John Gao

The Columbia Mall’s Lunar New Year Celebration – A Symbol of Asian Determination and Resilience

February 16, 2026

On February 7, 2026, the Columbia Mall in downtown Howard County was abuzz with excited chatter and activity, as people strolled through the halls of the sprawling shopping complex. However, very few were there to shop for clothes or check out the newest products. Instead, most gathered at the mall to admire the Lunar New…
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Ramaswamy Quits Social Media – How It Connects to the AAPI Community’s Experience Online

February 4, 2026

Introduction How does social media shape our society today? From video-sharing giant TikTok to professional networking platform LinkedIn, modern platforms provide spaces where people express themselves, stay connected, and communicate instantly across distances. For Asian-Americans, social media has become especially important. Recent data suggest that more than 84% of Asian-Americans use social media daily, often…
Read more: Ramaswamy Quits Social Media – How It Connects to the AAPI Community’s Experience Online
The Medical Wizard of Oz, and His Story

November 1, 2025

With the upheaval and rapid changes of Trump’s second term, it’s more important than ever to understand not just the man at the top, but also the team shaping his administration. Beyond Trump himself, there are lesser-known figures at the table whose decisions carry significant weight. That’s why The AAPI Angle is launching Trailblazers and…
Read more: The Medical Wizard of Oz, and His Story
A Short Introduction to WeChat

September 27, 2025

Introduction In our last article on the Chinese monolith, we dived into what WeChat is about, its history, and how Chinese-Americans transcend borders to take advantage of the plethora of content, messaging services, and mini-apps on the app. Since its release by the Chinese tech giant Tencent in 2011, the messaging app has become the…
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Kash Patel – Not Just Part of the Charlie Kirk Case

September 21, 2025

With the upheaval and rapid changes of Trump’s second term, it’s more important than ever to understand not just the man at the top, but also the team shaping his administration. Beyond Trump himself, there are lesser-known figures at the table whose decisions carry significant weight. That’s why The AAPI Angle is launching Trailblazers and…
Read more: Kash Patel – Not Just Part of the Charlie Kirk Case
Tulsi Gabbard: Samoan, State Legislature, and Security Official

September 6, 2025

With the upheaval and rapid changes of Trump’s second term, it’s more important than ever to understand not just the man at the top, but also the team shaping his administration. Beyond Trump himself, there are lesser-known figures at the table whose decisions carry significant weight. That’s why The AAPI Angle is launching Trailblazers and…
Read more: Tulsi Gabbard: Samoan, State Legislature, and Security Official
From Diagnostics to DOGE: The Path of Vivek Ramaswamy and 5 Moments That Got Him Here

August 30, 2025

Vivek Ramaswamy, a Hindu Indian-American and Harvard graduate, has risen in prominence despite his unconventional views and recent entry into politics. His relationship with Donald Trump, who endorsed him, is pivotal in Ramaswamy’s journey. The series “Trailblazers and Trump” will explore influential Asian American leaders in Trump’s administration.
Read more: From Diagnostics to DOGE: The Path of Vivek Ramaswamy and 5 Moments That Got Him Here
From Montgomery to Majority Leader: The Firebrand Korean Progressive

July 23, 2025

Entering a career in political science is typically not a popular choice for most Asian Americans – a study by the Cleveland Federal Reserve found that only around 1% of Asian students chose majors related to public policy. In contrast, the social sciences in general remain unpopular. The reasons are complex, but are often attributed…
Read more: From Montgomery to Majority Leader: The Firebrand Korean Progressive
Rising Voices: A Tour of Asian Americans in the 2024 Federal Elections

April 7, 2025

🎧 NEW: We’ve created a podcast to discuss the main ideas of the article, which you can listen to here! If Your Time is Short:– Asian Americans continued their trend of increased political engagement and representation in Congress. Notable candidates included:– A son of Vietnamese boat people who uniquely fought against an incumbent Republican Asian American…
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Republican President-Elect Trump Made Large Gains Among Asian Americans, Resetting Years of Democratic Progress

April 7, 2025

🎧 NEW: We’ve created a podcast to discuss the main ideas of the article, which you can listen to here! Sean, the son of a well-educated Chinese doctor, embodies a demographic Democrats have long relied on: young, educated, and living in a deep-blue state like Maryland. Yet Sean’s political evolution defied expectations. Once politically centrist,…
Read more: Republican President-Elect Trump Made Large Gains Among Asian Americans, Resetting Years of Democratic Progress

Author: John Gao