in her winning the series, making her the second female winner in Top Chef's history.

After her Top Chef victory, with her winning personality and photogenic qualities, Kristen's culinary career soared. She hosted several other food-related shows, including Travel Channel’s 36 Hours, TruTV’s Fast Foodies, Netflix’s Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, and National Geographic’s Restaurants at the End of the World.

The Emmy-award winning Lakshmi's departure left a big hole to fill for Top Chef. The Indian American immigrant will focus on Hulu's Taste the Nation, asks the question, "What is American cuisine?" The series explores the cuisines of the US's ethnic communities and allows Lakshmi to be more of herself, in contrast to the highly structured nature of Top Chef.

For Kish's first assignment, the cheftestants will be competing in Season 21, which takes place in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin. Most likely, a cheese challenge will be a factor during the new season, which hasn't announced a release date yet.

Kristen wasn’t the only one who was excited about the major Top Chef news. Ryan Flynn, the senior vice president of current production at NBCUniversal Television & Streaming, also reacted to the announcement.

“Kristen Kish represents everything that makes Top Chef incredibly special,” he said in a press release for Season 21. “She’s an acclaimed chef, and her experience as a cheftestant, winner, and judge, alongside her culinary curiosity, makes Kristen the perfect host for the next chapter of Top Chef as we take on a new region of the country we haven’t explored.”

Jo Sharon and Casey Kriley, the co-CEOs of Magical Elves, the company that produces Top Chef, shared a joint statement about Kristen as well.

“Kristen is a beloved part of the Top Chef family, and we’re thrilled to have her join and bring to the competition her unique, fresh, and global culinary perspective, as well as her true passion for food,” the pair said. “We look forward to Season 21 and know our incoming chefs will be inspired by the bourgeoning culinary scene in Milwaukee and Madison known for blending tradition with innovation and utilizing farm-fresh ingredients.” 

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

Make no mistake, the GOP's Nikki Haley is no moderate

SCREEN CAPTURE / PBS

Nikki Haley is campaigning to be the Republican Presidential nominee in 2024.

As president, Indian American Nikki Haley would push forward "the same politics of lies and division that Trump used, just in a softer voice." 

- Rev. Dr. William Barber II.

By Julia Conley
Reprinted from Common Dreams

Following former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley's launch of her 2024 presidential campaign last February, progressives cautioned that while the Republican has spent years cultivating a so-called "moderate" public persona, her policy positions make it abundantly clear that as president, she would promote a right-wing agenda similar to the Trump administration, in which she served for nearly two years.

Haley, who also served as South Carolina's governor before joining the administration of former President Donald Trump in 2017, has advanced right-wing policies both domestically and abroad, and since leaving public office four years ago, has used her platform to promote "extreme hardline positions on foreign policy," wrote Daniel Larison at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

The Republican has strived to center her response to the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting in Charleston by a white supremacist as evidence of her moderation, including in her campaign launch video footage of the speech she gave weeks after the massacre when signing a bill to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state capitol.

Progressive strategist Sawyer Hackett noted, however, that moments earlier in the video she denied that the deep history of institutional racism has contributed to persistent inequality in the United States.

"Make no mistake: Nikki Haley is no moderate," said Christina Harvey, executive director of progressive advocacy group Stand Up America. "From her support of Trump's policy of putting children in cages and the regressive reproductive health policies she pushed as governor of South Carolina to her opposition to federal voting rights legislation and her unwavering support of Donald Trump—even after he incited the January 6 insurrection—Nikki Haley has shown her true colors."

During her six years as governor of South Carolina, Haley signed anti-reproductive rights bills including one that banned abortion care after 19 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.

With anti-abortion rights Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expected to also announce a run for the GOP presidential nomination, NARAL Pro-Choice America president Mini Timmaraju said the primary is already becoming "a race to the bottom."

"Whether it's serving in Donald Trump's Cabinet or signing an extreme abortion ban into law, Nikki Haley's record is chock full of red flags," said Timmaraju. "Haley's views on abortion are just as extreme as others gunning for the Republican nomination, and we look forward to working alongside our members to defeat the Republican nominee, whoever it may be."

