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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 [email protected]

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Latest from Mariel Padilla

New study finds 1 in 3 U.S. mothers don’t plan to vaccinate their children

This hesitancy is most common among White Republican-leaning mothers — with more than half planning to opt out when a coronavirus vaccine is available for children.

Mariel Padilla · March 31, 2021
The 19th Explains: What are hate crimes and how are they counted?

Most experts agree that U.S. hate crimes are vastly undercounted, and the country’s accounting of these crimes remains deeply flawed.

Mariel Padilla · March 27, 2021
Following women’s basketball backlash, NCAA vows to examine ‘longstanding issues’ of gender equity in sports

“We have taken the crumbs from the table we don’t even have a seat at, and we didn’t complain,” a former women’s basketball coach said.

Mariel Padilla · March 23, 2021
New York City moves to drop nearly 1,500 prosecutions related to sex work

The move comes as Mayor Bill de Blasio proposes the decriminalization of sex work, which largely affects communities of color.

Mariel Padilla · March 17, 2021
‘I thought I was going to have a heart attack’: Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida recalls the Capitol riot

The 19th collected first-hand accounts of January 6 from nearly two dozen women in Congress.

Mariel Padilla · March 16, 2021
‘This will go down in history as a really black mark’: Rep. Lois Frankel of Florida recalls the Capitol riot

The 19th collected first-hand accounts of January 6 from nearly two dozen women in Congress.

Mariel Padilla · March 16, 2021
‘We didn’t know if we would encounter a mob’: Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey recalls the Capitol riot

The 19th collected first-hand accounts of January 6 from nearly two dozen women in Congress.

Mariel Padilla · March 16, 2021
‘I felt horror, absolute horror’: Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York recalls the Capitol riot

The 19th collected first-hand accounts of January 6 from nearly two dozen women in Congress.

Mariel Padilla · March 16, 2021
‘Where is our line of defense?’: Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas recalls the Capitol riot

The 19th collected first-hand accounts of January 6 from nearly two dozen women in Congress.

Mariel Padilla · March 16, 2021
‘Truly a network of domestic terrorists’: Rep. Marie Newman of Illinois recalls the Capitol riot

The 19th collected first-hand accounts of January 6 from nearly two dozen women in Congress.

Mariel Padilla · March 16, 2021

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