TikTok "Refugees" / Political Crisis / Filipino Excellence
This week, the U.S. is on the verge of a digital upheaval: TikTok could be gone by Sunday unless the Supreme Court steps in.
TGIF. Welcome to The Rebel Yellow Issue 19.
This week, the U.S. is on the verge of a digital upheaval: TikTok could be gone by Sunday unless the Supreme Court steps in. With 170 million users in limbo, creators and businesses are scrambling for alternatives. Some are already flocking to RedNote, a Chinese lifestyle app that’s quickly becoming a new cultural battleground.
Meanwhile, Sen. Mazie Hirono presses Trump’s defense pick, Pete Hegseth, on his stance toward military orders, and Texas A&M cancels a diversity trip after Gov. Greg Abbott’s intervention. Chiefs receiver Nikko Remigio looks for his playoff moment, South Korea detains its impeached president, and Ukraine exposes North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia.
Here’s what you need to know going into the weekend.
Are you ready for a post-TikTok America?
As the U.S. teeters on the edge of a nationwide TikTok ban, 170 million users are bracing for a digital disruption unlike any seen before. Unless a last-minute intervention occurs, the social video platform will cease operations on Sunday, following a federal mandate requiring ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, to divest the app. For Asian American users and creators who have built thriving communities and livelihoods on the platform, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
State of play
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling imminently, with legal experts suggesting it is unlikely to overturn the law mandating TikTok’s divestiture. Signed by President Joe Biden in April 2024, the law aims to address national security concerns by preventing potential Chinese government access to TikTok’s vast troves of U.S. user data. ByteDance’s failure to comply by the Jan. 19 deadline will trigger the ban.
Sources told Reuters that TikTok itself is preparing to end its U.S. operations, a move designed to shield service providers from legal liability but has left users disappointed, confused or angry. “TikTok is voluntarily shutting down on Sunday … This is fucking crazy. I just found out about it minutes ago and I’m still reeling,” said creator Ishpal Sidhu, who could lose roughly 400,000 followers. Unless the Supreme Court decides to halt the ban, people attempting to open the app on Sunday will likely see a pop-up message directing them to a website with more information about the shutdown. Users are expected to be able to download their data.
Could Trump intervene?
President-elect Donald Trump, who reversed his position on a nationwide ban last March, is considering an executive order to delay enforcement of the ban for 60 to 90 days, buying time to negotiate a solution, sources told the Washington Post. While legally contentious, such a move aligns with his public statements celebrating TikTok as a platform and his desire to “save” the app. Trump’s team has reportedly floated options ranging from carving out parts of TikTok for sale to reviving Project Texas, a $1.5 billion corporate-reform package aimed at addressing security concerns.
“TikTok itself is a fantastic platform,” Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), Trump’s incoming national security adviser, told Fox News on Wednesday. “We’re going to find a way to preserve it but protect people’s data.”
How we got here
Below is a quick timeline of how things unfolded:
2020-2023: Trump’s initial efforts to ban TikTok and force a sale floundered, with ByteDance retaining ownership.
April 2024: Biden signs the bipartisan TikTok ban-or-sale law.
May-August 2024: Legal challenges escalate, with the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice filing lawsuits against TikTok for privacy violations.
December 2024: Trump requests the Supreme Court to delay the ban, citing his ability to “resolve the dispute through political means.”
January 2025: Supreme Court hears oral arguments, with justices leaning toward upholding the law.
What’s next
If the ban proceeds, TikTok will direct users to a website explaining the shutdown and offer options to download their data. While Trump’s executive order or a Supreme Court pause could provide temporary relief, ByteDance’s refusal to sell and the bipartisan consensus around national security concerns suggest the platform’s future in the U.S. remains precarious.
Interestingly, TikTok CEO Shou Chew has reportedly been invited to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, where he will sit in a position of honor on the dais alongside other prominent tech executives, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos.
For now, creators and businesses reliant on TikTok are left in limbo, forced to adapt to a fragmented digital landscape. Whether this marks the end of an era or the beginning of a new chapter will hinge on political maneuvering in the coming days.
