Lisa Makes History / Chinese Land Ownership Ban / No Plastic
Closing out the week with the biggest headlines—from the Oscars stage to your takeout box.
The Rebel Yellow #36: Chinese Land Ban, Ramaswamy’s Ohio Bid, and Takeout’s Hidden Danger
Trump is reportedly considering a nationwide ban on Chinese land ownership, a move that could escalate discrimination against Asian American communities. Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy is launching a gubernatorial bid in Ohio with Trump’s endorsement, MSNBC’s Katie Phang is speaking out after her show’s cancellation, and Lisa is set to make history as the first K-pop act to perform at the Oscars. Also in this issue: why an Argentine court has issued arrest warrants for Myanmar’s military leaders, a cookbook author facing racist attacks over a chocolate rice recipe, and alarming new research on the hidden dangers of takeout containers.
Trump is mulling a national ban on Chinese land ownership
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has made restricting Chinese purchases of American farmland a top priority, escalating concerns about potential discrimination against Asian American communities.
In a recent interview with far-right outlet Breitbart, Rollins revealed that the Trump administration has been “exploring ways for the federal government to stop China from purchasing American farmland.” She said there is “no doubt” Americans are concerned about farmland ownership by entities loyal to the Chinese Communist Party.
What you need to know
Before joining the Cabinet, Rollins led the America First Policy Institute, collaborating with states on legislation limiting Chinese land purchases. Now, she’s pursuing a “federal solution” to address the issue nationwide.
Rollins credited Trump for highlighting China as a security threat, noting her concerns about Chinese land purchases “around some of our military outposts.”
Chinese entities hold slightly less than 1% of foreign-owned American farmland, according to a USDA 2023 report. Despite this small percentage, the department notes there is “considerable interest in their holdings.”
Why this matters
As of mid-December 2024, 215 bills restricting property ownership by foreign entities had been introduced across 40 states, according to the Committee of 100. The Chinese American civic group warned such legislation could “legitimize harmful and xenophobic claims” about immigrants, which could then “exacerbate rising anti-Asian violence that has negatively affected U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike.”
Just last month, Texas lawmakers filed House Bill 1849, which seeks to prohibit land sales to the governments of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. Texas House Democratic Caucus leader Gene Wu warned the legislation sends a message that “you’re not welcome here,” drawing parallels to land ownership laws that preceded Japanese American internment.
Vivek Ramaswamy is running for Ohio governor with Trump’s backing
Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy officially launched his campaign for Ohio governor on Monday, promising to transform his home state into “the state of excellence in America.”
Announcement
The 39-year-old biotech entrepreneur announced his bid at an aerospace facility in West Chester Township near Cincinnati, where he grew up. He pledged to visit all of Ohio’s 88 counties as part of his campaign.
“President Trump is reviving our conviction in America. We require a leader here at home who will revive our conviction in Ohio,” Ramaswamy told supporters. “That is why today I am honored to announce I am running to be the governor of a great state at the heart of the greatest nation known to mankind, the state where I was born and raised, the state where Apoorva and I raise our two sons today, a state whose best days are still yet ahead.”
Agenda
Ramaswamy outlined a sweeping conservative platform centered on economic reform, education and deregulation. His policies include:
Phasing out state income taxes and reducing property taxes
Implementing work requirements for Medicaid and welfare programs
Banning cell phones, requiring the pledge of allegiance and placing police officers in all schools
Eliminating “woke indoctrination” in favor of “actual U.S. history and civics lessons”
Mandating high school seniors pass the same civics test required for naturalized citizens
Universal school choice and merit-based pay for all educators
Cutting 10 regulations for every new one implemented
“We will lead Ohio to be the top state in the country where we embrace capitalism and meritocracy instead of apologizing for it,” Ramaswamy declared. “We will lead Ohio to be the top state in the country that takes a hatchet to red tape over regulation and bureaucracy.”
