The fight over data centers is national, but midterm ad spending shows the political backlash is concentrated in particular states and regions — especially the Rust Belt.
Why it matters: AI and data centers are set to become even more front-and-center in 2028. The geography of today's backlash could help shape the battlegrounds of the next presidential election.
Unions are facing a conundrum: They like the demand for data center construction because it brings trade work, but they don't like that AI might replace other jobs.
Why it matters: The mixed feelings have led to a split in Big Labor: Trade unions back data centers, while groups like the Teamsters advocate policies to restrict AI.
A powerful backlash against AI and data centers has been building for months, fueling local moratoriums and political opposition, but also fears that the $10 trillion infrastructure buildout could hit a wall.
Why it matters: The stakes extend far beyond the U.S. Any backlash that slows the AI boom could have global consequences, with the futures of politicians, economies and nations increasingly tied to the race for technological supremacy.
Communities across the U.S. courting data centers face an economic bargain: billions in private investment and potentially lucrative tax revenue, alongside mounting public backlash.
Case in point: New Albany, Ohio, a 22-square-mile Columbus suburb, has spent more than a decade welcoming data centers. Today, it has roughly 40 facilities operated by Meta, Google, Amazon and others.
Billions of dollars in planned data center construction hang in the balance as the midterms approach — and investors are closely watching a few key races in states where projects are planned but construction has not yet started.
Why it matters: If elections don't go Wall Street's way, you could see restrictions that disrupt key projects and, more broadly, rattle the AI trade currently driving the stock market and helping power the U.S. economy.
Technology has become a defining issue in the 2026 midterms — and AI data centers are the punching bag.
Why it matters: It's not just about noise pollution and curb appeal. Data centers have become a lightning rod for growing resentment over who gets rich from the AI boom and who bears the cost.
Meta is assembling a bipartisan team of Washington veterans as the tech giant looks to deepen its relationships with Democrats while retaining its standing with Republicans, Axios has learned.
Why it matters:Mark Zuckerberg — the founder, chairman and CEO — has developed a close relationship with President Trump over the past few years, which has helped Meta navigate regulatory scrutiny of AI.
The world's biggest crypto heist is the latest feat by North Korean hackers who have spent years perfecting an arsenal of financial theft, social engineering and sophisticated cyberattacks.
Why it matters: The suspected North Korean hackers behind the $6.3 billion Binance theft appear to have combined familiar hacking tactics with extraordinary speed and automation — raising fresh questions about how AI could supercharge their already sophisticated operations.
Homeowners were nearly twice as likely as renters to have an electric vehicle in 2025, new Census data show, revealing a striking divide in America's shift to electric cars.
Why it matters: Homeownership is just one factor in EV adoption, but reliable access to charging is critical — giving homeowners with private driveways or garages an advantage over renters, particularly those in multifamily buildings.
The latest wave of hyperscaler earnings is spooking Wall Street. Bulls and bears alike have evidence to validate their wildest dreams — or their worst nightmares.
Why it matters: The market's AI obsession has entered its Jekyll and Hyde era, with the latest earnings from tech giants offering contrary signals about the AI boom.
