Austa Somvichian-Clausen

Lead Respect Writer at Changing America by The Hill, City Editor at InsideHook covering Washington, D.C. and New York City. Dynamic freelancer with a deep love of travel, culture, and the environment. Proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.







I'm also a freelance writer and creative consultant living in New York City. My primary beats are social justice, culture, food, and travel, but I've covered everything from the rise of organic marijuana (for National Geographic) to social media slacktivism (for Women's Health in print), and beyond. 


Though I'm currently based in NYC, I've also called Washington, DC and Los Angeles home (and take assignments in both cities). I hold dual U.S. and Icelandic citizenship, so I'm also able to work across Europe without requiring a visa. 


Formerly: Apartment Therapy, National Geographic.


Thrillist •

An Ode to The Affogato, And How To Perfect Your Own at Home

While a slice of tiramisu or a cream-filled cannoli is always a treat, the best Italian summer dessert is unquestionably the affogato. Formed by the simple yet delicious marriage of espresso and gelato or ice cream, the affogato is a perfect pick-me-up on a hot afternoon or after a heavy dinner. It’s also a combination that is delightful yet unsurprising for the Italians, who first brought us gelato during the 16th century. The initial machine for making espresso was also built by an Italian, A
Thrillist •

Vaccine Cards Are The Golden Ticket For Certain Bars and Clubs

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to all American adults, and the proof can be found in the numbers. Currently, nearly 45 percent of U.S. citizens have gotten arm pricks. In New York City, where a significant threshold of more than 70 percent of residents has now been reached, local policies are having bar goers provide proof of vaccination, by flashing either their physical vaccination card or the Excelsior Pass mobile application, in order to be granted entry into private drinking establi
Thrillist •

10 Offbeat Spaces to Get Weird in DC

Contrary to popular belief, Washington, DC, has so much more to offer than just high-powered politics. Despite a straight-laced persona reflected on television shows and traditional news headlines, DC behind the scenes is actually packed with oddities worth seeking out, from funky dive bars and mystery mansions to a spot known as “Capitalsaurus Court.” So, sure, the Smithsonians are always great, and anyone coming into town has to make their way up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, but getting
TheHill •

The New York legislator who passed statewide marriage equality pushes for the Gender Recognition Act

In 2004, when New York Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell (D) was asked to lead the charge on New York’s quest to legalize same-sex marriage, he wasn’t sure if he was the right guy for the job. “That night I went out to dinner with my now-husband at Symposium Restaurant on 113th Street,” says O’Donnell. “I asked what he thought about it and he said he can’t get married! I asked why and he told me it’s because I hadn't asked yet. So, I asked him, and he said yes.” The road to marriage equality was
TheHill •

One year later: how George Floyd's legacy continues to spur change and reform

Today marks one year since the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed at the hands of former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. When the traumatic incident, which was captured by a civilian on their smartphone camera, was released to the world — what followed nobody could have predicted. In the year since Floyd’s murder, the Black Lives Matter movement and a debate surrounding widespread police reform caught fire around the nation, angering and invigorating activists to take to
TheHill •

Kia introduces new electric vehicle that can charge in less than 20 minutes

Car manufacturers are looking to electrify the U.S. marketplace, introducing innovative new electric vehicles (EVs) to their lineups. One of the car industry leaders is the South Korean-headquartered Kia, which is bringing their newest model stateside in 2022. The EV6 is Kia’s first electric SUV without a gas-powered or hybrid counterpart and will be the first vehicle to reflect the car company’s complete shift in brand identity. Kia is dropping the “Motors” in its name and introducing a new lo
TheHill •

Spike in anti-Asian hate could lead to systemic change in schools

This story is from The Hill's Changing America publication. After a year of increasingly severe and frequent attacks against Asian Americans, experts say it will take systemic change to make lasting improvements. A good place to start, they say, is at higher learning institutions. Asian American faculty members are taking steps such as creating educational resources for students and the public, and speaking out about the "model minority" myth that can lead to damaging consequences for Asian
TheHill •

Experts see new roles for artificial intelligence in college admissions process

This story is from The Hill's Changing America publication. The job of a college admissions officer is not an easy one. For any competitive higher learning institution, the admissions process used to hand-pick each incoming student has also come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. To ensure the ongoing success of an institution, admissions officers are tasked with the nearly impossible task of efficiently evaluating thousands of applications each school year, with the expectation that t
InsideHook •

DC’s New “Gift Shop” Is a Stylish Incubator for Black-Owned Brands

Even before studying the arts in college, Gary Williams, Jr. remembers his father always carrying a camera around, taking pictures everywhere he went. His dad was a hobbyist, but Williams wanted to pursue work in a creative field full-time. It’s fitting, then, that after seven years as a government contractor, Williams met his now-business partner Tamon George. Together, they formed what is now Creative Theory Agency — an award-winning marketing firm that focuses on helping companies craft more
Thrillist •