“TikTok refugees” find new home … in another Chinese app
As the U.S. prepares to enforce a ban on TikTok on Sunday, a wave of the platform’s “refugees” has found an unexpected sanctuary in RedNote. With over 700,000 new U.S. users in less than a week, the Shanghai-based alternative has skyrocketed to the top of the U.S. Apple App Store charts, creating an unprecedented cultural exchange — and controversy.
What is RedNote?
Founded in 2013, RedNote, officially known as “Xiaohongshu,” is essentially a platform for lifestyle curation. Popular for its e-commerce integration, it allows users to share videos, photos and text, making it an apparent option for displaced TikTok creators. The app serves as a hub for lifestyle content, offering users recommendations on beauty, dining, travel and more. Its search engine capabilities and visually-driven interface have drawn comparisons to Instagram, although RedNote emphasizes lifestyle over social trends.
RedNote also presents a unique opportunity for cultural exchange. Unlike other Chinese social media apps, which often have separate international and domestic versions, RedNote, so far, maintains a single platform for all users. This has created a shared digital space where U.S. and Chinese users can directly interact — a rarity in the tightly controlled Chinese internet landscape.
How Chinese users are reacting
The reception from Chinese users has been largely positive, with many welcoming the newcomers with open arms. Some have even offered to teach Mandarin or share tips on navigating Chinese cuisine and culture.
However, not everyone is thrilled. Nationalist bloggers have warned of potential American “propagandists,” and some veteran users have expressed concerns about the app being “taken over” by foreigners. “Propagandists from the United States can easily achieve their goals by following a simple routine — first praise you a few words to make you ‘relax your vigilance,’ and then bring their own goods to subtly influence you,” Ren Yi, a Harvard-educated blogger and grandson of a former Chinese Communist leader, wrote in a post that was later deleted, Reuters reported.
Concerns linger
While RedNote’s rise has been celebrated as a cultural bridge, it comes with significant risks. Like TikTok, RedNote collects extensive user data, including location and browsing activity. Critics warn this data could be accessed by the Chinese government, raising significant privacy concerns. Additionally, the platform’s terms and conditions are written in Mandarin, leaving non-Chinese-speaking users uncertain about what they are agreeing to.
Censorship is another major issue. RedNote enforces content moderation that aligns with Chinese government policies, suppressing politically sensitive content. “Users are not going to a place with more freedom. RedNote is moderated differently, and the algorithm is different from TikTok,” Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert with Nord VPN, told CBS News.
What’s next
Unsurprisingly, the sudden influx of U.S. users has left RedNote scrambling to adapt. The platform is reportedly working to develop translation tools and hire English-speaking moderators. However, analysts believe the trend may be short-lived, especially if the U.S. government applies the same scrutiny to RedNote as it has to TikTok.
Reports have also emerged that RedNote may begin segregating foreign users from its Chinese base. “RedNote or Xiaohongshu just released an update in the greater China region with the function to separate out foreign IPs, and there are now talks of moving all foreign IPs to a separate server,” one user claimed in an emotional video, saying the move would “kill the app” for Chinese Americans who use it to connect with Chinese culture. While there is no official confirmation, speculation suggests pressure from the Chinese Communist Party to curb American influence on domestic users, echoing longstanding policies to limit foreign social media influence.
Despite these challenges, RedNote, in the meantime, has become a rare space for U.S.-China dialogue in a politically fraught time. Whether it becomes a permanent home for TikTok refugees or a fleeting digital experiment remains to be seen.
Sen. Mazie Hirono is convinced Defense nominee Pete Hegseth will invade Greenland if Trump asks him to
In a tense Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Hawaii Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono grilled President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, on his stance regarding unlawful military orders, allegations of misconduct and controversial policy positions. The hearing, held by the Senate Committee on Armed Services, became a focal point for concerns over Hegseth’s qualifications and potential approach to military leadership.
If Trump says jump …
Hirono, a longtime advocate for civil rights and oversight, pressed Hegseth on his willingness to comply with potentially illegal directives. "In June of 2020, then-President Trump directed former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to shoot protesters in the legs in downtown D.C., an order Secretary Esper refused to comply with. Would you carry out such an order?" she asked.
Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer and Fox News anchor, avoided a direct response. “Senator, I was in the Washington, D.C. National Guard unit that was in Lafayette Square. I saw 50 Secret Service agents get injured by rioters,” he said.
“That sounds to me,” Hirono concluded, “that you will comply with such an order — you will shoot protesters in the leg.”
Hirono further challenged Hegseth on whether he would support military action to seize Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark, as Trump had previously suggested. “Senator, one of the things that President Trump is so good at is never strategically tipping his hand,” Hegseth replied. “And so I would never, in this public forum, give one way or another what orders the president gives to me in any context.”
“It sounds to me,” Hirono countered, “that you would contemplate carrying out such an order to basically invade Greenland and take over the Panama Canal.”
Allegations of drinking and sexual misconduct
Democratic senators raised concerns about Hegseth’s lack of high-level defense policy experience and past allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking.
Hirono specifically questioned him about allegations of excessive drinking while on the job, referencing multiple reports from former colleagues at Fox News. “As Secretary, you will be in charge of maintaining good order and discipline by enforcing the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” she said. “I have read multiple reports of your regularly being drunk at work. Do you know that being drunk at work is prohibited for service members under the UCMJ?”
Hegseth dismissed the reports as “false, anonymous accusations” and assured the committee that he had promised some Republican colleagues that he had stopped drinking and would remain sober if confirmed.
When Hirono raised concerns about past allegations of sexual misconduct, Hegseth denied any wrongdoing: “I was falsely accused in October of 2017, it was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared.”
“I don’t think ‘completely cleared’ is accurate,” Hirono countered, pointing out that his lawyer acknowledged a non-disclosure agreement was part of a settlement with his accuser.
Not up to the job, the senator says
Hirono reminded Hegseth that as secretary of defense he would be sworn to the Constitution and not to the president. She also raised concerns about Trump’s recent statements suggesting the use of military force for mass deportations and to exert control over allied territories.
“If confirmed, your words, actions, and decisions will have real impacts on national security and our service members’ lives,” she said. “The Department of Defense consists of close to 3 million personnel and operates with a $900 billion budget. I hardly think you are prepared to do the job.”
Numbers favor him regardless
Despite strong opposition from Democratic senators, Hegseth’s confirmation remains likely due to the Republican majority in the Senate. The GOP holds a 53-47 majority, meaning Hegseth only needs to secure the support of at least 50 Republican senators to be confirmed. In a sign of his solid standing among Republicans, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who had previously expressed concerns, announced after the hearing that she would support his nomination.
Texas A&M cancels diversity conference trip that excluded whites and Asians after Gov. Abbott’s threat
Texas A&M University has canceled its planned participation in a diversity-focused conference scheduled in March, sparking a new flashpoint in the culture wars surrounding higher education. The decision on Tuesday came after Gov. Greg Abbott threatened the university’s president with expulsion, alleging the event’s racial eligibility criteria violated the state law banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices.
How it started
Set for March 20-21 in Chicago, “The PhD Project’s Annual Conference” is designed to encourage underrepresented minorities to pursue doctorate studies in business. Eligibility is restricted to individuals who identify as Black, Hispanic or Native American, which critics say violates Texas Senate Bill 17 (SB-17), the state’s DEI ban enacted in 2023.
The event gained traction after conservative activist Christopher Rufo shared an image showing application details on X, which specified the racial criteria. “Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference that prohibits whites and Asians from attending. The university falsely claims that this use of taxpayer funds does not violate the state’s DEI ban. @TAMU is supporting racial segregation and breaking the law” Rufo wrote.
Abbott’s response
Rufo’s post went viral and eventually reached Abbott. “Hell, no. It’s against Texas law and violates the U.S. Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone,” Abbott responded on Jan. 13.
Abbott’s message underscored the political stakes for Texas public universities navigating SB-17’s implementation. Enacted in 2023, SB-17 prohibits DEI offices, scholarships and programs at public universities in the state. It has significantly impacted campus diversity initiatives, leading to the closure of LGBTQ+ resource centers and reductions in DEI-related coursework.
