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
Reposted by stephen fowler
Super Bowl viewers Sunday speculated that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos appeared in the halftime show. In fact, he has been in hiding with his family.
“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
‘He’s not the same’: Father of Liam Conejo Ramos says 5-year-old continues to suffer
Some people thought they say the 5-year-old during the Super Bowl halftime show. But Liam is still in hiding with his family, after he and his father were detained and then released from a Texas deten...
www.mprnews.org
February 10, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Super Bowl viewers Sunday speculated that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos appeared in the halftime show. In fact, he has been in hiding with his family.
“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
Today’s @npr.org Politics Podcast is a first look at this year’s election landscape, including the first-ever “Midterms What To Watch Draft” of key states/ideas some of us are following.
Spoiler alert: my number one *isn’t actually Georgia.*
Spoiler alert: my number one *isn’t actually Georgia.*
The midterm map is beginning to take shape
open.spotify.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Today’s @npr.org Politics Podcast is a first look at this year’s election landscape, including the first-ever “Midterms What To Watch Draft” of key states/ideas some of us are following.
Spoiler alert: my number one *isn’t actually Georgia.*
Spoiler alert: my number one *isn’t actually Georgia.*
Reposted by stephen fowler
Their lawyers fear the notices are merely the first step toward the removal without due process of Somali asylum applicants in the country. n.pr/4alaz9X
Immigration courts fast-track hearings for Somali asylum claims
Their lawyers fear the notices are merely the first step toward the removal without due process of Somali asylum applicants in the country.
n.pr
February 9, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Their lawyers fear the notices are merely the first step toward the removal without due process of Somali asylum applicants in the country. n.pr/4alaz9X
Please take a media literacy moment and stop posting that the young boy in the Super Bowl halftime show was Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old who was detained by ICE.
It was a child actor, who posted about it on social media.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUhUaQp...
It was a child actor, who posted about it on social media.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUhUaQp...
the_lincfox on Instagram: "I’ll remember this day forever! @badbunnypr - it was my truest honor 🐰🏆🏈#youngbadbunny #littlebadbunny #superbowlhalftimeshow #s…"
I’ll remember this day forever! @badbunnypr - it was my truest honor 🐰🏆🏈#youngbadbunny #littlebadbunny #superbowlhalftimeshow #superbowllx #benitobowl
www.instagram.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Please take a media literacy moment and stop posting that the young boy in the Super Bowl halftime show was Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old who was detained by ICE.
It was a child actor, who posted about it on social media.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUhUaQp...
It was a child actor, who posted about it on social media.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUhUaQp...
More than 10% of Congress won't return to their seats after the 2026 midterms, driven by redistricting, retirements and lawmakers running for different offices.
(Fun fact: from the time I filmed this to when it was posted less than 48 hours later, two more lawmakers said they’re leaving)
(Fun fact: from the time I filmed this to when it was posted less than 48 hours later, two more lawmakers said they’re leaving)
More than 10% of Congress won't return to their seats after the 2026 midterms
YouTube video by NPR
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:51 PM
More than 10% of Congress won't return to their seats after the 2026 midterms, driven by redistricting, retirements and lawmakers running for different offices.
(Fun fact: from the time I filmed this to when it was posted less than 48 hours later, two more lawmakers said they’re leaving)
(Fun fact: from the time I filmed this to when it was posted less than 48 hours later, two more lawmakers said they’re leaving)
Reposted by stephen fowler
EXCLUSIVE @npr.org - the State Department is directing employees to archive + delete all X posts on official accounts from before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
More with @shannonbond.bsky.social:
More with @shannonbond.bsky.social:
State Department will delete X posts from before Trump returned to office
The policy change orders the removal of any post made by official State Department accounts on X before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
www.npr.org
February 7, 2026 at 12:29 PM
EXCLUSIVE @npr.org - the State Department is directing employees to archive + delete all X posts on official accounts from before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
More with @shannonbond.bsky.social:
More with @shannonbond.bsky.social:
Reposted by stephen fowler
The policy change orders the removal of any post made by official State Department accounts on X before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
State Department will delete X posts from before Trump returned to office
The policy change orders the removal of any post made by official State Department accounts on X before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
n.pr
February 7, 2026 at 5:43 PM
The policy change orders the removal of any post made by official State Department accounts on X before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
Reposted by stephen fowler
Saturday scoop w @stphnfwlr.com: The State Dept says it wants to “speak with one voice” on social media. There is precedent for archiving prior admins’ online footprint — but this doesn’t follow it. Staff are told the public will have to FOIA archived posts
www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...
State Department will delete X posts from before Trump returned to office
The policy change orders the removal of any post made by official State Department accounts on X before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
www.npr.org
February 7, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Saturday scoop w @stphnfwlr.com: The State Dept says it wants to “speak with one voice” on social media. There is precedent for archiving prior admins’ online footprint — but this doesn’t follow it. Staff are told the public will have to FOIA archived posts
www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...