Haley's campaign launch ad also included a claim that President Joe Biden is promoting a "socialist" agenda, which Poor People's Campaign co-chair Rev. Dr. William Barber II interpreted as an attack on those who "believe in living wages, voting rights, and healthcare for all."

During Haley's two years as U.N. ambassador under the Trump administration, she was a strong proponent of the president's so-called "zero tolerance" policy under which thousands of migrant children were separated from their parents and guardians, Trump's push to pull out of the U.N. Human Rights Council, and the administration's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.Though she briefly criticized Trump for inciting the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in an effort to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, Haley soon after defended the former president and called on Democratic lawmakers to "give the man a break" as they impeached Trump for a second time.

"When we needed leaders to stand up for our democracy and our freedoms, Haley fell in line with Donald Trump, again and again," said Harvey. "That's exactly the opposite of what our country needs. Unfortunately, it doesn't make her unique. Whether the Republican nominee is Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, or someone else, there will likely be a MAGA Republican with a track record of undermining our democracy on the GOP ticket come November 2024."

At the Quincy Institute, Larison wrote that Haley's effort to cast herself as a moderating voice in the Republican Party while also defending the former president has left her "with no obvious base of support" and has likely rendered her a long-shot candidate.

"There is so little daylight between Haley's own positions and those of Trump that it will be difficult for her to criticize anything he did as president," Larison wrote. "Haley's foreign policy record is bound up with Trump's to such an extent that she will struggle to distinguish herself from him."

Barber called on voters to focus on "the main message: None of the Republicans planning on running disagree with Trump on policy."

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

Asian American woman has historic victory at Pebble Beach

SCREEN CAPTURE

US Open champ Allisen Corpuz is congratulated by her parents, Marcos and May.

Allisen Corpuz smoothly parred the famous 18th hole of the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Links to secure a three-shot victory and a $2-million check last weekend. 

A packed grandstand broke out in chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” as Corpuz became the first American to win the US Women’s Open since 2016, the first woman to win at Pebble Beach, and certainly, the first golfer from Hawaii of Korean and Filipino descent to hoist the Women's Open trophy over her head.

When asked by the post tourney press conference July 9, she was asked what made her fall in love with the game at such a young age, Corpuz gave an amusingly honest answer: “Honestly, I sucked. I just wanted to get better. I think that’s just kind of who I am, like as a person. Just if something can be done better, that’s how I want to do it.”

In 2008, Corpuz surpassed Michelle Wie West as the youngest to ever qualify for the US Women’s Amateur Public Links at 10 years, 3 months and 9 days. Comparisons naturally followed.

Corpuz started her golf career when she was attending Punahou School, the same high school where fellow pro-golfer Michelle Wie West and Barack Obama studied.

It was fitting that at the same tourney that Wie West announced her retirement, Corpuz's profile rose to the top of women's golf.

“I’ve never really compared myself to her,” said Corpuz of Wie West. “I’ve always wanted to make my own name. “She’s just served as a really big inspiration.”

Corpuz, who won the Open by three shots over Charley Hull (66) and Jiyai Shin (68), credited her Filipino father, Marcos, for introducing her to the sport she’s come to love.

“I started [golf] when I was four, or five years old. My parents actually live on Kapolei golf course — on the left side… So yeah, my dad has always been a really big golf fan and just got us into it really young,” she said.

At age 6, the young Allisen told her father, “If you want me to play golf, don’t scold me.”

Her parents, Marcos, a dentist, and May were not overbearing, but even at such a young age, Corpuz knew that she was intrinsically motivated to get better. No one needed to push her.

In 2008, at the tender age of 10-years old, she made headlines by becoming the youngest qualifier in US Women’s Amateur Public Links history, a record previously held by Wie West.

She attended Punahou School, the same high school where Wie West and former President Barack Obama studied. At 12, she realized that she might be able to make a living playing golf.

The 25-year-old graduated from USC, where she mastered in Global Supply Chain Management and earned a graduate certificate in Business Analytics. 

In only her second year on the LPGA tour, Corpuz entered the tournament last week 29th in the world but largely overlooked. She ended the week with a congratulatory tweet from former President Obama.

