MAGA Fight / Historic Asians / Missed Opportunity
This week, we’re breaking down the latest news, from the debate over H-1B visas causing a rift in MAGA circles to major milestones for Asians in politics, sports, and entertainment.
The Rebel Yellow Newsletter – Issue 10
Good morning! This week, we’re breaking down the latest news, from the debate over H-1B visas causing a rift in MAGA circles to major milestones for Asians in politics, sports, and entertainment.
Ramaswamy, Musk spark MAGA rift over H-1B visas
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-leaders Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk have ignited a firestorm among MAGA followers this week as they advocated for skilled foreign labor, a workforce employed through the H-1B visa program that has long divided conservative support between economic pragmatism and immigration restrictionism.
What they said
Musk, responding to an X post highlighting Silicon Valley’s supposed lack of engineering talent, first argued on Wednesday that the U.S. needs “double” the number of engineers to maintain its global edge. “Think of this like a pro sports team: If you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be. That enables the whole TEAM to win,” he noted. He later clarified, “I am referring to bringing in via legal immigration the top ~0.1% of engineering talent as being essential for America to keep winning.”
In a lengthy X post on Thursday, Ramaswamy echoed Musk but went further, blaming American cultural values for the shortage of homegrown talent. “Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long … A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers,” he argued, adding that the U.S. risks falling behind China unless it attracts top global talent.
Remember: Ramaswamy opposed H-1B visas while he was running for the GOP nomination. In September 2023, he claimed that the program — which he had used 29 times himself to hire foreign workers for his former company, Roivant Sciences, between 2018 and 2023 — was “bad for everyone involved,” calling it a “form of indentured servitude” and vowing to “gut it” if he won the White House.
Trump’s mixed stances on skilled immigration
Trump’s own stances on skilled immigration and/or H-1B visas have evolved over the years:
2016: He blasted the H-1B program during his presidential campaign, claiming it was used to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.
2020: His administration restricted H-1B visas, citing economic strains from the COVID-19 pandemic.
2024: Trump softened his tone, expressing support for granting permanent residency to foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities. “You graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he said on a podcast in June. However, his team later clarified that this would be limited to the “most skilled graduates” and would exclude those deemed “communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters and public charges.”
MAGA backlash
Ramaswamy and Musk’s comments drew fierce criticism from MAGA stalwarts. Far-right activist Laura Loomer accused Musk of retaliating against her for opposing his pro-immigration stance, claiming censorship. Meanwhile, conservative commentator Ann Coulter alleged that H-1B visas create “indentured servants” — echoing Ramaswamy’s campaign-era stance — and depress wages for American workers. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Trump’s initial pick for U.S. attorney general, mocked Musk and Ramaswamy, writing, “We did not ask them to engineer an immigration policy.”
Former U.N. Ambassador and GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley also chimed in, rebuffing Ramaswamy’s cultural critique. “There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture. All you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have,” she wrote, calling for investment in domestic talent.
What’s at stake for Asian Americans
For Asian Americans, the debate over H-1B visas is deeply personal. Latest figures show that the majority of H-1B recipients come from Asia, with India alone accounting for 72.6%. The program has long been a lifeline for families seeking opportunity in the U.S., though it has also drawn scrutiny for allegedly exploiting workers by tying their legal status to their employers.
Ramaswamy’s remarks may resonate with those who value education and hard work, but they also raise uncomfortable questions about assimilation and cultural identity. His critique of American mediocrity, while pointed, risks alienating those who believe in balancing meritocracy with equity.
2024: A year in review
Making history in politics: In 2024, the U.S. saw Asian Americans achieve major firsts in the political realm. Here are a few of the biggest.
Kamala Harris’ historic nomination: Vice President Kamala Harris made history this year by becoming the first South Asian woman and Black woman to secure a major party’s presidential nomination. As the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, her candidacy broke barriers of race and gender and represented the growing diversity and influence of multicultural voices in U.S. leadership.
