Good day, readers!
As the Democratic “blue wave” continues following yesterday’s elections, we open today’s stories with a look at how Asian American candidates have performed — from a Hmong American first in Wisconsin to Los Angeles ballots still being counted. We also cover a Texas Dem who made his first dosa, a beloved Indian dish, days before winning a Senate seat. If you’ve been following us, you’d know that race unfolded amid months of anti-South Asian rhetoric, which now also surfaced in a Montana hate crime case.
Between all the election fever, new census estimates show India-born residents standing out in a year of little net immigrant growth. This brings us to a Vietnamese American art professor — a refugee — who was shot dead with his wife in their Ohio home last week … allegedly by his own child.
In this issue, we also cover: families of Seoul’s Itaewon crowd crush victims being objected to real footage in a new video game; a Theranos whistleblower questioning an AI startup run by Elizabeth Holmes’ partner; a financial strategist saying AI could make traditional economic models obsolete; and the World Cup year that has the U.S. men’s team courting a Japanese American goalkeeper.
Featured
Midterms 2026: How AAPI candidates are faring so far
Tuesday’s midterms sent Asian American candidates to Congress from several states and produced a national first for Hmong Americans in Wisconsin. Two bids for governor, on the other hand, fell short.
Several California races, including the Los Angeles mayoral contest, could take days to call.
What else we’re tracking
James Talarico, who just made dosa, wins Texas
Last week, Democrat James Talarico made his first masala dosa at a Dallas-area restaurant amid months of anti-South Asian rhetoric in Texas. No Texas Democrat had won a U.S. Senate race in decades until Tuesday.
Indian man shoved, told to ‘go back to your country’ in alleged Montana hate crime
A 21-year-old Montana man faces a felony hate crime charge over an alleged shove in Helena and a remark telling a man of Indian descent to “go back” to his country. An online fundraiser for him has passed $28,000.
US’ India-born residents up while overall immigrants barely budge, new data shows
The India-born U.S. population grew by about 240,000 in 2025, more than the net gain among all immigrants, according to new census estimates. The figures also show which of Indian or Chinese Americans are the larger group.
Adult child charged with murder of their Vietnamese refugee father, stepmother in Ohio
Pipo Nguyen-Duy came to the U.S. as a political refugee in 1975 and later became Oberlin College’s studio art chair. In a recent tragedy, a burning car on campus set off the investigation into his death and his wife’s.
Activision apologizes for using footage of deadly Seoul crowd crush in new ‘Call of Duty’
The new “Call of Duty” includes about three seconds of real news footage from Seoul’s 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, which killed 159 people. Victims’ families objected as investigators disclosed new findings about the police response.
Theranos whistleblower sounds alarm over Elizabeth Holmes’ partner’s new AI startup
Theranos whistleblower Erika Cheung is raising concerns about Haemanthus, an Austin startup building a diagnostic system billed as using lasers and AI. Elizabeth Holmes’ partner, Billy Evans, runs it, though the company has said Holmes has no role.
Finance expert warns AI could make today’s economic system obsolete by 2030
Citing AI and robotics, financial strategist Raoul Pal said “the economic singularity is going to happen in 2030.” A 2023 Pew Research Center analysis found Asian workers more likely than White or Black workers to hold highly AI-exposed jobs.
Team USA wants Japanese American goalkeeper Taishi Nozawa, but there’s a catch
U.S. men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino said in September that his team was looking into recruiting Taishi Nozawa, a 23-year-old Royal Antwerp goalkeeper who has represented Japan at youth levels.
Why read Issue #280?
Tuesday’s election returns are only part of this issue. For one, the story continues with new census estimates showing the growth of Indian Americans. Sadly, hostility toward them also continues, at least in the Montana hate crime case.
We’re also looking at another grim AI warning, bereaved families speaking out and a whistleblower raising serious questions. Needless to say, anyone judging where Asian Americans stand after Tuesday should be informed of stories surrounding our communities — not just seat counts.
It’s a new dawn in American politics, we’re excited to have you join us.
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The Rebel Yellow is supported in part by funding from The Asian American Foundation (TAAF). Funders do not influence story selection, reporting, or editorial decisions. All editorial content is independently produced by The Rebel Yellow team.