AANHPI nominees for Golden Globe awards and the Big Snub

Golden Globe nominee Dwayne Johnson is nearly unrecognizable in "The Smashing Machine."

OPINION

Well, here we are again. Another awards season kicks off, another round of Golden Globe nominations announced, and yet again we're left asking: Where's the AANHPI love?

It seems the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (or whatever they call themselves these days) is sticking to their old script. We get a token nod here, a "snub" that screams louder than a Mariah Carey high note there. It's the same story, different year. The "edge" of inclusion is apparently still a cliff they are afraid to jump off.

Let's break down the hits and, more importantly, the misses.

Who Got In?

Lee Byung-hun managed to break through the white noise, snagging a well-deserved nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his work in

No Other Choice. A win is a win, and we'll take it. But does one man make a movement?

Dwayne Johnson is a surprise nominee, but maybe this is Hollywood's way of showing an appreciation for his box office hits and popular appeal. He  foregoes his usual cinematic wisecfracking persona and gets serious as martial artist Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, a gritty biopic that sidesteps cliché earning him a nomination as Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama.

We saw a couple of mentions in the animation and music categories:

KPop Demon Hunters earned a couple of nods: Best Animated Feature, and a song from that film, "Golden," the song from 

Wicked: For Good

, got a Best Original Song nomination. Good for them, but these categories often feel like the "kids' table" of the awards circuit when we're talking major industry recognition.

Perhaps animated AANHPI characters are easier to accept for the Hollywood denizens than live actors.

The Snubs Heard 'Round Hollywood

Here's where the real story is. The one that makes you shake your head and wonder if these voters even watch the same movies as the rest of us. Jon M. Chu, the man behind the camera for the mega-hit Wicked: For Good, was left out of the Best Director race. 

A massive blockbuster with critical buzz and strong performances from its leads (Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who did get nominations) is apparently not "directing" enough for the Globes. The film itself was also shut out of the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category. 

It's a snub that is, frankly, hard to defend and typical of the industry's blind spot for AANHPI creative talent at the highest level.

In addition, Hailee Steinfeld was left out of the supporting actress nominations for her role in Sinners, a film that received seven nominations.

AANHPI representation this year is better than last year when there were no AANHPI actors nominees. There's definitely room for improvement.

Hollywood's systemic bias

As awards season rolls into high gear, Asian and Asian American actors and projects are comparatively few and far between, according to interviews with some of Hollywood's AANHPI creatives. Despite the box office and creative success of films like Crazy Rich Asians, Everything, Everywhere All At Once, and Minari on the big screen and Shogun and Beef for TV, Hollywood's apparent commitment to diversity appears to waning.

Simu Liu has been an outspoken voice regarding diversity and inclusion in the film and TV industries, using his platform as Marvel's first Asian superhero to advocate for change.

In social media posts in November this year, Liu described the current state of Asian representation as "f***ing appalling". He noted that while Asian-led films like Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crazy Rich Asians, and Shang-Chi have been financially successful, studios still seem to view Asian actors as a risk.

Liu points to a "deeply prejudiced system" where white male actors can star in multiple box-office flops and still land leading roles in tentpole films, whereas Asian actors face much higher scrutiny and fewer chances.

Director Chloe Zhao could be a multi-ward winner for the Golden Globes.

Following are the AANHPI projects and actors nominated for the Golden Globes:     

Best Motion Picture – Drama

    HAMNET (directed by Chloé Zhao)

Best Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy

    NO OTHER CHOICE 

Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama

    Dwayne Johnson, The Smashing Machine

Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy

    Lee Byung-Hun, No Other Choice

Best Director – Motion Picture

    Chloé Zhao, Hamnet

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

    Chloé Zhao, Hamnet

 Best Motion Picture – Animated

    KPop Demon Hunters  

Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language

    No Other Choice

Best Song – Motion Picture

    “Golden,” KPop Demon Hunters

Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy or Television

    Kumail Nanjiani, Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts

The 2026 Golden Globes ceremony will air live on CBS on Sunday, January 11, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET, and will also stream on Paramount+ in the US. The show returns to the Beverly Hilton and will once again be hosted by comedian and actress Nikki Glaser.

