Six Asian legends make MLB History
The 2025 MLB All-Star Game, scheduled for July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta, is set to feature one of the most diverse groups of Asian and part-Asian players in recent history.
The Rebel Yellow — Issue #94
The Trump administration wants China off American soil — literally. A new plan would block Chinese and other foreign nationals from buying U.S. farmland and even claw back land they already own, stirring fears of anti-Asian scapegoating despite Chinese investors owning less than 1% of U.S. farmland.
Plus: J.D. Vance questions who “deserves” to belong, a DHS officer sues over an anti-Asian slur, and new data on how ICE is targeting more immigrants with no criminal record.
Trump admin to ban Chinese purchases of U.S. farmland
The Trump administration on Tuesday announced its plan to block Chinese and foreign purchases of U.S. farmland over national security concerns.
How it would work
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins detailed a seven-point “National Farm Security Action Plan” that would strengthen public disclosures of foreign ownership, raise penalties for false filings and partner with Congress and states to block purchases from Chinese nationals and other foreign adversaries. The plan builds on work Rollins pursued before joining the Cabinet, when she headed the America First Policy Institute and partnered with states on legislation restricting Chinese land purchases.
The administration is exploring ways to “claw back” existing foreign purchases, with Rollins saying they are examining available options and that a White House executive order will likely come “very soon.” So far, the USDA has ended seven active agreements with foreign countries of concern and dropped roughly 70 people and 550 entities from its contracts and research partnerships.
What officials are saying
“American agriculture is under threat from criminals, from political adversaries and from hostile regimes that understand our way of life as a profound and existential threat to themselves,” Rollins told reporters on Tuesday. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that “no longer can foreign adversaries assume we're not watching.”
Fines for violations would climb to 25% of the invested land’s value. “China, here’s your ticket. Do not pass go. Get the hell off American agriculture,” Sen. Roger Marshall said.
The big picture
China has criticized the planned ban, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning describing it on Wednesday as “a typical act of discrimination.”
The issue comes despite Chinese ownership representing less than 1% of total U.S. farmland — 277,336 acres (112,234 hectares) — according to recent USDA data. The push has sparked concerns among Asian American advocacy groups, with the Committee of 100 warning such legislation could “legitimize harmful and xenophobic claims” and escalate anti-Asian violence.
Americans with Civil War ancestors have greater claim to U.S., Vance says
In yet another controversial take, Vice President J.D. Vance recently argued that Americans whose ancestors fought in the Civil War have “a hell of a lot more claim over America” than those who question their belonging.
What he said: Speaking at the conservative think tank Claremont Institute’s Statesmanship Award Dinner in San Diego last weekend, Vance rejected what he termed “the logic of America as a purely creedal nation,” contending that defining citizenship solely through agreement with founding principles is both “over-inclusive and under-inclusive.” He argued this approach would theoretically include “hundreds of millions, maybe billions of foreign citizens who agree with the principles of the Declaration of Independence,” while simultaneously rejecting Americans “that the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) would label as domestic extremists, even though those very Americans had their ancestors fight in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.”
“I think the people whose ancestors fought in the Civil War have a hell of a lot more claim over America than the people who say they don’t belong,” he concluded.
Making an example: The vice president specifically targeted New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, whose family fled Uganda when dictator Idi Amin ethnically cleansed the nation’s Indian population, criticizing his July 4th social media post describing America as “beautiful, contradictory, unfinished.” In his speech reflecting on Independence Day, Vance questioned whether the 33-year-old democratic socialist had “ever read the letters from boy soldiers in the Union Army to parents and sweethearts that they’d never see again.” Vance also accused Mamdani of showing a lack of gratitude, saying, “Who the hell does he think that he is?”
Zoom out: Vance’s comments reflect the Trump administration’s immigration approach, with Congress recently providing an additional $170 billion for enforcement measures. The Claremont Institute, which hosted the event, has long pushed for ending birthright citizenship and has been described as a “nerve center” for MAGA immigration thought. The organization honored Vance with its Statesmanship Award, with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk serving as master of ceremonies, joining past recipients including Ronald Reagan and Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
DHS officer sues San Diego cop who allegedly called him a “Chinese piece of shit”
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent has filed a lawsuit against a San Diego police officer for excessive force, false arrest and wrongful detention after a parking lot confrontation that rendered him unconscious with serious injuries.
What happened
The federal complaint stems from a July 2, 2024 incident at the Carmel Mountain Road Costco involving DHS agent Chu Ding, 53, and off-duty San Diego Police Officer Jonathan Ferraro, who was in civilian clothing. Store cameras captured Ferraro’s SUV preventing Ding from exiting his parking space, leading Ding to tap on the vehicle’s windows. Ferraro, who moved forward but then returned to block Ding’s car, later exited his vehicle, allegedly calling Ding a “Chinese piece of shit.” The situation turned physical as Ferraro allegedly grabbed Ding and threw him to the pavement, causing him to lose consciousness.