What Trump said
President Donald Trump backed Ramaswamy hours after the latter’s announcement. “He’s Young, Strong, and Smart! Vivek is also a very good person, who truly loves our Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He will be a GREAT Governor of Ohio, will never let you down, and has my COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT!”
Trump’s endorsement immediately strengthens Ramaswamy’s position in the Republican primary. His backing has proven decisive in recent Ohio contests, helping elevate then-political newcomers J.D. Vance and Bernie Moreno to Senate victories in 2022 and 2024.
DOGE stint
Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial bid comes after his abrupt departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he briefly co-chaired alongside Elon Musk. Notably, he did not mention his DOGE role in his announcement, a telling omission for a position he stepped down from shortly after Trump’s inauguration.
In an NBC News interview before his campaign launch, Ramaswamy explained, “President Trump, Elon and I had a great relationship but talked about exactly where each of us was going to drive maximum change for the country. And, for me, I believe that leading from the front here in Ohio and setting an example for the rest of the country... would be the way that I as a leader would be able to have the biggest impact.”
Ohio Atty. Gen. Dave Yost, Ramaswamy’s primary opponent, criticized the swift transition, telling the Washington Post that Ramaswamy “quit on President Trump literally on Day 1 of his administration.” He later told NBC that “the governor of Ohio is not a consolation prize.”
The big picture
Ramaswamy enters a GOP primary to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. The race was recently shaken up when former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, long considered a frontrunner, was appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by now-Vice President Vance.
While Yost remains Ramaswamy’s chief primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, the former Ohio State football coach recently appointed by DeWine, hasn’t ruled out running. On the Democratic side, Dr. Amy Acton, former director of the Ohio Department of Health who helped lead the state’s early COVID-19 response, has declared her candidacy.
Ramaswamy has never run for any office in Ohio before. Despite this, he has secured key endorsements from State Treasurer Robert Sprague — who dropped his own gubernatorial bid to back him — and Secretary of State Frank LaRose. Internal polling from both the Ramaswamy and Yost campaigns reportedly showed Ramaswamy leading among GOP voters even before Trump’s endorsement.
MSNBC’s Katie Phang speaks out after network axes her show
Korean American host Katie Phang, one of the few Asian American hosts in cable news, has expressed shock after learning that her weekend show at MSNBC will be canceled as part of a sweeping overhaul that has predominantly affected hosts of color.
What she’s saying
The decision is part of a major shakeup led by newly appointed president Rebecca Kutler, who unveiled dramatic changes affecting the network’s daytime, primetime and weekend programming on Monday. “The Katie Phang Show” premiered in 2022.
“I was stunned to hear this morning that ‘The Katie Phang Show’ is being canceled,” Phang wrote in a “personal note” posted to social media. “Since the show launched in 2022, the goal was to share with my viewers important conversations with brilliant guests whose insights and analysis elevated the discussion, especially with the constant breaking legal news.”
Phang, who is also a lawyer, will remain on the network as a legal correspondent. With her demotion, she emphasized how crucial her platform had been for Asian American visibility in the media.
“I was proud to platform more AAPI voices than any other cable show ever,” she noted. “And I was, and remain, proud to have been one of the only AAPI hosts with her name on a show. Representation matters.”
State of play
MSNBC’s programming changes have sparked concerns about diversity in television news. Other hosts of color who lost their shows include Joy Reid, the network’s most prominent Black woman host; Alex Wagner, who is also Asian (half-Burmese); Jonathan Capehart, another Black host; and Ayman Mohyeldin, who is Egyptian. Reid is entirely out of MSNBC, while Wagner, Capehart and Mohyeldin will stay in diminished roles like Phang.
Ironically, the changes come as MSNBC enjoys a viewership surge of 77% in primetime and 34% in daytime since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January. The network’s confrontational coverage of the second Trump administration has helped it rebound from a steep ratings decline following the 2024 election.
Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s highest-rated — and reportedly highest-paid — anchor, took the extraordinary step of criticizing her own network on Monday night.
