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Articles by

Mariel Padilla

General Assignment Reporter (She/Her)

Hi there, I’m Mariel Padilla. I’m a general assignment reporter at The 19th, where I’ve been since July 2020, just before the organization launched. I’ve written about all kinds of things, from the nursing shortage to child marriage laws to family-building concerns within the military community. I love falling down history rabbit holes, making spreadsheets and writing long explainers that nobody asked for (but people usually show interest in).

Previously, I was a breaking news reporter at The New York Times where I contributed to COVID-19 coverage that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize, created a database of Philippine drug war victims at the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism and contributed to a 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning project at The Cincinnati Enquirer. Despite this, my mom is most proud that I was once featured in a Jeopardy question.

I currently live in Indianapolis. When I’m not staring at a screen, you might find me playing violin in a local orchestra, singing in a choir or playing with my ever-growing number of nieces and nephews.

My work is free to consume and free to republish because of contributions from readers like you. A donation of $19 goes a long way toward sustaining our nonprofit newsroom.

Contact mpadilla@19thnews.org

Latest from Mariel Padilla

Amy Coney Barrett becomes the youngest woman to be a Supreme Court Justice

Here’s what that means for everything from abortion access to LGBTQ+ rights.

Mariel Padilla · October 26, 2020
The 19th Explains: The spread of conspiracies and disinformation by women on social media

“The QAnon stuff infiltrated Instagram and seeped into the suburban consciousness of American women to a certain extent, and they bought into it,” according to experts.

Mariel Padilla · October 19, 2020
‘Will you please like me?’: Trump pleads with suburban women

The president wants to speak to White suburban women, who were a key voting bloc for Trump in 2016 and are now having second thoughts about supporting him.

Mariel Padilla · October 14, 2020
How to watch the vice presidential debate between Pence and Harris

Everything viewers should know about the debate — likely to be the most viewed and most consequential vice presidential debate in history.

Mariel Padilla · October 6, 2020
How to watch the presidential debate between Trump and Biden

The debate will begin at 9 p.m. ET on September 29 and run for 90 minutes.

Mariel Padilla · September 28, 2020
The Biden campaign sees an opportunity in military women, spouses and people of color

With Trump’s popularity declining among active-duty service members, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden looks to win part of that voting bloc.

Mariel Padilla · September 25, 2020
A whistleblower complaint alleging ‘high rate’ of hysterectomies in ICE detention centers parallels grim U.S. history

The allegations call to mind a history of sterilization laws in the United States dating back to the early 1900s that usually targeted the poor, disabled and women of color.

Mariel Padilla · September 16, 2020
Energized by Kamala Harris, South Asian voters may head to the polls in larger numbers

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial ethnic group in the electorate, and Indian Americans are the second-largest immigrant group in the country.

Mariel Padilla · September 3, 2020
Republican National Convention: How to watch

The 2020 Republican National Convention begins on August 24. Here’s how you can tune in to the four-day event.

Mariel Padilla · August 24, 2020
DNC largely ignores suffrage centennial

Tuesday marked the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, but the milestone was not on the convention’s agenda.

Mariel Padilla · August 19, 2020

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Articles by

Mariel Padilla

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