MTV writer sparks outrage with tweet over Jeff Sessions' granddaughter

But look at the adorable Asian baby sitting in the senator's lap.



Jeff Sessions has a significant and explicit public history of hostility towards civil rights and racial justice. His professional career has been defined by racism, and he is absolutely unfit for the role of U.S. Attorney General. Oh, he'll tell you that's not what's in his heart, and that he's being unfairly caricatured.

Also, look at this adorable Asian baby sitting on his lap!

On Tuesday, Trump's pick to be the nation's top lawyer appeared before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary to give testimony regarding his nomination. He was accompanied by many members of his family, including his daughter Ruth Sessions Walk, her husband John Walk -- who is Asian American -- and their four daughters. One of the girls was prominently visible sitting on the senator's lap.

Critics alleged that putting the cute kid front and center was a calculated move. Ira Madison III, a writer/host with MTV News, posted a series of tweets suggesting that Sessions was using his nonwhite granddaughter as a "prop" to deflect the many claims that he is racist. He joked that the senator stole the kid from a Toys "R" Us, followed by a pretty astute tweet about America's use of Asian Americans as "model minorities."

Kamala Harris finishes first in California Senate primary

State Attorney General will run against Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez in historic November faceoff.



On Tuesday, California primary voters propelled two Democrats -- both minority women -- to a historic runoff. State attorney general Kamala Harris will face off against Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez on the November ballot for the state's open U.S. Senate seat.

Senate candidates Kamala Harris, Loretta Sanchez advance to general election

Harris, the clear front runner, clinched a first-place finish with 40 percent of the vote, emerging from a field of 34 candidates seeking the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Barbara Boxer. Early returns showed Sanchez, a 10-term congresswoman from Orange County, securing second place.

Under California election rules, only two candidates -- the top vote-getters, regardless of party -- advance to the November election. The matchup between Harris and Sanchez will mark the first time in over a century that Republicans will be absent from California's general election ballot for the Senate.

Tammy Duckworth announces bid for U.S. Senate

Congresswoman will challenge incumbent GOP Senator Mark Kirk.



In a YouTube video posted Monday morning, Illinois Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth officially announced that she is running for the United States Senate against incumbent GOP Senator Mark Kirk.

Tammy Duckworth launches Illinois Senate bid

"I'm running for the United States Senate in 2016 because it's time for Washington to be held accountable and put Illinois' families and communities first," Duckworth says in the two-minute video, which highlights her humble upbringing and her personal background as a wife, a mother and a combat veteran.

"If you elect me as Illinois' senator I will fight my heart out to represent you with honor and integrity."

Here's the announcement:

Kamala Harris announces run for U.S. Senate

California's Attorney General makes a bid for Barbara Boxer's old seat.



Looks like this race is on. On Tuesday, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris officially announced that she will run for the U.S. Senate seat that is opening up with Sen. Barbara Boxer's retirement.

Kamala Harris launches U.S. Senate bid, begins raising money

Harris, who was re-elected to a second term as attorney general last year, made the announcement to supporters on a new campaign website, and immediately started fundraising for her 2016 bid.

"I'm excited to share with you that I'm launching my campaign to represent the People of California in the United States Senate. Your support has been crucial to me every step of the way, and I'm asking you to help me build a grassroots campaign that reaches every community of California."

She also, of course, shared the news on Twitter:

Senate confirms Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General

Dr. Murthy is the first-ever U.S. Surgeon General of Indian descent



Finally, we have a surgeon general. On Monday, the Senate voted to confirm Dr. Vivek Murthy as the new Surgeon General of the United States -- more than a year after President Obama nominated him to the post.

The U.S. Has A Surgeon General, For The First Time In 17 Months

The job has been open for a while. Dr. Murthy was nominated back in November 2013, but his confirmation was stalled by partisan opposition, fueled by the gun lobby, particularly over his views criticizing gun violence. But with Congress now in a lame-duck session, Dr. Murthy's confirmation finally got the support it needed from more Democrats, with Monday's vote tally coming in at 51-43.

At 37 years old, Dr. Murthy is the youngest-ever surgeon general in the United States. He is also the first Indian American to serve as America's top doctor.

Senate to vote on Vivek Murthy for Surgeon General

Call to urge your senators today to confirm Dr. Murthy



Senate Democrats are using their lame-duck majority in a last-ditch attempt to finally push through President Obama's pick for the next surgeon general. Over the weekend, the Senate voted 52-40 to bring the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy to a formal confirmation vote on Monday at 5:30pm before they adjourn for the holidays.