Two Chefs Channel Their Childhood Memories Into The Stop AAPI Dinner Series

Much of the Asian culinary experience begins long before you take your first bite, when you’re summoned by the scent of crackling fish skin or nutty sesame oil. Or while you and your family are sitting at dim sum on a Sunday afternoon, getting quick whiffs of dishes in silver tins as the carts whizz by. But sometimes it’s as simple as a Filet-o-Fish. “As a kid, I ate a lot of McDonald’s. That’s probably why I love the smell,” says James Beard-nominated chef Kevin Tien, who now owns contemporary
TheHill •

The DOJ launches official investigation into Louisville policing practices following the death of Breonna Taylor

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced yesterday that the Department of Justice intends to launch a sweeping investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department. The news arrives on the heels of a guilty verdict handed to former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was found responsible for the death of a Black man, George Floyd. Floyd’s death amongst others, especially men of color, at the hands of police officers inspired the opening of a pattern or practice investigation i
InsideHook •

Three World-Class Road Trips for When You’re Ready to Leave New York

New Yorkers have been largely confined to the indoors for going on 14 months. Now that vaccines are rolling out and temps are rising, it’s time to reconsider — starting with a good old-fashioned American road trip. With an abundance of destinations just a few hours’ drive away, the world — or at least the Eastern Seaboard — is a New Yorker’s oyster. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach weekend, hiking trip or cultural sojourn to a smaller, more walkable city, you can do it all without ev
TheHill •

The U.S. joins forces with Norway, Britain and companies like Amazon to save the world's rainforests

The United States has teamed up with the Norwegian and British governments, as well as companies like Amazon and Nestlé, to launch a project aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the world’s tropical forests. On board so far are well-known companies from Airbnb, Boston Consulting Group to GlaxoSmithKline, McKinsey, Nestlé, Salesforce, Bayer and Unilever. Those nine companies have committed to working with the U.S., Norway and Britain to invest at least $1 billion in the plan
TheHill •

Can carbon offsets make up for the environmental impacts of NFTs?

Earlier this year the art world was taken by storm as nonfungible tokens, or NFTs, made their digital appearance in the marketplace. Anyone who has been following news of these controversial works knows a few things to be true, namely that their creation comes at a high environmental cost, and that they can be sold for sky-high monetary costs. Last month an NFT by the artist Mike Winkelmann, also known as Beeple, sold at a record-breaking $69.3 million, the third-highest price achieved by a livi
InsideHook •

A Five-Course Dinner Series to Stop Anti-Asian Hate Comes to NYC and SF

A poignant 2020 memory for many Asian Americans remains the first time we witnessed then-President Trump call the novel coronavirus the “Chinese virus.” At the time, the World Health Organization was cautioning everyone to avoid using the derogatory and misleading term, among others such as the “kung flu” and the “Wuhan virus.” It was hard to fathom such an offensive term being used by a sitting U.S. President; sadly, it was also completely unsurprising. Fast-forward to the present and we can s
TheHill •

600 manatee deaths in Florida raise concerns over sustainable habitat

This story is from The Hill's Changing America publication. Environmentalists are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of Florida’s waterways after the deaths of more than 600 manatees so far this year, three times the average rate. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) Commission first started raising concerns in December when manatees began dying in the Indian River Lagoon Area, one of the most biodiverse estuaries in the Northern Hemisphere and home to
TheHill •

Black family's beachfront CA property seized during Jim Crow era is being returned — and it's worth millions

California state and Los Angeles County legislators are trying to provide justice for the descendants of a Black couple who owned a beach resort in Manhattan Beach, before the property was torn from them during the Jim Crow era. More than a century ago in 1912, Willa Bruce purchased lots along the beach for $1,225 and ran a popular lodge, cafe and dance hall that provided local Black families a way to enjoy their weekends on the coast during a time of strict racial segregation. The area was ref
InsideHook •

Learn How to Make a Half-Smoke From the Person Who Made Them DC-Famous

When Virginia Ali and her husband Ben first started brainstorming about the dream of opening their own little restaurant, the first thing they had to do was decide what kind. A full-service ordeal was off the table for them, and Virginia says that hamburger places were a dime a dozen: “We thought we could try the old American hot dog.” One of the many elements that has continued to distinguish Ben’s Chili Bowl over the past 60-some-odd years is Ben’s special chili recipe, of course. Virginia sa
TheHill •

The long-awaited legalization of marijuana in New York takes aim at issues of racial equity

This week, New York became the 16th state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, finally overcoming years of stalled attempts. The cannabis legislation was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Wednesday, following a day of intense debate among lawmakers in Albany. Through the new program, millions of dollars of tax revenue from cannabis will be reinvested into minority communities that have continued to be ravaged by the decadeslong war on drugs. The robust program legalizes cannabis for
TheHill •

Everything you should know about the Derek Chauvin trial over George Floyd's death

On the third day of Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, a witness who saw the early moments of George Floyd’s arrest last Memorial Day broke down in tears while on the witness stand. “Oh my god,” Charles B. McMillian said as he wiped tears from his face upon watching the emotional video of Floyd calling for his mother and saying “I can’t breathe.” It has now been 10 months since the death of Floyd, who died in police custody after Chauvin sat with his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Pu
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