Only a small fraction of data center opponents actually live near one, per new polling by a consulting firm that counsels leading AI labs and tech startups.

Why it matters: The findings by Milltown Partners highlight how data centers have become a stand-in for broader anger at an AI future many Americans don't want but fear they'll have to pay for.

By the numbers: Only 8% of the respondents who oppose data centers say they know of one or more data centers near their home, per the Milltown poll.

Driving the news: Texas officials are grappling with how to regulate data centers.

• Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state energy officials to tighten data center regulations to protect Texans from higher electricity bills.
• Abbott also called for water-efficient cooling systems and requiring noise protection for neighbors.
• Last week, Abbott also said, "We must prohibit" data centers in rural Texas.

State of play: There are about 335 operating and 248 planned data centers across the state, according to a Texas Tribune analysis.

• The Houston area has 54 operating data centers, with six more planned.

Zoom out: 56% of Texas voters surveyed said they opposed the construction of a data center in their community, per a separate poll by UT's Texas Politics Project released last month.

• Data center opposition was stronger (62%) in rural and suburban areas where current and planned data center construction is more common.
• 49% of Texas voters said they thought AI would negatively impact the economy — as opposed to 29% thinking it would bring a positive impact, per the poll.

The intrigue: The backlash is hitting just as tech companies look for new ways to staff their data centers, at least temporarily.

• "People are building massive scale data centers everywhere and they're facing a severe labor shortage. That's the gap we want to fill," Zhou Xian, co-founder and CEO of Genesis AI, tells Axios.

The bottom line: The massive windowless warehouses packed with computing infrastructure have become a physical symbol of wider AI anxiety.

A conservative group seeking stricter rules on AI is organizing a day of protest against data centers in Texas and across the country, the group told Axios exclusively.

Why it matters: Republicans in Washington are trying to pay attention to Americans' concerns over AI's impacts while supporting U.S. advancements in the technology.

Driving the news: Humans First, a conservative organization advocating for an "America First AI policy," is planning a nationwide protest on July 18 against what it describes as the "unchecked expansion of AI data centers."

• The group has rallies set across 22 states, including Georgia, California, Texas, Florida and Virginia.

What they're saying: Amy Kremer, chair of Humans First, said the conservative base is being ignored by Washington politicians who are "doing the bidding of big tech and big AI billionaires," calling data centers the top issue igniting anger among the conservative base.

A website advertising the rallies lists what it sees as the dangers of data centers: secrecy, water use, air pollution, national security, energy, land use and noise.

What we're watching: Liberals and conservatives opposed to data centers could find common cause.

👀 Senate Majority Leader John Thune will be a special guest at a fundraiser for Republican Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton later this month, according to an invite obtained by Axios.

• Thune spent months fighting Paxton's primary bid. (Axios)

📲 The Supreme Court won't stop Texas from enforcing age-verification for mobile app downloads. (Reuters)

🛍️ Uniqlo is set to open a new store at Houston's Galleria. (Houston Chronicle)

🍴 Chrôma, an all-day cafe, is opening inside The Menil Collection. (Community Impact)

Houston, we're entering the thick of summer.

The big picture: The city is about to enter the warmest stretch of the season, according to Space City Weather. Houston has a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms today, followed by hot, sunny weather through the rest of the workweek.

• As meteorologist Eric Berger puts it, "we are staring at maximum summer for the next six weeks."

What we're watching: Daily highs will continue to inch upward, peaking from late July through the first two weeks of August.

💯 As for our triple-digit competition, Houston has yet to hit 100 degrees this year — but there's still time.

• We got a wide range of guesses, from Sherry R.'s 56 days to Brian V.'s four days, though he added, "I really hope I'm wrong and it's 0."
• Lots of you landed in the 10–13 day range. Only time will tell.

🙏 We're hoping for zero. How are you staying cool? Escaping to the mall, carrying a portable fan or just bearing the heat and enjoying the summer and festivities?

• Reply to this email with tips.