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stephen fowler

@stphnfwlr.com

12K followers 250 following 610 posts

political reporter in ATL covering the south + future of GOP/Dem parties + ??? for @npr.org | always thinking of bourbon, biscuits and buc-ee’s newsletter: stphnfwlr.substack.com stories: https://www.npr.org/people/1219684807/stephen-fowler

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stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 23d

NPR is tracking the record number of Congressional lawmakers who have announced they do not plan to run for reelection to their current seats in 2026.

That number currently stands at 10 senators and 27 House members.

A record number of Congressional lawmakers aren't running for reelection in 2026. Here's the list

NPR is tracking the record number of lawmakers in Congress who have already announced they don't plan to run for reelection ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Reposted by stephen fowler

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 20h

New @npr.org

President Trump is floating the possibility that some of the roughly 600,000 furloughed federal workers could be denied back pay once the government reopens, despite a 2019 law intended to ensure federal employees are compensated after a shutdown.

w/@cgrisales.bsky.social

White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law

A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 17h

The memo's legal argument contradicts guidance issued by the Office of Personnel Management and the wording of a 2019 law signed by President Trump during his first term that explicitly guarantees federal workers "shall be paid" when a shutdown ends, whether they were furloughed or continued working

White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law

A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.

Reposted by stephen fowler

NPR @npr.org · 18h

A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.

White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law

A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 19h

A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.

White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law

A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 19h

The fight over federal worker pay is the latest salvo in the Trump administration's efforts to force Democrats to vote for a clean continuing resolution and drop their demands to extend health care subsidies for millions of Americans.

White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law

A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 19h

Speaking in the oval office on Tuesday, Trump appeared to publicly back a draft White House memo that includes an argument for denying workers pay.

White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law

A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 20h

New @npr.org

President Trump is floating the possibility that some of the roughly 600,000 furloughed federal workers could be denied back pay once the government reopens, despite a 2019 law intended to ensure federal employees are compensated after a shutdown.

w/@cgrisales.bsky.social

White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law

A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.

Reposted by stephen fowler

WUNC News @wunc.org · 1d

Can Republicans give themselves an extra Congressional seat in North Carolina without running the risk of making a safe GOP seat more competitive for Democrats?

www.wunc.org/politics/202...

Draft maps show possibilities for more gerrymandering in NC

Can Republicans give themselves an extra Congressional seat in North Carolina without running the risk of making a safe GOP seat more competitive for Democrats?

Reposted by stephen fowler

Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 1d

Democrat Amy McGrath, who has lost two high-profile races for Congress, announced a bid for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s open seat Monday. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...

Amy McGrath announces another bid for US Senate in Kentucky

Democrat Amy McGrath, who has lost two high-profile races for Congress, announced a bid for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s open seat Monday.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 1d

With Rep. Wesley Hunt's entry into the #TXSEN race, we're now at a record 30 House Reps + 10 Senators not running for reelection to their current seats in 2026.

30 Rs
10 Ds

15 retiring
13 running for governor
11 for Senate
1 for state AG

More on the NPR retirement tracker:

A record number of congressional lawmakers aren't running for reelection in 2026. Here's the list

NPR is tracking the record number of lawmakers in Congress who have already announced they don't plan to run for reelection ahead of the 2026 midterms.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 1d

CBS' parent company is buying The Free Press and installing Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News.

www.npr.org/2025/10/06/n...

Bari Weiss joins CBS with a mandate for 'balanced and fact-based' news

CBS' parent company is buying The Free Press and installing Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News.

Reposted by stephen fowler

NPR @npr.org · 3d

South Dakota Public Broadcasting says there's an ironic result to President Trump's successful attack on public media: It will have to rely more on NPR programs.

A public broadcaster's path after losing U.S. funds: Youth sports and less local news

South Dakota Public Broadcasting says there's an ironic result to President Trump's successful attack on public media: It will have to rely more on NPR programs.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 3d

The White House is using the government shutdown to push aggressive plans to further cut the federal workforce and control spending

But so far, it’s just threats.

What to know about the threats to fire federal workers amid the government shutdown

The White House is using the government shutdown to push aggressive plans to further cut the federal workforce and control spending.