Following Ferraro’s call for backup, six officers responded in three patrol vehicles. Officer Patrick Richards applied handcuffs on Ding that reportedly caused pain for hours. Ding regained consciousness before paramedics arrived. He sustained a fractured rib, dislocated shoulder and concussion, requiring four months of recovery.
A history of brutality?
Attorney Eugene Iredale, who is representing Ding, characterized the incident as reflecting SDPD’s “long history” of using excessive and unnecessary force. “This case involves more than the mere exercise of the rule of silence, it involves active obstruction of justice by fellow officers in covering up outrageous and brutal misconduct,” Iredale told the Times of San Diego.
Co-counsel Julia Yoo highlighted what she considers the most damaging aspect of the case. “The worst thing in the case was that Ferraro conspired with at least four other officers to falsify an arrest report and deny a seriously injured man water and medical care to try to extort an apology to justify his own misconduct,” Yoo told McClatchy News.
Where we’re at
Over a year after the incident, Ferraro reportedly remains an officer in “good standing.” “No discipline has been imposed, neither on Ferraro nor the officers who participate in the cover-up of this brutality,” Iredale told CBS 8. And while prosecutors declined to file charges against Ding, the federal agent endured a nine-month internal investigation by the DHS’ Office of Professional Responsibility before being cleared of wrongdoing.
Ding’s suit will proceed through federal court. Both the San Diego Police Department and City Attorney’s Office have declined to comment on the pending litigation.
China silent amid reports of Trump’s threat to bomb Beijing
China has yet to publicly address reports of leaked audio in which President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Beijing over Taiwan, though search results suggest the Great Firewall is censoring relevant information.
“Bomb the shit out of Beijing”: Recordings from a May 14, 2024 fundraiser at New York’s Pierre Hotel document Trump recounting alleged threats to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, per audio obtained by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf for their new book on the election. Trump claimed he warned Putin about striking Moscow if Russia moved against Ukraine, saying the Russian leader showed partial belief despite initial doubt. Trump also recalled telling Xi, “If you go into Taiwan, I’m going to bomb the shit out of Beijing. I said, I have no choice, I got to bomb you.” He added that Xi “thought I was crazy,” but “we never had a problem.” The recordings, first reported by CNN Tuesday, additionally captured Trump outlining deportation plans for student protesters and sharing his perspective on welfare recipients’ electoral choices.
How China, Russia are responding: China appears to be restricting information on Trump’s threat to Beijing while allowing discussions on his threat to Moscow, according to a Newsweek analysis. Some local news outlets also aired CNN’s audio but stopped broadcasting before Trump’s China remarks. The Rebel Yellow surveyed headlines from major Chinese state outlets since Tuesday, but found no reports on Trump making such a threat.
On the other hand, Kremlin spokespersn Dmitry Peskov declined confirming the allegations, citing misinformation concerns. Russia previously disputed November phone call reports between Trump and Putin as untrue.
Broader implications
The potential censorship of the news highlights China’s concern over public discussions on Taiwan as Trump expresses growing frustration with Putin regarding the prolonged Ukraine conflict. Interestingly, these revelations surface amid Taipei’s massive Han Kuang military exercises, following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent warning about Chinese invasion possibilities.
Chinese national charged in Texas for alleged U.S. cyber espionage scheme
Xu Zewei, a 33-year-old Chinese citizen of Han Chinese background and an IT manager for a technology company in Shanghai, was arrested in Milan earlier this month at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice. Xu faces a nine-count indictment in the Southern District of Texas for his alleged involvement in a series of cyber intrusions and data thefts targeting U.S. universities and research institutions between February 2020 and June 2021. The indictment also names Zhang Yu, a 44-year-old Chinese national, as a co-defendant who remains at large in China.
Federal prosecutors allege that Xu and Zhang conspired to breach the computer networks of American universities, including an institution in Texas, to steal COVID-19 vaccine and treatment research, proprietary business data and employee credentials. Investigators say the pair exploited zero-day vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server, used spear-phishing emails and deployed sophisticated malware to access protected information from organizations in Texas, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. The FBI responded in 2021 with a reverse-hack operation to remove malware and secure digital evidence.
Xu is currently being held in Italy as he awaits extradition to the U.S.. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and up to 10 years for unauthorized computer access. U.S. authorities continue to work with international partners to identify further victims, collect evidence and pursue charges against Zhang and other possible co-conspirators.
D.C. Chinatown community calls for more protections as cultural district faces erasure
Members of Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown community gathered Tuesday to demand stronger protections from the city as Asian-owned businesses in the cultural district fall in numbers.
