JACL Condemns Statements Made on Podcast About Possible Chinese American Incarceration

June 28, 2026

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:

Carol Kawase, VP of Public Affairs, ckawase@jacl.org

Matthew Weisbly, JACL National Education Programs Manager - LA Office, mweisbly@jacl.org

Yesterday, JACL was made aware of comments made on the Timcast IRL podcast discussing the possibility of the mass incarceration of Chinese Americans in the event of a hypothetical war with China. The episode featured co-hosts Ian Crossland and Phil Labonte, commentators Chris Karr and Kevin Smith, and included troubling remarks questioning the loyalty of Chinese Americans, comparisons between incarceration camps and ICE detention centers, and references to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

While JACL strongly supports freedom of speech, invoking the incarceration of Japanese Americans to suggest that another ethnic group could or should face similar treatment is both ignorant and dangerous. The U.S. government has formally acknowledged the incarceration of Japanese Americans as a grave injustice, a chapter in our nation’s history that will forever symbolize what can happen when fear and prejudice are allowed to overcome our commitment to constitutional rights and our shared humanity.

Americans must never be afraid to stand against injustice. Today, JACL stands with the congressional leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) in denouncing these statements and challenging those who made them to understand the history they invoke, recognize the harm of their words, and do better.

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The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose ongoing mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote cultural, educational, and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community.