John Stempin

Content creator. Former stops NPR, Mutual Radio, NBC Radio, Unistar. Views my own. #billsmafia 716/14120 🇺🇸 Shadow Canadian

[John Stempin @jstempincooks]

You’ll see all sorts of things — maybe unexpected — in my tweet stream. Here’s why. https://t.co/T3KJFpxGR6

[Scott Simon @nprscottsimon]

I despair when people say, "I don't listen to @NPR to hear..." (fill in with repellent opinion, music, sport, or literature you're sure offends you). NPR exists to bring you the world, challenge, surprise, inform, even outrage, not cosset the audience.

[John Stempin @jstempincooks]

@EWTNews @SeanTheProducr @SeanTheProducr

[EWTN News @EWTNews]

A very good boy may have just earned his place in the church choir.

During Mass at The Grotto’s annual Blessing of the Animals on Sept. 20, one husky couldn’t resist joining in when the music began. In a now-viral video filmed by attendee Blanca Gallardo, the pup lets out a series of enthusiastic howls as a priest sings — prompting the priest to walk over and hold a microphone near the furry vocalist.

The moment has become an internet hit, with the Instagram Reel drawing 7.1 million views and 741,000 likes. The husky’s owner and identity were not initially known, though Gallardo said she attended the blessing with her own dog, Phoebe.

The clip’s comments quickly turned the impromptu duet into a heavenly punchline. One viewer, @kindsi, wrote: “The priest sang, ‘all creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and let us sing’ and the husky said ‘HaleAWOOOOOyah!’”

Honestly, the dog was just following directions.

The Blessing of the Animals took place at 3:30 p.m. in The Grotto Plaza. The annual event welcomes people and pets of all faiths and celebrates the “joy, beauty, love, fidelity, encouragement and comfort” that animal companions bring into people’s lives.

And if this dog had anything to say about it, that comfort apparently comes with a powerful set of lungs.

Today, on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, it seems only right that one enthusiastic husky reminded everyone at Mass that all creatures are invited to lift up their voices, even if that voice is an awe-inspiring “awoooo.”

Read more at https://t.co/QIkaqTAqLx!

✍🏻 Claudette Jerez
📹: IG @divine_phoebe

[Derek Gendvil @dgendvil]

CAIR Calls on U.S. Media to Defend and Amplify Gaza Journalists Targeted by Israeli Govt on World Press Freedom Day https://t.co/u0K1bWsWfE

[John Stempin @jstempincooks]

@rpondiscio Teachers and reporters are the same, tbh. One gives tests and the other should.

[Robert Pondiscio @rpondiscio]

If I was half my age, I'd be moving to an ESA state and starting a low-cost private school. I'd even hire a few reporters who I could turn into decent teachers.

[Nate Mills @natemillssports]

#Sabrehood Finns 🇫🇮 UPL and Konsta Helenius in the house for Sunday’s #Bills game

[Jennifer Chefero @ShootwAuthority]

First Saturday without 'Hockey Night In Canada' since birth. Traditions should never die. Especially not one you remember watching with your dad every Saturday night since you were 6.

I am truly gutted.

[The Buffalo News @TheBuffaloNews]

ICYMI: Ontario tourism officials will light up the Horseshoe Falls in red, white and blue tonight to say “thank you” to the Bills, fans and Visit Buffalo for singing the Canadian national anthem. A fireworks display in the same colors is also planned.
https://t.co/UzNqzcsAVL

[Christopher Hale @ChristopherHale]

The Wall Street Journal’s Gerard Baker on Pope Leo XIV: “He is the one man in the world most of us can look up to.”

Eighty-two years after his father landed at Normandy, the American pope drew 800,000 people to the Champs-Élysées and asked Europe to hold together. Washington left the job open, and Leo took it.

[The Hormuz Letter @HormuzLetter]

BREAKING: Trump's top national security officials met secretly at Camp David on Friday for hours on the Iran war, in a "highly unusual meeting" the administration did not announce, with one official saying "things were decided," per three US officials to Axios.

The last comparable meeting was in June 2025, days before Israel went to war with Iran.

Vance chaired, with Rubio, Hegseth, Witkoff, CIA Director Ratcliffe and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Caine attending.

Asked while his advisers were at Camp David what his next move on Iran would be, Trump said "If I told you, you would have a major story. But you will see."

[Fr. Joshua J. Whitfield @frjoshTX]

AI tech bros crashing out about the basics reminds me of something I say each year to prospective Catholics when we get around to moral theology, and that is: The Catholic Church has thought about this stuff so deeply that she knows why you disagree with her better than you do.

[BonkDaCarnivore @BonkDaCarnivore]

Reporter: "What do you say to those who are struggling to afford gas, groceries, diesel?"

Trump: You're losers. It's the greatest. If you're struggling in this economy, you're a loser.

There's your midterm messaging from the GOP

[Annie Jacobsen @AnnieJacobsen]

🚨☣️More details on the Oct 1st pneumonic plague outbreak in Siberia, after a lab accident at a BSL-3 lab.

"FSB units accompanying ambulances transporting people who had been in contact with [lab tech] Shipilova for medical examination," as per local news. This is significant. FSB is Russia's domestic security / counterintelligence service, tasked w/implementing the national security of Russia." (Its predecessor was the KGB). This suggests quarantine was not voluntary.

It also means Russian authorities are treating the lab accident and plague outbreak as a national security issue, involving a lot more than routine public health.

[John Stempin @jstempincooks]

@dadofccx3 @davidfolkenflik They were back in the late spring. A few stragglers made it to now.

[John Stempin @jstempincooks]

I have to admit growing up and living as an adult a very short drive from the Falls and Canada, this gesture is hitting me in the feels.

[The Buffalo News @TheBuffaloNews]

On Saturday, Ontario tourism officials will light up the Horseshoe Falls in red, white and blue to say “thank you” to the Bills, Buffalo fans and Visit Buffalo for singing the Canadian national anthem. A fireworks display also is planned.
https://t.co/UzNqzct8Lj

[Ross Tucker @RossTuckerNFL]

Buffalo specializes in my two food groups.

#ShowMeYourBeer

[Sneaky Joe @SneakyJoeSports]

This is a great job by the Sabres.

[John Stempin @jstempincooks]

@HawesSpencer In Charlottesville?

[John Stempin @jstempincooks]

Some personal news. After 35+ years I have left NPR. It was a bittersweet decision to be sure. I don't know if I'm also exiting public radio entirely but I am launching a content company and we'll see how it goes from there.

A sincere thank you to our stations and listeners whose loyalty and financial dedication helped me raise two kids and send them through college. I'd also like to express my deepest appreciation to the hundreds of radio journalists in our system and the organization that represents them, @PMJATweets. The effort they and their stations make everyday is deeply respected. Finally, to my colleagues in the Newscast Unit (NPR's highest rated show!) and across the newsroom, I just completed my decades long fantasy camp. What an amazing group you are.

I'm looking forward to the future with my business partner and when I have something to say about our new company, I'll announce it here.

[John Stempin @jstempincooks]

@pghjoseph Anything you think I would like. Talknet is always good.

[John Stempin @jstempincooks]

@DonaldSoares @johnson_carrie @NPRKelly It was a buyout for me. Idk about Mary Louise. They bought about 20 of us out.