Driving the news: The rally, organized by the Save Chinatown Solidarity Network (SCSN), came just one week after Full Kee Restaurant and Gao Ya Hair Salon shut their doors to make way for a $75 million Marriott Tribute Hotel. Ahead of their closures, the businesses were part of less than a dozen legacy establishments remaining in the neighborhood, with Full Kee having operated for over 40 years.
What they’re asking: The SCSN is calling on the D.C. Council to include several measures in the upcoming FY2026 budget, including funding at least $550,000 in annual support for Asian American Pacific Islander-owned small businesses (up from the current $125,000), reforming the Housing in Downtown tax abatement program to require developers to provide community space and rejecting legislation that could weaken eviction protections for Wah Luck House residents.
Why this matters: Activists argue the closures represent a broader pattern of erasure. SCSN, for its part, believes Chinatown is “on the brink of erasure due to the city government catering to developers and tourists.” Critics also argue that symbolic gestures like Chinese characters on buildings are not enough to preserve cultural identity. For now, a city task force has recommended bringing in an Asian grocery store and additional Asian businesses to help preserve the area’s character. The first vote on the D.C. budget is expected on Monday.
Las Vegas Chinatown redevelopment advances with pedestrian focus
Clark County has officially designated the Spring Mountain Road corridor as a redevelopment zone, launching a decade-long plan to transform Las Vegas’ Chinatown into a more pedestrian-friendly destination. Announced last week, the redevelopment kicks off with a pedestrian walkway connecting Chinatown Plaza and Shanghai Plaza, slated to begin later this year and finish by Lunar New Year 2026.
Funded through sales and property taxes from the newly formed redevelopment district, the roadway enhancements alone are estimated at over $30 million, with total investment projected in the tens of millions. The plan also includes enhanced public art, tree planting, improved lighting, security upgrades and utility improvements such as undergrounding power lines.
Community feedback has shaped the redevelopment, with public input sessions and an interactive website gathering suggestions on traffic, parking and safety. County officials see the project as a model for balancing walkability, cultural preservation and community growth. After the initial walkway, later phases will resurface Spring Mountain Road and may remove a westbound lane to widen sidewalks for pedestrians.
Six players of Asian heritage earn spots on 2025 MLB All-Star Game roster
The 2025 MLB All-Star Game, scheduled for July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta, is set to feature one of the most diverse groups of Asian and part-Asian players in recent history. The official rosters, released on July 6, include six players of Asian descent whose backgrounds reflect the expanding international appeal of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Japanese All-Stars
The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani, known for his ability as both a pitcher and designated hitter, is making his fifth All-Star appearance. He is joined by Yusei Kikuchi, a 34-year-old left-handed pitcher from Morioka, Japan, who is pitching for the Los Angeles Angels and was named as a reserve in the American League. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 26, was selected to the National League roster. Yamamoto, who also plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is joining the All-Star game in his debut MLB season.
Asian American All-Stars
Steven Kwan, age 27, is an outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians who is of mixed Japanese and Chinese heritage. Kwan’s high on-base percentage and consistent performance at the plate earned him a reserve spot in the American League lineup. Bryan Woo, the 24-year-old rookie pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, earned his first All-Star selection due to his solid showing in the first half of the season. Corbin Carroll, a 24-year-old outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, is the son of a Taiwanese mother and is considered one of the league’s most promising young players.
Milestone for representation
This year’s lineup marks a significant milestone for Asian representation in MLB history. While MLB does not officially track player heritage by ethnicity, the 2025 All-Star Game roster likely represents the highest number of Asian or part-Asian players in the modern era. No previous All-Star rosters in recent memory, particularly from the early 2000s through 2020, featured six Asian or part-Asian players at once.
Naomi Osaka reflects on her career after calling out media coverage of Wimbledon loss
Naomi Osaka is embracing a new mindset about her tennis career after criticizing media outlets for their coverage of her emotional third-round Wimbledon exit.
Catch up: The four-time Grand Slam champion fell to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 on July 4, extending her struggles at Wimbledon where she has never advanced past the third round. Despite winning the opening set, Osaka, 27, struggled with six double faults and converted only four of 10 break-point opportunities. The loss continued her drought at major tournaments, with her last Grand Slam victory coming at the Australian Open in January 2021. Currently ranked No. 53 in the WTA, Osaka has posted a 20-10 record this season but continues to struggle on grass courts, where she holds a career 5-4 record.
Clapping back: Following her defeat, Osaka, known for being vocal about her mental health struggles, told reporters, “I’m just going to be a negative human being today. I’m so sorry. I have nothing positive to say about myself, which is something I’m working on.” She also shared the news of her daughter Shai’s second birthday, saying she was “happy about that this week.” However, she later took issue with how media outlets, particularly ESPN, covered her comments. “Bro why is it every time I do a press conference after a loss the espns and blogs gotta clip it and put it up,” she posted on Threads. “Wtf, why don’t they clip my press conferences after I win? Like why push the narrative that I’m always sad?” She later explained her emotions, writing, “Sure I was disappointed a couple hours ago, now I’m motivated to do better. That’s human emotions. The way they clip me I feel like I should be fake happy all the time.”
