Frank Chow: Asian- American Political Pundit

 Roberts has gotten his way. His long desire to gut the Voting Rights Act is over . Allowing Alito to write the opinion only speaks to Roberts brazen cowardness. You see, racism is over. It's been over. "Why can't teh blacks and minorities move on?" I'm not surprised. The Court and the Republican Party have been clear that they are Segregationists. Many people will continue to write more eloquently about this ruling, but let's be clear: the court has declared multi-racial democracy dead. Kagan dissents .  Here are your highlights:  Jerome Powell is staying . Despite his questionable tenure, this is funny.  The cruelty is the point. 400,000 people with disabilities could lose benefits .  Since living in Central Illinois, gas prices have been the highest I can remember . This morning it was $4.69. Where's all that "Biden did that" energy for Trump?  Janet Mills drops out. It seemed inevitable. I'm still not sold on Platner. Israel kills 9 in L...

 Iran has objectively won the war. Twice Trump has tried, and twice he has failed. There's a lesson here that he has never learned in his life. Big things go boom does not mean "we win." It'll be Trump's lasting legacy, an embarrassment that exposes the limitations of America's war chest. Maybe next time, don't fire all the "DEI" generals.  Here are your highlights: The Trump FCC is going after ABC/Disney. Cuz Kimmel hurt Trump's fee fees.  OpenAI is getting sued by the Tumbler Ridge victims.   Panama Canal - China has detained 70 ships .  Two stabbed in London in an antisemitic attack .  Misinformation fuels backlash towards Solar . We see this in our town too. It's idiotic.  Is the internet dead? AI is making more slop websites.  I am Frank Chow, and I approve this message. 

 Welp. Tornadoes are plentiful this year. We had to shelter at work, and then last night I was in my basement. The storms were storming. Luckily, our rural town wasn't hit, but nearby was. I don't think I'll ever get used to the sirens. They're so loud and terrifying. Does anyone have any tips? I was without power for over an hour. I had flashlights, but no way to communicate with folks. Gotta figure out a better backup plan.  Here are your highlights: Homework, what is it good for?   Florida is going to be an experiment about what happens when stupid takes over .  The Trump administration wants everyone to get cancer from Roundup .  Oil . The sooner we move to renewables, the better.  Is the AI bubble here? OpenAI struggles .  ICE is going after Cubans in Florida .  I am Frank Chow, and I approve this message. 

Well, I'm tired. I hiked over 6 miles yesterday, and I'm feeling it today. The weather was lovely, the bugs were plenty, and I managed to not trip on my own two feet. It's the small wins. It's easier to forget what a shithole country we are when you can hike through nature. Head down. Onward. Forward.  Here are your highlights: White House Correspondence Dinner shooter . What we know.  Not surprising. Most Americans hate the war in Iran .  DeSantis makes a move to counter Virginia maps .  Prediction markets are going to have their day .  An O.C. actor makes a damning documentary about Crypto.   Rumors are about. ICE is coming to Champaign.  I am Frank Chow, and I approve this message. 

 It's marathon weekend here. To those participating, we salute you. It's something I'll never do, so yeah, kudos. My marathon would be playing Tetris for 24 hours straight or something like that. I was never a runner. This weekend I'm planning on hiking locally. It's been quite a week, and I need to touch grass. Something about a hike is relaxing. Enjoy your weekend, folks!  Here are your highlights:   The Lebanese State is done with Hezbollah .  Welp, that didn't take long. Special Forces soldier busted for betting on Maduro's capture .  Solar backlash . I see this all the time in our local Facebook forum. Rural folks hate solar for no good reason.  Paramount takeover and a huge threat in Hollywood . Fuckin' rich people.  The Federal job cuts hurt black women the most .  China stages naval drills near the Philippines .  I am Frank Chow, and I approve this message. 

 It's time for Democrats to be more partisan. Enough of this "friends across the aisle" crap. "Both sides." Just state it clearly: the Republican Party is terrible for our economy, for our safety, and for our civil rights. They want to return to segregation and continue to take your hard-earned money and give it to the 1%. Elected Republicans aren't your friends, guys. No real friend shakes your hand and then passes anti-trans bills. No real friends shakes your hand and cuts SNAP. No real friends shakes your hand and eliminates US AID, leaving thousands to die. Be partisan.  Here are your highlights:  Virginia Republican activist judge blocks new redistricting .  Our healthcare system is a joke. Patients are struggling to get obesity coverage .  Senate Republicans move to fund ICE . NoT YOur FrIEnDs.  Wildfires hit Georgia as the state faces a drought .  The corruption is the point.  Eric Trump needs to be in jail.  Kash Patel is a bumbling i...

