Bente Birkeland
Bente Birkeland has covered Colorado politics and government since spring of 2006. She loves the variety and challenge of the state capitol beat and talking to people from all walks of life. Bente's work has aired on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, American PublicMedia'sMarketplace, and she was a contributor for WNYC's The Next Big Thing. She has won numerous local and national awards, including best beat reporting from the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. Bente grew up in Minnesota and England, and loves skiing, hiking, and is an aspiring cello player. She lives in Lakewood with her husband.
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The Colorado Supreme Court has barred former President Trump from the state's primary ballot, citing a Constitution clause that disqualifies candidates from office who've engaged in insurrection.
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Some state Republican parties — like Colorado's — are struggling after steep election losses, and are witnessing infighting that has left deep divisions when it comes to the future of the GOP. -
Abortion access has declined dramatically nationwide, but many states have further protected abortion by enacting "shield laws," allocating funding, stockpiling medication and repealing old laws. -
In 2023, a record number of states have passed rules or legislation to eliminate youth gender-affirming care, but a record number of states have also moved to protect care for trans youth and adults. -
If Dominion prevails in its massive defamation suit against Fox News, a big challenge for the voting tech company will be to demonstrate that it deserves more than $1 billion in damages. -
Hundreds of school kids marched on Colorado's capitol twice in the wake of two school shootings. Now, after Nashville, three gun control bills on the cusp of passing are being hotly debated.
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Even though it wasn't a swing state in 2020, Colorado has been at the forefront of false claims that the election was stolen. -
Colorado's new congressional district was drawn to be highly competitive. Its election pits a Latina Democrat against a Republican who became a politician to fight environmental injustice.
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In Colorado, canvassers have been knocking on doors in some communities to determine whether people actually voted. The effort is raising concerns about voter intimidation. -
People who falsely believe the 2020 election was stolen are knocking on doors around the country to determine whether people actually voted. The effort is raising concerns about voter intimidation.