Andy Kim’s Senate victory: Andy Kim became the first Korean American elected to the U.S. Senate in 2024, representing New Jersey. This marked the first time an Asian American senator was elected on the East Coast, reflecting the increasing political engagement of Asian Americans in regions beyond traditional strongholds.
Derek Tran’s House victory: Derek Tran unseated Republican Michelle Steel in a key Southern California swing district, becoming the first Vietnamese American to represent the nation’s largest Vietnamese community in Congress. He emphasized progressive policies and mobilized a diverse coalition of voters in one of the nation’s most competitive races.
A year of triumph for Asian athletes: The past year has been a landmark one for Asian athletes across the globe, with historic achievements at the Olympics, in Major League Baseball and on the NBA courts.
Ohtanimania continues: Shohei Ohtani’s 2024 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers was historic, highlighted by his MLB-leading 54 home runs, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, making him the first player ever to achieve a 50–50 season. He broke multiple records, including the all-time home run mark for Japanese players and became the fastest to join the 30–30 and 40–40 clubs. Despite suffering a torn labrum, Ohtani helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series title and earned his third unanimous MVP award.
More Asians in the NBA: The NBA saw a notable rise in Asian talent this year, with part-Filipino Jared McCain (Philadelphia 76ers), Chinese Canadian Zach Edey and Japanese Yuki Kawamura (both Memphis Grizzlies) making impressive rookie debuts. They joined a growing list of active Asian and Asian American NBA players, including Japanese Rui Hachimura (Los Angeles Lakers), part Chinese Kyle Anderson (Golden State Warriors, part-Vietnamese Jaylin Williams (Oklahoma Thunder) and Johnny Juzang (Utah Jazz), as well as Filipino Americans Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz) and Jalen Green (Houston Rockets). Rising prospects like Filipino American Dylan Harper (Rutgers) and Korean Canadian Xaivian Lee (Princeton) are poised to headline the 2025 NBA Draft.
Athletes making Olympic glory: China solidified its position as a global sporting power at the 2024 Paris Olympics, tying with the U.S. for gold medals (40 each). Chinese athletes like Ma Long (table tennis) and Pan Zhanle (swimming) brought home multiple golds, while Zheng Qinwen made history by winning China's first-ever Olympic gold in tennis singles. Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo earned the Philippines' first Olympic gymnastics medals with golds in the floor exercise and vault, and Hmong American gymnast Suni Lee helped the U.S. secure team gold while also winning silver in the all-around and bronze on the uneven bars.
Asian talents shine in film, TV: 2024 was a standout year for Asians in film and television, marked by record-breaking box office hits, diverse representation and bittersweet cancellations of beloved shows.
Box office hits: “Moana 2” and Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” both became major box office successes, with “Moana 2” grossing $882.5 million worldwide and “Wicked” earning $634.4 million. “Moana 2,” which stars Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho, shattered records with a $139.8 million debut over Thanksgiving weekend, while Wicked became the highest-grossing stage-to-screen musical adaptation in North America. Both films received favorable critical reception, with “Wicked” earning 88% and “Moana 2” receiving a mixed 61% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Landmark year for representation: This year saw Simu Liu's turn as a villain in both “Atlas” and Awkwafina-starrer “Jackpot!”. Dave Bautista starred in “My Spy: The Eternal City,” “The Killer's Game” and “Dune: Part Two,” while Henry Golding shone in “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” “Kung Fu Panda 4” brought together Awkwafina, Ke Huy Quan, Ronny Chieng, Lori Tan Chinn and James Hong. Other notable releases included “Bad Genius,” starring Benedict Wong, “Weekend in Taipei,” headlined by Sung Kang, “Monkey Man,” led by Dev Patel, and The Friend,” with Constance Wu.
