Why Minnesotans Fear ICE

And other items of note from Angry Asian America.

1. Why Minnesotans Fear ICE

"All of this calculation of distance and I can’t reconcile the most important space of all: the distance between myself and some of my fellow American citizens, who believe that the actions of ICE—from the racial profiling, imprisonment, and detainment of people on American soil, to the killing of Good and Porter—are acceptable. I have felt sick all week. This vast gulf between us, not just as Americans but as human beings, has drained me of hope." Poet, author, and lifelong Minnesotan Bao Phi on the outrage in his community.

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2. ICE agents are knocking on doors and asking "Do you know any of your Hmong neighbors?"

In Instagram video posted on Monday, St. Paul Councilmember Hwa Jeong Kim said that she has received first-hand accounts from constituents about ICE agents knocking on doors and asking whether the residents know their Hmong or Asian neighbors.



3. Philadelphia police probe string of violent purse snatchings targeting Asian women

In Philadelphia, police are searching for suspects in a string of violent thefts targeting Asian women in during the holiday season. Investigators say the attacks occurred between Christmas Day and New Year's Day, all within the same area in Northeast Philadelphia and under similar circumstances. All of the victims were Asian women who got their purse snatched in broad daylight by men in ski masks. Police believe the crimes are connected, with three men involved in most, if not all, of the thefts, including two attackers and a getaway driver.

4. 'Squid Game' Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk Sets New Netflix Series 'The Dealer'

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Squid Game, is following up the biggest Netflix show of all time with his next series, The Dealer, a crime Korean drama set in a casino that follows a card dealer who is roped into a seedy underworld of gambling. Produced by Hwang for Netflix, the series stars Jung So-min leads the cast as the titular dealer. Here's the official synopsis:

"The Dealer" centers on Geonhwa, a gifted casino dealer whose life is upended when her wedding plans collapse after she becomes entangled in a housing scam. Forced back into a world she had deliberately left behind, Geonhwa plunges into the shadowy underworld of illegal gambling — and is compelled to tap long-suppressed supernatural abilities that give her an unnatural edge at the tables as she fights to reclaim control of her future.

5. The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller

The Moon Without Stars, the new book from New York Times bestselling, Newbery Honor–winning author Chanel Miller, hits shelves this week. In this household, we are big fans of her 2024 children's book Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All. Her new middle school novel explores the way growing up, finding friends, and discovering who you are can be both awkward and empowering. From the back of the book:

At the beginning of seventh grade, Luna knows who she is: an observant, quiet girl who loves writing and making zines with her best friend, Scott. But when one of their zines takes off, Luna is somehow swept up into the popular group and learns just how much of herself she’s going to have to compromise to stay there. Will she give up her writing? Her best friend? What about her own beliefs about who she is and what she stands for?

Featuring author-illustrator Chanel Miller’s signature line drawings, The Moon Without Stars is a deeply personal and often funny novel about what it means to lose and then find yourself again during the vulnerable, life-changing years of middle school.

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Sorry, Wrong Asian: Laufey Edition

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

1. Laufey Corrects Photographers Who Called Her the Wrong Name on the Golden Globes Red Carpet

Oh, no you did not. While posing on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards, singer-songwriter Laufey ran into an awkward case of mistaken identity when a group of photographers repeatedly called her "Megan" while trying to get her attention. "My name isn't Megan," the Icelandic Chinese singer told the photographers. "So, I don't know." Yikes. My guess? They thought she was Megan Skiendiel from Katseye. Sorry, wrong Asian.




2. Arden Cho & Ahn Hyo-seop from KPop Demon Hunters
Half a year after its release, Kpop Demon Hunters is still going strong with the awards/publicity push and people can't seem to get enough. Voice actors Arden Cho and Ahn Hyo-seop, who play Rumi and Jinu in the hit animated feature film, were guests on The Tonight Show -- an appearance that was hyped weeks in advance. They talk about reading the script for the film for the first time and recording their own covers of "Free" before demonstrating their voice-acting skills.

3. Asian-American sues South Coast Plaza security provider for alleged slur by guard

In Southern California, a man is suing an Orange County mall's security provider for discrimination, after a security guard allegedly used a racial slur against him during one of two encounters while he was using the center's EV charging stations. John Le says a security guard at South Coast Plaza called him a chink -- as in "Chink, you must leave" -- and unfairly targeted him over allegedly time limits for staying on the premises.



