Asian American adults uneasy about what comes next
Rising costs, health care and immigration top the list of issues Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults want the government to address in 2026, according to a recent survey
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #173
Dear Rebels,
Sorry for the delay in this newsletter. I’ve been at Sundance over the past week supporting a few young filmmakers I’ve been working with this year. While there, I ran into many leaders in the community, some came up just to offer encouragement, and a few even became new subscribers. Thank you to all who came up to say hi!
As of today, we’ve reached 529 paid subscribers, which puts us over halfway to our goal of 1,000. At that level, reader support alone allows us to break even and sustainably support two full-time writers (not enough to pay our Editor-in-Chief still, but he’s still here working and that’s why we love him).
A few of you have asked: What happens if we aim higher than 1,000? What does that unlock?
Here’s what scale actually looks like:
5,000 paid subscribers → enough to support 3–5 full-time reporters and finally pay our Editor
10,000 paid subscribers → 5–10 full-time reporters
50,000 paid subscribers → the ability to start building a national network of local Asian American newsrooms, fund original video reporting, host events, and invest in long-term investigative work
You get the picture.
This isn’t about growth for growth’s sake. It’s about building real, independent infrastructure for stories that don’t otherwise get told, and doing it without relying on ads, algorithms, or institutional gatekeepers.
If you believe in what we’re building, please keep sharing The Rebel Yellow. And if you have the means and want to support this work directly, becoming a paid subscriber makes a real, tangible difference.
Thank you for being here - Benny Luo
AAPI adults are uneasy about what comes next
Rising costs, health care and immigration top the list of issues Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults want the government to address in 2026, according to a recent survey by AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Nearly half of the 1,029 respondents cited inflation or the cost of living as a top concern, while just 10% said they are confident the federal government will make progress on major issues. The findings highlight deep economic anxiety paired with widespread skepticism toward the Trump administration.
Cost pressures dominate agenda
About 72% of the respondents cite at least one economic issue they want the government to address and 42% mention concerns related to personal finances. Inflation or the cost of living stands out as the most frequently cited issue at 49%, up sharply from 37% in 2024 and higher than among adults overall.
While inflation has eased from its peak, economists project it will remain above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target into 2026, with prices for essentials such as food, housing and health care continuing to rise and keeping pressure on household budgets, according to economic forecasts.
Expectations for personal finances, however, are more mixed. While 58% of AAPI adults expect the national economy to worsen in the coming year, fewer, 35%, say their own financial situation will decline. About 45% expect their finances to remain about the same, and 19% anticipate improvement. Lower-income households are significantly more likely to expect financial deterioration than those earning $100,000 or more, who are more likely to anticipate stability.
Health care and borders
Health care has grown more prominent as a concern across AAPI communities. About 44% cite a health care issue as one of the top problems the government should address in 2026, up from 32% last year. Concerns center largely on affordability, with 60% saying they are extremely or very concerned about rising health care costs.
Access remains a key worry as well, with roughly four in 10 AAPI adults say they are concerned about being unable to access health care when needed, pay for treatment or maintain health insurance. These concerns, which are especially pronounced among lower-income respondents, come amid broader resistance within AAPI communities to reductions in coverage, with surveys consistently showing opposition to cuts that would affect affordability and access.
Immigration also remains a top-tier issue, cited by 41% of AAPI adults. Views on immigration are sharply divided along partisan lines, with AAPI Republicans far more likely than AAPI Democrats to list it as a top priority.
Low trust in government
Confidence in the federal government’s ability to address major problems remains deeply eroded. Seven in 10 AAPI adults say they are not confident or only slightly confident the government will make progress in 2026, up from six in 10 a year earlier. Although AAPI Republicans report higher confidence levels than independents and Democrats, skepticism remains widespread across political affiliations.
While only a small share of respondents list democracy itself as a top issue, concerns about democratic functioning are pronounced. More than half say the U.S. is a poorly functioning democracy, and majorities believe freedom of speech and freedom of the press face major threats. Nearly half expect their personal rights and freedoms to worsen in the coming year.
The findings align with broader surveys showing Americans remain divided about their personal finances and outlook, with just 10% of U.S. adults describing 2025 as a “great” year and many citing economic stress, health concerns and dissatisfaction with work as they look toward 2026.
Giving despite economic strain
Even amid economic pressure and political skepticism, charitable giving remains widespread within AAPI communities. About 84% report donating money to a charitable organization in the past year, and 76% say they donated food, clothing or household items.
AAPI adults are more likely than the general public to donate through crowdfunding campaigns and to support disaster relief and educational institutions. Belief in a charity’s effectiveness and mission are the most commonly cited reasons for giving, and nearly three-quarters say it is very or extremely important to help friends or family members in need, underscoring the continued role of mutual aid within AAPI communities.
Asian American boy breaks down after bully says Trump will get him
A video of a 12-year-old Asian American boy reduced to tears after being bullied and threatened with deportation by another child has sparked outrage on social media.
What happened: Max Tet, who lives in Iowa, was bullied rather than celebrated after winning a two-month-long soccer tournament with his team earlier this month. In the now-viral video, he recalls being harassed by another player who accused him of being undocumented. “This guy told me I’m an illegal immigrant even though I was born in America,” Max tells his mother Mtee. “He said Trump is gonna get me and send me back to where I used to live. I was born in America. I don’t live anywhere else!”
