<![CDATA[A Face For Radio]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TVg0!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb3631a2b-cbb2-43b7-8bba-c1c515f5a567_1280x1280.pngA Face For Radiohttps://www.stphnfwlr.comSubstackTue, 07 Jul 2026 09:33:14 GMT<![CDATA[New Story -- Tracking Trump's endorsements]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/new-story-tracking-trumps-endorsementshttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/new-story-tracking-trumps-endorsementsTue, 23 Jun 2026 09:05:00 GMTHow Trump’s ‘Complete and Total Endorsement’ has reshaped the Republican Party

In my final piece published before I take part one of parental leave through Labor Day, here’s a look at the last decade of Trump endorsements made in House, Senate and Governor races.

There’s a notable shift in when those endorsements are made, where they’re made and what it means for the Republican Party.

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]]><![CDATA[What is it like to report on the Epstein files?]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/reporting-on-epstein-fileshttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/reporting-on-epstein-filesMon, 02 Mar 2026 11:02:42 GMT

One day the Google Alerts I have set for my name will not be dominated by “Stephen Fowler Epstein files.” That day will not be soon.

Last week, we published the following story on NPR.org: Justice Department withheld and removed some Epstein files related to Trump

The teaser of the exclusive story:

An NPR investigation finds the public database of Epstein …

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]]><![CDATA[2025 by *some* numbers]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/2025-by-some-numbershttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/2025-by-some-numbersWed, 31 Dec 2025 11:59:01 GMT
Look, over there! It’s the hours of sleep I missed out on this year covering non-stop chaos of American politics! (Or, speaking at a panel for NPR’s donor weekend in Washington about reporting on DOGE)

It’s the end of 2025 and I’m staring at quite a few drafts and ideas for newsletters that never came to fruition for various reasons. Namely: time.

I start…

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]]><![CDATA[Why I love working in public media]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/why-i-love-working-in-public-mediahttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/why-i-love-working-in-public-mediaSun, 20 Jul 2025 13:29:58 GMT
I’ve thought a lot the past few months about each of the three words in National Public Radio’s name, and what they could mean in the future.

In the last few weeks, a lot of folks have developed strong opinions about the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NPR, PBS and the network of ~1,500 local stations.

But both supporters and opponents that have made…

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]]><![CDATA[Why I (mostly) stopped posting online]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/why-i-mostly-stopped-posting-onlinehttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/why-i-mostly-stopped-posting-onlineFri, 27 Jun 2025 11:03:44 GMT
Its-time-to-stop-posting-cat
A classic meme that, sadly, many people do not abide by.

A very wise editor of mine has reminded me over the years that very little good comes from posting things on social media. I’ve long disagreed with him — until the last few months.

I owe a good deal of success in my reporting career to my stories reaching a much wider audience (of journalists and th…

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]]><![CDATA[2024 by *some* numbers]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/2024-by-some-numbershttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/2024-by-some-numbersMon, 23 Dec 2024 11:31:20 GMT
If someone ever invents tattoos that move, I know what I’m getting!!!

It’s the end of the year, so it’s time to consume year-end reflection content!

I’ve never been the most organized person, but starting a new job in January with an empty inbox/calendar/Google Drive lent itself to an opportunity to actually have some semblance of order amidst the chaos o…

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]]><![CDATA[Thinking about thankfulness]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/thinking-about-thankfulnesshttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/thinking-about-thankfulnessFri, 29 Nov 2024 11:45:53 GMT
white and black letter t
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

In case you’re wondering, Dictionary.com’s word of the year is “demure,” I say that because it does not feel very demure to write a newsletter about being thankful that always ends up feeling humblebrag-y about things in life that don’t suck.

But here we are!

Like every year and like everyone else, my 2024 saw …

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]]><![CDATA[Spending some time on time]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/spending-some-time-on-timehttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/spending-some-time-on-timeFri, 08 Nov 2024 12:02:41 GMT

Aging asynchronously is a jarring experience.

This week I celebrated my birthday, which allegedly also happened a year ago.