“Congratulations to fellow Hawaiian Allisen Corpuz for winning the U.S. Women’s Open!” tweeted Obama. “You make us all proud – and look forward to a round at Kapolei!”

“Yeah, Barack and Michelle are the two Punahou alum that I get talked to about the most,” said Corpuz. 

In an understatement, she said: “I mean, he’s done a lot in his career. Yeah, that’s really special.”

Now they get to talk about Allisen.

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

Miss Texas has a message for Texas' Republican governor

AVERIE BISHOP

Averie Bishop used her Miss Texas platform to advocate for diversity and inclusion.

After giving up her crown as Miss Texas, it didn't take long for the Filipino American beauty queen Averie Bishop took her first steps into the political arena by criticizing Texas' conservative  leaders.

Days after crowning her successor, Ellie Breaux as Miss Texas 2023, Bishop aimed her message of diversity right at Texas Governor Greg Abbott who has campaigned against communities of color and through the Republican-controlled state legislature, make it harder for voters to cast their ballots.

In an opinion article published by MSNBC, Bishop wrote: "I also know that if our politicians continue to shut out, ignore and oppress marginalized and minority Texans, the state will never become the socio-economic and political powerhouse it wants to become."

During Bishop's  reign as Miss Texas last year, she consistently pushed her platform, "Y’all Means All” in all her appearances.

She was the first Asian American to win the title in the 85-year history of this scholarship competition. The winner represented the Lone Star state in the Miss America scholarship competition.

As a college student at Southern Methodist University, she saw the demographic changes in Texas as it became a majority-minority state, where no one ethnic group was in the majority. "I started seeing a new side of my state, a Texas that is home to one of the country’s largest South Asian communities, a thriving Black music industry, generations of Latinx and Chicano cultures, and some of the best Vietnamese food this side of the Pacific." she continued.

"And yet, so many of the leaders of my state are living in denial. Rather than celebrating this diversity and the ways it makes us stronger, they are trying to smother it."

During her year as Miss Texas she has spoken on race, abortion, immigration, voting, same-sex marriage, school shootings and comprehensive sex education, all of which leaned progressive and against the views of the Republican lawmakers, including Abbott.

In June as Bishop was preparing to end her year as Miss Texas, Abbott signed laws banning diversity offices and training at state universities, “sexually explicit” books at public schools, drag shows and gender-affirming care for youths.

In a recent article published in the Washington Post, Bishop, who graduated from Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University, school plans to join a law office to launch her career. At some point, Bishop told the Post, she might run for elective office.

In her MSNBC oped, the 27-year old Bishop concluded: "I became Miss Texas to advocate for the people of color, immigrants and LGTBQ people who hold up every community from Galveston to Waco. Now more than ever, it is crucial to hold our leaders and institutions accountable. And I think most Texans agree with me."

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

For AANHPI audiences seeking representation, this summer gives a ride you'll relish

'Joy Ride' breaks all the stereotypes of Asian women.

We are in an unprecedented era of AANHPI visibility in Hollywood thanks to the critical and box office success of movies like Crazy Rich Asians and the long-running success of Fresh Off the Boat TV series, both of which opened doors for more entertainment featuring AANHPI actors and themes.

Kung Fu may be ending its run after three seasons and after four years, the students in Never Have I Ever are ending their high school careers, but they will still be available for streaming. 

To help make up the gap with their departure, there are still a lot of movies and series  on the big and little screens and at least one major Broadway production for AANHPi audiences looking for entertainment they can relate to this summer.

I've added a few more to the recommendations from Gold House:

JOY RIDE, Opening weekend at a theater near you.

Created by Adele Lim, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, and Teresa Hsiao, and starring Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu, Joy Ride is smashing boundaries in a genre historically dominated by white, cisgender men. The hilarious and unapologetically explicit story of identity and self-discovery centers on four unlikely friends who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure. Their no-holds-barred, epic experience becomes a journey of bonding, friendship, belonging, and wild debauchery that reveals the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are. It earns its "R" rating. Find a showing near you here!