        FYI: For a complete list of Golden Globenominees.

The bottom line? The 2026 Golden Globes are, once again, a mixed bag. We're seeing slow, glacial progress in some areas, but the key power-player categories like directing and non-stereotypical roles remain elusive. It just goes to show, we still have a long way to go before the "edge" becomes the mainstream.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Trump cancels citizenship swearing-in ceremony

At some naturalization ceremonies like the one above, flags are handed out to the new US citizens.

It looks like the Trump administration has found another way to make life harder for immigrants, especially those from certain countries they've decided are "high-risk." The latest target? The final, joyous step of the naturalization process: the citizenship ceremony itself.

A recent Trump administration policy has led to the cancellation of naturalization oath ceremonies for some immigrants in Massachusetts and across the US. This policy specifically affects individuals who are originally from one of 19 countries deemed "high-risk."

The cancellations are a direct result of a new order from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), issued on Dec. 2, which mandated an immediate pause on all immigration applications for nationals from these specific countries as part of an effort to strengthen screening processes.

Reports out of Massachusetts describe US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers playing a real-life version of "red light, green light" at Faneuil Hall. Except, instead of a game, they were asking people their country of origin and "plucking" those from specific nations right out of line, effectively canceling their long-awaited moment to become US citizens. 

This is a direct result of a new USCIS memo, issued on December 2, 2025, that mandates a total freeze on applications for nationals from 19 identified countries to allow for "strengthened screening." Mind you, many of these individuals had already jumped through every hoop the system put in front of them, some after decades of legal residency. This isn't about security; it's about cruelty and creating a system "stacked against immigrants of color."

This blanket policy is a slap in the face to due process and an affront to America's  guiding principle that immigrants make this country better.

Here are the 19 countries impacted by this discriminatory order, including several in Asia: 

• Afghanistan
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Burundi

• Chad
• Republic of the Congo
• Cuba
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Laos
• Libya
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela
• Yemen

Advocacy groups like the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) are calling it what it is: un-American. They are among the legal advocates exploring challenges, arguing the policy violates basic due process and treats people as security risks based solely on where they were born, not their individual merits or security history.

 "The administration’s exploitation of the tragedy to push xenophobic policies is misguided and cruel. These new policies fuel racial animus and seek to vilify many based on the alleged actions of one," states AAAJ in a press release.  

“The United States was founded on the principles of protecting and accepting immigrants seeking safety, opportunity, and liberty from oppression. The new constraints victimize immigrants going through the legal immigration process, especially endangering those seeking asylum and refuge from life-threatening conditions in their countries of origin." 

The AAAJ statement continues: “Individuals with canceled naturalization ceremonies and green card interviews have followed the rules and waited years for the immigration process to play out. Others who have already received benefits will now have to fear losing their status. ... In addition, needlessly re-reviewing applications worsens immigration case backlog and will strain government resources."  

In the meantime, the customary flag-waving at previous events will have to wait. People's dreams and hopes of becoming US citizens , a process that takes years, were suddenly crushed. Instead of celebrating, they find themselves  in a legal limbo, being told they'll get more info via a separate notice.

This policy, effective Dec. 2, requires all nationals from these countries with pending applications to undergo a thorough re-review process, including potential re-interviews, which has caused immediate delays and cancellations of previously scheduled ceremonies.

The message is clear: the administration is determined to put up as many barriers as possible for people they deem undesirable. The fight for human rights is constant, and this is just the latest battleground.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Get Angry! ICE separates six-year old from his father

Six-year old Yuanxin Zheng remains at an undisclosed location.

