Bits and bobs, some collages, and a roundup

Welcome to Export Quality, your home for news by and about South Asian Americans and Canadians - and everything in between.

Due to a combination of writers’ block, a job search, a full freelance workload, contracts in some jeopardy, and being absolutely leveled by a virus, EQ HQ hasn’t been in full swing the past few weeks. One of my goals this year though is to publish at a regular pace so here’s a random collection of thoughts scribbled into a notebook I kept by my side during my sickness and convalescence.

• Listening: Hostile Government Takeover remix by Vinny Marchi and AGiftFromTodd. Reading: Postcards from The Edge by Carrie Fisher.

• The recent coup to seize control of the Kennedy Center of all things reminded me of a dusty, nicotine-stained room full of decades-old files in the middle of Belgrade, Serbia. It was exactly as Communist-era chic as you think it is. I had been staying what could charitably be called a Soviet era hotel with a lobby level nightclub that doubled as the breakfast room. I was there on a fellowship to attend a civil society conference and, ironically, report on the ongoing press freedom protests (link to my story for Fortune). As I took a walking tour and heard our young guide tout revisionist history about Kosovo and Bill Clinton, little did I know that punk rock collective P*ssy Riot was sneaking out of Russia and their members were about to let us sit down and talk to them in that room. Here’s the resulting story for Teen Vogue about art and culture in the era of political control.

• A conversation between Danny Concannon (Timothy Busfield) and patron saint Allison Janney’s brilliant character CJ Cregg in Season 4, Episode 12 of West Wing has been kicking around my head for days. [Editor’s Note: They are one of my Top 10 TV Couples]

  

  Apartheid Vampire in Chief Elon Musk taking the soft power of USAID off the table for the Trump administration seems short sighted, wholly destructive, and illegal, at best. Some of the largest recipients of US foreign aid are not famine-ravaged regions in Yemen or Sudan, but countries like Ukraine and Israel. I referenced Rosa Brooks’ 2016 book last issue as well, but it is prescient in this instance too. While everything can be and has been the military, the soft power of foreign aid is useful for U.S. allies, particularly as conflicts span administrations. The agency also focused on not only conflict prevention but also climate mitigation - which could cause conflict as we compete over natural resources. Ukraine is already feeling the fallout, while Russia and China are benefitting. Some people are happy with increased Chinese investment in African countries, something I saw everywhere in Nairobi six years ago. However, if the U.S. is hoping to have some influence over the African Union or non-allies like China and Russia entrenching themselves deeper in the continent and throughout Asia, shoring up the U.S. military even more is not how you do it.

  Additionally, I find it absolutely shameful former USAID Administrator and literal Ambassador Samantha Power felt the need to go on national television to do the staid Washington version of begging to save the agency. Not for her, I think her actions are righteous and honorable. For us as a country however, it is a disgrace (but she did a phenomenal job and props to Colbert for having her on).
  
  We can go ahead and blame electoral politics for this one as well. Americans on average think foreign aid makes a much larger portion of the federal budget than it actually does.

• The Pope slamming JD Vance was unexpected and it makes me wonder how much of a person like the VP is affected by that global reprimand. This video explainer from Washington Post Religion Reporter Michelle Boorstein was worth the watch.

• For some reason this old tweet crossed my feed on other socials this week and it’s a stroke of genius. Miss Piggy starring in a season of Real Housewives? YES PLEASE, and if anyone reading this works at Bravo, this could be considered an act of patriotism. America needs this and the Muppets are nothing if not unifying. Cameos by Kermit, wine glass throwing, jumping to wild and unnecessary conclusions - guys, the script practically writes itself and it’s a public service.

• Speaking of potential masterpieces: It feels a bit like Nero fiddling while Rome burned, but also necessary that I do the 100 Day Project(thanks

  Lindsay Jean Thomson
  !) during all that is going in journalism, in America, to my rights over my own body. The idea is to commit to some sort of artistic practice every day for those 100 days and I’m looking forward to having a spot in my day for something that is not writing, job searching, cleaning, and stressing over bills/being single/taking care of my health/etc/etc/etc; something that creates as a balm to all the destruction we are seeing on a daily basis. I’ve shared some of my collages before and you’ll be subjected to more of them. In case you didn’t know, two of my designs have been sold by Target dot com the last few years as part of their AAPI Heritage Month push. I will resume flogging my wares to you once they bring back their DEI efforts.

  In the meantime here are a few pieces that are not for sale because I don’t want to be sued by D*sney or Bollywood:

1. Team Sher Khan. Listen we, as humans, invaded *his* space. Of course he’s pissed! He just wanted his jungle! Yet another example of British colonizers screwing something up. The sun set on their common sense. 2. Team Ursula. It was literally the massive OCEAN and she just wanted to exist. There was no need for Triton to be such a territorial jerk. Also, Ariel is a terrible role model for young children.3. In my retelling of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Simran runs *away* from Raj and starts a new life, eventually getting married to someone with better acting skills.

Enough rambling from me, here are your required viewing links from diaspora Desi journalists:

Big congrats to Sajina Shrestha on joining the team at NPR-affiliate KLCC in Eugene, Oregon! Organizers fear Trump’s ban on gender-affirming care could see effects on the state level and Looking back at Asian American cinema: 20 years with the DisOrient Asian American film festival

A round of applause for Meena Thiruvengadam on her latest guidebook for Lonely Planet! Go to Chicago and use Meena’s book to enjoy it even more (when the weather gets warmer!)

Not only do we love hearing more of us on the mic, but we especially love seeing more of us on air so send PJ Randhawa a well-earned three cheers as she had her first day on the anchor desk for NBC Chicago!

On that note, Shanelle Kaul is on the 4am CBS Mornings shift this week so show her some love for waking up earlier - and being camera ready - before any of us.

“Lightning in a bottle”: Meredith Clark on Black Twitter’s journalistic impact, legacy — and writing its “obituary” - Hanaa’ Tameez for Nieman Lab

When Politicians Exit Stage Right, What’s Left for Their Impersonators? - Sopan Deb for The New York Times

Flu is surging nationwide, with 24 million cases so far - Sabrina Malhi for Washington Post

If tariffs kick in, your online and cross-border shopping could cost more and Thinking of boycotting American goods? You might hurt Canadian workers - Meera Raman for Globe and Mail

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Washington (President Trump needed English translations….of English) and Asma Khalid was there for NPR, give it a listen.

And listen to Abby Kuhathasan for CBC’s Your World Tonight podcast about peace talks between the U.S. and Russia about Ukraine - but without Ukraine or Europe (start at 11:30).

Love this moment where chief presenter for BBC News Sumi Somaskanda shared a screen with BBC colleague Rajini Vaidyanathan and they were directed by Meera Thavasothy!