Political Wire

AI Data Centers Become Flashpoint for Republicans

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“President Donald Trump’s fervent support for artificial intelligence data centers has put him at odds with voters who increasingly oppose them and comes despite direct warnings that his stance threatens to deepen Republicans’ peril in the November midterm elections,” Bloomberg reports.

“Over the past few months, political strategists have warned administration officials they were in danger of losing the public opinion war over data centers… Recent polling has shown around seven in 10 Americans don’t want the facilities built near them, and Democratic candidates have sought to outflank their GOP opponents by tying rapid growth in AI infrastructure to voter concerns about the cost of living.”

Campaigns Use AI Despite ChatGPT Ban

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“Artificial intelligence has subtly entered the machinery of the 2026 midterms, with major-party candidates acknowledging in campaign filings and website fine print that they are using the technology to court voters — despite limits imposed by leading AI companies to protect elections from the technology’s risks,” the Washington Post reports.

Surveillance Cameras Face Bipartisan Backlash

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“There are plenty of issues Republicans and Democrats disagree on, but increasingly, they’re aligned on this: they want Flock surveillance cameras gone,” NPR reports.

“The widespread backlash against AI-powered license plate readers, which allow police to track people over time, is becoming more of a political issue as the midterm elections approach in races from Florida to Ohio and Wisconsin.”

Feds Open Probe Into Elon Musk’s Autonomous Taxis

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“Federal regulators are opening an investigation into whether Tesla’s new steering-wheel-free taxis comply with safety rules a day after the company began offering rides in the vehicles,” Associated Press reports.

“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was looking into whether Tesla was in full compliance with federal rules in deploying so-called Cybercabs in Austin, Texas, given that the two-seater cars lack steering wheels, mirrors or brake pedals typically required of all vehicles.”

Bernie Sanders Floats Ban On Superintelligent AI

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“Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced new legislation Thursday calling for a permanent ban on superintelligence alongside a renewed demand for a pause on advanced AI development,” Axios reports.

“Sanders is the first prominent American politician to call for an outright ban on superintelligence as Big Tech companies release increasingly powerful AI models that they themselves admit they may not be able to control.”

Republicans Scramble to Oppose Data Centers

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Reuters: “Across the ​country, as Democrats ride a wave of local opposition to data centers ahead of the November elections, Republicans are increasingly breaking from U.S. President Donald Trump’s pro-AI agenda.”

“Republican candidates in at least five states – ‌including Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – have recently adopted tougher rhetoric on data centers or proposed restrictions on their development, creating a new fault line within the party.”

Republicans Split with Trump On Data Centers

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“With a slew of polls showing that most Americans oppose the construction in their communities of new data centers to power AI, a growing number of Republicans running in this year’s elections are putting daylight between themselves and President Donald Trump,” Fox News reports.

“Trump, a strong proponent of data center development, took to social media Monday to argue that if communities ‘want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign.'”

“But with GOP strategists warning that data centers have become politically radioactive, some Republicans on the midterm ballot are reversing course, which is a stark shift in a party that previously had fully embraced the burgeoning AI industry.”

There’s One Thing Bannon and Bernie Agree On

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“Steve Bannon has made a career out of clashing with far-left politicians. But these days, President Trump’s former chief strategist has found a common cause with them: opposition to the AI boom,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The far-right podcast host has joined Democrats in warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence and the need to fight data centers that power AI deployment.”

“Bannon backs a proposal from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VtT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who are aligned with the insurgent Democratic socialists, to ban the construction of new data centers.”

Maps Handle Trump’s Renaming of Lake Ontario Differently

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“Three map apps, three responses so far to President Trump’s order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America amid an escalating trade war with Canada,” the New York Times reports.

“Google changed the lake’s name on its Maps application two days after the Aug. 27 executive order was signed, at least for users in the United States. MapQuest publicly refused to make the update, while Apple has yet to reflect the change or say what it will eventually do.”

The Guardian: MapQuest app reaches No 1 on U.S. Apple list after defying Trump’s Lake Ontario order.

Trump Says Opposing Data Centers Is ‘Backwards’

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“President Trump warned Monday that communities that don’t embrace data centers will ‘end up being backwards and poor,’ putting himself at odds with most Americans who say they don’t want the facilities that power AI to be built near them,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

Said Trump: “The only reason that communities throughout the USA should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor. If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign.”

Are You Sure That Jimmy Kimmel Clip Was Real?

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“Jimmy Kimmel is currently out on summer break from his late-night talk show on ABC. But the casual fan might be forgiven for thinking the host hasn’t left the building. Social media videos appear to show him commenting on everything from President Trump falling asleep in the middle of a meeting, to the president’s attacks on Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed,” NPR reports.

“Fake videos showing Kimmel and other late-night TV talk show hosts are mushrooming on social media. These videos, made using generative AI, are in some ways easier to create than deepfakes of other types of celebrity — and could potentially be more disruptive.”

Greg Abbott Blocks Funding for Flock Cameras

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“Republicans and Democrats once praised Flock Safety as a protection tool for American communities. Now politicians across the political spectrum are turning against the mass-surveillance technology,” the Washington Post reports.

“Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) froze state spending this week on the shoebox-size cameras that have proliferated across the nation.”

NOTUS: What the Flock?

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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