Do you know a six-year old kid? Usually, he or she, is curious, takes joy in simple things and easy to have fun with. But can that child take care of himself? No. The six-year old needs an adult to feed, clothe, bathe him- or herself.

Now imagine taking that six-year old away from family; away from the adults who love and take care of him or her; who can speak to him or her in a language he or she can understand.

That's what happened to Yuanxin Zheng.

As of a recent update on December 6, 2025, the missing six-year-old Chinese boy,  Yuanxin Zheng, is reportedly in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). However, the federal agency refused to reveal his exact location.

It has been almost two weeks that the youngster was separated from his father during a routine check-in with ICE in New York. It should be noted that they were following instructions, obeying the law, to check in periodically when the father was detained and whisked away to an ICE facility.

Yuanxin and his father, Fei Zheng, who are Chinese legally seeking asylum, were detained and separated from each other on November 26, 2025, during a scheduled check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Manhattan.

The child, who had just started first grade in New York City, is in ORR custody, which typically handles unaccompanied or separated minor immigrant children. 

His father is being held at the Orange County Correctional Facility in Goshen, New York, where he can be located using the ICE online detainee locator.  Just yesterday, Fei was allowed to speak to his son but they wouldn't tell him where young Yuanxin is.

Advocacy groups and New York politicians, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Representatives Nydia Velázquez and Grace Meng, are working to locate Yuanxin and secure the family's immediate reunification and release.

The family was reportedly living in Queens, New York, and Yuanxin was enrolled in the first grade at a local elementary school prior to their detention. They were previously released on parole after attempting to cross the border in April 2025 and had a valid asylum case before it was administratively closed in September.

Community advocates and officials held a rally in Queens on December 7, 2025, to protest the family separation and demand their immediate release. The father and son were finally able to speak via phone call a week after their separation.

NYC officials, including the mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, have spoken out against the separation and are demanding the family's immediate reunification and release. Advocates are urging the public to contact the ORR hotline to pressure them into disclosing his whereabouts to officials and securing his release to his father. 

ICE maintains that it does not separate families, but places children in the "safe custody" of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) when a parent cannot be safely detained with them or refuses to be removed with them.

A spokespers for the Department of Homeland Security said the family was given an order of removal and that the father "was acting so disruptive and aggressive that he endangered the child's wellbeing," the spokesperson said.

It's understandable why the father was upset. 

Advocates for the family argue that Zheng refused to board the flight to China in September and again in October out of fear of government retribution and torture in his home country, not to abandon his child. They view the separation as a tactic by ICE to coerce the father into complying with the deportation order, calling the action "inhumane" and "torturous".

The six-year-old is part of a growing number of children arrested and detained by ICE, according to newly released data obtained by the Deportation Data Project through a Freedom of Information Act request. One hundred and fifty-one children under the age of 18 have been arrested between January and October.

On Dec. 7, Sunday, supporters, including Yuanxin,'s first-grade classmates, held a rally at the playground of P.S. 166 where Yuanxin us enrolled.

"I have seen some brutal family separations," City Comptroller Brad Lander said at the rally. "But I have to tell you, I still have not heard anything as rotten as family separating and jailing a 6-year-old boy. We're not gonna stand for it. Shame."

Whether or not father and son are deported or their asylum request is granted is not the issue here; keeping a six-year old away from the one person who loves him is wrong. It is cruel. Intentionally cruel.

If this situation doesn't get you angry I don't know what to tell you. At the very least, forward this blog to your congressional representative and have them join Sen. Schumer and Rep. Grace Meng in demanding that father and son are reunited.

“Six-year-old Yuanxin had just enrolled in the first grade at an elementary school in Astoria,” said Mamdani. “Now he’s in custody, alone. ... This cruelty serves no one. It must end.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Rachel Maddow's podcast uses Japanese American incarceration as a lesson versus today's Trump policies

Japanese American groups, remembering their own history of unjust mass incarceration during WWII were among the first to condemn  the Trump administration's immigration policies, viewing similarities in rhetoric and actions, particularly mass detention and family separation, as echoing past injustices to their families.