Thirty to 31 does not bring much overall change, beyond occasionally finding more whitish-silver hairs, excitement over a new water flosser I bought myself and sometimes having a stiff back because I slept too well the night befor…

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]]><![CDATA[Reflecting on a campaign summer to remember]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/a-campaign-summer-to-rememberhttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/a-campaign-summer-to-rememberTue, 24 Sep 2024 11:03:26 GMT
After an eventful RNC and DNC this summer, I’ve come to the conclusion that more political events need balloon drops for levity (and it makes for great audio).

It’s been 174 days since I last did a newsletter. Whoops.

Things have been busy, to say the least — both on the campaign trail and in raising a very cute, very energetic toddler. Since then, I’ve r…

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]]><![CDATA[Some of the biggest questions I want to report on ahead of the 2024 election]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/my-plan-to-not-be-wrong-about-2024https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/my-plan-to-not-be-wrong-about-2024Wed, 03 Apr 2024 01:30:25 GMT
The perks of being a reporter include getting paid to ask questions and talk to all sorts of people about all sorts of things, like what’s *really* going on within the complicated world of voters (and nonvoters) in America.


If you’re reading this, you’re probably paying way more attention to the 2024 elections than the average American, and even the aver…

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]]><![CDATA[The case for mini golfing alone]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/the-case-for-mini-golfing-alonehttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/the-case-for-mini-golfing-aloneSun, 03 Mar 2024 12:04:44 GMTI’m finishing writing this newsletter on the first Saturday I’ve been home in over a month and one of two I’ve been home since starting the new job, and let me say: a weekend at home doing nothing is an underrated joy.

Let me also say that this installment is the confluence of many things: namely my love of mini golf, my love of metaphors and the reality…

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]]><![CDATA[Easing headfirst into the deep end of 2024]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/easing-headfirst-into-the-deep-endhttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/easing-headfirst-into-the-deep-endTue, 30 Jan 2024 10:43:11 GMTFirst, some fun numbers I’ll explain in a bit: 19, 10, 7, 8, 3771, 11 and 171.

I asked for “can you fit chaos and a microphone in an overhead bin,” jkjk.

It has been just over three weeks since I started a new dream job covering the 2024 campaign for NPR, based in Atlanta and focusing on the South in particular.

I spent my first three days in Washington, …

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]]><![CDATA[Some personal/professional news...]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/some-personal-professional-newshttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/some-personal-professional-newsFri, 15 Dec 2023 14:52:19 GMT

a close up of an old fashioned typewriter
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The short of it: after 7.5 years with Georgia Public Broadcasting, I’m leaving at the end of the year. It’s the only place I’ve ever worked and has been a dream experience so it’s quite strange to say goodbye!

Thank you to everyone who’s read/listened to my stories, served as interview subjects, answered my dumb questi…

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]]><![CDATA[The things I've left behind returning from parental leave]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/the-things-ive-left-behind-returninghttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/the-things-ive-left-behind-returningTue, 22 Aug 2023 10:00:26 GMTSubscribe now

I asked for an image of “a reporter standing at a fork in the road, where the left side is peaceful and green and the right side is engulfed in flames.” Close enough.

As I started to write this, it was approaching midnight in the final hours of ~12 weeks of glorious parental leave I had through FMLA for the birth of my amazing daughter. I’m finally finis…

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]]><![CDATA[A Friday news dump: reboots, reconsiderations and rap’s 50th birthday]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/a-friday-news-dump-reboots-reconsiderationshttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/a-friday-news-dump-reboots-reconsiderationsFri, 21 Jul 2023 19:02:57 GMT

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man sitting on chair holding newspaper on fire
Photo by Nijwam Swargiary on Unsplash

In the journalism world, a Friday news dump has historically been when a politician/organization/government agency announces information — typically on the “less good” side — heading into the weekend in hopes that it doesn’t get as much scrutiny and attention than it would during the week.

The 24/7 news ecosystem and…

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]]><![CDATA[Welcome to A Face For Radio]]>https://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/welcome-to-a-face-for-radiohttps://www.stphnfwlr.com/p/welcome-to-a-face-for-radioThu, 13 Jul 2023 09:00:00 GMT

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I’m joining the club of people asking to join your inbox!

As I write this, I’m enjoying a few minutes of down time after putting our ~2 month old to bed at my in-laws’ house while catching up my reading on 2024 presidential candidate fundraising, the latest Georgia political news and memes about a sea otter stealing surfboards in California.

I’m off on …

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