“I will tell you it is also unnerving to see that on a network where we’ve got two [Reid and Wagner] — count them, two — non-white hosts in primetime, both of our non-white hosts in primetime are losing their shows, as is Katie Phang on the weekend,” Maddow said on her show. “And that feels worse than bad, no matter who replaces them. That feels indefensible, and I do not defend it.”
What’s next
The sweeping changes coincide with MSNBC’s separation from NBC after parent company Comcast spun off most of its cable networks into a new company led by Mark Lazarus.
Despite her show’s cancellation, Phang expressed pride in her team’s work and commitment to journalism. She vowed to place them “at the forefront of my priorities” as her final show airs in April.
Why an Argentine court has issued arrest warrants for Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi
A court in Argentina has ordered the arrest of 25 officials in Myanmar — including military junta head Min Aung Hlaing — on charges of genocide against Rohingya Muslims. The historic order, announced on Feb. 13, marks the first time the country’s officials face legal accountability for the 2017 crackdown that drove more than 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh.
What you need to know
Aung San Suu Kyi’s inclusion: Among those named with a warrant is former state leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held captive since the military seized power in 2021. The 79-year-old remains in an undisclosed location.
Why Argentina: The case relies on Argentina’s “universal jurisdiction” law, which allows its courts to prosecute severe human rights violations committed anywhere in the world, regardless of the nationality of victims or perpetrators. Rohingya advocates filed the complaint in Buenos Aires in 2019.
Legal grounds: Judge Maria Servini determined the alleged crimes “violate human rights recognized in various international criminal law instruments” and constitute “genocide and crimes against humanity,” according to AFP.
Reactions
In an interview with RFA, Tomas Ojea Quintana, attorney for the Rohingya plaintiffs, called the decision “a first step towards justice” with significance “not only for the Rohingya but for all Burmese people.” Meanwhile, Tun Khin, president of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), which initiated the legal action, called the issuance of warrants “a historic step towards justice” and “a victory for international justice at a time of growing violations of international law worldwide.”
Myanmar’s military junta, on the other hand, dismissed the court’s authority. “Does Argentina even know Myanmar? The Myanmar government knows Argentina,” spokesperson Gen. Zaw Min Tun told VOA. “If Argentina wants to legally criticize Myanmar, it must have judicial authority in the country. I suggest you focus on filling your own vacant judicial positions first.”
The warrants will now move to Interpol for potential “red notices,” though experts acknowledge the practical difficulties in arresting Myanmar’s leaders.
Lisa will make history as the 1st K-pop act to perform at the Oscars
Lisa will perform at this year’s Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre, becoming the first K-pop act to do so.
The 27-year-old artist, who recently made her acting debut in the third season of HBO’s “The White Lotus” — set in her home country of Thailand — w
ill perform alongside U.S. rapper Doja Cat and British singer-songwriter Raye, according to organizers.
The trio recently collaborated on Lisa’s latest single, “Born Again,” which they are expected to perform live for the first time at the ceremony on March 2. The song entered Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 68 last week, her highest ranking for a solo entry on the chart yet.
“Born Again” is the fourth single from her latest album, “Alter Ego,” which arrives today.
Others tapped to perform at the ceremony include “Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, as well as legendary rapper Queen Latifah.
A cookbook author’s chocolate rice recipe sparks death threats, racist hate
Cookbook author and content creator Kat Lieu endured racist insults and death threats after sharing a TikTok tutorial video of her chocolate rice recipe in early February. However, those who replicated the dish enjoyed viral success and positive feedback.
Viral recipe
Lieu, known for her modern takes on traditional Asian ingredients, made chocolate rice using a rice cooker, unsweetened chocolate bars and red miso. What began as a simple dessert experiment quickly gained traction, amassing over 4.5 million views. However, the attention came with an onslaught of vitriol, including racist slurs and calls for harm.
"It sucks when you pour your heart into something, share your creativity with good intentions, and instead of support, you get negativity and hate," Lieu wrote on her Substack newsletter on Feb. 9. "To get death threats over a chocolate rice recipe? That’s just fucked up."