The similarities between their incarceration and this administration's attitudes toward immigrants is largely unknown by most Americans. All that may change as their struggle is the subject of a podcast by progressive media host Rachel Maddow.

 "Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order" is a new, six-episode narrative podcast that tells the story of the executive order that authorized the roundup and incarceration of innocent Japanese Americans during World War II. The podcast was released on December 1, 2025.

"Rachel Maddow’s new series lays bare one of the most shocking decisions in American history," posts the Manzanar Committee on social media. "It’s a story that reveals how an executive order authorizing the mass roundup of innocent Japanese Americans came to be, the powerful players who engineered it, and the burn order that tried to erase it from history."

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

Japanese Americans were among the first to protest Donald Trump's immigration policies.

The series investigates one of the most shocking decisions in American history, focusing on the powerful figures who engineered the policy, those who tried to stop it, and a "burn order" that attempted to erase the official report from history. A copy of the crucial government memo was discovered decades later, despite orders for its destruction.

"I'm angry, I'm angry," said 81-year-old Satsuki Ina to CBS. "It's frightening. It's terrifying that this is happening again."

"It is a replication of our own history," explains Inak, a survivor of the Tule Lake Ssegregation Center. "They're using the same legal false justification, removing people without due process."

Rachel Maddow

Maddow is arguably the most in-fluential voice in progressive media. She is the highest paid host on MSNBC, now rebranded as MS NOW. Maddow has approximately 9.4 million followers across her primary social media accounts, with nearly 9.4 million on X (formerly Twitter) and 2.5 million on the Facebook page for The Rachel Maddow Show. Her podcasts are highly popular, often reaching number one on the Apple Podcasts charts.

In her podcast Burn Order, Maddow draws several parallels to today's political climate beyond mass detentions. The podcast focuses on the manipulation of information, government accountability, and the targeting of groups.

FYI: Listen to the podcast on various platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and MSNBC's website.  

The key parallels Maddow highlights are:


• Targeting of "the Other": The government used "brazen lies and stereotypes" to turn the public against a whole group of people. This can be seen today with the divisive political rhetoric labeling certain groups as a threat.

Lack of Accountability for Influential Figures: Maddow points to figures operating without accountability. This can be seen as a parallel to situations where powerful individuals seem untouchable and operate outside public scrutiny.

Attempts to Suppress Truth: The podcast is titled after a "burn order"—a deliberate attempt to destroy documents and suppress the truth. This can be compared to modern discussions about mishandled records, government cover-ups, and the fight for transparency.

Public Indifference: Maddow suggests the public back then was "determined to look the other way". Today, with a constant stream of news, there is a danger of public fatigue and indifference, potentially allowing those in power to act unchecked.

Abuse of Power: The historical event involved the abuse of executive power and the stripping of citizens' rights through an unconstitutional executive order. This serves as a warning about unchecked power and the importance of constitutional checks and balances.

It's amazing how many Americans have never heard of this shameful chapter of US  history. Even less known is how Japanese Americans fought for the federal government to admit any wrongdoing.

The podcast also explores how the persistence of the Japanese American community was able to get the federal government to issue an apologizy to Japanese Americans for the wartime internment through the Civil Liberties Act of 198..The apology not only acknowledged that the incarceration was based on "racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and a failure of political leadership," it also provided a $20,000 cash payment to each eligible survivor.

Maddow will host a live event in Los Angeles tied to Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order sponsored by MS NOW. It will take place at 5 p.m. PT on Dec. 14 at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. The event also will air as a MSNOW primetime special on Dec. 29. Tickets for the event are available for purchase via Ticketmaster.

Japanese Americans, informed by its painful history, largely reacted with alarm and opposition to Trump's immigration crackdowns, advocating for compassion and constitutional rights for all immigrants. Their perspective matters.


