Graphic by Rory Moon Editor’s note: This article references gun violence and death. A shift in political power accompanied by a global pandemic drove our culture to be chronically online in 2020. We needed the internet to communicate, work and access education. The beginning of this era was marked by waves of activism, seeing a surge in the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter protests which impacted policy and popular discussions. Nearly five years later, my social media feed see

Photo Illustration by Alex Manuel We have the privilege of the majority of grocery stores having aisles dedicated to international cuisines in modern times. In a metropolitan area such as Raleigh, there is vast diversity in the kinds of restaurants that are available and are a short drive away. Despite this access, there still exists a general aversion to foods that don’t fit the American vision of a ‘good dish.’ This can be extremely harmful: Avoiding these cultural foods do

Photo Illustration by Alex Manuel Editor’s note: This article contains reference to disordered eating. As a picky eater, I know the reasons people choose to eat from a known palate aren’t always straightforward. I’ve seen the way a hesitancy to try new things has hurt those who have worked to prepare a home-cooked meal, and I get it. Different cultures normalize different ingredients and the community around a meal can be much more meaningful than picking up a snack between c

Graphic by Dane Hunter Many Spotify Wrapped reports from 2025, which estimated a listener’s age based on their music taste, pegged people as much older than they actually were. But when looking at the top charting hits last year, you can’t blame us for turning to the classics. Viral TikTok soundbytes seem to have destroyed most artist’s motivations for creating songs with any staying power. However, the eight nominees in each of the “ Big Four ” categories for the 2026 Gramm