 I've been on a reading kick of late. Mostly science fiction and fantasy. I am currently reading Project Hail Mary, Shadow and Bone, and Mistborn. I don't think I've ever engaged in one book at a time, but this year I'm all over the place, so it suits me. If you have any recommendations, comment below. I will be done with these books soon and would like to keep the momentum going.  Here are your highlights:  Virginia, my home state, does the right thing . Redistricting!  Kash Patel is such a loser. But he's "never been intoxicated on the job." Separation of Church and State . Not a thing apparently... Justice Clarence Thomas hates progressivism, and he hates you, you stupid anti-American scum . He's also terrible at giving speeches and is historically ignorant.  CPAC and Hungary. Time to investigate.  The very American death of Prince. Prince could only have died in America . We miss his genius. 10 years later, and it still hurts.  I am Frank Chow, an...

When all of this is said and done, Trump will be the most unpopular president ever . He will likely be remembered as the worst president ever. The Iran War his lasting legacy of arrogance, incompetence, and ignorance. But we're not done yet, and that's the scary part. I have no clue what will come next. None of us do, as he drives deeper into madness; we're all in danger. Fun times. Someone should do a study post-Trump era about how we all have collective PTSD. I will volunteer as tribute.  Here are your highlights:   SCANDAL. Trump fires Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer . Sounds like a frat party office.  Cuba confirms meeting with the Trump administration.  It'd be nice to have folks in Cuba not suffer.  The aftermath of the deadly fire in Hong Kong .  Purdue Pharma finally has to pay .  RFK Jr. hates mRNA vaccines. Cool that mRNA vaccines can help pancreatic cancer patients .  Climate Change continues its terror . Northeast farmers deal with...

 Happy 4/20 y'all! Smoke em' if you got em'. I will not be participating. Hopefully, I'll be sleeping though. We had a run of storms on Friday, and something like 10 tornadoes touched down in Illinois. The closest to us was too close for comfort. So, I didn't sleep well all weekend. I do think about how silly our marijuana policies are in America. Federalize it already; we know both parties are profiting off the business. Let's research it with an eye on what the product does and how it can help throughout our society. It has long lost its bogeyman reputation.  Here are your highlights:  Can't have peace if you're blowing up Iranian cargo ships .  More of this! Mamdani and Obama visit preschoolers and read to them .  Tragedy in Louisiana . 8 children dead, more wounded. Guns, get the guns. Prayers for this family.  Chief Justice John Roberts - a traitorous activist judge .  Palantir is an evil company, and it needs to be stopped .  Book bans and a...

 The AI music debate is heating up. Diplo caused a stir, telling producers and musicians alike to accept that AI is here and it's not going away. He said it more crassly because he's a prick. I think he's right and he's really wrong. As someone who has produced several records (long, long ago), I did so when ProTools was talked about similarly to AI. The critics said it sounded different; they could tell the difference, and it took away the need for engineers. Well, two of those turned out to be true. You still need engineers. To this day, both Analog and ProTools still exist and co-exist. There are benefits to both depending on the sound you want. Some compare the use of AI to sampling, and while I empathize with that, I don't think that's right. Sampling was inspirational, showcased creativity, style, and sparked a revolutionary musical movement. AI music is being sold as "SEE ANYONE CAN WRITE SONGS, SINGERS AREN'T NEEDED, I DON'T NEED MUSICIANS....

 Every day I wake up, get our kids to school, and then get to work. I open up the news, and sure enough, there is something so bizarre I'm not sure how to move forward with my day. Sometimes it paralyzes me, and other times it gets me riled up. Today, I'm at a place where I'm back to "how the fuck are we here?" RFK Jr. said he cut the penis off a raccoon in front of his kids . This man is in charge of our HHS...I have no words. I can't believe this administration somehow gets weirder daily.  Here are your highlights:  Live Nation guilty of operating a monopoly . Maybe this means we can actually get tickets to see shows? Maybe.  Democrats do something! File impeachment articles against Pete Hegseth .  The World Cup is going to be a disaster. Too expensive. No tailgating. I hope every stadium is empty. What an embarrassment.  Russia and Ukraine are still at war. I thought it was going to be over day one. 16 dead in Ukraine .  Out of Oil. Europe has "may...