“Doing the right thing doesn't always pay off in the short run, but your country will ultimately get this right,” Maddow tells Time magazine. “The good guys will be rewarded and the bad guys will be punished or forgotten. Having faith in those kinds of moral outcomes is really a nice guiding light to have in dark times like these.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Trump's new immigration restrictions will adversely impact Asian immigrants; favor white Afrikaners

Donald Trump wants more restrictions for immigrants to the US.

The United States might as well hang a sign out that says "No people of color allowed," after Donald Trump proposed new sweeping restrictions after Thanksgiving Day.

Over the past week, following an Afghan national arrested as a suspect in the fatal shooting of National Guard soldier in Washington DC, Trump issued a flurry of social media posts further restricting immigration from "third world" countries. 

As  Trump advocated new restrictions on immigration from Asia, Africa and the MIddle East, going almost unnoticed under the barrage of his social media posts, is he wants to give white South Afrikaners priority as refugees.

Trump's recent immigration declarations will affect immigrants from Asia by heightened restrictions on family-based immigration, increased scrutiny and costs for skilled-worker visas (H-1B), and travel restrictions on certain Asian nations.

Key Declarations

 The death of one National Guard soldier and seriously injuring another blocks from the White House sparked a flurry of social media pronouncements by Trump, including:

• Trump stated he would "permanently pause" migration from "all Third World Countries". When asked for clarification, the Department of Homeland Security pointed to the 19 countries already on a June 2025 travel ban list, which includes Asian countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), and Laos. Nationals from these specific countries will face full or partial entry suspensions, including stricter visa requirements and potentially indefinite delays in processing.

• The Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has ordered a "full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern." For Asian immigrants from the targeted 19 countries, this means a likely increase in processing times, added background checks, longer security screening, or temporary holds on their applications.

• Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), often used by Afghan nationals who worked with the US military, have been paused following the incident, directly impacting a specific group of Asian immigrants seeking refuge and legal status.

Immigration from Asia is a significant part of U.S. immigration, with immigrants from India, China, and the Philippines being the largest groups, and origins spanning from historical migration to modern-day skilled and family-based immigration

Key effects on Asian immigrants include:

Family Reunification Challenges: Trump has emphasized a shift away from the current family-based immigration system towards a "merit-based" model. This will disproportionately affect many Asian immigrant communities (such as those from the Philippines, Vietnam, India, and China) that rely heavily on family-sponsored visas, which already face extensive backlogs. The new policies will likely prevent family members abroad from joining relatives already in the U.S., creating long-distance separations and significant delays.

H-1B Visa Restrictions: The administration continues to target the H-1B skilled-worker visa program, which is widely utilized by immigrants from India and China. Recent actions have included significant fee increases (e.g., to $100,000 per application for certain groups), higher wage requirements, and increased scrutiny during the application process, making it more difficult and expensive for US companies to hire and retain highly skilled Asian professionals.

Family reunification may be harder under Donald Trump's new proposals.

Travel Bans and Heightened Scrutiny: The administration has implemented full or partial entry suspensions and heightened scrutiny for nationals of several countries, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Laos. This can prevent individuals from these countries from entering the U.S. and complicate visa renewals for those already in the country.

Increased Deportation and Enforcement: The administration's push for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants also impacts Asian communities; Asian Americans constitute about 10% of the total undocumented population. There has also been an increase in the detention and deportation of Southeast Asians with existing removal orders.

Termination of Protections: The recent termination of TPS for approximately 4,000 Myanmar nationals, effective January 26, 2026, will leave these individuals vulnerable to deportation unless they can find other legal avenues to remain in the U.S.

"Ideological Screening" and Fear: Trump's declaration to block immigrants "non-compatible with Western civilization" introduces subjective criteria for entry and could lead to ideological or discriminatory screening processes. This, along with general anti-immigrant rhetoric, contributes to a climate of fear and uncertainty, potentially discouraging immigrants from accessing essential services, such as healthcare.