4. U.S. Figure Skater Alysa Liu Heads Toward 2026 Olympics With Momentum— and Statement Performance

After stepping away from the sport at age 16 following a sixth-place finish at the Beijing Olympics, Alysa Liu's return has been one of the most unexpected comeback stories in recent skating history. Following an impressive second place finish at the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Liu joins skaters Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito to round out the U.S. women's singles Olympic figure skating team headed to Milano Cortina next month.




5. We Were the Scenery

Filmed on location in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Long Beach, California, We Were the Scenery is a short documentary based on the experiences of writer Cathy Linh Che's parents, two Vietnam War refugees who, while in a refugee camp in the Philippines, were utilized as background extras in the film Apocalypse Now. Shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards for Best Documentary Short Film, We Were the Scenery premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025 where it won the Short Film Jury Prize for Nonfiction.

I Mean They Are Called the "Golden" Globes

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

1. Kpop Demon Hunters Wins Big at the Golden Globes

We're going up up up it's our moment... KPop Demon Hunters continues its amazing awards show run, taking home the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, "Golden," and Best Animated Feature. This particular awards show is kind of a joke and I do not take it seriously. But damn if I didn't tear up watching EJAE's acceptance speech, talking about her dreams, rejections and disappointments. She dedicated the award "to people who have their doors closed at them, and that, I can confidently say 'rejection is redirection,' and so never give up... It's never too late to shine like you were born to be."

2. Postal Service To Release Stunner of Stamp To Honor Bruce Lee

The United States Postal Service will honor Bruce Lee, legendary martial artist and actor, with a Forever stamp. Designed by artist Kam Mak, the stamp artwork features a black-and-white painting of Lee executing his famous flying kick set against a yellow calligraphic brushstroke (reminiscent of Lee's iconic jumpsuit in Game of Death) on a white background. The first-day-of-issue event for the Bruce Lee Forever stamp is free and open to the public, and will be held next month at the Nippon Kan Theater in Seattle. More info at USPS.com.

3. Katie Leung on Harry Potter, sudden fame, insecurity – and starring in Bridgerton

Katie Leung, who plays Lady Araminta Gun in the new season of Netflix's Bridgerton, opens up in a new interview with The Guardian about the intense, appalling racism and online abuse she received from toxic fans when she was cast as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter film franchise.

4. Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers respond to backlash over remarks about Rep. Jasmine Crockett

After courting controversy over remarks on their podcast about the current Democratic party landscape and an urge to fans to not "waste" money donating to Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett's Senate bid, Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers have responded to the resulting backlash.

5. Victor Wong Fellowship Auditions

Legendary Chicago comedy institution The Second City has announced auditions for the 4th Annual Victor Wong Fellowship, a tuition-free program created to develop and champion the next generation of AAPI comedic talent. Named after The Second City's first Asian American performer, this fellowship is about building skills, amplifying voices, and shaping the future of comedy. Learn more at secondcity.com.

Huntr/x Give Their Best Live Performance Yet

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.



1. EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI from KPop Demon Hunters - Golden (Glowin’ Version)

EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami -- the singing voices of Huntr/x from Kpop Demon Hunters -- were on Jimmy Kimmel Live to perform an all-new "Glowin'" version of "Golden." If you've been following this crazy ride, you know they've been making the rounds, but this was, hands down, their best live performance of the song so far. The new arrangement is gorgeous. And shout out for the string ensemble accompaniment comprised entirely of Asian women! I'm telling you, if this was their final audition to perform at the Oscars, they friggin' booked it.

2. Chloe Kim dislocates shoulder, could miss Olympics

Oof. Ouch. Snowboarder Chloe Kim has dislocated her shoulder and is unsure if she'll compete in next month's Winter Olympics. The two-time gold medalist announced her injury this week on social media, explaining that she "took the silliest fall" during training in Switzerland this week. After grabbing gold in Pyeongchang and Beijing, Kim was widely considered the favorite to top the podium again in Italy. Well, damn. Please join me as we lift up a prayer for Chloe's shoulder.



