Drew Howells
@drewreese.bsky.social
Late-1900s GenXennial | AF & Army Vet - 46Q | Emeritus State Veterans Caucus Chairman | Star Trek liberal 🖖🏻 | ADHD powered 🧠 | Super Gay 🏳️🌈 | ExMormon | Southern Californian at heart, now rooted in Sandy, UT |
I prefer changing the 🌎 in incognito mode.💫
I prefer changing the 🌎 in incognito mode.💫
I did another thing. I’ve been sitting on this track for years, not sure if it belonged in my private meditation stash or out in the world. Front Porch Serenity uses porch wind chimes, a summer storm, piano, pads, and 396/528 Hz. EP drops Dec 4 — hear it now: on.soundcloud.com/r2ywgsEHhr1s...
Front Porch Serenity
Front Porch Serenity blends the natural rhythm of a summer storm with the harmonic tones of 396 and 528 hertz. Wind chimes and thunder recorded on my front porch set the atmosphere, while gentle piano
soundcloud.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I did another thing. I’ve been sitting on this track for years, not sure if it belonged in my private meditation stash or out in the world. Front Porch Serenity uses porch wind chimes, a summer storm, piano, pads, and 396/528 Hz. EP drops Dec 4 — hear it now: on.soundcloud.com/r2ywgsEHhr1s...
Just listened to Cox’s “evil algorithms” interview. Wild how he skips the part where his side built the outrage machine. I pulled the whole thing apart. Free read here:
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
The Algorithm Isn’t the Villain — The People Who Built the Outrage Machine Are
Governor Cox’s “vulnerable” interview with Deseret News was crafted for effect, not truth. Let’s talk about what he left out.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Just listened to Cox’s “evil algorithms” interview. Wild how he skips the part where his side built the outrage machine. I pulled the whole thing apart. Free read here:
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
I didn’t plan to spend my morning arguing with a sitting Utah state senator. But when he showed up in the comments of his own op-ed—dodging context, reframing facts, and invoking “constitutional structure” like it was a get-out-of-accountability-free card—I couldn’t help myself.
When the Comments Section Becomes the Senate Floor
One senator, one bad op-ed, and a masterclass in political gaslighting— Live from the Facebook comments section. I didn’t plan to spend my morning arguing with a sitting Utah state senator. But when h...
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I didn’t plan to spend my morning arguing with a sitting Utah state senator. But when he showed up in the comments of his own op-ed—dodging context, reframing facts, and invoking “constitutional structure” like it was a get-out-of-accountability-free card—I couldn’t help myself.
I wrote about what it means to be a Star Trek liberal—rooted in service, shaped by advocacy, and driven by a hopeful vision of the future.
It’s about building a world where no one is disposable. A wall-less tent, big enough for all of us.
🖖 Read the full piece:
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
It’s about building a world where no one is disposable. A wall-less tent, big enough for all of us.
🖖 Read the full piece:
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
Embracing the Star Trek Liberal within me:
A Journey of Service and a Vision for the Future 🚀 What does it mean to be a Star Trek liberal? It’s not about phasers or politics-as-usual. It’s about service, radical inclusion, science, compassion—...
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:38 AM
I wrote about what it means to be a Star Trek liberal—rooted in service, shaped by advocacy, and driven by a hopeful vision of the future.
It’s about building a world where no one is disposable. A wall-less tent, big enough for all of us.
🖖 Read the full piece:
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
It’s about building a world where no one is disposable. A wall-less tent, big enough for all of us.
🖖 Read the full piece:
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
Utah erased safe spaces for queer & marginalized students—but left LDS Institutes untouched. That’s not neutrality. It’s cultural dominance. I wrote about it. Please read & subscribe— it’s free & I pour a lot into these.
📖 open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
📖 open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
This Is What Erasure Feels Like - Utah lawmakers erased every sanctuary for marginalized students—except their own.
