*

3.11.2026

Pre-Order: Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.


Auntie Kristina’s Guide to Asian American Activism

I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. But they need a guide. Kristina Wong has stepped up with a book that connects the youth to Asian American history, community and beyond: Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism, a fun and inspiring book that shows young readers "how to love their bodies, fight for social justice, and be proud of the history that's made them who they are."

"Grounded in diverse lived experiences of featured Auntie Heroes and inspiring Young Rebels, this guide discusses the Asian American community, past and present; explores allyship with other communities of color; finds a place in national and global movements; and turns inward so young readers can practice love and self-care. Each chapter includes activism strategies for all kids--from those who love math and statistics to those who can't wait for their next art project."

Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism hits shelves on April 14. Pre-order now.




Vietnamese man living in US since childhood detained by ICE over expunged marijuana charge

A man who has lived in the U.S. since he was a child and has worked in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years is now being held in detention, facing possible deportation over a decades-old marijuana charge that was previously erased from his record. Hai Nguyen, who went in for a routine check-in with immigration officials last week, found himself detained by ICE and sent to a detention facility. Now he's look at deportation, and leaving behind the life, career and family he's built in the United States over the last thirty years. This shit is cruel and broken.




In 'Bad Asians,' a friend group threatens its reputation with a viral video

Lillian Li's Bad Asians was recently highlighted as NPR's Book of the Day. In the novel, four 20-somethings from a hyper-competitive Chinese American community confront the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis and begin to let loose. Their former classmate documents their frustrations in what becomes one of the first viral YouTube videos. Li talks about the initial privacy of the early internet, exploding Asian American stereotypes, and why she wanted to write about friendship.




'The Pitt's Isa Briones Joins 'Just In Time' on Broadway

If you heard her sing that lullabye this season on The Pitt, you are aware she had the goods. Isa Briones, who plays Dr. Trinity Santos on the hit medical drama, will be taking over the role of famed ballad singer Connie Francis next month in the Broadway musical Just in Time. The role marks a return to Broadway for Briones, who made her debut in Hadestown in March 2024.




Newly Created Godfather Prize Will Recognize Asian American Playwrights

The Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) has created a new national, annual award for playwrights: The Godfather Prize for Playwriting. Each year, the award will honor one Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI), South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), or mixed-race playwright, as well as six to eight finalists. For more information, visit here.


3.10.2026

It's Official: HUNTR/X Will Perform at the Oscars

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.


Oscars Producers Confirm, Detail Special 'Sinners' and 'KPop Demon Hunter' "Moments"

The producers of the 98th Academy Awards have confirmed that this year's Oscar ceremony will feature special "moments" celebrating two of 2025’s most popular movies, Sinners and KPop Demon Hunters. That means, as we all hoped and predicted since the moment the movie hit Netflix, we will get to see EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami -- the ladies of HUNTR/X -- performing "Golden" on the Oscar stage. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the performance will include a fusion of traditional Korean instrumentalists and dance celebrating the folklore and cultural inspiration behind Kpop Demon Hunters. Cool.




Bait - Official Trailer

"Did Daniel Craig die?" Check out the new trailer for the upcoming Riz Ahmed comedy series Bait. Ahmed as Shah Latif, a struggling actor, whose last chance to hit it big comes in the form of an audition of a lifetime. The series follows him over the course of four wild days as his life spirals out of control and his family, ex-lover and the entire world weigh in on whether he is the right man for the job. Bait premieres March 25 on Prime Video.




"None of us need your hateful 'love.'"

Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and François Arnaud posted matching statements to their Instagram stories on Monday, telling off viewers who post hate comments on their castmates' socials."Don't call yourself a fan if you share racist/homophobic/biphobic/misogynist/ageist/ableist/parasocial/bigoted comments of any kind," read the posts. "None of us need your hateful 'love.' We all respect and support and love each other and are on the same side. If you can't accept that gtfoh." That means Get The Fuck Outta Here, my friends.