Finding perspective: On Monday, Osaka shared a deeply personal Instagram post reflecting on a conversation with her father that shifted her perspective on her career trajectory. Her father, 59, told her he feels “closer to the end of his life than the beginning,” which made Osaka realize her tennis career follows a similar pattern. “I’ve been playing tennis since I was 3, playing professionally since I was 14 and I’m 27 now. I’ve lived almost my entire life playing this sport and I guess it’s true. I am closer to the end than the beginning,” she wrote. The reflection led to a powerful realization about her achievements. “When I was younger my dream was to hold the U.S. Open trophy, winning it seemed like a fairy tale so I just wanted the chance to hold it and look inside because my mom had told me a story about there being fairy dust at the bottom of the trophy. Miraculously, I have two of those trophies now. That means I doubled my wildest dreams,” she noted.
Osaka’s next opportunity to add to her Grand Slam collection will come at the U.S. Open, where she claimed titles in 2018 and 2020.
Ex-Superman Dean Cain criticizes new film’s pro-immigration stance
Dean Cain, the Japanese American actor who portrayed Superman in the 1990s television series “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” criticized director James Gunn’s approach to the upcoming “Superman” film, arguing that his political framing could alienate some fans and impact box office performance.
“Story of America”
The new “Superman” film, starring David Corenswet, is scheduled to premiere in U.S. theaters on July 11 and is expected to be one of the summer’s major releases.
Gunn, who wrote the film, described “Superman” as “the story of America … an immigrant that came from other places,” emphasizing themes of kindness he believes are often absent from contemporary discourse. The DC Studios CEO said he expected controversy whenever kindness is interpreted as a political act.
Other voices involved with the production, such as actors Sean Gunn and Nathan Fillion, have defended the updated themes, arguing that supporting immigrants aligns with American values and dismissing critics as overly sensitive.
“Political Kryptonite”
In an interview with TMZ, Cain, 58, said he was “so excited” for the new movie until Gunn “had to break out the political Kryptonite” by describing Superman as an immigrant figure representing modern America. Gunn’s comments positioned the superhero as a symbol for immigrants and framed the story as an exploration of American values, a stance Cain believes risks souring a portion of the fandom.
Cain questioned whether Hollywood is reshaping iconic characters to reflect current socio-political trends, noting the shift from Superman’s traditional motto of “truth, justice and the American way” to alternatives like “truth, justice and a better tomorrow.” The actor warned that audiences “don’t go to the movie theater to be lectured to” and suggested that excessive political focus could detract from the franchise’s success.
Conservative commentators, including Fox News hosts Jesse Watters and Kellyanne Conway, echoed similar concerns and mocked the film’s perceived “woke” agenda. Still, Cain expressed hope for the film’s success, praising Gunn’s humor and saying he remains interested in how the story unfolds.
“Love Island USA” star exits villa after resurfaced racial slur
Embattled reality star Cierra Ortega left the “Love Island USA” villa on July 6 after past social media posts resurfaced in which she used the slur “chinky” to describe her eyes. Producers initially cited a “personal situation” for her departure. Two days later, the 25-year-old contestant addressed the controversy directly in a video and written apology shared on Instagram on July 9.
“I am deeply, truly, honestly, so sorry,” Ortega said in her apology, directed at the Asian community. “I had no idea that the word held as much pain ... or I never would have used it.” She explained that she learned of its offensiveness in 2024, immediately deleted the post and began educating herself and those around her. Ortega accepted the network’s decision, calling it “deserved punishment.”
Ortega also revealed that the backlash extended to her family, who received death threats and even visits from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She urged fans to avoid retaliatory hate and assured them that she is committed to personal growth. “My actions and how I decide to live my life from here on out is going to speak louder than any apology ever could,” she said, promising to let her future conduct demonstrate her remorse and responsibility.
Iconic K-drama turns tiny Swiss village into a tourist destination
The Swiss village of Iseltwald has experienced a major tourism surge after a 2020 episode of the hit Korean drama “Crash Landing On You” featured its lakeside dock as a romantic setting. The scene quickly gained attention online, attracting fans from across Asia and beyond who continue to visit the now-iconic spot. To help manage the constant influx, the village of just 406 residents began charging visitors five Swiss francs ($6.30) for dock access.
According to village clerk Gabriela Blatter, entry fees brought in nearly 245,000 francs ($307,000) in 2024, with an additional 58,000 francs ($72,000) collected from a one-franc public restroom. Local leaders and tourism officials stress that these funds are essential for covering costs related to crowd control, waste disposal and the maintenance of public facilities, rather than generating profits for the village.