WARRIOR, Season 3 - streaming now on Max [trailer]

In Season 3, the action-packed martial arts drama series continues its thrilling saga set in the gritty streets of San Francisco's Chinatown during the late 19th century. As the city teeters on the brink of chaos, the resilient protagonist, Ah Sahm, finds himself embroiled in a dangerous battle for justice, honor, and survival. With stunning fight sequences, complex character dynamics, and a richly layered narrative, Season 3 promises to deliver an adrenaline-fueled journey filled with intrigue, betrayal, and the pursuit of ultimate victory


PAST LIVES - now in theaters [trailer]

With a 97% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score, Celine Song’s writing and directorial debut Past Lives “uses the bonds between its sensitively sketched central characters to support trenchant observations on the human condition.” Past Lives follows Nora (Greta Lee), who immigrated to Canada from South Korea as a child. Two decades later, Nora reunites with her childhood sweetheart Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), who brings up long-buried feelings about their relationship and her Korean American identity.

ELEMENTAL - now in theaters [trailer]

Based on director Peter Sohn’s experience with his first-generation immigrant parents, Elemental is a new Pixar film that transports moviegoers to an extraordinary place called Element City, where different elements live and work. Ember, a quick-witted and fiery woman who’s always stayed close to home in Firetown, finally ventures out of her comfort zone to explore the world beyond and meets Wade, a watery and sensitive man who challenges her beliefs about the possibilities for her life.

NIMONA - streaming on Netflix [trailer]

This animated film, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Noelle Stevenson, follows the adventures of Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young shapeshifter with a knack for mischief. She teams up with the supervillain Lord Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) to wreak havoc on the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics. As Nimona and Boldheart's plans unfold, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens the kingdom and forces them to question their loyalties.

POLITE SOCIETY - streaming on Peacock and available on VOD [trailer]

A merry mash up of sisterly affection, parental disappointment and bold action, Polite Society follows martial artist-in-training Ria Khan (Priya Kansara) who believes she must save her older sister Lena (Ritu Arya) from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood.

 AMERICAN BORN CHINESE, streaming on Disney+

A coming-of-age story of a Chinese American teen struggling between two worlds of becoming a "normal" American kid and his rich Chinese heritage. The TV series flits between present day US suburban high school and the world of the legend of the Monkey King. It features a host of familiar Asian American actors including Oscar winners Michelle Yeo and Ke Huy Quan.

 LOVE IN TAIPEI,  streaming on Paramount+ beginning August 10

Love those romcoms! Based on the best-selling book “Loveboat, Taipei” by Abigail Hing Wen, Love in Taipei tells the story of the young American Ever Wong, whose summer takes an unexpected turn when her parents surprise her with a trip to Taipei for a cultural immersion program. Ever is surprised to discover that she hasn’t signed up for homework and history lessons, but instead for a summer-long free-for-all the locals and other students call “Loveboat.” And it quickly lives up to its name. The feature film directed by Arvin Chen (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?), and stars Ashley Liao, Ross Butler, Nico Hiraga and Chelsea Zhang, premieres later this summer exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada on Thursday, August 10, also coming to the service in the UK, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and South Korea.

' XO, KITTY', currently streaming on Netflix

The fifth installment of the franchise established by To All The Boys I Loved Before e books by author Jenny Han, XO Kitty follows Lara Jean's kid sister as she travels to South Korea hoping to reconect with a long-distance boyfriend and learn more about her mother's past. She finds, however, that a relationship is much more complex when it is your own feelings of love at risk. Ahh, young love!

And, lastly, if you're in the New York City area, besure to catch Here Lies Love ...

'Here Lies Love' with its all-Filipino cast will be coming to Broadway July 20.

HERE LIES LOVE, opening night on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre, New York City on July 20

And for you who love Broadway, Here Lies Love  will debut July 20 on Broadway with advance performances beginning on July 17. The musical featuring an all-Filipino cast, including Lea Salonga and Conrad Ricamora, traces the rise ... and the fall ... of the conjugal dictatorship of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. The groundbreaking immersive production allows the audience to become of the show, transforming from disco-goers, to adoring Marcos supporters and finally becoming the protestors in the People Power revolution toppling the dictatorship. Music by Grammy®, Oscar®, and Tony Award® winner David Byrne and Grammy Award® winner Fatboy Slim.

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.