Olympian Alysa Liu Has Also Inspired Fans Off the Ice — in the Hair Salon

You know Alysa Liu as the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in women’s single figure skating since 2002. And even if you don't know anything else about her, you recognize her iconic hair -- which is now inspiring a wave of alternative hairstyles emulating her distinctive "raccoon" rings.




Peter S. Kim: Rice Piglet

Peter S. Kim, one of the funniest standup comics in the land, has dropped his debut comedy special on YouTube. In Rice Piglet, Peter tackles outrageous immigrant lies, the Korean church system, late in life gay horror stories, aging ungracefully and much more. Watch it and spread the word.


3.09.2026

Stabbing in San Francisco Chinatown Caught on Video

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.


Shocking daylight stabbing in SF’s Chinatown caught on video

A man was arrested after stabbing another man in the back on a busy street in San Francisco's Chinatown Thursday afternoon. The unprovoked attack was caught on surveillance video, which shows a man in a hoodie walking down Stockton Street, and then violently lunging at a man who was waiting at the corner to cross the street. The victim was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and is expected to survive. The suspect, described as an Asian man in his 30s, was held on charges of attempted murder.




U.S. citizen stopped at O'Hare, detained by immigration officials for nearly 30 hours

A U.S. citizen from the Chicago area spent nearly 30 hours in custody by federal immigration officials after she was detained at O’Hare Airport following a work trip Thursday. Sundas "Sunny" Naqvi and five colleagues, including two other U.S. citizens and three individuals with green cards, were all detained at the airport by federal immigration agents for their "recent travel history" after returning from Istanbul.




Didn't Die

Here's a very different take on the zombie movie... In Didn't Die, directed by Meera Menon, a podcast host struggles to maintain her dwindling audience during the zombie apocalypse, but when her ex shows up with an orphaned baby, priorities shift in order to battle the ever-mutating threat. Starring Kiran Deol, Didn't Die premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and is currently in limited theatrical release.




LAAPFF Festival Pass

Film fans, if you're in Los Angeles, and you want to support Asian American cinema, mark your calendars for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, presented by Visual Communications, happening April 29 to May 3. Better yet, go one step further and purchase a Festival Pass. It's the best way to fest. And a great deal. And an awesome way to support Visual Communications. Purchasing a Festival Pass helps offset rising venue, staffing, and accessibility costs — allowing Visual Communications to keep individual ticket prices lower and sustain artist support. Get yours here.



JVKE x JEON SOMI - moonboy (official live video)

I cannot resist the charm of this dreamy new song collaboration from Jeon Somi and JVKE: "moonboy," a catchy pop-love duet that captures the thrill of falling head over heels.


3.06.2026

They Call Us Hoppers

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.


What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

In this episode, we welcome back Daniel Chong, director of the Disney/Pixar animated feature Hoppers. They discuss the silly, unlikely pitch for "Penguin Avatar" that actually got the green light; centering an angry Asian young woman at the heart of this adventure (and why this movie arrives amidst an incredible moment for animated Asian movie heroines); and all the fun world-building that goes into crafting a story set in the animal kingdom. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Hoppers. This episode is sponsored by Chinese Republicans, a new play from Roundabout Theatre Company.

3.05.2026

Maybe Happy Ending Cast Perform NPR Tiny Desk Concert

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.



Maybe Happy Ending: Tiny Desk Concert

What can robots teach us about humanity and about love? Maybe Happy Ending, the 2025 Tony Award winner for best musical, tells the unlikely story of two humanoid robots, as they fall in love while on a road trip. The show, including stars Darren Criss, Helen J. Shen, Marcus Choi, Dez Duron -- and Hwaboon -- recently paid a visit to NPR's Tiny Desk for a delightfully tiny performance.




