Chinese Spies, Mysterious Drones, Hannah Kobayashi Speaks
Welcome to Issue 5 of the Rebel Yellow newsletter!
In this issue, we untangle truth from misinformation: Did President Biden really pardon two Chinese spies? What's behind New Jersey’s mysterious drone sightings? Plus, we explore Dhar Mann’s rise to social media stardom and his $45 million empire. Dive in as we break down the narratives shaping the news and challenge the stories making waves.
Fact check: Were 2 Chinese spies really pardoned by Biden?
President Joe Biden recently granted clemency to 1,500 individuals and pardoned 39 others in what the White House described as “the largest single-day grant of clemency in modern history.”
In a press release on Thursday, the White House explained that the clemency recipients were individuals “placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and who have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities.” The pardons, meanwhile, applied to those convicted of “non-violent crimes.”
What they’re saying
After the announcement, conservative commentator Benny Johnson claimed in an Instagram post that convicted Chinese spies Yanjun Xu and Chaoqun Ji, along with Shanlin Jin, a Chinese man imprisoned for disseminating child pornography, were on the clemency list. Johnson highlighted his claim that the White House included the three former U.S. prisoners alongside those pardoned for “non-violent crimes.” Lynne Martine Patton, a former Trump administration appointee, also shared a similar post on Instagram that focused on Jin’s case.
The convicted men in question:
The first Chinese government intelligence officer extradited to the U.S. to stand trial, Xu was arrested in Belgium on April 1, 2018. He allegedly attempted to acquire technology related to GE Aviation’s exclusive composite aircraft engine fan module. Xu, who was the deputy division director at China’s Ministry of State Security before he was arrested, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for espionage on Nov. 16, 2022.
Ji was arrested in September 2018 while working under the direction of Xu and a key Chinese state intelligence unit. His role was to identify scientists and engineers as potential recruits for the Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security. He found eight individuals, originally from China and Taiwan, who became naturalized U.S. citizens, with some employed as U.S. defense contractors. Ji was sentenced to eight years in prison on Jan. 25, 2023, for conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government, among other charges.
Jin, whose family has ties to the Chinese Communist Party, was a doctoral student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. During a sting operation, undercover officers traced child pornography content they downloaded from the internet to Jin, leading to his arrest on Jan. 24, 2021. Authorities discovered over 47,000 images and videos on his computer in his Allen, Texas, home. Jin was sentenced to eight years in prison on July 14, 2022.
Are the claims true?
The claim that Xu, Ji and Jin were part of Biden’s Thursday clemency list is false. The three men were granted clemency on Nov. 22 and included as part of a prisoner swap with China last month that saw the release of three Americans considered by the U.S. to be wrongfully detained: Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung.
Swidan, a Houston resident, was imprisoned in China in 2012 for allegedly being involved in a drug manufacturing operation, which led to a death sentence. Li, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Long Island, New York, was arrested in September 2016 for allegedly “furnishing five state secrets to the FBI,” resulting in a 10-year prison sentence. Leung, a permanent resident of Hong Kong, was arrested and handed a death sentence after being found guilty of espionage in May 2023.
The White House’s recent clemency announcement was unrelated to the prisoner swap in late November.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated the exchange on Nov. 28, which they credited to the “tireless efforts of the Chinese government.” Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a statement, “This once again demonstrates that China will never abandon its compatriots under any circumstances, and the motherland will always be their strong support.”
Officials have no good answers for New Jersey’s mystery “drones.” Here are the facts.
New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim joined Clinton Township law enforcement in Hunterdon County on Thursday night to investigate the ongoing drone sightings in his state. In a statement the following day, Kim expressed frustration over the federal government’s lack of information regarding the aerial objects and their operation in restricted air spaces, which have continued for weeks.
What we know so far:
On the evening of Nov. 18, multiple reports of unmanned aerial systems/vehicles (UAS/UAV) sightings across New Jersey were submitted to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security’s Suspicious Activity Report System, according to an FBI representative who spoke at a White House briefing on Saturday. This prompted FBI Newark and over 50 local, state and federal agencies to launch an investigation involving witness interviews, video analysis and intelligence gathering.
