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· Ryan General

Can democratic socialism win a swing state? Wisconsin’s Francesca Hong is about to find out

Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong, the first Asian American elected to the state’s Legislature, has become the Democratic party’s unlikely contender for governor in one of the nation’s most competitive battleground states. Running as a Korean American democratic socialist,…

· Ryan General

Viral lawnmower snow video in Canada sparks backlash targeting South Asians

A short video filmed in Brampton, Ontario, showing a man trying to clear snow with a lawnmower has drawn millions of views and unexpectedly fueled a heated online backlash. What began as a widely shared clip of an unconventional snow removal attempt quickly turned into a…

· Carl Samson

Mamdani pushes forward with higher taxes for the rich

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is moving ahead with higher taxes on New York City’s wealthiest residents and corporations, dismissing concerns about triggering an exodus of millionaires from the nation’s financial center. What he’s saying: Mamdani framed the tax plan as expanding freedom…

· Carl Samson

Mamdani makes history with Quran swearing-in as NYC’s 1st Muslim mayor

Zohran Mamdani, 34, became New York City’s 112th mayor on Thursday, using the Quran for his oath of office in what marks the first time the Islamic holy text has appeared at a mayoral swearing-in. Catch up: The democratic socialist, who is also The Rebel Yellow’s 2025 Rebel of…

· Ryan General

Nearly half of NYC’s Asian American voters backed Mamdani

Nearly half of New York City’s Asian American voters, or 49.1%, supported Zohran Mamdani in the 2025 mayoral election, while 33.8% backed former Governor Andrew Cuomo, according to a joint exit poll by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Asian American…

· Carl Samson

GOP lawmakers push to strip Mamdani of US citizenship ahead of election

With New York City’s mayoral election set for Tuesday, Republican legislators are pressing federal authorities to investigate Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani’s path to citizenship and potentially revoke it. State of play: Two GOP representatives have spearheaded the campaign…

· Carl Samson

Could GOP’s outreach efforts to Asian Americans help flip New Jersey governorship?

The battle for New Jersey’s governorship may hinge on Asian American voters, with Democratic officials acknowledging the party’s uphill climb to win back a demographic in which Republicans have made significant inroads. Driving the news: The warning comes from Democratic…

· Carl Samson

South Asian film screenings in Canada targeted with arson, shootings

A movie theater west of Toronto has stopped showing South Asian films after experiencing an arson attack and a shooting within seven days — both incidents authorities believe were deliberate acts targeting the venue. What happened: Film.ca Cinemas, located in Oakville, Ontario,…

· Carl Samson

Trio targeted South Asian homes in $4 million Massachusetts burglary ring

Three Rhode Island men pleaded guilty earlier this month to their roles in a sophisticated burglary ring that targeted South Asian-owned homes across 25 Massachusetts towns, netting over $4 million in stolen goods. How they operated: The burglaries, which ran from July 2018 to…

· Carl Samson

Anti-South Asian hate skyrockets in Canada: report

Anti-South Asian hate has surged at an alarming rate in Canada, with incidents both online and offline increasing sharply in recent years, a new report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) shows. Shocking numbers: Police-reported hate crimes against South Asians in…

· Carl Samson

Mamdani’s historic win signals new era for Indian Americans in US politics

New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, won New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. With this victory, he is set to make history as the city’s first Muslim, first Indian American and…

· Carl Samson

Meet the first Indian American elected to Congress from Virginia

Democrat Suhas Subramanyam made history as the first Indian American elected from Virginia, securing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 10th Congressional District. Voting results: Subramanyam, who is currently a state senator, garnered 52.1% (207,131) of the…

· Ryan General

Anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies endanger South Asians in Canada

Anti-immigrant political rhetoric and online hate speech have sparked a disturbing trend of anti-South Asian sentiment in Canada. The prejudice has manifested in verbal and physical assaults, discrimination and exclusionary policies, creating a hostile environment for South…

· Michelle De Pacina

Punjabi wave superstar makes history as 1st South Asian artist to grace Billboard cover

Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh has made history as the first South Asian artist to grace the cover of Billboard Magazine, featuring in the debut print edition of Billboard Canada set for release in December. Known for pioneering the “Punjabi wave” that fuses folk music with…

· Carl Samson

Harris leads Trump among South Asians in battleground states: poll

A poll released on Oct. 14 by the Indian American Impact Fund shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump among South Asian voters in battleground states, with the electorate notably motivated to support Harris. Results: The survey, conducted among 600 likely South…

· Carl Samson

South Asian women suffer from ‘marriage penalty’ at work: study

A phenomenon known as “marriage penalty” hinder’s women’s employment in South Asia, a new World Bank study shows. The trend persists even without factoring in child-rearing, while men experience the reverse, dubbed as “marriage premium.” What it is: “Marriage penalty” refers to…

· Ryan General

Surge in hate crimes against South Asians linked to political spotlight

A new report from Stop AAPI Hate reveals a significant rise in anti-South Asian hate online, coinciding with the political prominence of Kamala Harris and Usha Vance. Published this week, the report titled Empowered/Imperiled: The Rise of South Asian Representation and…

· Ryan General

Bollywood-inspired music video seeks to drive South Asian American voters for Harris

Indian American entrepreneur Ajay Jain Bhutoria released a music video featuring the Bollywood song “Nacho Nacho” to energize South Asian voters ahead of November’s presidential election. The track, a Hindi adaptation of the Oscar-winning song “Naatu Naatu” from the Telugu…

· Carl Samson

AAPI Democratic leaders stress importance of Asian voters for Harris

AAPI Democratic officials are emphasizing the crucial role that AAPI voters will play in November’s election as they rally behind Kamala Harris, who could make history as the first Asian and Black woman to serve as U.S. president. What they are saying: At an AAPI caucus meeting…

· Michelle De Pacina

South Asian American leaders endorse Kamala Harris for president

South Asian American state and local officials across the U.S. endorsed Kamala Harris for president, citing her potential to create a “fairer and more inclusive” immigration system, her coalition-building skills and her potential to inspire all Asian Americans, communities of…