BEEF: Season 2 | Official Teaser

Netflix has released the first teaser trailer for the highly anticipated second season of Beef from showrunner Lee Sung Jin. Trading the parking lot for the country club, the new season begins when a young couple witnesses an alarming fight between their boss and his wife -- setting off a high-stakes game of favors and coercion within an elitist world ruled by a Korean billionaire. Season two premieres April 16.




Chinatown Street to Be Named for Rescuer of Trafficked Girls

A stretch of street in San Francisco's Chinatown will be named to publicly honor one of the neighborhood’s fiercest heroes. Tien Fuh Wu spent half a century rescuing trafficked women and girls and taking care of them at the Occidental Mission Home, which was later renamed Cameron House. "Tien Fuh Wu Way" will cover the portion of Joice Street that runs alongside Cameron House, which continues to be a safe haven for children, as well as women dealing with domestic violence.




The Many Lives of Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh talks about playing five different characters in Sean Baker's new film Sandiwara, how Quentin Tarantino convinced her not to retire, that viral "Wicked Witch" meme, and the highs and lows of her storied career. "If there's no up and down," she says, "you've flatlined."




Hoppers Is the Craziest Pixar Movie Yet, and It Could Have Been Even Crazier

The new Pixar animated feature Hoppers involves body-swapping and flying sharks, both of which are absolute insanity from start to finish. But director Daniel Chong reveals that while the movie as it stands is admittedly crazy, it could have been a whole lot crazier.


3.03.2026

This Massive Alysa Liu Mural is Oakland as Hell

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.


Alysa Liu now has her own massive Oakland mural

Last week, artist unveiled the first mural in Oakland honoring Olympic gold medalist figure skater Alysa Liu. The Illuminaries, a local graffiti artist group, designed and painted a mural in the Temescal neighborhood, on the corner of Telegraph and 43rd Streetm to celebrate the hometown hero.




Buddhist Church of Sacramento vandalized with white nationalist symbols

Last month, vandals spray-painted hate symbols and white nationalist graffiti on the exterior walls of Buddhist Church of Sacramento. The church has a large population of Japanese Americans, and the vandalism occurred on February 19, the anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the incarceration of over 100,000 Japanese citizens and immigrants during World War II. The community's efforts to clean up the graffiti have reportedly been... challenging.




Rev. Jesse Jackson offered powerful support to Asian Americans

Community leaders remember Jesse Jackson’s support of the Asian American community dating back decades. From seeking justice for Vincent Chin to condemning anti-Asian violence during the pandemic, the late civil rights icon embraced Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in his Rainbow Coalition, which united marginalized people for social justice.




In The Latest Edition of 'You’re Not Korean Enough,' the Internet Attacks a Transnational Adoptee

"In another edition of You're Not Korean Enough, we have a contingent of cruel and clueless people on the internet who are taking a Korean adoptee to task for not being a real Korean. Why? Because she initially mispronounced the name of a Korean folk song, "Arirang" (아리랑)."




Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami and EJAE perform 'Golden'

Your girls did it again. Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami and EJAE, the singing voices of Huntr/x from Kpop Demon Hunters, lit up the Manchester skies with this epic performance of "Golden" at the 2026 BRIT Awards.


2.26.2026

Burmese Refugee Abandoned by Border Patrol Found Dead

And Other Items of Note from Angry Asian America.


Nearly blind refugee abandoned by US border patrol found dead in Buffalo

A nearly blind Burmese refugee who was abandoned by border patrol agents has been found dead in Buffalo, New York. Following his release from a holding center, immigration officials dropped off 56-year-old Nurul Amin Shah Alam, who spoke little English, at a coffee shop miles from his home. His body was found five days later.




Asian American residents targeted in 8 Fairfax County burglaries

In Fairfax County, Virginia, police are investigating a string of home burglaries targeting Asian American residents. Between January 12 and February 21, suspects entered eight homes scattered throughout the county, stealing cash, jewelry, handbags, gold bars and even safes that had been bolted to the floor. The victims have been primarily Asian American small business owners.