This morning, I read a letter from a former LGBTQ Resource Center staffer grieving the loss of safe spaces on Utah campuses. As I started typing a comment, I realized—this is bigger than a comment. Th...
open.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Utah erased safe spaces for queer & marginalized students—but left LDS Institutes untouched. That’s not neutrality. It’s cultural dominance. I wrote about it. Please read & subscribe— it’s free & I pour a lot into these.
📖 open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
📖 open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
Spent my morning watching a police audit video for fun, and ended up writing a whole Substack about the slow, stupid death of the First Amendment. It’s got soft authoritarianism, press corps grief, satire arrests, and yes—even a Star Wars reference. Go read it. 🖤📹🇺🇸
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
In This Day and Age…
Police audits, press freedom, and the slow, stupid death of the First Amendment.
open.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Spent my morning watching a police audit video for fun, and ended up writing a whole Substack about the slow, stupid death of the First Amendment. It’s got soft authoritarianism, press corps grief, satire arrests, and yes—even a Star Wars reference. Go read it. 🖤📹🇺🇸
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
This photo was taken in a 55+ retirement community here in Sandy, Utah— but honestly, it’s a work of art. I’d display this garbage can exactly as it is in a museum or gallery and title it “Trash Campaigning.”
There’s so much political and social commentary happening — it’s absolutely delicious.
There’s so much political and social commentary happening — it’s absolutely delicious.
October 22, 2025 at 9:49 PM
This photo was taken in a 55+ retirement community here in Sandy, Utah— but honestly, it’s a work of art. I’d display this garbage can exactly as it is in a museum or gallery and title it “Trash Campaigning.”
There’s so much political and social commentary happening — it’s absolutely delicious.
There’s so much political and social commentary happening — it’s absolutely delicious.
Reposted by Drew Howells
Thousands of Utahns gathered in a dozen places across the state Saturday as part of national "No Kings" protests aimed at criticizing President Donald Trump. https://ow.ly/cWz950Xexez
'Welcome to the resistance': Thousands of Utahns rally during national 'No Kings' protests
Thousands of Utahns gathered in a dozen places across the state Saturday as part of national
ow.ly
October 18, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Thousands of Utahns gathered in a dozen places across the state Saturday as part of national "No Kings" protests aimed at criticizing President Donald Trump. https://ow.ly/cWz950Xexez
It’s the best “side effect” from a medication — GLP1s make alcohol just seem BLAH 🤢 and are contributing to the fall of alcohol sales in the US.
They are in trials to use this medication for alcohol addiction similar to the same way Wellbutrin works on cigarette/nicotine addiction
They are in trials to use this medication for alcohol addiction similar to the same way Wellbutrin works on cigarette/nicotine addiction
October 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
It’s the best “side effect” from a medication — GLP1s make alcohol just seem BLAH 🤢 and are contributing to the fall of alcohol sales in the US.
They are in trials to use this medication for alcohol addiction similar to the same way Wellbutrin works on cigarette/nicotine addiction
They are in trials to use this medication for alcohol addiction similar to the same way Wellbutrin works on cigarette/nicotine addiction
Every month, my retirement pay arrives with a line missing—not because I didn’t earn it, but because Congress decided combat-disabled vets like me deserve less. The Maj Richard Star Act is how we fix this theft. It’s not politics—it’s fairness, survival, and honor. open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
The Theft Hiding in My Retirement Pay:
Why the Major Richard Star Act Matters
open.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Every month, my retirement pay arrives with a line missing—not because I didn’t earn it, but because Congress decided combat-disabled vets like me deserve less. The Maj Richard Star Act is how we fix this theft. It’s not politics—it’s fairness, survival, and honor. open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
There’s a story in Judges where a single word became the line between life and death. It’s wild how much that still rings true today—language as a litmus test of who’s “in” or “out.”
I wrote more on Substack—It’s free, and subscribing would be pretty cool too.
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
I wrote more on Substack—It’s free, and subscribing would be pretty cool too.
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
September 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
There’s a story in Judges where a single word became the line between life and death. It’s wild how much that still rings true today—language as a litmus test of who’s “in” or “out.”