Trump's Guam-born personal aide indicted for mishandling classified documents

SCREEN CAPTURE

Walt Nauta, right, Donald Trump's personal aide, has been indicted for mishandling classified documents and lying to federal investigators.

A Guam-born aide to Donald Trump pleaded "not guilty" today to federal charges that he conspired with the former reality show host and former President to withhold classified documents.

Walt Nauta, a Navy veteran who served as Trump's valet when Trump occupied the White House, faces five counts of concealing or withholding documents and taking part in a conspiracy to obstruct justice, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The federal indictment alleges that Nauta moved dozens of boxes containing classified documents at Trump's direction at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's home in Palm Beach, Fla., and then lied to federal investigators about it.

When Trump lost the 2020 election, Nauta retired from the Navy and became his personal aide and "body" man. Nauta, 40, is usually seen nearby wherever Trump goes, ready to do whatever Trump asks him to do.

Nauta was born in Agat, Guam where his relatives continue to live. When contacted by US media, his family sounded surprised at the news.

In an interview with the Washington Post before Nauta was charged, relatives in Guam described him as a "good boy" who moved to the United States "to enjoy his life, not to cause problems."

Nauta's mother, Pauline Torre, told the Washington Post, the fact that her son had been selected to serve the president "says it all."

The charges against Trump and Nauta largely center around their alleged efforts to mislead authorities about the classified material the former president hoarded at Mar-a-Lago.

Although surveillance footage shows Nauta moving 64 boxes out of a storage area at Mar-a-Lago, Nauta told federal investigators he didn't know the contents of the boxes nor if they were classified or not.

Trump and Nauta have continued their close working relationship, despite being named as Trump’s co-defendant . The relationship is complicated by a judge's order that the two to not talk to each other about the case.

Late last week, Nauta accompanied Trump on a political appearance in Philadelphia, where the two were photographed side-by-side ordering cheesesteaks at a famous city institution, reports The Rolling Stone.

Trump defended Nauta on his Truth Social social media platform and accused officials at the DOJ of "trying to destroy his life" and "hoping that he will say bad things about 'Trump'."

Nauta’s attorney Stan Woodward, accompanied by Florida attorney Sasha Dadan, entered Nauta’s not guilty plea at a federal court in Miami July 6 in front of Chief Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres, the Washington Post reported.

The Department of Justice charged Nauta with six felony counts in conjunction with Trump’s June 8 indictment: conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal and making false statements and representations.

Investigators of the DOJ's Special Counsel Jack Smith allege Nauta helped Trump move boxes at Mar-A-Lago containing classified documents in an effort to evade federal investigators and Trump’s attorneys. The indictment accuses Nauta of lying to the FBI by saying he did not know where the boxes were located before agents obtained security footage showing Nauta and another aide moving materials.

Federal Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee who is overseeing the case, scheduled Trump’s trial to begin August 14 but that will likely be delayed, a favorite Trump legal tactic.

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

AANHPI respond with anger at SCOTUS ruling against affirmative action

TWITTER / MAYA WILEY

Demonstrations broke out after the Supreme Court rendered its decision on affirmative action.

In its dogged determination to send the US back to the 1950s, the US Supreme Court's ruling Thursday against affirmative action in college admissions drew sharp and angry criticism from the AANHPI leaders, from Vice President Kamala Harris and civil rights advocates to the students on campus.

"The highest court in our land just made a decision today on affirmative action and I feel compelled to speak about it," said Harris, whose mother is from India.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is a denial of opportunity. It’s not about being colorblind. It’s about being blind to history, blind to empirical evidence about disparities, and blind to the strength that diversity brings to classrooms, to boardrooms,” Harris said on Twitter.

The GOP-dominated Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling Thursday on Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolin, undermines the Court’s long-standing support for affirmative action in higher education.

The Republican appointees of the Court struck a deep blow to students and racial equity in education by holding that Harvard and the University of North Carolina's affirmative action programs violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. 

“Affirmative action policies have helped colleges and universities across our country cultivate more diverse student bodies. These commonsense policies recognize that diversity on campuses benefits all students, and help to advance racial equity. But once again, this extreme Supreme Court has taken our country backwards," said Senator Mazie Hirono, D-HI. 