Disproportionate criticism
Lieu’s version of chocolate rice is not without precedent. Variations of the dish exist across cultures, including Filipino champorado, Mexican champurrado and Chinese black rice pudding. However, the backlash against Lieu's recipe was swift and disproportionately hostile.
"All of a sudden, it was not just ‘go to jail,’ but ‘I hope you die,’" Lieu told Today. One commenter even invoked firearms, writing, "Do you want to see my unregistered firearm?"
Non-Asian creators who re-posted the same chocolate rice recipe — sometimes without crediting Lieu — did not face the same level of hostility. Liu notes that such discrepancy underscores how Asian women and other creators of color are often subjected to harsher criticism and online abuse.
"It happens often for me if things go really viral and I show my face," Lieu said. "It’s one thing to leave a barfing emoji, and it’s another to leave a nasty, hateful comment. It just should not be tolerated."
Resilience over hate
Lieu’s upcoming cookbook, “108 Asian Cookies,” is already a No. 1 new release on Amazon. The cookbook pays homage to her late father, with the number 8 symbolizing good fortune in Asian cultures.
"At the end of the day, my creativity and my voice are mine — and no one can take that away," Lieu wrote. "Here’s to staying true to myself, no matter what."
Are food takeout containers putting your life at risk?
If grabbing takeout is part of your routine, you should know that food containers may be doing your body harm. A new study from Chinese researchers suggests that eating from plastic takeout containers could significantly increase the risk of congestive heart failure. The culprit? Chemicals leaching from plastic packaging may disrupt the gut biome, triggering inflammation that can damage the circulatory system.
About the study
The research from Ningxia Medical University was conducted in two phases. First, scientists analyzed the eating habits of more than 3,000 individuals in China, focusing on how frequently they consumed food from plastic takeout containers and whether they had heart disease. The results revealed a clear link between high-frequency use of plastic containers and an elevated risk of heart failure.
“The data revealed that high-frequency exposure to plastics is significantly associated with an increased risk of congestive heart failure,” the study’s authors wrote.
In the second phase, researchers simulated real-world conditions by pouring boiling water into plastic containers, mimicking the common practice of adding hot foods to plastic packaging. Rats were then exposed to this chemically contaminated water over several months. The findings were concerning: consuming the plastic-contaminated water significantly altered the rats' gut microbiota and increased markers of inflammation and oxidative stress — two factors closely associated with heart disease.
The dangers of plastics
Plastic materials can contain up to 20,000 chemicals, including substances such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals, commonly found in food packaging, have previously been linked to a range of health issues, including cancer and reproductive harm. Although the study did not isolate specific chemicals responsible for the effects observed, it builds on a growing body of evidence connecting plastic exposure to heart-related health risks.
A significant finding from the study emphasized the dangers of heating plastic. Prior research cited in the study revealed that microwaving plastic containers could release up to 4.2 million microplastic particles per square centimeter. This suggests that even minimal exposure to heated plastics may contribute to harmful effects on heart health. Previous studies have also linked these chemicals to reproductive dysfunction in animals, as well as decreased fertility, neurodevelopmental issues and asthma in humans.
What this means for takeout regulars
These findings hold particular relevance for Asian and Asian American communities, where takeout culture plays a significant role due to busy urban lifestyles and the popularity of diverse culinary experiences. Being mindful of packaging materials, especially when consuming hot foods, could be an important consideration for protecting long-term heart health.
In Chinese American restaurants, the most recognizable takeout container is the "oyster pail," a folded paperboard box with a wire handle. While these containers aren’t made entirely of plastic, they are typically coated with a thin layer of wax or plastic to prevent leaks.
While the study does not offer direct recommendations, health experts suggest minimizing the use of plastic containers, especially when heating food. Opting for alternatives like glass, stainless steel or wood for food storage and preparation can help reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. For those who frequently order takeout, transferring meals from plastic containers to safer materials upon arrival can be a practical step toward minimizing risk.