State lawmakers have hinted at expanding the ban to include curriculum and research. Sen. Brandon Creighton, who authored the legislation, suggested during a 2024 hearing that stricter enforcement measures would be a legislative priority.
While Abbott lacks unilateral authority to dismiss university presidents, his influence over higher education policies is significant, especially as Republican lawmakers push for stricter DEI enforcement.
Caving in
By Jan. 14, Texas A&M announced that it had canceled the trip. In an official statement on X, the university reiterated its commitment to compliance with SB-17:
“Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor. The intent of SB-17 is very clear in that regard. We will continue to honor both the letter and the intent of the law.”
President Mark A. Welsh III, the subject of Abbott’s threat, also issued an email to faculty and staff at the Mays Business School, acknowledging the conference’s racial criteria and aligning the decision with state law.
Broader impact
Other public universities in the state, including the University of Texas and its satellite campuses, also withdrew from the conference after receiving internal guidance to avoid participation. Texas Tech University and the University of North Texas had already ended partnerships with the program in response to SB-17.
More broadly, the controversy highlights a growing tension for Asian Americans caught in the crossfire of DEI debates. While the racial eligibility criteria for the conference excluded Asians, Texas’ interpretation of SB-17 could also limit funding for initiatives addressing Asian American disparities in academia. Such laws risk undermining broader diversity efforts that benefit all marginalized groups while institutions face mounting pressure to navigate compliance without alienating communities historically underrepresented in higher education.
Chiefs' underdog receiver Nikko Remigio eyes NFL playoff redemption
Nikko Remigio, the Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver and return specialist, is seizing his opportunity in the NFL playoffs. The Filipino American, who was cut from the active roster and missed the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII win last year, has secured his spot this time around.
Overcoming injury and setbacks: A dislocated shoulder in 2023 landed Remigio on injured reserve before he was waived and re-signed to the practice squad. In December, he finally earned a promotion to the active roster. On special teams, he's been a key asset, averaging 9.5 yards per punt return and 26.8 yards per kick return.
Passing the test: "I’ve got to approach each week like I’m preparing for a game," Remigio said before the regular-season finale. “It’s kind of like preparing for the test before you get to the test. Now that the test is here, I can truly say that I feel prepared.” He led the team in receiving with two catches for 48 yards and added a 36-yard kick return against Denver in Week 17.
Seeking playoff redemption: The Chiefs, which finished the regular season with an impressive 15-2 record, secured the top seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. Remigio’s playoff journey with the team begins this Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium, where they will face the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round. His determination and playmaking ability make him a valuable weapon for the Chiefs in their quest for another Super Bowl title.
South Korea’s impeached president has been detained. What’s next?
South Korea continues to grapple with its gravest political crisis in decades as President Yoon Suk Yeol, the nation’s first sitting leader to face detention, remains at the center of a storm of legal, political and social upheaval. His arrest, which stems from his controversial imposition of martial law last December, has brought a deepening polarization to a country that has long been a beacon of democratic progress in Asia.
Catch up
Yoon’s troubles began on Dec. 3, 2024, when he declared martial law, citing an “anti-state” opposition paralyzing governance. Troops briefly surrounded the National Assembly, and a ban on political activities was announced. However, opposition lawmakers managed to convene and voted to lift the decree within hours.
On Dec. 14, the National Assembly, led by the Democratic Party (DP) and supported by some of Yoon’s own party members, impeached him on rebellion charges. Yoon denounced the move, calling it a “fraud,” and holed up in the presidential residence, where weeks of tense standoffs ensued.
The arrest
On Jan. 15, after a failed attempt earlier in the month, law enforcement officers stormed Yoon’s fortified residence with an overwhelming show of force. Investigators deployed over 1,000 police officers to ensure compliance with the detention warrant. Yoon’s supporters, defiant to the end, protested outside the compound, with some attempting to block the motorcade that transported him to the Seoul Detention Center.