"Given our country’s long history of racial discrimination and the stark racial inequality that continues to this day, for Justices to focus on whether the benefits of diversity can be measured precisely is shortsighted and detached from reality. Diversity of every kind makes us stronger," said Hirono.

Asian American Legal Education Fund and Asian Americans Advancing Justice were two of many groups who filed friends of the court briefs supporting the admission policies of both schools.

“The Supreme Court has rolled back progress in the fight for racial justice by undermining affirmative action programs at Harvard and UNC. By pitting communities of color against each other, the Court’s decision discounts broad Asian American support for race-conscious admissions and the importance of ensuring diversity in our classrooms. Together with other communities of color, we will continue to ensure that the pathways to opportunity and leadership are open to all,” said Margaret Fung, executive director of AALDEF.

“It makes me angry to see the Supreme Court wield the history of the Equal Protection Clause and the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education in a way that is antithetical to its purpose," said Bethany Li, legal director of AALDEF. "Brown helped desegregate our schools and give students of color a fighting chance at a good education. 

"The decision today uses the false myth of color blindness to undermine an important tool for correcting these disparities. When you purport to be color blind, you're saying you don't see race. But if you don't see race, you don't see the disparities in education, in health, in jobs, and in society at large that racial minorities including Asian Americans have historically faced and continue to face today,” 

“We are outraged that the Supreme Court has chosen to ignore long-standing legal precedent in favor of supporting racial inequity that harms all people of color, including Asian Americans,” said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Advancing Justice – AAJC. “But we are more committed than ever to ensuring equal opportunity for our children – and for all children in this country. We will not let this court decision keep us from pushing colleges and universities, Congress, and others to keep today’s ruling from undermining the progress made toward educating future multiracial, talented leaders who deserve every opportunity to reach their highest potential on campuses that reflect the diversity of America.”

RELATED: Strongly worded dissenting opinions say race matters

““Racism and anti-Blackness are inescapable in our country, and race-conscious admissions are a crucial tool in expanding opportunities for students of color that reckons with those realities," said Aarti Kohli, Executive Director of Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus.

"For Asian Americans, this ruling will particularly harm Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, and Southeast Asian communities who continue to face significant barriers to higher education. At a moment when our country is increasingly segregated and there are significant gaps in resources for majority minority schools, we call on Congress, our local elected leaders, and universities to do everything in their power to implement solutions we really need for economic equity and racial justice in our nation.”

“For Asian American students and all others, racially diverse student bodies both enhance their learning and foster understanding of each student’s lived experience,” said Connie Chung Joe, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. “In our ever-changing global economy and platform, we must continue to give all students the opportunity to fulfill their potential and shape a future built strong on our biggest asset – our diversity.”

“We unequivocally condemn the ruling by the Supreme Court to reverse these affirmative action policies, thus ensuring that systemic racism continues to be embedded in higher education,” said Grace Pai, Executive Director of Advancing Justice – Chicago. “As Asian Americans, we will not allow our communities to be used as a prop by the conservative movement to advance a white supremacist agenda.”

“Declaring these race conscious policies unconstitutional is a barely disguised tool to once again remove students of color from our nation’s campuses and perpetuate the historical legacy of institutionalized racism in education that continues, especially in the south,” said Phi Nguyen, Executive Director of Advancing Justice – Atlanta. “We will continue to fight for racial justice and ensure that everyone has access to a quality education.”

“Affirmative action is not only beneficial for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), but for all students and society as a whole” said OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates President Linda Ng. “By preventing holistic affirmative action policies from being implemented, the Supreme Court has ignored the reality of persistent institutional bias, racial discrimination, and inequality in our country - undermining the efforts of educators and advocates to create more equitable and diverse learning environments.”

“Today’s decision is an absolute gut punch to our country’s efforts in creating a more inclusive society for all. Affirmative action policies have been the victim of years of a well-funded intentionally dishonest misinformation campaign. Because of today’s ruling, we will see less diverse student bodies, a less prepared workforce, and ultimately a less competitive economy,” said OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates VP of Public Affairs Kendall Kosai. “Our nation’s future depends on racial equity and diversity in higher education to achieve a thriving, multiracial democracy. We must all continue to work together to achieve that goal, no matter the decision of the Supreme Court.”

