Nikoel Hytrek is Iowa Starting Line’s longest-serving reporter. She covers LGBTQ issues, abortion rights and all topics of interest to Iowans. Her biggest goal is to help connect the dots between policy and people’s real lives. If you have story ideas or tips, send them over to nikoel@new.iowastartingline.com.
Nikoel Hytrek
Latest from Nikoel Hytrek
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How Indiana’s Voter Suppression Inform Buttigieg’s Voting Rights Plan
Free elections hold democracy together. But when some people can’t access the vote, or the integrity of the election is under question, Americans’ faith in democracy takes a hit. In the wake of well-documented Russian interference in the 2016 election, and now with the news of President Trump’s politically-motivated conversation with the president of Ukraine,…
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Buttigieg: Upcoming Legal Issues Require New Kinds of Judges
On the stump, Mayor Pete Buttigieg frequently mentions how he owes his marriage to a single vote on the Supreme Court. He’s not alone. For many Americans, decisions made by the Supreme Court have profound impacts on their personal lives. But, increasingly, people have lost confidence that the Supreme Court, or any federal courts, will…
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For Pete Buttigieg, A Campaign Built On Honesty
Of the many voters Starting Line has spoken to about Pete Buttigieg around Iowa, the common sentiment they all share is that they believe he’s trustworthy. In his own words, Buttigieg said he wanted to demonstrate his commitment to openness and authenticity. So, from this past Saturday to Tuesday, the South Bend mayor held a…
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Kamala Harris Earns Hours Of Enthusiasm At Steak Fry
The day started early for Kamala Harris and her team. At the Water Works grounds for the Polk County Steak Fry, most of her supporters said they showed up at 6:30 in the morning to form a block of chanting and cheering. Harris’ campaign bought two spots near the event’s entrance. It was along one…
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Climate Strike Lights Fire in Des Moines, Around the World
Worldwide, people are leaving school and their workplaces to stand up for the planet. Again. The Climate Strike, a mass protest about inaction on climate change, unfolded across the world on Friday. In Des Moines, students and supporters began gathering at 10 a.m. Another climate strike will take place in Ames from 2-5 p.m. Students,…
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Stacey Abrams Brings Fight For Fair Elections To Iowa
Protecting the right to vote in next year’s presidential election is key to maintaining American democracy, and already groups are recognizing that and mobilizing. Fair Fight 2020, founded by Stacey Abrams, who rose to national prominence during her 2018 run for governor of Georgia, has a plan to secure the integrity of our nation’s elections.…
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Rita Hart Endorsed By Anti-Corruption Group
Rita Hart earned a new endorsement from End Citizens United, which announced its support for her on Thursday. Hart, a farmer from Clinton County, is running for Congress in Iowa’s Second Congressional District after serving in the Iowa State Senate from 2013 to 2018. “Rita Hart is a dedicated public servant and knows the needs…
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Warren’s Anti-Corruption Proposal Targets Judicial Misconduct
In her anti-corruption plan rolled out Monday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren takes aim at the underbelly of the federal government’s top institutions and the behind-the-scenes ways they often work. Broadly, her goal is to identify, document and eliminate conflicts of interest clouding leaders’ decision-making, and strengthen punishments for those who break the rules. “The goal of…
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How An Impeachment Of Brett Kavanaugh Would Work
The conversation about impeaching Brett Kavanaugh started shortly after his appointment, and in the wake of new reports about sexual assault accusations, it’s flared up again. At least six 2020 presidential candidates have specifically called for Kavanaugh’s impeachment or impeachment investigations since the New York Times story broke, bringing to light previously unreported allegations of…
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2020 Candidates Weigh In On Church and State
While there are strong protections for religious freedom in America, arguments about how religious freedom mixes with legislation has been a contentious topic for as long as the country has existed. When candidates make it to office, striking a balance between the two is a must, and an issue that has Constitutional connections. After all,…
