stephen fowler
@stphnfwlr.com
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
newsletter: stphnfwlr.substack.com
stories: https://www.npr.org/people/1219684807/stephen-fowler
Happy 2 years at @npr.org to me!
Since then, I've taken reporting trips to 15 different states, woken up at 4:30 a.m. to record Up First nearly three dozen times and gained several new gray/white hairs covering politics.
Here's to many, many more!
(pic from my first day, when I had more energy)
Since then, I've taken reporting trips to 15 different states, woken up at 4:30 a.m. to record Up First nearly three dozen times and gained several new gray/white hairs covering politics.
Here's to many, many more!
(pic from my first day, when I had more energy)
January 6, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Happy 2 years at @npr.org to me!
Since then, I've taken reporting trips to 15 different states, woken up at 4:30 a.m. to record Up First nearly three dozen times and gained several new gray/white hairs covering politics.
Here's to many, many more!
(pic from my first day, when I had more energy)
Since then, I've taken reporting trips to 15 different states, woken up at 4:30 a.m. to record Up First nearly three dozen times and gained several new gray/white hairs covering politics.
Here's to many, many more!
(pic from my first day, when I had more energy)
A very cool and smart and handsome-looking NPR reporter emailed me today with a similar reminder to support @npr.org and your local NPR member station, too!
December 31, 2025 at 6:22 PM
A very cool and smart and handsome-looking NPR reporter emailed me today with a similar reminder to support @npr.org and your local NPR member station, too!
Also, for some reason, this one is no longer in the Epstein files release:
December 20, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Also, for some reason, this one is no longer in the Epstein files release:
Won a coveted/rare/new Nina TotenBag last night at NPR’s holiday party by winning a music trivia game(!)
December 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Won a coveted/rare/new Nina TotenBag last night at NPR’s holiday party by winning a music trivia game(!)
👀 Democrats appear to have flipped a state House special election in Georgia where the Republican earned ~61% / Trump earned ~55% in November.
A small portion of liberal powerhouse Athens showing up helped, but every precinct shifted to the left relative to 2024. #gapol
A small portion of liberal powerhouse Athens showing up helped, but every precinct shifted to the left relative to 2024. #gapol
December 10, 2025 at 2:26 AM
👀 Democrats appear to have flipped a state House special election in Georgia where the Republican earned ~61% / Trump earned ~55% in November.
A small portion of liberal powerhouse Athens showing up helped, but every precinct shifted to the left relative to 2024. #gapol
A small portion of liberal powerhouse Athens showing up helped, but every precinct shifted to the left relative to 2024. #gapol
Important to note - it’s going to come down to turnout, and the candidate with the most votes is going to win.
(That said, barring a D flip or a minimal D overperformance, both parties can claim a victory of sorts with a straight face)
(That said, barring a D flip or a minimal D overperformance, both parties can claim a victory of sorts with a straight face)
November 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Important to note - it’s going to come down to turnout, and the candidate with the most votes is going to win.
(That said, barring a D flip or a minimal D overperformance, both parties can claim a victory of sorts with a straight face)
(That said, barring a D flip or a minimal D overperformance, both parties can claim a victory of sorts with a straight face)
In the latest poll, Democrats lead Republicans 55%-41% when people were asked who they would vote for in their district if the election for Congress were held today.
It's the largest Democratic advantage in the Marist poll since November 2017.
It's the largest Democratic advantage in the Marist poll since November 2017.
November 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM
In the latest poll, Democrats lead Republicans 55%-41% when people were asked who they would vote for in their district if the election for Congress were held today.
It's the largest Democratic advantage in the Marist poll since November 2017.
It's the largest Democratic advantage in the Marist poll since November 2017.
Ok, pictured are the gummy clusters.
November 19, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Ok, pictured are the gummy clusters.
A few weeks ago I turned 32 and spent it in a way that somehow made sense for me: making wild gestures during a panel for NPR donors about my government restructuring reporting, dealing with airport chaos and (not pictured) nerds gummy clusters
November 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
A few weeks ago I turned 32 and spent it in a way that somehow made sense for me: making wild gestures during a panel for NPR donors about my government restructuring reporting, dealing with airport chaos and (not pictured) nerds gummy clusters
Trump says he is "withdrawing my support and Endorsement" of Marjorie Taylor Greene after she has made several high-profile breaks with the current state of the GOP on things like Epstein files, the government shutdown and foreign policy -- and received positive attention from it.
November 15, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Trump says he is "withdrawing my support and Endorsement" of Marjorie Taylor Greene after she has made several high-profile breaks with the current state of the GOP on things like Epstein files, the government shutdown and foreign policy -- and received positive attention from it.
Read the three Epstein email threads released today, which includes a message to Ghislane Maxwell that called Trump the "dog that hasn't barked" and says Trump spent "hours at my house" with one of the alleged sex trafficking victims.
www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...
www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...
November 12, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Read the three Epstein email threads released today, which includes a message to Ghislane Maxwell that called Trump the "dog that hasn't barked" and says Trump spent "hours at my house" with one of the alleged sex trafficking victims.
www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...
www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...
It only takes a few seconds of listening to get a sense of who's considered the target audience — and the target of their ire.
"Patriots, Gaytriots, Theytriots, Blacktriots, Browntriots and to all the crusty motherf****** that don't support them, you can f*** off," one recent episode began.
"Patriots, Gaytriots, Theytriots, Blacktriots, Browntriots and to all the crusty motherf****** that don't support them, you can f*** off," one recent episode began.