Trump didn't think this war through at all. It shows as we receive more news of Russian and Chinese involvement in the war.  Then there are stupid consequences like chips and medical supplies . The world needs helium, well, guess what, it ain't moving! The world needs chips, hell, our missiles need chips, guess what, they ain't coming! As Trump continues to show his ass, JD Vance has had a terribly embarrassing week. He's such a loser, he's trying to pick a fight with the Pope. Orban lost. And Trump can't wait to throw him under the bus for the Iran negotiations failing.  Here are your highlights:  Two men in Paris, IL, were  charged with attempted murder and hate crimes .  Eric Swalwell is a scary kind of predator .  Well, for the first time in a long time, I owe taxes. And I'm not the only one . Fuck Trump.  CBS continues its fall . David Ellison is scum.  Instead of a war with Iran, this administration could be helping the starving people in Su...

 AI is starting to get its push back, and it's not pretty. Sam Altman's home was attacked again, this time with a firebomb . The response by Silicon Valley is how dare we raise alarms about their technology. Yet, they themselves have warned what their tech might do. Mass unemployment, unaliving, breaking of relationships, and the robot apocalypse, to name a few. I don't condone any violence towards these tech overlords. But I find it interesting that they never considered that people might be fed up with their tech sooner or later. If your tech does more harm than good, what is it for? What's the end game? If you're only profit-driven, I'd say we're in trouble as a society. And from what I've read, that's the case. AI has potential; however, more and more people are realizing those hocking it do not have humanity's best interests in mind.  Here are your highlights:  Israel and Lebanon to meet for the first time in more than 30 years .  Mark Zucke...

 Aww, the Midwest. We get beautiful weather one day, high winds and dust storms the next, and now a tornado watch! It's that time of year when I start the week completely paranoid about Mother Nature seeking her revenge. I was watching a forecast last night, and it said some folks will get hail the size of apples. What the?! I've got a busy week ahead, so light blogging will commence.  Here are your highlights:  Eric Swalwell drops out amid sexual assault allegations . The journalists who said this was an "open secret" need to do some soul-searching.  Way to go, Hungary! Bye-bye, Viktor Orban .  Midwest soybean farmers are in a squeeze .  I like this new Pope. He has no chill .  Possible breakthrough with a pancreatic cancer drug .  It's odd, but this is where we are, I believe Iran. Iran says JD Vance and team blew up peace talks .  I am Frank Chow, and I approve this message. 

 It's Friday, we made it. We did it. We also witnessed the most bizarre speech by the first lady . Bringing up the Epstein files when the Iran War has been the main focus was a choice. What the what? The timing is, as the kids say, "sus." Is something dropping? Will new files be released? Who knows? But as Trump continues to lose his mind, it's an awfully weird thing to happen. This administration is one long car crash. I, for one, want to jump out of the car.  Here are your highlights:  Betting on wars , cuz fuck the dead.  ChatGPT and the chilling connection to mass shooters and violence .  Artemis II is on its way home . I sound like a little kid when I talk about this mission. It's been such a bright spot sharing the experience with my kids. Hope isn't bad even in these times.  ICE is still terrorizing innocent people. They must be stopped and defunded.  I was told the election of Trump was about the economy. If so, he sucks, and everyone who vote...

 Not really a ceasefire when Israel can commit more war crimes and take out over 200 people in Lebanon . At this point, it is safe to say Israel played Trump, read the war with Iran wrong, and is not worried about any consequences. They seem to have an expansionist mindset. Slowly pushing out their territory and using Trump to supply cover, but also bombs. This doesn't absolve Trump whatsoever. He's a bloodthirsty autocrat. And a sundowning old man whose idea of masculinity is blowing things up good. I apologize on behalf of all the stupid Americans who voted for him. We're under the eye of a lunatic.  Here are your highlights:  Pam Jo Bondi needs to be held accountable . We can't let this administration get away unscathed.  North Korea says it's testing ballistic missiles with cluster bombs .  Updated list of endangered species due to Climate Change .  I don't think Airline companies like their customers. And they definitely don't understand how folks trav...

