Mark Ruffalo Clashes with Hollywood & Data Centers Lose Support | 8.24.26

Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley and Culture Reporter Megan Basham joined the Morning Wire to discuss several pressing issues, including the growing political battle over data centers, the ongoing trade dispute between the US and Canada, and a heated conflict between actor Mark Ruffalo and Paramount Pictures.

The Shifting Tides Against Data Centers

John Bickley highlighted the significant shift in public opinion regarding data centers. Initially, in March, 65% of Americans supported data centers being built in their communities, with only 14% opposing them. However, recent polling from Gallup shows a dramatic reversal, with 70% of Americans now opposing these facilities. This shift has prompted a political battle, with data centers quickly becoming a top issue for millions of Americans and a new battleground in states and D.C.

Democratic politicians were the first to voice opposition. Kathy Hochul announced a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in New York, and Bernie Sanders and AOC proposed a nationwide moratorium in Congress. Initially, many GOP lawmakers viewed this as an opportunity for red states to attract more business. However, as public sentiment turned, upwards of 60% of Republicans now oppose data centers, leading the GOP to follow suit. The National Republican Senatorial Committee even sent a private memo warning that supporting data centers could cost them key races in Ohio and elsewhere. Consequently, GOP figures like Mike Rogers in Michigan and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have either supported moratoriums or paused data center projects. Republican gubernatorial candidates across Maine, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania have also adopted anti-data center rhetoric. Bickley noted that it's now difficult to find politicians in either party campaigning in support of this technology, despite its clear economic upside.