A road trip through the data center debate
Summary
Reporter Jasmine Sun travels through Michigan and Wisconsin to investigate the growing backlash against AI data centers in swing states. She finds that opposition stems less from technical misunderstandings and more from deep distrust of corporate power, citing predatory NDAs and past economic betrayals by companies like GM and Foxconn. The episode highlights how populist politicians like Abdul El-Sayed are leveraging this anger, while suggesting that state-level regulations could help restore trust and ensure fairer deals for local communities.
Listen ad-free on Castria