Some responses, including members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) hinted what might happen in order to make up for the absence of affirmative action.

CAPAC Whip Rep. Ted Lieu, D-CA urged that colleges use other strategies to maintain campus diversity.

“I strongly oppose the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College," said Lieu. "The majority opinion, however, contains a critical exception that I urge all colleges and universities to utilize: ‘nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.’ Many colleges and universities already employ this type of holistic admissions policy to achieve diversity on their student body mix and I urge them to continue to do so. When colleges reflect the diversity of America, all our communities are strengthened.”

Some members of Congress want to expand the Supreme Court's decision to include other traditional school admission practices that give preferences to White applicants.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to end the consideration of race as a factor in college admissions is a significant setback in our effort to eliminate disparities in access to higher education and ensure diverse learning environments for all students," said Rep. Bobby Scott, D-VA, who is the ranking member f the House Education and Workforce Committee.

"It is now imperative that we review other facets in college admissions that research shows are racially discriminatory and have a disparate impact and determine if they too need to be eliminated, given today’s ruling," said Scott, whose ancestors include Filipino immigrants. 

"Race-conscious admissions policies provided a counterbalance to these discriminatory factors—such as inequitable K-12 schools, racially biased admissions tests, and developmental and legacy admissions—that all marginalize students of color. Now that the Court has invalidated that balance, I call on the Attorney General to start filing cases now against any current school practices that violate the Equal Protection Clause and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act because they have discriminatory impact.”

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

World Bank President, Oscar winner among Asian American immigrants honored by Carnegie

As Immigrant Heritage Month came to a close, on June 28 the Carnegie Corporation of New York announced its annual list of Great Immigrants, honoring 35 naturalized citizens who have enriched and strengthened our society and our democracy.

Each Fourth of July since 2006, the philanthropic foundation has invited Americans to celebrate these exemplary individuals by participating in its online public awareness campaign, Great Immigrants, Great Americans. #GreatImmigrants

Among the honorees are Ajay Banga, the newly installed World Bank President, Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan and "Pachinko" author Min Jin Lee.

 In an interview with Carnegie, Banga expressed the importance of diversity that immigrants bring to the US workplace:

"At the end of the day, if you surround yourself with people who look like you, who walk like you and talk like you, and grew up in the same places you did and worked with you in your prior jobs, then you will have a sense of comfort of hiring people around you who have that familiarity. But you will also have the same blind spots. You will miss the same trends. You will miss the same opportunities."

Lee, whose novel “Pachinko” was a National Book Awards finalist, said she was honored to be on the Carnegie list because “it’s an honest look at America.”

“There’s this thinking that immigrants are yellow, black, and brown people from somewhere else and ‘they have all these needs,’ rather than ‘they have all these assets,’ ” said Lee, who emigrated from South Korea with her family when she was a child. 

“I think that this list is a really good reflection of our assets, what we bring to the table, and how we make the team stronger.”

Lee told the Associated Press that anti-immigrant political rhetoric is essentially a distraction from economic inequality and ongoing systemic racism.

“Toxic rhetoric against immigrants really forgets the entire history of America, which is that without immigrants, we have nothing,” she said. “I’m really grateful that the Carnegie Corporation of New York is bringing back the centrality of immigration as a force for good in the United States.”

For generations, immigrants have come to the United States seeking opportunities for themselves and their families. Among this year’s honorees are individuals who have fostered opportunities for others through their work as educators, mentors, philanthropists, job creators, public servants, storytellers, and advocates.

“The Great Immigrants initiative is a tribute to the legacy of Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who, like these honorees, found success in America, contributed enormously to his adopted country, and inspired others to do the same,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York, and a naturalized citizen who first came to the United States from Ireland as a graduate student. 

“The 35 naturalized citizens honored today embody that tradition, reminding us that the contributions of immigrants make our country more vibrant and our democracy more resilient.”

The2023 Class of Great Immigrants is comprised of naturalized citizens from 33 countries and a wide range of backgrounds and fields. 