Loads of binge-worthy shows: “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” a live-action adaptation of the beloved animated series with Gordon Cormier portraying the protagonist Avatar Aang and Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai, topped Netflix’s global charts with 298.6 million hours viewed in its first two weeks. The animated “Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld” on Netflix, starring Ali Wong and Bowen Yang, achieved a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Hulu’s “Interior Chinatown,” based on Charles Yu’s award-winning novel, starred Jimmy O. Yang in a satirical exploration of Asian American stereotypes. FX’s visually stunning historical drama “Shōgun,” led by Hiroyuki Sanada, captivated audiences with its cultural depth and critical acclaim, securing a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score. K-dramas also continued dominating global streaming platforms, with titles like “Queen of Tears,” “Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born,” “Love in the Big City,” “A Shop for Killers” and “Squid Game 2” keeping our faces glued to the TV all year.
Promising shows canceled: The cancellations of “The Brothers Sun” and “The Acolyte” left fans mourning the loss of two shows that showcased diverse storytelling and standout performances. “The Brothers Sun,” a Netflix action-comedy drama featuring Michelle Yeoh and Justin Chien, was praised for its authentic portrayal of Asian diaspora experiences and held a peak ranking on Netflix’s Top 10 list. Meanwhile, Disney Plus’ “The Acolyte” brought a fresh perspective to the Star Wars franchise, with Manny Jacinto’s portrayal of a Sith Lord becoming a fan favorite. Though divisive among viewers, the show garnered significant support from fans who launched campaigns to reverse the decision. We’re still keeping our fingers crossed that both shows get their well-deserved second seasons.
“Squid Game” Season 2 review: A missed opportunity
By Ryan General
As a fan of the first season, it is disheartening for me to report that “Squid Game” Season 2 is a captivating but ultimately frustrating experience. While it retains the signature tension, stellar acting and impressive production design of the original, the seven-episode follow-up suffers from a fundamental flaw: it feels like half a story.
Picking up three years after his multi-billion-won victory, the story sees Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) diving back into the high-stakes world of deadly children’s games with a new sense of purpose. Haunted by guilt and trauma over the participants' deaths, he now seeks to take down the organization behind the games.
Warning: Major spoilers ahead!
New motivation, games and players
The portrayal of Gi-hun's relentless pursuit of the game’s masters is among the show's biggest strengths, promising more insight into the inner workings of the Squid Game operation. Using his winnings, our hero was able to track down the menacing Recruiter (Gong Yoo) and force a confrontation with the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), culminating in Gi-hun being allowed to participate in another round of Squid Game. The Front Man’s brother Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun) has now teamed up with Gi-hun in their bid to uncover the truth.
The first two episodes unfold outside the confines of the games, which may test the patience of some viewers who want to immediately return to the colorful playgrounds of death. But once we finally get into the games, the new ones — particularly the "Six-Leg Pentathlon" and "Mingle" — do not disappoint in their ability to generate suspense. Gi-hun is now placed in a compelling “us vs. them” dynamic as he attempts to warn and protect the new players.
Adding complexity to the story is a diverse group of interesting new players who are all risking their lives to win the prize of 45.6 billion won ($30.9 million): a former influencer (Im Si-wan), a transgender woman (Park Sung-hoon), a mother and son (and Kim Si-hyun), a pregnant woman (Kang Ae-sim) and a famous rapper (T.O.P). Most of the performances are top-notch and their stories add depth to the overall narrative.
Some missing parts
Indeed, there is a lot to love about this season, and longtime fans will soon find themselves back in the familiarly unpredictable yet satisfying twists and turns in the show’s final five episodes. Unfortunately, by the end of the seventh episode, the narrative abruptly halts, leaving numerous plot threads dangling. Instead of delivering a complete narrative arc in Season 2, the show's creators appear to have prioritized setting up Season 3, undermining the integrity of this season as a standalone entity.
We're then left wondering about the fates of key characters, the motivations behind crucial actions (like In-ho joining the games) and the consequences of the players’ attempt at a rebellion.
As it stands, “Squid Game” Season 2 feels like a missed opportunity to deliver a compelling and self-contained narrative. My ultimate opinion of this season now hinges on the success of the third and final season. If it manages to weave these disparate threads into a satisfying conclusion, this season might be viewed more favorably in retrospect. For now, I’m holding off final judgment until the next round.