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
It only takes a few seconds of listening to get a sense of who's considered the target audience — and the target of their ire.
"Patriots, Gaytriots, Theytriots, Blacktriots, Browntriots and to all the crusty motherf****** that don't support them, you can f*** off," one recent episode began.
"Patriots, Gaytriots, Theytriots, Blacktriots, Browntriots and to all the crusty motherf****** that don't support them, you can f*** off," one recent episode began.
FREEDOM*
*from the terminal
*from the terminal
November 9, 2025 at 1:56 AM
FREEDOM*
*from the terminal
*from the terminal
In case you thought I was joking!
November 8, 2025 at 9:51 PM
In case you thought I was joking!
>wait until last possible minute to head to airport in case flight is delayed
>60 seconds after I leave, flight is delayed 2 hours
>waited too long to try alternate airports or flights
at least I get to explore parts of DCA I’ve never seen!
>60 seconds after I leave, flight is delayed 2 hours
>waited too long to try alternate airports or flights
at least I get to explore parts of DCA I’ve never seen!
November 8, 2025 at 8:18 PM
>wait until last possible minute to head to airport in case flight is delayed
>60 seconds after I leave, flight is delayed 2 hours
>waited too long to try alternate airports or flights
at least I get to explore parts of DCA I’ve never seen!
>60 seconds after I leave, flight is delayed 2 hours
>waited too long to try alternate airports or flights
at least I get to explore parts of DCA I’ve never seen!
This is 32.
(featuring a straight-from-the-airport NPR Politics Podcast taping, a last-minute All Things Considered segment on SNAP benefits and fancy mirror selfies before attending an NPR donor weekend dinner)
(featuring a straight-from-the-airport NPR Politics Podcast taping, a last-minute All Things Considered segment on SNAP benefits and fancy mirror selfies before attending an NPR donor weekend dinner)
November 8, 2025 at 1:52 AM
This is 32.
(featuring a straight-from-the-airport NPR Politics Podcast taping, a last-minute All Things Considered segment on SNAP benefits and fancy mirror selfies before attending an NPR donor weekend dinner)
(featuring a straight-from-the-airport NPR Politics Podcast taping, a last-minute All Things Considered segment on SNAP benefits and fancy mirror selfies before attending an NPR donor weekend dinner)
With nearly all the votes in, the 👀👀👀 60-40 margin is holding for Democrats in Georgia thanks to things like a notable flip of suburban Fayette County and Saddam-like numbers in ATL core counties of Fulton/DeKalb/Clayton.
November 5, 2025 at 3:23 AM
With nearly all the votes in, the 👀👀👀 60-40 margin is holding for Democrats in Georgia thanks to things like a notable flip of suburban Fayette County and Saddam-like numbers in ATL core counties of Fulton/DeKalb/Clayton.
Georgia: With most of the early vote tallied, the margin for the two Democrats that appear set to flip statewide Public Service Commission is (for now) about 20 points.
Even with final margin TBD + caveats about the unusual electorate situation, it's a strong sign for Ds.
Even with final margin TBD + caveats about the unusual electorate situation, it's a strong sign for Ds.
November 5, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Georgia: With most of the early vote tallied, the margin for the two Democrats that appear set to flip statewide Public Service Commission is (for now) about 20 points.
Even with final margin TBD + caveats about the unusual electorate situation, it's a strong sign for Ds.
Even with final margin TBD + caveats about the unusual electorate situation, it's a strong sign for Ds.
Another 👀 election - Early voting data points to a possibility that Democrats could flip Public Service Commission seats in Georgia.
Two statewide races in an otherwise local/municipal cycle, with Fulton+DeKalb accounting for ~26% of EV + Black voter share ~34%, *notably* up from 20/21/24.
Two statewide races in an otherwise local/municipal cycle, with Fulton+DeKalb accounting for ~26% of EV + Black voter share ~34%, *notably* up from 20/21/24.
November 4, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Another 👀 election - Early voting data points to a possibility that Democrats could flip Public Service Commission seats in Georgia.
Two statewide races in an otherwise local/municipal cycle, with Fulton+DeKalb accounting for ~26% of EV + Black voter share ~34%, *notably* up from 20/21/24.
Two statewide races in an otherwise local/municipal cycle, with Fulton+DeKalb accounting for ~26% of EV + Black voter share ~34%, *notably* up from 20/21/24.
When in Wisconsin, your Friday off comes with fresh walleye and Spotted Cow!
October 31, 2025 at 7:21 PM
When in Wisconsin, your Friday off comes with fresh walleye and Spotted Cow!
In court filings late Friday, the government says about 4,200 people across seven agencies would be receiving RIF notices today, primarily in HHS and Treasury.
October 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
In court filings late Friday, the government says about 4,200 people across seven agencies would be receiving RIF notices today, primarily in HHS and Treasury.
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...
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...
October 1, 2025 at 4:40 PM
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...
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...
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...
More on the partisan messaging strategy pushed by the Trump administration:
www.npr.org/2025/09/30/n...
October 1, 2025 at 1:42 PM
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...
More on the partisan messaging strategy pushed by the Trump administration:
www.npr.org/2025/09/30/n...
With this GA State Senate special election runoff early vote mostly in, it appears that Debra Shigley will turn in another Democratic overperformance in the ~67% Trump district. #gapol
September 23, 2025 at 11:55 PM
With this GA State Senate special election runoff early vote mostly in, it appears that Debra Shigley will turn in another Democratic overperformance in the ~67% Trump district. #gapol