 TACO, BURRITO, WE DON'T WANT NO CHEETO! TACO! Although the latter would have been catastrophic and a war crime...so here we are, with an administration that caved to Iran. I've seen conflicting reports on what the "ceasefire" entails, so I'll refrain from commenting until it's clear. Nevertheless, Trump's deranged war is paused for now. This is a good thing for the people of Iran. May peace prevail.  Here are your highlights: Dem Judge wins in Wisconsin , strengthening the liberal majority.  The way Wall St. reacts to Trump needs to be studied. Oil prices plunge, stocks go up .  Fuck those Buffaloes .  Artemis II has been a bright spot in our dismal world. They are set to splash down on Friday .  Super El Niño . What's a FEMA? One thing is evergreen about Republicans: they hate their constituents. West Virginia Governor vetoes help for the neglected and foster care kids while giving tax cuts to the rich .  I am Frank Chow, and I approve this message....

 One of my biggest fears when Trump first took office was his access to our nuclear arsenal. People called me hyperbolic, yet here we are in a war with Iran, that no one wanted, and he's threatening that a "whole civilization will die tonight." Trump is obsessed with carnage. He's obsessed with bombs, the way it makes him look masculine, and Iran is making him look like a cuck. I don't pray often, but I'm praying I'm wrong.  Here are your highlights:  Taiwan's opposition leader arrives in China .  Death panels, but for real this time .  Vance goes to Hungary . The Right has such love for authoritarians.  Democrats, wake up, don't compromise on Trans Rights .  Betting on wars .  Southeast Asia's coming food crisis .  I am Frank Chow, and I approve this message. 

 The Illini fell short. It was a battle, and despite their abysmal three-point shooting, they fought until the end. It was quite the run. The town was ablaze. Rooting for this team was easy. Young star in the making, an NBA All-Star's kid, a transfer from my alma mater, and a local kid. It was fun to watch, share in their achievements, and believe the impossible could happen. I can't wait until next year. I L L.  Here are your highlights:  In Lebanon, more than 50 medics have been killed by Israel . Say war crimes, Booker.  Like a scene from a movie, the airman who was shot down has been rescued .  The Private Credit Cartels .  Crimes are good and just when they're done by Republicans. Steve Bannon to walk .  Artemis crew to see the Dark Side of the Moon .  Trying on clothes virtually? AI might help retailers with returns .  Iran rejects a ceasefire . Trump is in a pickle...will he "rain" bombs on Iran? Or will he capitulate? Time is up....

 Anytime Republicans are in charge of the economy, they wreck it. Liberation Day will go down as one of the biggest failures in recent memory. A much-yelled-about, but ultimately useless move that has set the US Economy behind for maybe decades. The war with Iran is only making it worse. My only hope is that folks will realize EVs are important to our future... however, my rural neighbors will likely be among the last to adopt them. Revving their engines as they scream MAGA out of their windows. Good Friday, y'all.  Here are your highlights:  The Pope doesn't like Hegseth using God for his war in Iran.  Saturday is Illini day. First Final Four appearance in 21 years . I L L!  AOC leads the way, no aid for Israel .  IRGC threatens to hit data centers next .  It really is amazing we're headed towards the moon. I know we're not all aboard. We science geeks and kids who grew up on Space Camp, seeing the Artemis II rocket toward the moon, find it specia ...

 Endless war. Endless wars. Republicans can't help themselves. And Trump, as many predicted, is already getting bored. I refused to watch, but the reviews were not good. I wonder if Jake Tapper will call for Trump to resign, step down, or retire? Nooo, didn't think so. Just more needless deaths in Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. How about those gas prices, huh?  Here are your highlights:  Making Veterans homeless, so rich folks can have tax cuts.  Pam Bondi on the chopping block? I am LAUGHING.  Relief for diabetics, new bill to lower insulin costs . This is a no-brainer.  Trump really screwed up royally. UK-led coalition to meet to free up the Strait of Hormuz .  Rural voter here. I cannot say "I told you so" enough to American farmers .  Hong Kong bookstore staff arrested for selling Jimmy Lai's biography . China continues to squash dissent.  I am Frank Chow, and I approve this message. 

 I've been under the weather, and by under the weather, I mean depressed. Mental health days are necessary. I took two. I'm still struggling, but I made it to today. Sometimes this world just beats you down. We did, however, have a successful No Kings protest in our small town. It felt like hundreds were participating. We had laughs, shared common interests, and then enjoyed a local Speakeasy that night. There is good out in the world.  Here are your highlights: NASA's Artemis is set to launch today .    SCOTUS to hear the case of birthright citizenship . We know how this will shake out.  Iran Update: Trump admin has no clue what they're doing.   Robotaxis don't work . Just give us high-speed rail FFS.  Trump official claims he has teleported . You read that right.  Does anyone care about gas prices? Cuz I thought that was why we are stuck with Trump... I am Frank Chow, and I approve this message.