Reposted by stephen fowler
The policy change orders the removal of any post made by official State Department accounts on X before President Trump returned to office in 2025. n.pr/3MhYNoP
State Department will delete X posts from before Trump returned to office
The policy change orders the removal of any post made by official State Department accounts on X before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
n.pr
February 7, 2026 at 1:53 PM
The policy change orders the removal of any post made by official State Department accounts on X before President Trump returned to office in 2025. n.pr/3MhYNoP
EXCLUSIVE @npr.org - the State Department is directing employees to archive + delete all X posts on official accounts from before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
More with @shannonbond.bsky.social:
More with @shannonbond.bsky.social:
State Department will delete X posts from before Trump returned to office
The policy change orders the removal of any post made by official State Department accounts on X before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
www.npr.org
February 7, 2026 at 12:29 PM
EXCLUSIVE @npr.org - the State Department is directing employees to archive + delete all X posts on official accounts from before President Trump returned to office in 2025.
More with @shannonbond.bsky.social:
More with @shannonbond.bsky.social:
With Republican Rep. Mark Amodei's retirement announcement, we're almost to 10% of the House already announcing plans not to return to their current seats after this year.
63 total lawmakers, 32 total retirements.
More at @npr.org's Congressional retirement tracker:
63 total lawmakers, 32 total retirements.
More at @npr.org's Congressional retirement tracker:
More than 10% of Congress won't return to their seats after 2026
NPR is tracking the record number of congressional lawmakers — now more than 1 in 10 current members — who have announced plans to retire or run for a different office in 2026.
www.npr.org
February 6, 2026 at 7:28 PM
With Republican Rep. Mark Amodei's retirement announcement, we're almost to 10% of the House already announcing plans not to return to their current seats after this year.
63 total lawmakers, 32 total retirements.
More at @npr.org's Congressional retirement tracker:
63 total lawmakers, 32 total retirements.
More at @npr.org's Congressional retirement tracker:
Epstein files redaction update: DOJ explains to a judge some redactions were missed because, among other reasons, newly-flagged use of initials, misspellings, nicknames, etc.
Letter: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Letter: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 6, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Epstein files redaction update: DOJ explains to a judge some redactions were missed because, among other reasons, newly-flagged use of initials, misspellings, nicknames, etc.
Letter: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Letter: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
With Rep. Barry Loudermilk's announcement yesterday, the @npr.org retirement tracker is up to 62 current members of Congress who don't plan to return after 2026 to their current seat.
A few House reps away from a modern record for *both* chambers (!)
A few House reps away from a modern record for *both* chambers (!)
More than 10% of Congress won't return to their seats after 2026
NPR is tracking the record number of congressional lawmakers — now more than 1 in 10 current members — who have announced plans to retire or run for a different office in 2026.
www.npr.org
February 5, 2026 at 1:02 PM
With Rep. Barry Loudermilk's announcement yesterday, the @npr.org retirement tracker is up to 62 current members of Congress who don't plan to return after 2026 to their current seat.
A few House reps away from a modern record for *both* chambers (!)
A few House reps away from a modern record for *both* chambers (!)
Reposted by stephen fowler
A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds a jump in disapproval of the agency among Democrats and independents, but Republicans are standing by ICE and the president. n.pr/3Zl5fOZ
Poll: Two-thirds of Americans say ICE has 'gone too far' in immigration enforcement
A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds a jump in disapproval of the agency among Democrats and independents, but Republicans are standing by ICE and the president.
n.pr
February 5, 2026 at 10:17 AM
A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds a jump in disapproval of the agency among Democrats and independents, but Republicans are standing by ICE and the president. n.pr/3Zl5fOZ
New @npr.org Politics Podcast:
We discuss what we have learned from the millions of pages of Epstein files and whether Republicans or Democrats got what they were hoping for from the release.
We discuss what we have learned from the millions of pages of Epstein files and whether Republicans or Democrats got what they were hoping for from the release.
Justice Department released 3 million pages of Epstein files. What did we learn? : The NPR Politics Podcast
The Justice Department says it has released all of the relevant documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. We discuss what we have learned from the millions of pages...
www.npr.org
February 5, 2026 at 12:03 PM
New @npr.org Politics Podcast:
We discuss what we have learned from the millions of pages of Epstein files and whether Republicans or Democrats got what they were hoping for from the release.
We discuss what we have learned from the millions of pages of Epstein files and whether Republicans or Democrats got what they were hoping for from the release.
Reposted by stephen fowler
In the Justice Department's release of millions of pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, there are several instances of unredacted names of Epstein's accusers, raising concerns about privacy. n.pr/4tgh06T
Powerful people, random redactions: 4 things to know about the latest Epstein files
In the Justice Department's release of millions of pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, there are several instances of unredacted names of Epstein's accusers, raising concerns about privacy.
n.pr
February 3, 2026 at 11:19 AM
In the Justice Department's release of millions of pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, there are several instances of unredacted names of Epstein's accusers, raising concerns about privacy. n.pr/4tgh06T
New @npr.org - The release of millions of pages of Epstein files Friday has raised more questions than they have answered.