On Nov. 22, the Federal Aviation Authority issued temporary flight restrictions for Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, effective Nov. 22-Dec. 20. and Picatinny Arsenal Military Base in Morris County, effective Nov. 25-Dec. 26. Picatinny Arsenal, where the Army develops and tests warfare devices, including counter-weapons of mass destruction drone technology, is not connected to the drone sightings, according to Lt. Col. Craig Bonham II.
Witnesses report varying drone sizes, with some claimed to be as large as small cars or SUVs. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy noted the drones “go dark” when spotted, and a sheriff reported seeing around 50 of them “coming off” the ocean, prompting him to call 911. Drones with underwater capabilities have been in development for years.
Similar drone sightings have been reported in Delaware, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida and California, with over 5,000 reports received by the DHS and other agencies in recent weeks. The U.S. Air Force also reported similar sightings above its overseas bases, including those in Germany and the United Kingdom.
Sightings reportedly halted a helicopter medevac for a car crash victim at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, New Jersey, on Dec. 4 and shut down New York Stewart Airport’s runways for an hour on Dec. 13.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, reported similar sightings on multiple nights within its restricted airspace, notably between Dec. 13-14 and Dec. 16-17, resulting in temporary flight restrictions being put in place. Wright-Patterson spokesperson Bob Purtiman told 10WBNS that "none of the incursions impacted base residents, facilities or assets." He also assured residents that they are "taking all appropriate measures to safeguard" the area by monitoring the airspace.
What the government is saying
The federal government has issued contradictory statements about the mysterious drone sightings. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told CNN, “We know of no threat or any nefarious activity,” suggesting some sightings may involve legally manned aircraft, calling it “a case of mistaken identity.”
The DHS and FBI reiterated in a joint statement that “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” They added, “Historically, we have experienced cases of mistaken identity, where reported drones are, in fact, manned aircraft or facilities.”
In contrast, a Department of Defense official said at a White House briefing on Saturday that “we don’t know” if the drones are malicious or criminal but that their activity is “irresponsible.” In an earlier statement at the briefing, the DOD official admitted they “have not been able to locate or identify the operators or the points of origin.”
The mystery has at least some prosaic explanations
During his investigation, Kim discovered that some of the drones spotted on Thursday night were actually airplanes. In a series of X posts, Kim explained that they used detailed flight tracking tools, with data analyzed by civilian pilots, to recreate the sightings. “I don’t discount others who may have seen actual drone activity, and not all I saw is fully explained by flight paths, but much of it was,” he wrote.
Kim emphasized the need for government transparency, particularly during times of heightened public anxiety over the economy, health and security. “We have a lot of distrust in politics/government right now, and we need the federal gov to respect the right for the public to be informed,” he said.
Several arrests have been made for the illegal flying of drones amid the mass sightings. Two men were arrested on Saturday for operating drones dangerously close to Logan International Airport. Meanwhile, a Chinese national and U.S. legal permanent resident was apprehended at San Francisco International Airport on Dec. 9 for flying a UAV over Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California, during a SpaceX rocket launch on Nov. 30. It remains unclear if these incidents are connected to the broader drone sightings.
MANN Rises From “Dark Times” To Build A $45-MILLION EMPIRE
Dhar Mann's short, dramatic skits have become a ubiquitous presence on social media. These simple morality plays, with titles like "BULLIED KID Finally Gets His REVENGE" and "Rich Teens SHAME GIRL At THRIFT STORE," have garnered billions of views on YouTube and are widely shared across various platforms. This popularity propelled Mann to No. 2 on Forbes' Top Creators 2024 list, just behind YouTube megastar MrBeast.
Mann behind the brand
Online, Mann presents himself as a reformed individual who has learned from his past mistakes and is now dedicated to creating positive content. His personal narrative of overcoming adversity resonates with many who see him as a symbol of redemption.
The 40-year-old influencer tells Rebel Yellow that Forbes’ recognition brought him to tears, noting that his success wasn't about fame or fortune. "If I can just positively impact one person with my videos, then I’m accomplishing my mission," he shares. “It doesn’t change anything for me, but it does motivate me to work even harder.”