3. Lucy Liu - "Rosemead" | The Daily Show

I love it when Ronny Chieng's on the desk at The Daily Show because it's clear that he unabashedly uses the opportunity to give Asian guests some shine. Case in point: Lucy Liu, who gives a tour-de-force starring performance in the indie drama Rosemead, which hits theaters in nationwide in limited release this weekend. Ronny and Lucy talk about Liu’s connection to the film and how its themes of mental health and grief affected her, the time she directed Ronny onscreen, and how taking risks has led to the biggest rewards in her career. Plus, a surprise cameo from another Liu.



4. MAKING DELTRON 3030

Has it really been 25 years? (I feel like I've been saying that a lot lately.) Dive into the making of the classic hip-hop record Deltron 3030, with the artists who brought it to life. Featuring Dan the Automator, Del the Funky Homosapien, Kid Koala with appearances by Randall Park, Zane Lowe, and Damian "Domino" Siguenza, you'll hear a first-person account of creating this one-of-a-kind record.

5. Lunar New Year x Black History Month 2026: Celebrating Asian & African-American Solidarity

Oakland! Mark your calendars. The Oakland Asian Cultural Center invites you to its Lunar New Year x Black History Month Celebration, a joyous convergence of Asian and African American solidarity. The even will feature lion dancers, drummers, performers, arts and crafts, a Kids + Teens Zone curated by Storyland Collective, a marketplace of local artisans, and free admission for all ages. Register here.

ICE is Clearly the Villain of This Story

And other items of note from Angry Asian America.

1. It's clear who the villains of this story are

"In Minnesota, immigration enforcement is often framed as something that happens somewhere else. At the border. In distant detention centers. In communities separate from our own. It is discussed in abstract policy language and political sound bites, safely removed from daily life. But over the past few weeks, that distance narrowed with ICE activity increasing in the Twin Cities. And on Jan. 7, it collapsed entirely." Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Ka Vang on federal violence and the murder of Renee Nicole Good.



2. The Wrecking Crew

Here's the official trailer for the upcoming action acomedy The Wrecking Crew starring Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista. They play two estranged half-brothers who are forced to reunite after their father’s mysterious death. Together, they are ready to WRECK anything that gets in their way! Looks like fun, and it's written by Jonathan Tropper, the showrunner behind Warrior. I'm down for it. The Wrecking Crew hits Prime Video on January 28.

3. Lucy Liu Breaks from Perfection

After a career playing glamorous, intimidating women, Lucy Liu finds her realest role yet in Rosemead. Liu talks bad tans, the rivalry of Daryl Hall and John Oates, and her early days as an omelet chef.




4. ARKAI - Sun Drifter

I recently got a heads up to the music of ARKAI, a genre-defying, electro-acoustic string duo that "bridges the classical and the contemporary, weaving cinematic soundscapes with electrifying virtuosity into epic performances around the world." Their sophomore album Brightside is nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for the 2026 Grammy Awards. Check out the video for the title track here.

5. Cafe Maddy 2026 Korean Cooking Calendar

The 2026 Korean Cooking Calendar by Cafe Maddy features hand-drawn illustrations of Korean dishes, highlighted year-round with Korean holidays, American holidays, and other historically significant Korean dates. Each month includes a QR code that points to a step-by-step recipe for the dish, a story about each holiday and tradition, and a blurb about the seasonal Korean flower. You can even customize the month that features the illustration of miyeokguk (Korean Birthday Soup), making it a great gift for the Korean cuisine enthusiast in your life. Order it from cafemaddyclub.com.

Ken Jeong Fakes The Daily Show to Meet Park Chan-wook

And other items of note from Angry Asian America.

1. Director Park Chan-wook - Satirizing Capitalism in "No Other Choice"

Dr. Ken Jeong made a surprise appearance on The Daily Show -- crashing host Ronny Chieng's interview with acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook (who was on the show to promote his latest film No Other Choice) -- by his own admission, pretending to be Chieng's "translator" to get close to the legendary director and declaring Park "The Korean Scorsese"... before Ronny gave him the boot.



The shenanigans precede a full interview with the director (and his legit interpreter), whose credits including Oldboy, The Handmaiden, Decision to Leave, Joint Security Area, Thirst and more.