Even before last week's declarations fear and anxiety among Asian Americans has been on the rise.  A November 2025 poll revealed that worries about detention and deportation among Asian immigrants doubled from 14% in 2023 to 29%, a concern extending to many with lawful permanent resident (LPR) status or naturalized citizenship.

White Afrikaners 'prioritized'

Overall, these actions indicate a major shift in US immigration policy that creates significant uncertainty and fear among Asian immigrant communities, even for those with legal status.

Among these proposed policies that generally reduces immigration from "third-world" countries and has severely cut the overall US refugee admission ceiling to a record low, the Trump administration has specifically prioritized members of the white Afrikaner minority. This policy is based on Trump's claims of a "white genocide" and land seizures in South Africa,  

The Trump administration has not provided data or credible evidence to substantiate its claim of "white genocide" in South Africa. The claims have been widely fact-checked and debunked by the South African government, independent experts, human rights organizations, and even the US State Department's own reports.

South African immigrants Elon Musk, left and Peter Thiel are major Donald Trump supporters.

Critics have offered two reasons explaining the apparent emphasis on South Africa white immigrants:

1. Critics argue that the policy is a "dog whistle" appealing to white victimhood and is consistent with Trump's preference for immigrants from predominantly white countries over those from "third world" nations. Some officials suggested the preference was because they would be easier to assimilate.

2. It is payback to two billionaire supporters, both immigrants from South Africa and who have financed Trump's campaign: Elon Musk, the richest person in the world who donated millions of dollars to put Trump in the Oval Office and helped Trump drastically reduce the federal workforce in the opening months of the Trump administration; and Peter Thiel,  a venture capitalist and tech investor known for co-founding PayPal and being an early investor in Facebook. He has been a vocal supporter and advisor for Trump. Although Thiel hasn't donated directly to the Heritage Foundation, the think tank that developed Project 2025, his philanthropic foundation has been a major donor (reportedly $10 million) to the Donor's Trust, a "dark money" group that in turn has funded the Heritage Foundation.

The administration is restricting legal immigration pathways through measures like expanded travel bans targeting specific countries, increased fees for applications, and limits on H-1B and student work visas, impacting the flow of talent into the US.

In essence, experts anticipate that the wide-ranging pronouncements will lead to a smaller population and workforce, a weaker economy in the long run, and profound social and personal costs for immigrant communities and the nation as a whole.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Another Asian American will represent SF's troubled district

Alan Wong steps into new post as San Francisco's newest Supervisor.

Well, the ongoing soap opera in San Francisco's District 4 just got its latest cast member. Mayor Daniel Lurie has tapped Alan Wong, a local guy and City College board member, to be the new interim supervisor for the 4th District.

Wong is the third supervisor representing District 4 this year. After Joel Engardio was recalled after a roadway was converted to a park and Lurie appointee Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz, a Filipino American political neophyte, had to resign due to alleged business irregularities.

        RELATED: Filipino American first, then a farewell

He’s was sworn in on Monday, Dec. 1. It's a temporary gig, serving until a special election next June, but he's stepping into a situation fraught with local drama.

Wong is a San Francisco native, which matters a lot around here. He grew up in D4, went to Lincoln High School, and seems to have his roots firmly planted in the community he's about to represent. He's got a background in education policy and currently works for the Children's Council of San Francisco as their senior director of public policy communications.

On paper, he's got experience: a City College of San Francisco trustee since 2020 (serving as board president, no less), and a former aide to past Supervisor Gordon Mar. He even serves as a first lieutenant in the California National Guard – showing a commitment to both local and national service. And he's been involved with the community safety group Stop Crime SF.