Ebbs and flows
Born to Indian immigrant parents in the Bay Area, Mann said he learned the value of hard work early on by helping with his family’s taxi business. He went on to pursue diverse ventures, including real estate, luxury car rentals and even a hydroponics company supplying the growing medical marijuana industry. However, his path was marked by legal trouble when, in 2012, he faced 13 felony fraud charges related to his real estate company, MannEdge Properties, for allegedly misusing city grants. Mann ultimately pleaded no contest to five counts, receiving probation and a fine, an experience he now cites as a catalyst for personal growth.
"I was broke, going through a very public breakup, was about to be evicted from my apartment and was having health issues," he recalled.
It was during this period in 2015 that Mann met his fiance Laura Avila. Together, they co-founded LiveGlam, a beauty subscription service that became a multimillion-dollar success story. But even with financial stability, he felt a deeper calling. "I felt disconnected with my purpose in life," he explains. "All I could keep thinking about was who else was going through those dark times."
Start of something big
In 2018, Mann launched Dhar Mann Studios to create simple talk-to-camera motivational videos on YouTube. He would later incorporate cartoons to illustrate his messages, helping him bring his views up from hundreds to thousands of views.
Then came the pivotal decision: "And that’s when I did my last shift by incorporating actors to recreate these stories that I was imagining in my head." Dhar Mann Studios quickly found its niche with short, easily digestible videos tackling social issues like bullying, racism and inequality.
Contemporary references about “Karens,” stereotypes and viral news stories are often woven into the narratives, offering a sanitized and reassuringly moralistic take on real-world events. Mann seems to understand our desire to see wrongdoers punished and justice served, even if it's only within the confines of a 10- to 15-minute video.
Tapping into an audience
But not everyone is a fan. Scroll through Reddit forums, and you'll find a mountain of opinions that range from genuine appreciation to scathing criticism. Detractors often point to his videos' lack of depth, repetitive messaging and unrealistic scenarios. "There's no realistic message there," one critic states, while another dismisses them as appealing only to "kids, younger teens, and soccer moms on Facebook." Others admit to "hate-watching" for the "enjoyably bad" quality, finding humor in the predictable plots and over-the-top acting.
Mann takes a measured approach to feedback. "If somebody says, 'Your video sucks!' — yeah, that hurts," he acknowledges. "But if someone offers a takeaway or advice that I can take into my storytelling, I will do that."
Despite the criticism, many viewers find value in the easily digestible content and positive messages. "I know it's not high art," one fan comments, "but sometimes you just crave a Big Mac and fries." Parents appreciate the videos as teaching tools for children, while others find them surprisingly impactful. One commenter shared a personal story of how a Dhar Mann video featuring a gay couple led to a profound self-realization about their own sexuality.
On casting talent
Dhar Mann Studios has steadily moved past controversies, including concerns over actor pay and working conditions that surfaced in early 2023. A notable development has been the studio's commitment to diverse representation. Mann emphasizes that casting actors from a wide range of backgrounds is intentional and deeply personal to him, particularly in the case of Asian and Asian American talent.
“One challenge is the lack of representation and visibility,” he explains. “For a long time, mainstream media and social platforms have been dominated by a narrow range of voices. Many Asian and Asian American creators struggle to find a space where their stories and perspectives are valued. This can lead to feelings of being overlooked or underappreciated, especially when trying to break through in industries that aren’t always inclusive.”
Moving forward
Today, Dhar Mann Studios is a massive operation employing over 150 people and producing a high volume of content out of a sprawling 100,000-square-foot facility in Burbank, Los Angeles. Mann's videos have amassed over 60 billion views across platforms, and his YouTube channel alone has surpassed 23 million subscribers. In the past year, Mann has earned an estimated $45 million through Google AdSense and lucrative brand partnerships with companies like WhatsApp, Universal and SocialPoint.
Mann shares that his studio has recently ventured into new genres with the launch of its horror series “Secrets of the Shadows” and feature films slated for release next year. He also launched 5th Quarter, an agency dedicated to helping creators scale their content production while mitigating burnout. This drive to expand and support creative endeavors reflects his belief that everyone should "make the most of" their lives and "chase that dream, chase that goal."