US Senate to vote for Vivek Murthy as surgeon general before Democrats cede control

President Obama nominated Dr. Murthy, a highly qualified and experienced medical professional, to the post of U.S. Surgeon General over a year ago. While his credentials make him a no-brainer for the job, Dr. Murthy's confirmation has been stalled by the usual partisan politics -- particularly over his stance on gun violence.

Dr. Murthy will have no chance of getting a vote once Republicans take control of the Senate in January. So it's now or never -- time is running out. Here's how you can take action right now: call your senators.

Dr. Vivek Murthy is the Surgeon General we need right now

Sign the petition to tell the Senate to stand up to the NRA and confirm Dr. Murthy.



As you might recall, President Obama nominated Dr. Vivek Murthy, a highly qualified and experienced medical professional, to the post of U.S. Surgeon General nearly a year ago. While his credentials make him a no-brainer for the job, Dr. Murthy's confirmation have been stalled by the usual partisan politics.

A Surgeon General nominee 'tied up in politics'

Dr. Murthy, a guy who probably knows many more things about health and medicine and stuff than you, has some thoughts about gun violence in this country: it is bad, and it is indeed a health care issue. This opinion put him in the sights (no pun intended) of Republicans and the NRA, who decided to block his nomination.

So now, in the midst of some serious public anxiety over the Ebola virus, America finds itself without a Surgeon General, whose job is to effectively and authoritatively communicate what the public needs to know in situations like this. Raise your hand if you would appreciate the leadership of someone like Dr. Murthy right now.

This online petition implores the Senate to stand up to the NRA and confirm Dr. Murthy as surgeon general now. As I write this, the petition has more than 70,000 signatures.

Who is the Senator Who Called Kirsten Gillibrand "Chubby"?

The New York Times says it was late Senator Daniel Inouye



Aw maaaaaaaan. The Senate colleague who told Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) not to "lose too much weight now" because "I like my girls chubby" was reportedly the late Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.

Daniel Inouye Is The Senator Who Called Kirsten Gillibrand 'Chubby': The New York Times

Gillibrand shared the story in her new memoir Off the Sidelines, talking about how her male colleagues in the Senate felt free to comment on her weight -- most egregiously, the remark about "chubby" girls accompanied with a squeeze of her waist. Gillibrand declined to reveal the name of the colleague in question.

According to The New York Times, it was Senator Inouye:

Jane Chu confirmed as NEA chairwoman

Will oversee the largest annual national supporter of the nonprofit arts in the United States


This week, the Senate confirmed Dr. Jane Chu as chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Chu is currently the president and CEO of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri.

Kauffman Center's Jane Chu is confirmed as NEA chairwoman

A veteran arts administrator, Dr. Chu was nominated by President Obama for the NEA post in February. She fills a post that has been vacant for over year. Senior Deputy Chairman Joan Shigekawa had been acting chairman since Rocco Landesman stepped down in December 2012.

The NEA is the largest annual national supporter of the nonprofit arts in the United States. As chairwoman, Dr. Chu will oversee the federal funding of cultural organizations and programs that increase access to the arts.

Indira Talwani confirmed as federal judge in Massachusetts

First person of Asian descent to serve as an Article III judge in the First Circuit

More great judicial confirmation news... On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Indira Talwani to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts by a 94-0 vote.

Indira Talwani Confirmed As First Asian Pacific American Federal Judge in Massachusetts

Talwani is the first person of Asian descent to serve as an Article III judge in Massachusetts and in the First Circuit, which includes Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico and Rhode Island. She is also only the second female Article III judge of South Asian descent nationwide.

Prior to her confirmation, Talwani was a partner with Segal Roitman in Boston and was previously a partner with Altshuler Berzon in San Francisco.

Senator wants Surgeon General nominee to meet his Indian friends

Vivek Murthy would be "right at home" with the two other Indian doctors in Dodge City



You gotta love it. Put a brown guy in the room and some well-intentioned white person is compelled to remark that he also happens to know some lovely brown people. Only in this case we're talking about Surgeon General nominee Vivek Murthy. He's Indian American. Senator Pat Roberts wants Dr. Murthy to know that he too knows a few Indian doctors, and he thinks they're pretty darn great.

Kansas Senator Wants Indian-American Nominee to Meet His Cool Indian Friends

During Murthy's confirmation hearing, the senator from Kansas took a moment to boast that Dodge City is home to some wonderful Indian American doctors. There's that lovely one from India and that other one that helped him out that one time with the thing with the carpal tunnel. Senator Roberts also extended a good ol' Kansas invitation to Dr. Murthy, because he'd be "right at home." With those two Indian doctors.