KPop Demon Hunters Songwriter EJAE Put Her Whole Heart - and Her Past - into "Golden"

For over a decade, Kim Eun-jae, aka EJAE, trained to become a K-pop idol under SM Entertainment, one of South Korea's top agencies. But the label deemed her too tall and her voice too low and husky -- and ultimately decided not to debut her. But that rejection turned out to be a "redirection."




Vang: The Olympic loyalty test no one asked for

"This winter, two Asian American women, Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu, soared across Olympic ice and snow. One wrapped herself in the Stars and Stripes. The other chose to compete for China. And suddenly the country had very strong opinions about Asian daughters. I learned the quickest way to make America nervous is to let an Asian American woman make her own decisions, especially if she wins a gold medal."




Muralist honors gold medal Olympian Alysa Liu with mural

Seen on the streets of Gardena, California: a tribute to Olympic gold medalist figure skater Alysa Liu.


2.25.2026

She Was Arrested For Standing at the State of the Union

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.


DHS Assault Victim Aliya Rahman Arrested at State of the Union Address

Rep. Ilhan Omar's guest for the State of the Union address Tuesday night said she was hospitalized and arrested during President Donald Trump's speech. Aliya Rahman was removed from the chamber and spent several hours in jail following what she describes as an aggressive arrest by Capitol Police -- all for silently challenging Trump during the speech. "There are only two things you can do at the State of the Union, and they are sit down and stand up," says Rahman. "I was arrested for standing up."




KPop Demon Hunters | Hot Ones Versus

Arden Cho, EJAE, May Hong, Audrey Nuna, Ji-young Yoo, and Rei Ami -- the voices behind the Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated blockbuster Kpop Demon Hunters -- go head-to-head with the Wings of Death on the latest episode of Hot Ones Versus. They have two choices: tell the truth, or suffer the wrath of the Last Dab. Whoever eats the most wings, loses! Highly entertaining.




May 17 could become 'Bruce Lee Day' in California

A member of the California State Assembly has authored a bill that would establish May 17 as Bruce Lee Day, an annual, statewide observance honoring the martial arts icon. If adopted, it would make Bruce Lee the first Chinese American commemorated with a day in California State Law.




Korean Beauty is Booming. My Korean Beauty Brand Is Closing.

Not every K-beauty brand is benefiting from the category's viral success. In his own words, Good Light founder David Yi shares his story—and why, after five years, he's made the agonizing decision to shutter his brand.




American Peril: The Violent History of Anti-Asian Racism by Scott Kurashige

Pre-order this book! Five years after the Atlanta-area spa shootings -- and amid renewed national debates over hate crimes, immigration, state violence, and American imperialism -- historian and activist Scott Kurashige offers a sweeping new history of anti-Asian racism in the United States in American Peril: The Violent History of Anti-Asian Racism. Hits shelves on April 7.


The Most Anticipated Book of the Year

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America


Cover Reveal: American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee

Behold, the freshly revealed cover for American Hagwon, the highly anticipated forthcoming novel from acclaimed Pachinko author Min Jin Lee. Described as "a panoramic and emotionally riveting portrait of one family’s pursuit of success in a perpetually shifting world," American Hagwon is set from Korea to Australia to Southern California and tracks the journey of a middle-class Korean family upended by the Asian financial crisis and hoping to regain its bearings. American Hagwon hits shelves on September 29.




'Hamlet' Trailer: Riz Ahmed Leads Gritty Modern Shakespeare Adaptation

This looks awesome. Check out the trailer for Hamlet, a contemporary film re-imagining of William Shakespeare's play. Riz Ahmed takes on the titular role of a man avenging his father's death and taking on his family's corrupt empire. Set in London's elite South Asian community, Hamlet (Ahmed) returns home for his father's funeral, where he's shocked to learn his uncle Claudius (Art Malik) is marrying his newly widowed mother Gertrude (Sheeba Chaddha). During a visit from his father's ghost (Avijit Dutt), Hamlet discovers Claudius was behind the murder, sending him on a path of vengeance and self-reflection.