The seven Asian American immigrants,are:

• Ajay Banga (India) As the newly elected president of the World Bank, Banga aims to lead the organization in tackling climate change and confronting the toughest challenges facing developing countries.

• Betty Kwan Chinn (China) Founder, Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation

• Min Jin Lee (South Korea) Author and National Book Award Finalist

• Ted Lieu (Taiwan) US Congressman, California, District 36

• Ke Huy Quan (Vietnam) Academy Award–Winning Actor

• Oscar A. Solis (Philippines) 10th Bishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City

• Ponsi Trivisvavet (Thailand) CEO and Director, Inari
• FYI: For the complete list of immigrants honored by Carnegie, click here.

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

Race matters, Jackson, Sotomayor give eloquent, angry defense of affirmative action

Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the conservative majority.

OPINION

Even though the US Supreme Court's ruling overturning affirmative action was expected, it didn't lessen the anger that still rose up Thursday morning. I'm furious.

The Supreme Court released their decision Thursday saying that Harvard's admission policy discriminated against Asian students applying to the school and ruled that the University of North Carolina's use of race to achieve a diverse student body was against the Constitution.

The vote was 6-3 in the complaint against UNC with the conservative justices in the majority. In Harvard's case, the vote was 6-2 with Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recusing herself because she was until, recently, a member of Harvard’s board of overseers.

The complaints against both schools was filed by Students for Fair Admissions, a questionable group headed by anti-affirmative action activist Ed Blum, who has been trying to end the policy for decades. In the case against Harvard, SFFA claimed that the school's affirmative action policy discriminated against Asian American applicants, who never showed up in court to testify.

The gist of the SCOTUS rulings was that schools could not use race as a factor in evaluating students applying for admission.

Personally, race helps define who I am. People who say they are color-blind -- and that includes the six conservative justices -- don't see me. The SCOTUS majority is saying my life experiences as a Filipino American does not matter.

To be clear, in the cases of Harvard and UNC, race is simply one of many factors used in evaluating student applicants, much like family income, a GPA, test scores and extra-curricular activities are factors. To say race doesn't matter, the Court erases a major part of my life story that forms my world view, my personality, my values. To say race doesn't matter, the Court majority says I don't matter.

FYI: Read the US Supreme Court ruling.

Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, the two women of color on the Court and both beneficiaries of "affirmative action" programs, in their scathing dissenting views, say it better than I can.

Sotomayor warned the decision will have a "devastating impact" on the United States. The SCOTUS majority's "vision of race neutrality will entrench racial segregation in higher education because racial inequality will persist so long as it is ignored."

In the Harvard case, Sotomayor wrote “that race can no longer be used in a limited way in college admissions,” the Court basically “cements a superficial rule of colorblindness as a constitutional principle in an endemically segregated society where race has always mattered and continues to matter.”

Sotomayor, a Puerto Rican who grew up in low-income housing projects and benefited from affirmative action policy herself, wrote in defense of the UNC admission policy of using race as one of several factors in evaluating student applicants to the public university. 

"The majority’s vision of race neutrality will entrench racial segregation in higher education because racial inequality will persist so long as it is ignored," she wrote. "Despite the Court’s unjustified exercise of power, the opinion today will serve only to highlight the Court’s own impotence in the face of an America whose cries for equality resound."

Jackson's no less fiery dissent of the UNC ruling, was a masterclass in the history of racism and affirmative action. Her dissenting opinion will likely be used in educating future lawyers.

"Our country has never been colorblind. Given the lengthy history of state-sponsored race-based preferences in America, to say that anyone is now victimized if a college considers whether that legacy of discrimination has unequally advantaged its applicants fails to acknowledge the well documented “intergenerational transmission of inequality” that still plagues our citizenry," writes Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.

Jackson continues: “With let-them-eat-cake obliviousness, on Thursday, the majority pulls the ripcord and announces ‘colorblindness for all’ by legal fiat.” ... “But deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.”

“If the colleges of this country are required to ignore a thing that matters, it will not just go away. It will take longer for racism to leave us. And, ultimately, ignoring race just makes it matter more.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a developing story. check back later for updates and additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective. Follow @DioknoEd on Twitter or at his blog Views From the Edge.