And Epstein's private communications continue to reveal the web of powerful figures who sought his friendship and counsel.
And Epstein's private communications continue to reveal the web of powerful figures who sought his friendship and counsel.
Powerful people, random redactions: 4 things to know about the latest Epstein files
In the Justice Department's release of millions of pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, there are several instances of unredacted names of Epstein's accusers, raising concerns about privacy.
www.npr.org
February 3, 2026 at 11:20 AM
New @npr.org - The release of millions of pages of Epstein files Friday has raised more questions than they have answered.
And Epstein's private communications continue to reveal the web of powerful figures who sought his friendship and counsel.
And Epstein's private communications continue to reveal the web of powerful figures who sought his friendship and counsel.
Reposted by stephen fowler
Thought we should check in on the total list of legislative flips during Trump 2.0. The tally so far (including tonight):
Democrats: 26 flips
Republicans: 0 flips
Democrats: 26 flips
Republicans: 0 flips
February 1, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Thought we should check in on the total list of legislative flips during Trump 2.0. The tally so far (including tonight):
Democrats: 26 flips
Republicans: 0 flips
Democrats: 26 flips
Republicans: 0 flips
Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas state Senate on Saturday, flipping a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins a reliably Republican Texas state Senate seat, stunning GOP
Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas state Senate on Saturday, flipping a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
www.npr.org
February 1, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas state Senate on Saturday, flipping a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
lol this week is what I get for talking about how much o love doing data journalism…
I did this week’s @npr.org reporter’s notebook on All Things Considered to talk about all the data-driven political reporting I’ve done, from the Epstein files to Congress retirement tracker to fact-checking DOGE savings claims.
Here’s a little peek behind the curtain:
Here’s a little peek behind the curtain:
How NPR's Stephen Fowler crunches the data on the Epstein story
Stephen Fowler is NPR's go to reporter for document dumps. He explains how he approaches the day's biggest stories...and its most perplexing datasets.
www.npr.org
January 31, 2026 at 4:23 PM
lol this week is what I get for talking about how much o love doing data journalism…
Reposted by stephen fowler
NPR reporters are still reviewing the files, which so far have included:
-unredacted names and photographs of Epstein victims
-communications with powerful figures like Elon Musk and former White House counsel in the Obama administration Kathryn Ruemmler
-even more mentions of President Trump
-unredacted names and photographs of Epstein victims
-communications with powerful figures like Elon Musk and former White House counsel in the Obama administration Kathryn Ruemmler
-even more mentions of President Trump
DOJ releases tranche of Epstein files, says it has met its legal obligations
The Department of Justice on Friday released more than 3 million pages, more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images in its files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
www.npr.org
January 30, 2026 at 10:44 PM
NPR reporters are still reviewing the files, which so far have included:
-unredacted names and photographs of Epstein victims
-communications with powerful figures like Elon Musk and former White House counsel in the Obama administration Kathryn Ruemmler
-even more mentions of President Trump
-unredacted names and photographs of Epstein victims
-communications with powerful figures like Elon Musk and former White House counsel in the Obama administration Kathryn Ruemmler
-even more mentions of President Trump
Talked to Scott Simon this morning about what we’ve found so far in the new Epstein files release, what *isn’t* there and what’s next:
DOJ releases final 3 million pages of the Epstein files
With its Friday release of some three million pages, the Department of Justice says it has released all of the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
www.npr.org
January 31, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Talked to Scott Simon this morning about what we’ve found so far in the new Epstein files release, what *isn’t* there and what’s next:
Reposted by stephen fowler
Trump administration officials have falsely linked Alex Pretti and Renee Macklin Good to domestic terrorism. It's part of a larger pattern by the Department of Homeland Security. n.pr/45Arnsg
DHS keeps making false claims about people. It's part of a broader pattern
Trump administration officials have falsely linked Alex Pretti and Renee Macklin Good to domestic terrorism. It's part of a larger pattern by the Department of Homeland Security.
n.pr
January 31, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Trump administration officials have falsely linked Alex Pretti and Renee Macklin Good to domestic terrorism. It's part of a larger pattern by the Department of Homeland Security. n.pr/45Arnsg
Reposted by stephen fowler
Update: The Department of Justice on Friday released more than 3 million pages, more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images in its files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
DOJ releases tranche of Epstein files, says it has met its legal obligations
The Department of Justice on Friday released more than 3 million pages, more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images in its files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
n.pr
January 30, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Update: The Department of Justice on Friday released more than 3 million pages, more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images in its files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Reposted by stephen fowler
JUST IN: The Department of Justice on Friday released more than 3 million pages, more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images in its files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
DOJ releases tranche of Epstein files, says it has met its legal obligations
The Department of Justice on Friday released more than 3 million pages, more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images in its files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
n.pr
January 30, 2026 at 5:30 PM
JUST IN: The Department of Justice on Friday released more than 3 million pages, more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images in its files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.