David Wallace-Wells:  The Politics of AI Are Shifting in Real Time

Tim Miller welcomes back David Wallace-Wells, an opinion writer for the New York Times and columnist for the New York Times Magazine, to discuss the evolving political landscape surrounding AI, the surprising effectiveness of the Trump administration's immigration policies, and the increasingly grim realities of climate change.

The Unexpected Backlash Against AI Data Centers

Wallace-Wells highlights the dramatic shift in public opinion regarding AI, particularly the construction of data centers. Recent polling indicates that 75% of Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their communities, with over 60% strongly opposing them. This level of opposition is even higher than that for nuclear power plants, suggesting a significant collision course as the industry rapidly expands. What's particularly striking is the alignment of political leaders across the spectrum with this opposition. Kathy Hochul in New York and Greg Abbott in Texas have both signed data center moratoriums. Even Josh Shapiro, campaigning for president on a platform of building things, has imposed a moratorium in Pennsylvania. This broad-based opposition, Wallace-Wells notes, is novel and represents a populist uprising against economic interests.

Miller points out the irony in some cases, like Loudoun County, Virginia, where data centers contribute half of the county's tax revenue, leading to a 30% cut in property taxes. In Richland Parish, Louisiana, elementary school teachers received $50,000 bonuses due to a new Meta data center. Despite these tangible benefits, local populations are unwilling to accept these projects. Wallace-Wells attributes this to a broader sense of feeling out of control and powerless, where people perceive their lives, communities, and economic prospects as being determined by others. The AI build-out serves as a useful opportunity to express these frustrations, encompassing concerns about NIMBYism, environmental impacts (both old and new school), electricity prices, and even existential risks.