Mayor Lurie is banking on Wong to be a "strong, steady voice" and "build bridges." He’ll need to, given the political turbulence. This is no easy job. The public is fed up with corruption and political games. Wong is stepping into a minefield and has a very short time to prove he's the real deal and not just another political appointee. The community will be watching closely to see if he can navigate the political landscape and deliver without getting caught in the crossfire.

Wong will join three other San Francisco Supervisors who are of Asian descent: Connie Chan, Chyanne Chen, and Bilal Mahmood.

Meanwhile Filipino Americans, who are the second largest Asian ethnicity in the city, must wait for one of their own to make it onto the city's governing board. They  celebrated during Alcaraz's brief appointment, but a week later, their balloons were popped and they are back to square one.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

'The Monkey King' wins over US opera fans and critics

The San Francisco Opera staged the world premiere of the Chinese tale of 'The Monkey King.'

San Francisco opera audiences embraced the legend of the Chinese folk tale of The Monkey King whole-heartedly. The world premiere of the opera was a resounding critical and popular success, widely described as a "triumph" and a "spectacular" achievement.

It wasn't just another night at the opera; it was a bona fide event, the kind of thing that makes you proud of the Bay Area's vibrant cultural scene and how Asian Americana has become part of every aspect of life here.

“I’m so proud that San Francisco Opera is bringing this operatic Monkey King to life, continuing our long tradition of building cultural bridges across the Pacific Ocean," said the SF Opera's General Director Matthew Shilvock. 

The opera's reception was overwhelmingly positive, with critics and audiences praising its visual grandeur, innovative fusion of Eastern and Western theatrical elements, and engaging storytelling.

This was a major artistic triumph, period. Forget the stuffy image of opera; this was a production that had critics and audiences alike buzzing with excitement.

The staging was off the charts. We're talking brilliant puppetry by Basil Twist and 4,500 yards of flowing silk that practically became a character itself. The San Francisco Chronicle basically called it one of the most thrilling things the opera house had offered in decades.

Composer Huang Ruo didn't just write music; he mashed up Chinese instruments and Peking opera vocal techniques with a modern orchestra, creating a vibrant, original sound that energized the whole production.

The opera 'The Monkey King' was 'spectacular' deemed critics.

David Henry Hwang's libretto grounded the classic tale of the Monkey King's ego and journey (Journey to the West source material, for those keeping score) in themes that resonate today. It was smart, funny, and surprisingly relevant.

Tenor Kang Wang nailed it as the Monkey King. It was a "jaw-dropping" performance that blended singing with serious physical acting and comedy.

The impact was undeniable. The run was reportedly sold out, and it drew a diverse crowd. It's the kind of production that gets the community talking and opens the door for more Asian American stories on the big stage. People are already hoping this wasn't a one-off, but the start of a "Monkey King" series.

Commissioned by San Francisco Opera in partnership with the Chinese Heritage Foundation of Minnesota, The Monkey King is based on the opening episodes of Journey to the West, the Ming Dynasty novel attributed to Wu Cheng’en and considered one of China’s four greatest literary classics.

“If dreams do come true, creating The Monkey King with my long-time collaborator David Henry Hwang for San Francisco Opera is one of those dreams," said omposer  Ruo.

"The world is full of superheroes—Superwoman, Spider-Man, Batman—and like those we know from American comic books and movies, the Monkey King is every bit an inspirational figure known for his wit, humor, righteousness and power. He is Asia’s supreme superhero, loved and adored not only by Chinese people throughout the centuries but increasingly by people throughout the world," said Ruo.

The artistic success of The Monkey King production is proof that when you mix cultural authenticity with top-tier innovation, you get an instant classic. An artistic win for American culture, which is really a fusion of many diverse sources from around the world.

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said: “I’m so proud that San Francisco Opera is bringing this operatic Monkey King to life, continuing our long tradition of building cultural bridges across the Pacific Ocean.

"We hope that this will become a beloved and lasting opera for the world and are thrilled about how much excitement there already is for this new opera.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

ICE releases Filipino American mother after 8 months in detention

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Alma Bowman is released from ICE detention.