'KPop Demon Hunters' Joining Criterion Collection

Didn't see this one coming! Kpop Demon Hunters has been added to the Criterion Collection, which publishes classic and contemporary films from around the world in editions that offer the highest technical quality, as well as special behind-the-scenes supplemental materials. Heck, it's cool enough that Kpop Demon Hunters will be available as a physical home release, but getting the prestigious Criterion treatment? Awesome.




Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce sued for trademark infringement

Asian American shoe brand 1587 Sneakers has filed a lawsuit against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, alleging trademark infringement. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claims that the Kansas City steakhouse owned by the Chiefs' stars, 1587 Prime, is harming the sneaker's business. For what it's worth, 1587 Sneakers is named after the year 1587, to mark the year that Asians first arrived in America.




Through 'K-Pops!,' Anderson .Paak sought deeper familial connection

"When the pandemic hit, and reality settled in that life would be isolated and mostly inside, Grammy winner Anderson .Paak found himself on the outside looking in, in a way he didn’t anticipate. "I was the odd man out. My son was 8, and BTS took over the whole house. It was a K-pop storm. Before that, me and my son were bonding off of my music."


2.23.2026

KPop Demon Hunters Sweeps Annie Awards

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.


'KPop Demon Hunters' Sweeps Annie Awards, Going 10-For-10

Kpop Demon Hunters continues its epic steamroll through awards season, dominating the 53rd annual Annie Awards -- honoring excellence in the field of animation -- on Saturday night, winning all ten of the categories for which it was nominated including Best Feature, Direction for Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and Voice Acting for Arden Cho as Rumi. Don't want to jinx it, but an Oscar win seem like a pretty damn sure thing.




HUNTR/X perform 'Golden' LIVE at the BAFTAs

Meanwhile, in their first-ever live performance outside the United States, EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami -- the singing voices of HUNTR/X -- performed their smash-hit "Golden" at the British Academy Film Awards.




Gold medal greats Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu face uncomfortable comparisons at Olympics

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu and Beijing-backed freestyle skier Eileen Gu woke up Friday morning to find themselves in a side-by-side contrast they never asked for, pitted against each other in a geopolitical battle they never sought. Hours after Liu's stirring performance in the free skate on Thursday won her America's first Olympic women's figure skating gold in 24 years, the Oakland native was suddenly thrust into association with another native Californian, Gu, the skier who is competing on behalf of China.




Alysa Liu Shares the Backstory on Her Viral Hug with Japan's Ami Nakai

Of the many viral moments from Alysa Liu's joyous, triumphant Olympic gold medal win, one moment has gotten attention for being adorably wholesome. After the results were announced in the final at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Thursday, confirming that 17-year-old Ami Nakai of Japan had won bronze and Liu won gold, the American star rushed over to Nakai to celebrate with the biggest hug.




Nike - The Great Chase

This funny Nike ad dropped last year, but I've been seeing it passed around again in celebration of the Lunar New Year. As we all know, you should never accept that money without a fight! Or a chase.


2.19.2026

Gold. That's What Alysa Liu is Fucking Talking About.

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.


U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu said she didn't care if she medaled. She won gold

With a fearless, show-stopping performance, Alysa Liu won Olympic gold in the women’s single figure skating event, becoming the first American woman to medal in over two decades. What makes Liu’s win extra rewarding is not simply that she finished on the top of the podium, but that she did it on her own terms after having taken control of her career when she returned to the sport two years ago. The medal was almost an afterthought. And as she skated off the ice, the cameras caught her own triumphant assessment of her performance: "That's what I'm fucking talking about!" Because that's what she was indeed fucking talking about.




Cambodian national dies in ICE custody in Indiana

A detainee died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Indiana on Monday, with the cause of death under investigation, marking at least the seventh death in 2026 in federal immigration custody. Lorth Sim, a 59-year-old Cambodian national, was being held at the Miami Correctional Facility. According to ICE, staff found him unresponsive in his cell.




