Lauren Giella
National Reporter
Lauren Giella is a Newsweek National reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting on breaking and trending U.S. and international news. She has covered politics, policy, trials, elections and the war in Ukraine. Lauren joined Newsweek in 2021. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California. You can get in touch with Lauren by emailing l.giella@newsweek.com. Languages: English, Italian
Students
Denver high schoolers overcome language barrier to thrive in debate
Ruby Trejo Ontiveros says debate can benefit students in the future by helping them "express what they think without a fight."
Mentors
Denver Teacher Says Debate Breeds Compassion on Controversial Topics
Debate coach Josh Hirsch told Newsweek, "It's so important that somebody who's adamantly pro-choice can at least understand why somebody would be pro-life."
Students
D.C. high school debater turns pandemic burnout into mental heath advocacy
Noemie Durand admits she has had "some stage fright and, I'm not gonna lie, I still have it, but debate has helped me get over that fear to a certain extent."
Students
Texas high schooler wins first speaker award at global debate contest
Sanika Agarwalla said debate not only taught her how to speak but also "how to listen and how to be open to altering my perspectives."
Teams
International policy debate champs say "goal was to not just win" contests
The coach at Potomac Oak, a Maryland learning academy, says success depends on mentorship and sharing "institutional knowledge."
Events
Potomac Oak wins IPPF championship after falling short two years in a row
The Maryland team was named the 22nd International Public Policy Forum world champion, receiving a $10,000 grand prize.
Mentors
Students transform life of debate Coach of the Year who "wasted education"
A student debater changed Dallas teacher Kris Wright's career by telling him that he wasn't exposed to "things that are going to challenge your worldview."
Events
International policy debaters to face expert panel at $10,000 tournament
The 2023 International Public Policy Forum Finals, featuring teams from the U.S., Canada and Singapore, kick off this weekend in New York City.
Students
Washington, D.C., student credits debate with getting her into Harvard
The Washington Urban Debate League programing and development director says Liv Birnstad isn't "the hardest-working person…she is the smartest-working person."
Mentors
Silicon Valley debate league director says kids give "hope for the future"
Despite Silicon Valley's affluent reputation, Rolland Janairo says that "there are thousands of kids…who don't necessarily have access to that wealth."
Debates
Silicon Valley high schooler nearly moves debate judge to tears
The judge said high school senior Erick Zaragoza "doesn't really care that he got the win" and instead focused on helping his opponents do better next time.
America's toxic national discourse and how debate can help
With a live, in-office debate, eight high school students with the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues proved that respectful discourse is possible.
Why Newsweek is working with urban debate leagues to support young debaters
Newsweek will host a live debate event at its New York City headquarters on Friday, April 14.
St. Paul Central High School debaters celebrate unexpected tournament run
The Urban Debate National Championship runners-up focused on their partnership, saying, "We are a team and when we go down, we go down together."
Port of Los Angeles debaters win school's first title in championship final
The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues Championship Tournament ended with a winning team that says it has "a lot more goals to get through."
Urban debate tournament ends with historic final round, scholarship money
An L.A. high school won the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues Championship Tournament in a victory that one student said was "a surreal experience."
Debate championship delays final match as students face canceled flights
After years of pandemic-disrupted debate tournaments, the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues championship still cannot be held entirely in person.
Trump signals he needs the social media he hates
The former president announced Friday that he was "BACK" on Facebook, a platform he called "very BORING and UNINTERESTING" three months earlier.
Bob Fosse's Dancin' comes home to Broadway
The iconic choreographer's singular 1978 show gets its first Broadway revival
Matt Gaetz gets his showdown with ATF
The House Judiciary Committee invited ATF officials to testify on their "controversial" pistol brace rule.
Republicans introduce 6-week abortion ban as DeSantis gets standing ovation
The Republican governor said he is proud to be "pro-life."
DeSantis' policies would re-write history at "dangerous level": Ken Burns
The documentary filmmaker said DeSantis' education bill is a "threat to our republic."
Is it safe to travel to Mexico? Travel advisory explained
The U.S. State Department issued travel advisories for six Mexican states after four Americans were kidnapped in Tamaulipas on Friday.
U.S. sending a key battlefield tool to Ukraine critical to retaking land
The Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge will help carry tanks over rivers and other battlefield obstacles.
Former Watergate prosecutor torches Jim Jordan's whistleblowers: "Nutcases"
Nick Akerman called the witnesses "the fringe of the fringe" of MAGA conspiracy theorists.
Judge Newman praised for "personal" approach with Alex Murdaugh
The judge has been praised for his strict, but humane approach to the high-profile murder trial, even as he sentenced Murdaugh to life in prison.
Full list of Jim Jordan's "whistleblowers" scrutinized in bombshell report
The Democrats' report determined that none of the witnesses are credible and that they failed to provide sufficient evidence beyond conspiracy theories.
Wagner boss could be punished under law he promoted
Yevgeny Prigozhin is asking Russian lawmakers to extend protections to him from a proposed law that would further punish criticism of Russian military efforts.
Wagner's Prigozhin hints at major Bakhmut breakthrough with music video
The video shows Wagner fighters waving a flag and playing instruments on top of a destroyed building in Bakhmut.
Kari Lake warns GOP can't "sit out" culture wars amid "woke" Hershey's ad
The Arizona Republican is calling on Republicans to be "active combatants" in response to a Women's History Month ad featuring a trans woman.