Let's go to the tape:

Senate confirms Raymond T. Chen to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Confirmed! This week, the Senate unanimously confirmed Raymond T. Chen to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: Welcome Judge Chen.

For those keep score, Chen's 97-0 confirmation makes him the first Asian Pacific American to serve on the Federal Circuit in more than 25 years.

Chen, who was nominated to the court by President Obama back in February, currently serves as the Deputy General Counsel for Intellectual Property Law and Solicitor for the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Here's some more on his background:

Sri Srinivasan confirmed to DC Circuit Court

Today, the Senate unanimously voted to confirm Srikanth "Sri" Srinivasan to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit: Sri Srinivasan confirmed to judicial seat in unanimous Senate vote.

Srinivasan, who was confirmed in a 97 to 0 vote, is currently the administration's principal deputy solicitor general. He will be the first circuit court judge of South Asian descent in history.

His confirmation is particularly significant, as he becomes a front-runner to be nominated for a Supreme Court vacancy should one arise in the next three years, with some serious bipartisan credentials.

Senate immigration bill: know your rights and act

Passing this information along... Now that the Senate has introduced its immigration reform bill, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center urges you, AAPI community members, to know your rights and take action to ensure our voices are heard throughout the legislative process.

The bi-partisan Senate leadership's proposal is a substantial step in the right direction toward fixing our broken immigration system, eliminating the family backlog over a period of ten years; redefining "immediate relatives" to include spouses and minor children of green card holders, allowing an expedited process not subject to numerical caps on green cards; and allowing parents of U.S. citizens who immigrate to the U.S. to bring their minor children with them, keeping families together.

But the proposed changes also significantly threaten family unity, eliminating the "F4" visa category so that U.S. citizens will no longer be able to sponsor their brothers and sisters; placing an age cap on the "F3" visa category so that U.S. citizens can only sponsor their adult married children who are thirty years old or younger; and continuing to exclude LGBT couples and families from sponsoring their loved ones for family reunification.

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center is urging these actions from the community:

Mee Moua schools Senator Sessions on immigrant families

Immigration policy should not be written by men who do not know a damn thing about the lives of immigrants.



This is awesome: Witness Embarrasses GOP Senator Who Wants To Divide Immigrant Families.

On Monday, Mee Moua, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center, testified before a Senate Judiciary hearing on how comprehensive immigration reform should address the needs of women and families. You see, Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) wants to cut out families from the immigration system, because keeping immigrant families together is apparently not in the best interest of the United States.

Sessions asked Moua if the government can legitimately decide that it can admit one qualified family member over, say, another less motivated, potentially less productive individual. In turn, Moua, who happens to be badass, politely schools the hell out of Sessions with her response. Oh, yes. Let us go to the video:

Senator Daniel Inouye dies at 88

Sad news. Hawaii Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye, who had been hospitalized since early December due to respiratory problems, has died at age 88: Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye dies at age 88.

Inouye served in the Senate since 1962 and represented Hawaii since 1954. He was a pioneer, and as the Senate pro tempore and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, one of the most influential and powerful Asian Americans ever to serve in U.S. politics.

His final word, according to his staff, was "Aloha." From the official Statement on the Passing of Senator Daniel K. Inouye:

military legislation includes anti-hazing provisions

An important development in the aftermath of the Danny Chen hazing case... This week, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, which includes legislation to prevent and address hazing in the military: Senate Passes Anti-Hazing, Diversity In Military Legislation.

The provisions would require the military to report on their policies to improve anti-hazing, training and response. Another provision would require the Secretary of Defense to development of procedures to allow soldiers to anonymously report incidents of hazing.

Year after year, the National Defense Authorization Act always has controversial, debatable elements. Hopefully, the provision on hazing isn't one of them. The act must now go to conference in the House. Remember Danny Chen!

historic election night for asian americans

Good morning, America. Recovering from Election Night 2012? Of course, voters re-elected President Barack Obama, giving us another confetti-obscured glimpse of Konrad Ng (aka "that Asian guy with Obama's family") in the First Family victory huddle. That's always fun.

Early national exit polls data suggests that Asian American overwhelmingly voted for President Obama, with 73 percent pulling for a second term, while only 26 percent supported Mitt Romney: Exit Polls Show Asian Americans Backed Obama by Wide Margin .

Elsewhere, around the country, it was a historic night...