Why the History of Japanese American Incarceration Matters Today

"On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which authorized what became the mass incarceration of my ancestors and over 100,000 Japanese Americans. With the current administrations shredding the constitution and rule of law to detain citizens and non-citizens based on racial profiling, the lessons from that shameful moment in U.S. history could not be more vital or timely."




The Conflicting Joy of 'Here Lies Love'

"While sitting there watching this boldly and aggressively talented group of performers pour their heart and soul into a story rooted in their culture, there was a cloud of skepticism looming over me that I couldn’t avoid. It’s been there since the inception of this musical. This musical wasn’t made for the Filipino community."




Netflix Orders 'Dang!' Adult Animated Series

Netflix has given a series order to Dang!, an adult animated comedy starring Stephanie Hsu, Poppy Liu and Andrew Law. The series follows a brother (Law) and sister (Liu) whose fun, messy lives in New York City are interrupted when their worst nightmare comes true: Their high-achieving older sister (Hsu) shows up and wants to hang out with them.


2.18.2026

Slanted: Think Mean Girls Meets The Substance

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.


Slanted

The award-winning feature film Slanted, written and directed by Amy Wang, is a genre-bending sci-fi horror satire that interrogates beauty standards, assimilation, and the cost of belonging. The film follows Joan Huang, a high school outsider who idolizes the popular girls and dreams of becoming prom queen, but fears the only way to win is to look like every past queen whose portraits line the school halls. Enter Ethnos, a mysterious cosmetic surgery clinic that makes people of color appear white. Joan undergoes the procedure and wakes up as a blonde girl destined for the crown... but at what cost? Slanted hits theaters on March 13.




Why Rev. Jackson's Appearance at the Vincent Chin Rally Matters

We mourn the passing of civil rights pioneer Jesse Jackson by remembering a moment of solidarity with the Asian American community. In May 1984, Jackson appeared in San Francisco Chinatown with Vincent Chin's mother, Lily Chin. As he took the stage, he said, "Our hearts are made heavy by a mother who sits here with us, whose son was brutally killed, just because he was. What can we do in the aftermath?" In his speech, he drew parallels between Emmett Till's lynching and Vincent Chin's murder, showing just how similar the struggles of both communities were and the need to "redefine America."




'Here Lies Love' finally lands in L.A. — with its musical take on corruption as relevant as ever

Here Lies Love, which opens this week at the Mark Taper Forum, three years after its Broadway debut, is arriving in downtown L.A. at a prescient moment right here in the United States. The musical, which follows former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos and her family's rise to power and subsequent fall from grace, considers how corrupt leaders often appear charming at first.




Postal Service Celebrates Bruce Lee

The U.S. Postal Service honors and celebrates the life of Chinese American martial artist, actor and filmmaker Bruce Lee with a new stamp featuring an eye-popping image of his iconic flying kick. The stamp was dedicated at a ceremony Wednesday at the Nippon Kan Theater in Seattle. I ordered mine!




Kpop Demon Hunters Collectibles

I am obsessed with these Kpop Demon Hunters sixth scale figures from Hot Toys and Sideshow Collectibles. These are highly-detailed, meticulously designed action figures that come with a variety of interchangeable face sculpts, hands and accessories to enable a wide range of gestures and poses. I must have them! But they cost close to $300 each. So... I am contemplating donating plasma in order to fund my action figure budget.


2.17.2026

The Women of Kpop Demon Hunters

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.


The Women of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ on Overcoming Rejection, 'Golden's' Success and Breaking Boundaries for Korean Culture

Variety's stunning cover story features the women of Kpop Demon Hunters -- EJAE (the singing voice of Rumi), rapper and singer Rei Ami (the singing voice of Zoey), singer Audrey Nuna (the singing voice of Mira), and actors Arden Cho (the speaking voice of Rumi), Ji-young Yoo (the speaking voice of Zoey) and May Hong (the speaking voice of Mira), who talk about how the success of the movie has changed their lives.




