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
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
DNC Chair Ken Martin is in metro Atlanta this weekend campaigning for Debra Shigley, the Democrat in a Georgia Senate special election runoff.
We talk about that race, the state of the Democratic Party and much more — listen/read on @npr.org next week.
We talk about that race, the state of the Democratic Party and much more — listen/read on @npr.org next week.
September 20, 2025 at 9:12 PM
DNC Chair Ken Martin is in metro Atlanta this weekend campaigning for Debra Shigley, the Democrat in a Georgia Senate special election runoff.
We talk about that race, the state of the Democratic Party and much more — listen/read on @npr.org next week.
We talk about that race, the state of the Democratic Party and much more — listen/read on @npr.org next week.
These two paragraphs sum up a major problem with 24/7 cable news, including an emphasis on pundits who can opine superficially about many things and then having to fill airtime speaking on breaking news or something they might not actually know much about.
September 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM
These two paragraphs sum up a major problem with 24/7 cable news, including an emphasis on pundits who can opine superficially about many things and then having to fill airtime speaking on breaking news or something they might not actually know much about.
There were maybe ~30 people in the Buc-ee’s this morning and it felt a bit like seeing Bigfoot.
September 3, 2025 at 12:18 PM
There were maybe ~30 people in the Buc-ee’s this morning and it felt a bit like seeing Bigfoot.
When you "enhance" a "crop" of a "zoomed in" photo that itself was taken with a long-distance lens and add on layers of digital nonsense and partisan projection and lack of skepticism, that explains a lot.
See also: unblurring an image to make white Obama.
Digital literacy is fun!
See also: unblurring an image to make white Obama.
Digital literacy is fun!
September 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM
When you "enhance" a "crop" of a "zoomed in" photo that itself was taken with a long-distance lens and add on layers of digital nonsense and partisan projection and lack of skepticism, that explains a lot.
See also: unblurring an image to make white Obama.
Digital literacy is fun!
See also: unblurring an image to make white Obama.
Digital literacy is fun!
With almost all of the votes in GA Senate District 21 special, Democrat Debra Shigley has ~39.5% of the vote in a district where the D got 30% in 2024 and Harris got ~32.5%.
Another substantial Democratic overperformance that will be decided in a runoff next month. #gapol
Another substantial Democratic overperformance that will be decided in a runoff next month. #gapol
August 27, 2025 at 2:40 AM
With almost all of the votes in GA Senate District 21 special, Democrat Debra Shigley has ~39.5% of the vote in a district where the D got 30% in 2024 and Harris got ~32.5%.
Another substantial Democratic overperformance that will be decided in a runoff next month. #gapol
Another substantial Democratic overperformance that will be decided in a runoff next month. #gapol
In special election Democratic overperformance news:
Iowa no longer has a GOP Senate supermajority, overperformance of about 20 points from 2024.
Iowa no longer has a GOP Senate supermajority, overperformance of about 20 points from 2024.
August 27, 2025 at 1:34 AM
In special election Democratic overperformance news:
Iowa no longer has a GOP Senate supermajority, overperformance of about 20 points from 2024.
Iowa no longer has a GOP Senate supermajority, overperformance of about 20 points from 2024.
👀Special election watch:
There's likely to be yet another Democratic overperformance in GA State Senate District 21 race to replace now-U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach (who won 70-30 in 2024)
Still a lot of votes left to go and <50% would be a runoff, but still worth watching.
There's likely to be yet another Democratic overperformance in GA State Senate District 21 race to replace now-U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach (who won 70-30 in 2024)
Still a lot of votes left to go and <50% would be a runoff, but still worth watching.
August 27, 2025 at 12:16 AM
👀Special election watch:
There's likely to be yet another Democratic overperformance in GA State Senate District 21 race to replace now-U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach (who won 70-30 in 2024)
Still a lot of votes left to go and <50% would be a runoff, but still worth watching.
There's likely to be yet another Democratic overperformance in GA State Senate District 21 race to replace now-U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach (who won 70-30 in 2024)
Still a lot of votes left to go and <50% would be a runoff, but still worth watching.
Hello from the DNC’s rules and bylaws committee meeting, where there has been some behind the scenes angst about the composition of said committee and what it might mean for 2028 presidential primary calendar things.
August 26, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Hello from the DNC’s rules and bylaws committee meeting, where there has been some behind the scenes angst about the composition of said committee and what it might mean for 2028 presidential primary calendar things.
behold!
deep fried pimiento cheese
mouth trap cheese curds
mini donut beer
Uncrustaburger
deep fried pimiento cheese
mouth trap cheese curds
mini donut beer
Uncrustaburger
August 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
behold!
deep fried pimiento cheese
mouth trap cheese curds
mini donut beer
Uncrustaburger
deep fried pimiento cheese
mouth trap cheese curds
mini donut beer
Uncrustaburger
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR - NPR political reporter and noted foodie Stephen Fowler will make announcement soon regarding what food and drink and snacks will be consumed during afternoon visit to iconic fairgrounds.
August 26, 2025 at 6:28 PM
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR - NPR political reporter and noted foodie Stephen Fowler will make announcement soon regarding what food and drink and snacks will be consumed during afternoon visit to iconic fairgrounds.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said if he and Kamala Harris were elected, “we wouldn't wake up every day to a bunch of shit on TV and a bunch of nonsense” under President Trump.
August 25, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said if he and Kamala Harris were elected, “we wouldn't wake up every day to a bunch of shit on TV and a bunch of nonsense” under President Trump.
So far DNC Chair Ken Martin has said Trump’s administration is “fascism in a red tie,” called Trump a “dictator-in-chief” and received a standing ovation for saying he’s tired of the Democratic Party bringing a “pencil to a knife fight.”
August 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
So far DNC Chair Ken Martin has said Trump’s administration is “fascism in a red tie,” called Trump a “dictator-in-chief” and received a standing ovation for saying he’s tired of the Democratic Party bringing a “pencil to a knife fight.”