Hannah Kobayashi speaks out for the 1st time after returning to the U.S.
Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old woman from Hawaii, re-entered the U.S. on Sunday and broke her silence about her month-long voluntary disappearance. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed her return on Monday and stated that her case is now closed.
In a statement to multiple media outlets provided by her aunt Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi said she was unaware of the media frenzy surrounding her disappearance and is “still processing it all.” She added, “My focus now is on my healing, my peace and my creativity. I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time. I kindly ask for respect for myself, my family and my loved ones as I navigate through this challenging time. Thank you for your understanding.”
Kobayashi deliberately missed her connecting flight to New York City after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) from Maui on Nov. 8. Her family filed a missing person report on Nov. 12 after not hearing from her, triggering a widespread search. Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, died by suicide near LAX on Nov. 24 amid the search. Los Angeles police later reclassified her case as a “voluntary missing person” after surveillance footage showed her crossing into Mexico, where she was found safe on Dec. 11.
"Forever chemicals" disproportionately hurt Asian communities
A new study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment reveals that minority and low-income communities, particularly those living near Superfund sites, face disproportionately high exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or "forever chemicals."
Proximity to pollution: Superfund sites are areas designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for cleanup due to hazardous contamination. Decades of systemic inequities, including discriminatory housing policies like redlining, have historically forced Asian American, Black and Hispanic communities to reside near these contaminated zones, resulting in greater exposure to harmful chemicals.
Elevated PFAS levels and health risks: Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC conducted a study in Southern California, finding that residents living near Superfund sites had significantly elevated PFAS levels in their blood plasma — up to 2.51 ng/mL higher than average. This is particularly concerning because PFAS exposure is linked to serious health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and immune dysfunction. The study also found that respondents, primarily from Latino communities, showed signs of worsened kidney function after years of exposure.
A broader pattern of inequality: Mounting evidence shows that systemic inequities, industrial pollution and unsafe drinking water contribute to heightened health risks for marginalized groups, including Asian American, Black and Hispanic communities. This is underscored by a 2023 study revealing that PFAS are 88% more prevalent among Asian Americans compared to non-Hispanic white Americans. Reinforcing this trend, a comprehensive analysis by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health last year examined 44,000 water samples across 18 states and found significantly higher PFAS exposure in communities of color and under-resourced areas.
Urgent call for change: The Harvard researchers emphasized that these marginalized communities are especially vulnerable, noting that even at the same levels of exposure, they face greater health risks from pollutants. “Regulating releases from PFAS sources and ensuring that people have safe drinking water is especially important in the most vulnerable communities to protect public health,” they stated. Although environmental advocates cheer the EPA's proposed limits on PFAS in drinking water and its efforts to designate certain PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances under the Superfund program, they argue that effective implementation requires greater action at the local level.
OpenAI whistleblower’s tragic death should not be in vain
Nearly two months after exposing OpenAI for allegedly violating copyright law, 26-year-old Suchir Balaji is dead.
The Indian American Cupertino native, who previously worked as a researcher for the AI giant, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26. Police reported no evidence of foul play, while the medical examiner ruled the manner of death as suicide.
A computer science major from UC Berkeley, Balaji had once viewed AI as a tool to solve humanity’s most complex problems, including curing diseases and fighting aging. But his outlook shifted during his tenure at OpenAI, particularly when tasked with gathering vast amounts of internet data to train GPT-4. Last month, he was named in court filings as holding critical evidence in lawsuits against the company.
In a blog post in October, Balaji concluded that the company’s methods violated U.S. copyright law and undermined the commercial viability of creators whose work fueled the technology. Speaking to The New York Times, he described AI’s use of copyrighted data as “not a sustainable model for the internet ecosystem,” warning that generative models like ChatGPT directly compete with original works while often outputting flawed or fabricated content.
Balaji’s revelations intensified scrutiny of OpenAI’s practices, which it continues to defend under “fair use” principles. For many, his death serves as a cautionary tale and a call for ethical reckoning in the pursuit of technological advancement.
If you or anyone you know is at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 988.