After spending most of the year in ICE custody, a Filipino American woman is celebrating  Thanksgiving at home surrounded by family and supporters.

Alma Bowman was released from the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, and reunited with her family after spending eight months detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). 

“We are so thrilled that (Bowman) has been released from detention and has regained her freedom,” said Samantha Hamilton, the attorney from Asian American Advancing Justice who represented Bowman..

 "And we are once again inspired by Alma, who fought tirelessly for her release and for the release of dozens of other women who she has met during the last eight months that she has been in Stewart — a place she never should have been in in the first place,” said Filipino American lawyer Hamilton.

On March 26, 2025, Bowman attended her routine yearly check-in at the ICE Atlanta Field Office in a wheelchair, with her two children, legal team, and a crowd of supporters. Inside, ICE officers told her that she needed to be taken downstairs and separated from her attorney to be fingerprinted. But instead of being fingerprinted, she was detained and sent to Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia.

Bowman has lived in Macon, Georgia, for nearly 50 years. Her father was a US citizen serving in the US Navy when he met Alma’s mother in the Philippines, where Alma was born.

“I always thought that I was a citizen of the United States,” Bowman said. She was married to a US citizen, whom she is separated from.

As the daughter of a US-citizen father, she should have acquired citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) of 1952. But the US government has repeatedly refused to recognize Bowman’s citizenship, leading to her being detained by ICE, exposing the ongoing implications of an arcane and racist law according to Advancing Justice-Atlanta.

FYI:Alma Bowman's case could affect thousands of US citizens born overseas.

Bowman was previously detained by ICE from 2017 to 2020 at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia, a facility known for its documented human rights abuses against people in immigration detention. While detained at Irwin, she helped expose abuse by a doctor who was performing non-consensual gynecological procedures on immigrant women, bringing international spotlight to Georgia. Alma was released on an order of supervision in December 2020. Nevertheless, she was detained again by ICE, highlighting the cruelties of a broken and inhumane system.

Since being re-detained in March, Bowman has tirelessly fought her unjust detention and for the government to recognize her citizenship. On July 30, 2025, she filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the US District Court for the Middle District of Georgia arguing that her detention was unconstitutional and seeking her immediate release. She is represented by Advancing Justice-Atlanta and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Alma’s adult children, Chris and John Mitchell, are eager to welcome their mother back home. “We are super excited that moomin gets to come home. It would have been another sad Thanksgiving without her. The plan is to get her some good home cooking and make sure she's comfortable while catching her up on all she's missed. We are still worried about the status of her ongoing case, but at least she will be with family instead of locked away while in this limbo.”

Bowman’s legal team is also celebrating her long-awaited release. “We are so thrilled that Alma has been released from detention and has regained her freedom,” said AAJA's Hamilton. “And we are once again inspired by Alma, who fought tirelessly for her release and for the release of dozens of other women who she has met during the last eight months that she has been in Stewart—a place she never should have been in in the first place.

"Alma is a drum major for justice," said Kayla Vinson, Staff Attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights. "We could not be happier that she will get to enjoy the end of the year where she should have been all along, at home with her family."

Bowman's release is tempered because she continues to push for the government to recognize her United States citizenship. 

Bowman secured her release through her tireless advocacy and with the legal representation of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta (“Advancing Justice-Atlanta”) and the Center for Constitutional Rights, as well as advocacy by the Malaya Movement USA and Georgia, Tanggol Migrante Movement, GABRIELA USA, and the International Women’s Alliance.

"While this is a major victory for Alma's family and friends, we as Tanggol Migrante, and the Defend Migrants Alliance will continue to fight for the genuine freedom for people like Alma, who see their issues connected to a shared experienced migrants face across the US,” said organizer June Colcol. “We encourage more people to join our movement and take collective action!"

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