Maryland delegates mock colleague's accent, accuse him of spying for China

Nbcwashington · 🇨🇳 public China · May 16, 2026 · 481 words · By Aimee Cho

National Security Accusations Political conflict Xenophobia and Racism

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What to know about National Security Accusations

An Asian American Maryland state delegate says he felt blindsided and saddened after two of his colleagues posted a video mocking his accent and accusing him of being a Chinese spy.

Claims checked 10

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

An Asian American Maryland state delegate says he felt blindsided and saddened after two of his colleagues posted a video mocking his accent and accusing him of being a Chinese spy.

Why it matters

Maryland delegates Mark Fisher, R-Calvert County, and Brian Chisholm, R-Anne Arundel County, posted a video centered around a bill proposed by Del.

Common ground

Chao Wu, to require more transparency from artificial intelligence developers.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this National Security Accusations story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that It wasn’t until 1943 that it was repealed?
How does this story connect National Security Accusations with Political conflict over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/maryland-delegates-colleague-accent-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 90% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified By Reference 4

check_circle Corroborated 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info Single Source 1

verified

Claim 1: “It wasn’t until 1943 that it was repealed”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and the Office of the Historian confirm the act was repealed in 1943.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Repealed by Chinese Exclusion Repeal Act on December 17, 1943.The law remained in force until the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Repeal Act in 1943, which repealed the exclusion and allowed 105 Chin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Exclusion_Act

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act, 1943. In 1943, Congress passed a measure to repeal the discriminatory exclusion laws against Chinese immigrants and to establish an immigration quota for China of …
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/chinese-exclu…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — An Act To repeal the Chinese Exclusion Acts, to establish quotas, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled…
https://immigrationhistory.org/item/1943-repeal-of-chinese-e…

verified

Claim 2: “for years after that, there was an annual limit of 105 Chinese immigrants to the U.S.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and the Office of the Historian explicitly state that the 1943 repeal established an immigration quota of approximately 105 Chinese immigrants per year.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — FOLLOWING definition: 1. after: 2. The following day, morning, etc. is the next one. 3. a wind that is blowing in the…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/followin…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 5 days ago · The meaning of FOLLOWING is being next in order or time. How to use following in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/following

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Define following. following synonyms, following pronunciation, following translation, English dictionary definition of following. adj. 1. Coming next in time or order: in the following chapter. 2. Now…
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/following

verified

Claim 3: “Del. Chao Wu, to require more transparency from artificial intelligence developers”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While the evidence confirms the existence of the video and the conflict, the provided search results for this specific claim are dictionary definitions of 'delegate' and general bios of Chao Wu; none of the provided evidence explicitly mentions a bill proposed by Wu regarding AI transparency.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Chao Wu (born 1977) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates since 2023, representing District 9A in Howard and Montgomery counties. A member of the Demo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chao_Wu_(politician)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the Maryland General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Maryland. Three delegates are elected from each district, though some di…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_members_of_the…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It consists of 141 delegates elected from 47 districts. The House of Delegates Chamber is in the Ma…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_House_of_Delegates

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “They also played a clip of his voice and mocked his accent.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources report the video contained 'racist stereotypes' and 'mocking' behavior. Specifically, The Banner and GOLDSEA describe the video as using derogatory slurs and engaging in racist stereotypes targeting Wu.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mark Fisher and Del. Brian Chisholm posted a 13-minute video on social media focused on Del. Chao Wu, a Democrat representing parts of Howard and Montgomery counties. Throughout the video, they engage…
https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/ma…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — On April 30, Fisher and Chisholm posted a video to Fisher’s X account titled the “ChiCom of the Year Award” — “ChiCom” being a Vietnam War-era derogatory slur for Chinese communist — in which they acc…
https://goldsea.com/article_details/maryland-lawmakers-post-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mark Fisher and Brian Chisholm posted a video titled the "ChiCom of the Year Award," where they accuse Democratic Delegate Chao Wu of being a Chinese spy. "China knows they can't take us down with tan…
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-delegates-fa…

help

Claim 5: “The video remained posted on Fisher’s social media as of Friday.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided regarding the status of the video on social media as of a specific Friday.

verified

Claim 6: “The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S. for decades.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and the National Archives confirm the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a United States federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Exclusion_Act

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In the spring of 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Chester A. Arthur. This act provided an absolute 10-year ban on Chinese laborers immigrating to the Unit…
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/chinese-exclusi…

travel_explore

help

Claim 7: “The act was condemned by Congress in 2011.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results regarding a 2011 Congressional condemnation of the act.

info

Claim 8: “Fisher and Chisholm responded to News4’s request for comment with more accusations about Wu being a Communist spy, noting things like his time as president of a Chinese student group at the University of Maryland while he was getting his Ph.D.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of search results for the biblical 'Gospel of Mark' and is completely irrelevant to the political figures mentioned. No evidence was provided regarding the response to News4 or the University of Maryland student group.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Gospel of Mark[a] is the second of the four canonical Gospels and one of the three synoptic Gospels. It narrates the ministry of Jesus from his baptism by John the Baptist to his death, the burial…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mark

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — John the Baptist Prepares the Way - The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will pre…
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+1&version=…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Read the Book of Mark online. Scripture chapters verses with full summary, commentary meaning, and concordances for Bible study.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/mark/

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Claim 9: “The two Republican delegates spent 13 minutes accusing Wu, who is originally from China, of being a spy for the Chinese Communist Party”

CORROBORATED

Three independent news sources (Maryland Matters, The Banner, GOLDSEA) explicitly state that Fisher and Chisholm posted a video (approximately 13 minutes long) accusing Chao Wu, a native of China, of being a spy for the Chinese government/CCP.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Maryland House of Delegates election will be held on November 3, 2026 to elect all 141 members of the chamber. This will coincide with the election of all 47 of Maryland's state senators, alo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Maryland_House_of_Delegat…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Brian Alan Chisholm (born November 7, 1970) is an American politician who represents northern Anne Arundel County in the Maryland House of Delegates. A member of the Republican Party, he represented D…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Chisholm_(politician)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mark Nicholas Fisher (born August 3, 1962) is an American politician who represents District 27C in the Maryland House of Delegates, which covers parts of Calvert County. He previously represented Dis…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_N._Fisher

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 10: “Maryland delegates Mark Fisher, R-Calvert County, and Brian Chisholm, R-Anne Arundel County, posted a video centered around a bill proposed by Del. Chao Wu”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent news sources (The Banner, Maryland Matters, GOLDSEA) confirm that Delegates Mark Fisher and Brian Chisholm posted a video targeting Delegate Chao Wu.

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.