Global:

Closed AI
The race to innovate new artificial intelligence (AI) continues to ramp up, but a new market has emerged: private defense and security. While previous iterations were immediately made available to the general public as chatbots, new strides like Anthropic’s Mythos model are being restricted to private use out of concern over their newfound ability to discover and exploit cracks in other sites’ security. AI has already been deployed in physical warfare, and this development could extend its use to cyber attacks and other hacks.

War and a Piece of the Japanese Constitution
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may be trying to revise the country’s constitution to remove Article 9, which prohibits Japan from resorting to military force against other countries. Created by American authorities during the post-World War II occupation, the “pacifist” constitution was intended to prevent Japan from engaging in further warfare. Now, some members of the majority Liberal Democratic Party want to remove Article 9, one of a number of proposed changes to the governing document that Japan’s legislature is considering.

National:

Galaga?
This year’s annual White House Correspondent’s Dinner was interrupted by an armed intruder with plans to assassinate President Donald Trump. Cole Allen, an engineer from Los Angeles, charged past security in an attempt to reach the press gala, which the president was attending. After firing at Allen but missing, Secret Service agents tackled and arrested the perpetrator. Security evacuated top officials as the event disbanded.

Canvas Hackers Triumph
Throughout the first week of May, the crime group ShinyHunters mounted a hacking campaign on the learning management system Canvas. Although Instructure, the company that owns Canvas, initially indicated that the breach was under control, ShinyHunters downed the website for all of its 275 million users on May 7. The URL led only to a ransom message that threatened to release user data without payment. More than 8,000 Canvas clients, including hundreds of American universities and school districts, lost access until Instructure resolved the outage on May 8. Instructure later announced that they agreed to pay ShinyHunters to delete the stolen data.

State:

Jobs Council Gets to Work
On March 16, Governor Greg Abbott launched the Texas Jobs Council to address worker shortages in the state. Brent Taylor, a Teamsters leader, and Megan Mauro, the interim president of the Texas Association of Business, will co-chair the 12-member council. It is made up of union and industry officials and administrators whom Abbott appointed to find ways the state can reduce government regulations that could slow development of the workforce. Abbott, who visited South Texas on a brief speaking tour to promote the advisory board, announced that it was a response to the need for skilled infrastructure workers as business in Texas expands. He specified that the council would pursue training for professions like welding, technician work, and plumbing.

Corpus Christi’s Water Blues
Corpus Christi may be the first Texas city to run out of public water. After seven years of drought, the City of Corpus Christi reports that its reservoirs are diminished to 8% of their full volume, and officials are considering expanding restrictions on home water use, which have been in place since 2023. The port city’s water is strained by the industrial plants who export materials and fuel and consume 60% of municipal water provisions according to KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi.

Local:

Are Our Springs Safe?/The Ideal Spring
A proposed expansion of MoPac Expressway has generated pushback from the environmental group Save Our Springs Alliance (SOS). SOS launched the Better MoPac Coalition to oppose the plan and filed a lawsuit against the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA), which launched the project to ease congestion. The suit challenges CTRMA’s choice to withhold public comments concerning the construction submitted on their website.

Obama Visits Austin
The restaurant Taco Joint now shares one experience with the White House: Barack Obama came, made some people happy, and left. On May 12, former President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the Tex-Mex venue. He accompanied two Democrats running for statewide office in Texas: State Senator James Talarico, a candidate for the Senate seat, and State Representative Gina Hinojosa, running for governor.

Engulfed in Extinction

Nik Bayer, Staff Writer • May 29, 2026

There may be no winners in war, but it seems certain that endangered species are among the losers of the ongoing Iran conflict. On March...

Autonomous Cars Hit the Streets

Phoenix Gerome, Staff Writer • May 29, 2026

Some people fear a future dominated by technology. Others embrace it. Austin is already living it. Major U.S. cities, including Austin, Chicago,...