In a video message recorded just before his detention, Yoon proclaimed that “the rule of law has completely collapsed in this country.” His lawyers have since argued that the warrant was invalid, accusing authorities of procedural violations.
What’s next
Yoon faces allegations of rebellion and abuse of power, charges that carry the potential for life imprisonment or even the death penalty under South Korean law. However, his fate depends on the following factors:
48-hour window for formal arrest: Investigators must secure court approval to extend his detention.
Impeachment ruling: The Constitutional Court is deliberating whether to permanently remove Yoon from office.
Prosecution timeline: If formally arrested, prosecutors have 20 days to indict him, with trials typically lasting up to six months.
Yoon’s defense team, citing his health, has resisted further questioning, calling the investigation politically motivated.
The big picture
Yoon’s detention underscores the deep divisions within South Korean politics. Opinion polls conducted immediately after the martial law declaration showed 73.6% support for his impeachment, but public sentiment has since shifted. A recent Realmeter poll from Jan. 9-10 showed Yoon’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) narrowing the gap with the opposition DP, with 40.8% vs. 42.2% support.
The DP lauded Yoon’s detention as a step toward bringing democracy back. “Yoon’s detention is the first step toward restoring the constitutional order, democracy and rule of law,” said Park Chan-dae, a key DP figure. Meanwhile, PPP leaders condemned the move as an unlawful humiliation of a sitting president.
For Asian Americans following the story, Yoon’s downfall serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of democratic institutions. South Korea, often viewed as a model for rapid economic and democratic development, is now mired in uncertainty. The crisis could deepen political tribalism, with protests erupting on both sides of the divide.
Zelenskyy releases videos of captured North Korean soldiers
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has released videos of two captured North Korean soldiers who were reportedly fighting for Russia in the Kursk region. This marks the first time Ukraine has captured foreign fighters from North Korea.
Captured soldiers speak out: The first video, posted on Zelenskyy’s X account on Sunday, shows the soldiers being interrogated. One has a jaw injury, while the other has bandaged hands. Speaking through a translator, one soldier claims he is unaware he was in an actual war, believing he had been sent for training.
A second video, posted on Tuesday, features one of the two soldiers lying in a hospital bed. He states that he was wounded in battle and left behind for several days before Ukrainian forces found him. “Since I was wounded and couldn’t move, I was on my own for about three, four, five days,” he says, according to a Ukrainian translation. He added that Russian troops had retreated, abandoning him.
North Korea’s role in Russia’s war: The presence of North Korean troops in Russia has raised concerns about deepening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. Western intelligence reported in October 2024 that North Korea had sent between 10,000 and 12,000 soldiers to Russia, allegedly to reinforce its struggling war effort.
Ukrainian sources claim some North Korean troops have been deployed in combat roles and given fake Russian identification documents. One captured soldier revealed that his Russian ID lacked a photo and was written entirely in Russian, making it difficult for him to verify his name.
”The world will learn the full truth about how Russia is exploiting such guys, who grew up in a complete information vacuum, utterly unaware of Ukraine, and who are being used by Russia solely to prolong and escalate this war,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Only Russia needs this war. I am grateful to all our warriors who are defending Ukraine's positions.”
Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang have officially acknowledged North Korean troop deployments. However, Ukraine estimates that since late 2024, around 11,000 North Korean soldiers have been stationed in the Kursk region. South Korea’s intelligence agency reports at least 300 have been killed and 2,700 wounded, with some allegedly taking their own lives to avoid capture.
What’s next for the North Korean POWs: Zelenskyy offered to return the captured soldiers to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in exchange for Ukrainian POWs held by Russia. While Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that prisoner exchanges were under discussion, he provided no further details. “We do not know what is true here or who offered what to whom,” Peskov said Monday. “The process is not easy. But the life of each of our soldiers in captivity is important to us. This work will continue.”
Zelenskyy also suggested that captured North Koreans unwilling to return home might have other options. “There may be alternatives, especially for those who want to help bring peace by spreading the truth about this war in Korean,” he said.
When asked if they wished to return to North Korea, one captured soldier hesitated before nodding, while another stated, “I want to live here.”