POLITICS09/02/26

Data Center Politics Heat Up

Data centers emerge as a divisive political issue ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Photo: Fox News Politics

FRAMING NPR Politics emphasized GOP Voter Pressure; Coverage broadly emphasized Astroturf Left Opposition.

WHAT BOTH SIDES REPORT

▸Data centers have become a major hot-button political issue across the U.S. — NPR Politics, Fox News Politics
▸Opposition to data centers is being organized by left-leaning and environmental groups. — NPR Politics, Fox News Politics
▸The data center debate is affecting electoral politics in Georgia's gubernatorial and Senate races. — Daily Signal, NPR Politics

LEFT / CENTER-LEFT

▸Trump's pro-data center stance is out of step with many voters, pressuring Republicans ahead of midterms. — NPR Politics
▸Republicans are caught between their constituents' concerns and the president's AI agenda. — NPR Politics

RIGHT / CENTER-RIGHT

▸Larry Behrens of Power The Future alleged data center opposition follows an astroturfed, well-funded activist playbook. — Fox News Politics
▸Public Citizen, a group opposing data centers, has received support from George Soros' Open Society Foundations. — Fox News Politics
▸Sen. Ron Johnson alleged China may be funding opposition to AI data centers, though he acknowledged lacking specifics. — Breitbart News
▸Democrats and Republicans in Georgia are scrambling to define their data center policies before key 2026 elections. — Daily Signal

Bend Elementary School Shooting

A 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher at a Bend, Oregon elementary school.

Left: Governor heartbroken; victims' families in anguish.

Right: Oregon's gun laws didn't stop the attack.

DOJ charged 28 noncitizens and arrested 11 in California under 'Operation Protect the Vote.'

DEVELOPING TIMELINE

First Report Thursday: The Justice Department gave California 48 hours to review flagged noncitizen voters or face emergency legal action.

Sunday: DOJ threatens criminal prosecution for processing noncitizen ballots

Tuesday: DOJ charges 28 noncitizens, arrests 11 in California

Left: Defendants say they never registered to vote.

Right: DOJ arrests 11, charges 28 noncitizen voters.

Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving Russia sanctions under the Lindsey Graham-named law, drawing bipartisan criticism.

DEVELOPING TIMELINE

First Report Saturday: Trump signs executive order waiving Russia sanctions and tariffs mandated by the Graham Act.

Sunday: Executive order signed two days before sanctions took effect

Left: A gift to Putin, a slap at Graham's legacy

Right: Energy relief, acting in national interest

The DOJ warned California officials that processing ballots from suspected noncitizens could result in criminal prosecution.

DEVELOPING TIMELINE

First Report Thursday: The Justice Department gave California 48 hours to review flagged noncitizen voters or face emergency legal action.

Sunday: DOJ threatens criminal prosecution for processing noncitizen ballots

Left: Feds pressure California mid-election with criminal threat

Right: Trump vows jail if noncitizen ballots are counted