Reposted by stephen fowler

Dave Weigel @daveweigel.bsky.social · 4d

DEMOCRATS: How can we make Russ Vought infamous? He's a fairly obscure bureaucrat unless you live in the beltway. People can't even pronounce his name right.

TRUMP: Check out this epic bacon meme about my supervillain friend Russ Vought spelled V-O-U-G-H-T

Reposted by stephen fowler

NPR @npr.org · 5d

It's Obamacare health insurance prices — and how much help 24 million Americans will get with their premiums — that are in dispute.

What's behind the health care fight that led to the government shutdown

It's Obamacare health insurance prices — and how much help 24 million Americans will get with their premiums — that are in dispute.

Reposted by stephen fowler

NPR @npr.org · 7d

Eight months after the Department of Government Efficiency effort to shrink the federal workforce began, some agencies are hiring workers back – and spending more money than before.

Federal agencies are rehiring workers and spending more after DOGE's push to cut

Eight months after the Department of Government Efficiency effort to shrink the federal workforce began, some agencies are hiring workers back – and spending more money than before.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 6d

The Office of Personnel Management estimates the federal government could see about 1 in 8 civilian workers gone by the end of the year.

But hundreds of employees whose jobs had been cut or who had taken the "Fork" deferred resignation deal are now being offered their jobs back.

Federal agencies are rehiring workers and spending more after DOGE's push to cut

Eight months after the Department of Government Efficiency effort to shrink the federal workforce began, some agencies are hiring workers back — and spending more money than before.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 6d

SCOOP: NPR actually reported the SBA email first! 👀

And we've got an extensive list of agency emails/responses from yesterday and today, thanks to tips from federal workers sharing shutdown plans and messaging.

You can keep sending those tips on Signal: stphnfwlr.25

www.npr.org/2025/09/30/n...

Reposted by stephen fowler

Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 6d

UPDATE:

At the Small Business Administration, employees were given "suggested" language for OOO email replies: blaming Senate Democrats for the shutdown and praising the "record-breaking services we are providing under the leadership of the Trump administration":

www.npr.org/2025/09/30/n...

Trump administration uses taxpayer dollars to blame Democrats for government shutdown

Federal employees across the government reported seeing similar messages. Experts say the messages may violate ethics laws meant to keep partisan politics out of day-to-day governing.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 6d

Employees at the Small Business Administration were provided "suggested" out of office replies Wednesday that would say in part

"I am out of office for the foreseeable future because Senate Democrats voted to block a clean federal funding bill (H.R.5371) leading to a government shutdown."

Trump administration uses taxpayer dollars to blame Democrats for government shutdown

Federal employees across the government reported seeing similar messages. Experts say the messages may violate ethics laws meant to keep partisan politics out of day-to-day governing.

Reposted by stephen fowler

NPR @npr.org · 6d

Today marks the first day in public media’s history without federal funding. And we’re not going anywhere.

Listeners like you keep our mission alive. Protect one of the last places where America comes together to hear itself.

Stand with us today. Donate at this link: n.pr/46wamAj

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 6d

The ad-hoc DOGE initiative's controversial and often haphazard insertion into the federal government is now further complicated by a government shutdown that began Wednesday.

Federal agencies are rehiring workers and spending more after DOGE's push to cut

Eight months after the Department of Government Efficiency effort to shrink the federal workforce began, some agencies are hiring workers back — and spending more money than before.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 6d

The Justice Department website now has a banner that blames Democrats for the government shutdown.

More on the partisan messaging strategy pushed by the Trump administration:

www.npr.org/2025/09/30/n...

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 7d

The White House declined to answer NPR's questions about rehiring workers, increasing federal spending and DOGE data errors.

Federal agencies are rehiring workers and spending more after DOGE's push to cut

Eight months after the Department of Government Efficiency effort to shrink the federal workforce began, some agencies are hiring workers back – and spending more money than before.

stephen fowler @stphnfwlr.com · 7d

When it first launched this year, NPR found DOGE's savings and efficiency tracker to be riddled with factual errors, overstatements and unverifiable claims.

As a new fiscal year begins, that remains true today.

Federal agencies are rehiring workers and spending more after DOGE's push to cut

Eight months after the Department of Government Efficiency effort to shrink the federal workforce began, some agencies are hiring workers back – and spending more money than before.