2. Deaths of Asian immigrants in ICE custody reveal a community under threat

"More than 30 people died while being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2025, marking it as the deadliest year for those held in custody by the agency in two decades. At least five of the detainees who died were Asian nationals: Chaofeng Ge, Nhon Ngoc Nguyen, Tien Xuan Phan, Kaiyin Wong and Huabing Xie. So far their deaths have received little public attention, even as ICE increases raids, expands capacity at its facilities and accelerates deportations across the country."

3. Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kristina Wong of Koreatown Los Angeles

Our old friend, acclaimed solo performer and playwright Kristina Wong talks to VoyageLA about feeling and deserving love, her unique brand of theater performance, formerly held beliefs, food banks, and erroneously being identified by AI journalists as Jeremy Lin's wife.

4. 'Beef' Season 2 Gets Netflix Release Date

Season two of Netflix's critically acclaimed anthology series Beef will premiere on April 16, with creator Lee Sung Jin returning as showrunner and executive producer. The new season will star Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny as a young couple working at a country club, who witness an alarming fight between their boss and his wife, played by Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan. The first season earned eight Emmys, including acting awards for Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, who return as executive producers.

5. Balloon Varsity Sweatpants

I recently Insta-stumbled across this short video promoting, um, sweatpants by Pillar, a Toronto-based clothing lable inspired by an East Asian aesthetic. Thought it was kinda dope.

Lucy Liu, Rosemead and Our Battle Against Shame

And other items of note from Angry Asian America.

1. 'Rosemead' holds up a mirror to our battle against shame

Columnist Frank Shyong reflects on Rosemead, the Lucy Liu independent feature film based on his own 2017 Los Angeles Times article about the last days of a dying woman and her son. The story unfolds in the weeks after she learns her cancer is terminal and must decide what will happen to her son, who is undergoing treatment for schizophrenia. Shyong reflects on the shame that prevents our communities from receiving much-needed treatment for struggles with mental health.

2. Perfectly In Sync

After a cancer scare and a seven-year hiatus, Olympian-sibling duo Alex and Maia Shibutani are returning to competitive skating. In a new interview with Bustle, the Shib Sibs discuss Maia's physical health following her diagnosis, their goals for their comeback, the (dis)advantages of being a sibling duo, and answer the "legacy question" of how they hope to be remembered.

3. Do you think of the perfect comeback way too late?

"For Asian Americans... an ability to instantly spin up a powerful comeback to a hurtful or misinformed comment would prove useful. We are accustomed to hearing microaggressions about how well we speak English, where we're really from, and that we look just like Jackie Chan. A new game, Clapback: The Asian American Edition is rooted in the idea that would make our parents proud: We can get better at clapping back -- with practice."

4. The Rose Korean Rock Band Documentary to Get Worldwide Theatrical Release

The Rose: Come Back to Me, a documentary about the Korean rock band The Rose, will receive a Valentine's Day theatrical release from CJ 4DPlex. The documentary chronicles The Rose, which consists of Kim "Sammy" WooSung, Park "Leo" Dojoon, Lee "Dylan" Hajoon and Lee "Jeff" Taegyeom, tracing their rise from Seoul's Hongdae district to performing at Coachella.

5. Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse Stamps

The United States Postal Service will ring in the Lunar New Year with the seventh issuance of its popular stamp series, the Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse Forever Stamp. Featuring a contemporary take on paper-cut folk art, the stamps will be available beginning February 3.

Kpop Demon Hunters Wins Big at the Critics Choice Awards

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

1. ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Kicks Off 2026 Awards Season With Two Critics Choice Wins

Netflix's runaway animated hit Kpop Demon Hunters made its first awards showing of 2026 -- and kicked off what is likely to be a considerable awards season haul -- with wins for best song (for "Golden") and best animated film at the Critics Choice Awards.

"When writing this song, I found myself living vicariously through my character Rumi. Her life and journey in the movie felt deeply familiar to me," co-songwriter and Rumi's singing voice EJAE told the crowd when accepting best song. "The song needed to be an expression of hope to convince herself that she could write and reach for her dreams. In many ways, it did the same for me, but most importantly for it to be giving hope so many people around the world is truly the greatest honor."

2. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu takes oath of office for second term

In other Asian American big city mayoral news... Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was sworn into her second term as mayor of the city Monday morning at Symphony Hall. Wu ran unopposed in the General Election after Democratic candidate Josh Kraft suspended his mayoral campaign in September.

In her opening remarks, Wu criticized the Trump Administration for cutting funding for housing, education, and health care.

"We will not appease or abet any threat to our city, and we will not wait for permission to build the world our families deserve,” Wu said. “Over the next four years, Boston will be the proof that the nation we fought for is possible — a place where we take care of each other and take on the challenges that matter the most."

3. Call Her mayor: History made as St. Paul swears in new leader

And yet in more Asian American mayoral news... Kaohly Her is the mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota. On Friday afternoon at St. Catherine University, Her was sworn in as the 56th mayor of St. Paul, becoming the first woman and first person of Hmong ancestry to hold the title.

4. Authors Kate DiCamillo and Kelly Yang Announce New Podcast StoryKind

Award-winning childen's book authors Kelly Yang and Kate DiCamillo have teamed up for a new podcast which will focus on writing and creativity for kids, parents and educators. StoryKind, which will release new 15 minutes episodes weekly starting January 19, will share "tips for writing, answer questions they receive from young readers, celebrate the hard work of teachers and librarians in literacy spaces and spread the magic of real, human storytelling."

5. The Rip

Is it me, or is Steven Yeun always appearing in the most interesting shit? He's come a long way since Glenn, and I will say it now (though I cried at the time), getting killed off The Walking Dead was probably the best thing that could have happened for him. Burning? Beef? Minari? He's not always the number one, but his supporting roles are sometimes just as intriguing. Anyway, spotted him in the trailer for this Matt Damon/Ben Affleck crime thriller The Rip, and got a kick out of seeing him in the mix. Hell, I'll watch it for my dude Steven.

The Art of Kpop Demon Hunters Available for Pre-Order

Behind-the-scenes book from Netflix and Gallery Nucleus

For the fans! I've been waiting for this book to exist from the moment I saw the movie.

Published in collaboration with Netflix, The Art of a Kpop Demon Hunters is now available for pre-order from Gallery Nucleus. Inspired by the vibrant world of K-pop magazines and fan books, this deluxe soft-cover “mook” is jam-packed with behind-the-scenes pre-production artwork, creator interviews, and insights from the writers, directors, and key artists who brought the film to life. Packed with fun facts and visual treasures, it's essential for fans of Kpop Demon Hunters and art enthusiasts alike.

Pre-order it here: Gallery Nucleus.

New Year. New York. New Mayor.

Zohran Mamdani sworn in as mayor of New York City. And other items of note from Angry Asian America.



1. Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York City mayor, capping historic rise

On Thursday, just after midnight, Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn in as mayor of New York City in a modest private ceremony held in a historic decommissioned subway station under City Hall. The oath was administered by New York state Attorney General Letitia James.

"Congratulations, Mr. Mayor," she said, to cheers.

2. For Some Asian Americans, There’s No Such Thing As a Casual Drink

After a night of partying, new year reveler, oh, you know it well. For many Asian Americans, a single cocktail -- or hell, a sip of wine -- can cause their faces to turn red. Known as the "Asian glow" or the "Asian flush," the condition can stir up mixed emotions. Here is the paper of record's perennial journalism on said condition.

3. The ABBA song that’s huge in Vietnam at year's end

While it's far from one of the Swedish pop supergroup's well-known hits, ABBA's "Happy New Year" has a poignant, unexpected popularity in Vietnam, becoming a sort of traditional new year song in its own right.

4. K-Pop Group NewJeans Faces New Uncertainty After Member Is Dropped

You don't understand how bummed I am to hear that ADOR has dropped Danielle from the five-person lineup of NewJeans -- the latest flashpoint in the more than year-long legal battle between the label and the band. My favorite Kpop group! [Shakes fist.] Look, if you know, you know. But I just someone had given these gals some good advice early on. This is why we can't have nice things.

5. Angry New Year!

Use the code NEWYEAR26 for 26% off all "Stay Angry" shirt orders. Good through January 5, 2026.