KUT Fest a Hit Despite Venue Change

Jack Zipfel, Staff Writer • May 29, 2026

A last-minute change of venue didn’t stop the first KUT Festival from attracting hundreds of visitors to hear speakers, music, and discussions...

Commentary

This or That: Which Coast is Best Coast?

Colette Klivans and Elina Sarkar

May 20, 2026

East Coast

From the bustling and history-rich nature of New York and Pennsylvania to the scenic nature of New England and Maryland, the East Coast is one of the country’s most beloved vacation destinations. Even though both the East and West coasts offer unique cultures and attraction, the East Coast stands out to many due to its rich history, vibrant city life and landscapes, and variety.

The East Coast is home to some of the most famous landmarks that define American culture and history. These include iconic sites such as the Statue of Liberty, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell. Along with these landmarks, the East Coast is also complemented with food. Because of the importance of food to America’s history, food exploration is a key part of the East Coast traveling experience. The East Coast has an especially diverse food scene due to its history of immigrants. Beloved foods include New York style pizza, hot dogs, Philly cheesesteaks, New England clam chowder, Maryland crab cakes, and lobster rolls. According to Eater, the east coast’s cuisine exhibits proof of global influences.

Another one of the biggest comparisons people make between the coasts is city culture. On the East Coast, bustling cities like New York are very compact; you can take a subway and explore Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens in just a day, which is more efficient than waiting in hour-long traffic in Los Angeles or San Francisco.

In contrast to the compact cities, the East Coast also offers a wide range of natural landscapes and seasonal variety. Travelers are able to enjoy the East Coast all year long. The East Coast is made up of mild springs, warm summers, beautiful autumns and snowy winters perfectly suited for Christmas. Nature features like the Appalachian Mountains open doors to a variety of outdoor activities like hiking.

Although the West Coast is more known for their relaxed atmosphere and sceneries, the East Coast has a richer blend of history, culture, food, city life, and seasonal experiences. Travelers wanting to find variety and depth in their next vacation would most likely be recommended to travel to the East Coast, which still remains one of the most compelling vacation destinations in America.

West Coast

After Jay Z released “Empire State of Mind,” Katy Perry responded with a love letter to the West Coast with her hit anthem “California Gurls”: an instance of the much larger invasion of West Coast love in pop culture. Even if you are not dreaming of a life on California’s sunny shores or near Oregon’s rushing waterfalls, you can still experience the magic of a West Coast existence.

There has been a long-standing rivalry between the West Coast and the East Coast. A 2013 American Psychological Association study found differences in the personality of those on either coast: the West Coast is “relaxed and creative,” while the East Coast is “temperamental and uninhibited.” The culture for those who live and work in either place also varies. The East Coast is full of historic cities like New York or Boston, whereas the West Coast is ripe with the innovative atmospheres of San Francisco, Silicon Valley, or Los Angeles. Regardless of which living environment seems appealing, the West Coast is undoubtedly the best vacation destination in the U.S.

The West has a diverse natural landscape, reports Earth@home: snowy mountains, arid deserts, sandy beaches.This variation offers an activity for everyone, from if you want to ski or take a trip to the Sierra Nevada mountains. If the beach is more your style, enjoy Santa Monica or Venice Beach. If hiking is your ultimate vacation, visit Redwood or Yosemite national parks. No matter what brings you joy, it is found on the West Coast.

The West Coast also has a unique food culture. It is the birthplace of farm-to-table dining. Time magazine described the exodus of New York chefs moving to L.A., Portland, or San Francisco because of the access to quality ingredients and emphasis on experimentation. The West Coast’s focus on redefining cuisine will certainly make for an interesting culinary experience.

Lastly, the West Coast has an immense impact on film and popular culture. L.A. houses various iconic movie sets, production studios, and music labels. It is also home to countless celebrities, making it influential in style and fashion.

The East Coast may have bustling cities and historic hubs, but nothing beats the vibrant beauty of a West Coast sunset. To enjoy true nature, relaxation, and innovation, hit play on OneRepublic’s “West Coast” and take a trip to the beautiful West.

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