The Second Most Famous Shirtless Asian Man in Cinema History

Check out this fun clip from the documentary Beam Me Up, Sulu, in which I declare that George Takei as Sulu in the Star Trek original series episode "The Naked Time" is the Second Most Famous Shirtless Asian Man in Cinema History. The movie is now available digitally for rent/purchase.




On Healing Land, Birds Perch

Behind one of the Vietnam War's most iconic Pulitzer Prize–winning photographs lies a story resonant with today’s global crises. Woven through voices of survivors, Naja Lockwood's documentary short On Healing Land, Birds Perch meditates on memory, loss, and renewal confronting the enduring scars of war and the resilience of refugees rebuilding their lives.




Chinese American restaurants question why Chinese cuisine can’t get the chef’s table treatment

In an industry where diners rarely question high prices of French haute cuisine or Japanese omakase, Chinese restaurateurs often contend with resistance in getting customers to pay fine-dining tabs. But upscale Chinese American restaurants are redefining perceptions of Chinese cuisine and insist their food, labor and cooking techniques are just as worthy.




Everything Everywhere All at Once Mahjong Set

A24 Shop just dropped this amazing-looking Everything Everywhere All at Once Mahjong Set featuring original art by Manshen Lo. It includes a wooden carrying case with gold-foil stamped googly eye logo, 160 black tiles with hand-painted engraved icons, four racks, and a set of dice. Alas, it'll cost you $320.


2.16.2026

They Call Us The Year of the Horse

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.


What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

In this episode, we ring in the Lunar New Year and welcome journalist Kimmy Yam to talk about trial runs, fresh starts, and the Year of the Horse. We discuss the unfortunate and untimely shutdown of NBC Asian America -- and the loss of representation, trust, and cultural power; the incredible depth of reporting and coverage of the Asian American community that Kimmy was able accomplish during her tenure at NBC; and what the future looks like now for authentic and sustained news coverage of marginalized communities. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the new year. This episode is sponsored by Chinese Republicans, a new play from Roundabout Theatre Company.

Why the Adidas 'Chinese New Year' Jacket Has Gone Viral

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America


Why the Adidas 'Chinese New Year' jacket has gone viral

Every Lunar New Year, brands release zodiac animal-themed merchandise and items in the lucky color red. This year, there's one product that has cut through all the noise: the Adidas Chinese Track Top.




How the Visa Debate for Foreign Workers Fuels Racism Against South Asians

The H-1B program allows up to 85,000 foreign workers to fill specialized roles in the United States every year. But important policy debates about H-1B visas have been increasingly overshadowed by what Asian American advocacy groups say is a surge in hate speech directed at South Asians.




Alysa Liu Comes of Age

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu retired in 2022, at sixteen years old. Now she’s back at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a newfound confidence and sense of control -- in her skating and in her life.




A Day With the Last Dim Sum Cart Servers of NYC

Dim sum cart service is a dying tradition. But at Golden Palace in Brooklyn's Bensonhurst neighborhood, Pik Chan and Cheong Yin Ho -- who have worked together for nearly two decades -- are keeping it alive.




'Take Me Home' Filmmaker Liz Sargent On Making Movie About Her Sister

Filmmaker Liz Sargent talks about this scene from her drama Take Me Home, which follows Anna, a 38-year-old Korean adoptee with a cognitive disability. "This movie is all about Anna, my sister, who plays a version of herself, filmed in the home she lived in with our aging parents. Sisters are complicated and annoying and best friends. I love this scene because Emily (Ali Ahn) and Anna (Anna Sargent) capture all that love. Keeping Anna exactly as she is, we see her take back her power, ignore the system, and show Emily who’s boss. Her awesomeness is the heart of this film and these lives."