I wrote more on Substack—It’s free, and subscribing would be pretty cool too.
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
I wrote more on Substack—It’s free, and subscribing would be pretty cool too.
open.substack.com/pub/drewrees...
Twas the night before 9/11 🇺🇸
September 10, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Twas the night before 9/11 🇺🇸
People keep saying this is the next app — but honestly I’m not seeing the same interactions. 🤷🏻♂️
September 4, 2025 at 5:09 PM
People keep saying this is the next app — but honestly I’m not seeing the same interactions. 🤷🏻♂️
“Defense” carries with it the promise of restraint—that we fight only when necessary, that force is always the last resort.”
Please read my free substack
Please read my free substack
When “Defense” Becomes “War”: What’s at Stake for America
Why Renaming the Pentagon Betrays America’s Post-World War II Promise of Defense, Not Conquest
open.substack.com
September 3, 2025 at 11:10 PM
“Defense” carries with it the promise of restraint—that we fight only when necessary, that force is always the last resort.”
Please read my free substack
Please read my free substack
Utah’s Legislature has made a habit of gutting the people’s vote — from medical cannabis to fair maps. My new substack piece traces how and why they keep waging war on their own voters.
Utah’s Long War Against Its Own Voters
In Utah, passing a ballot measure isn’t the end of the fight. It’s the opening round. And lawmakers have gotten very good at making sure they win.
open.substack.com
August 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Utah’s Legislature has made a habit of gutting the people’s vote — from medical cannabis to fair maps. My new substack piece traces how and why they keep waging war on their own voters.
Empathy isn’t conditional— it’s either given or it isn’t.
— Captain Pike, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
— Captain Pike, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
August 24, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Empathy isn’t conditional— it’s either given or it isn’t.
— Captain Pike, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
— Captain Pike, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Found a sunflower on my walk today.
August 20, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Found a sunflower on my walk today.
Imagine a bridge built over years of sacrifice, connecting veterans to critical services. The bipartisan PACT Act was a hard-fought victory for those exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and radiation at K2. But with tens of thousands of VA jobs on the chopping block, that progress will be undone...
Opinion: Cutting VA funding is a betrayal of American veterans and values
Veterans already endure backlogs and delays. With 132,960 veterans in Utah, federal cuts will push an already strained system past its breaking point.
www.deseret.com
March 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Imagine a bridge built over years of sacrifice, connecting veterans to critical services. The bipartisan PACT Act was a hard-fought victory for those exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and radiation at K2. But with tens of thousands of VA jobs on the chopping block, that progress will be undone...
Maybe next time 🚀
February 22, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Maybe next time 🚀
Just breathe — take a moment with me!
You’ll survive this! 🖖🏻
You’ll survive this! 🖖🏻
February 21, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Just breathe — take a moment with me!
You’ll survive this! 🖖🏻
You’ll survive this! 🖖🏻
Sometimes when your legislators ignore your emails and calls, the newspaper of record will print your letter — maybe this way they’ll hear it? I even use a Star Wars quote.
SB203 is a blatant attempt to shut the courthouse doors on the people of Utah! It’s bad!
www.sltrib.com/opinion/lett...
SB203 is a blatant attempt to shut the courthouse doors on the people of Utah! It’s bad!
www.sltrib.com/opinion/lett...
Letter: Sen. Brammer’s bill would make it harder for the public to challenge laws passed by the Utah Legislature
Letter: Sen. Brammer’s bill would make it harder for the public to challenge laws passed by the Utah Legislature
www.sltrib.com
February 17, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Sometimes when your legislators ignore your emails and calls, the newspaper of record will print your letter — maybe this way they’ll hear it? I even use a Star Wars quote.
SB203 is a blatant attempt to shut the courthouse doors on the people of Utah! It’s bad!
www.sltrib.com/opinion/lett...
SB203 is a blatant attempt to shut the courthouse doors on the people of Utah! It’s bad!
www.sltrib.com/opinion/lett...
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.
February 13, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.