Friday, January 16, 2026

AI data centers anger voters ahead of 2026 midterms

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This is America

Stories of justice and action across America

Fri Jan 16 2026

Now that artificial intelligence is no longer the stuff of science fiction its real-world infrastructure demands are beginning to take root in communities across the country.

Greetings, This is America readers, I'm Phillip M. Bailey, chief political correspondent at USA TODAY.

One of the consequences of this technological innovation that you will see popping up in more headlines in 2026 are stories about resource-hungry data centers, which are massive facilities that require large amounts of energy and water that will fuel U.S. tech companies in their AI race with China.

Anger is beginning to boil nationwide among voters over building these energy-guzzling stations with significant resistance from Americans in rural areas and Black communities, who argue they're being used as a dumping ground.It is also coupled with worries that these centers might add to rising utility costs at a time when America is dealing with an affordability crisis.

Cars drive by Digital Realty Data Center buildings in Ashburn, Virginia.

Leah Millis, REUTERS

In a Jan. 12 post on social media, President Donald Trump tried to lower voters' worries, saying deals with Big Tech companies are in the works to ensure average Americans won't inherit the costs, but that the AI infrastructure is needed.

As analysts and political observers have noted, an emerging issue in this year's midterm elections will be where a candidate stands on building these data centers and how much it will change the country's physical landscape.

For more on AI and data centers, check out USA TODAY's coverage:

Surging electricity rates put data centers on 2026 ballot. Here's why.

Is AI making my electric bill higher? Here's the surprising answer.

Make 'Star Trek real'. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth laid out a plan for advancing military artificial intelligence, saying he's creating an "AI-first, war-fighting force."

Donations for Ford worker who Trump flipped off reached $800K

The Ford Motor employee who President Trump gave the middle finger has received a deluge of support after being suspended by the automotive company.

Trump was touring an assembly facility in Michigan on Jan. 13 when a man identified as T.J. Sabula on the plant floor allegedly shouted "pedophile protector" − likely a reference to the Epstein files saga. The president appeared to respond with an expletive before giving the UAW member the middle finger as he walked off.

Now there are at least two GoFundMe pages raising money for Sabula, who is now asking donors to give to other causes as his union pledges to stand by his side.

"The UAW will ensure that our member receives the full protection of all negotiated contract language safeguarding his job and his rights as a union member," Laura Dickerson, UAW Ford Department director, said in the statement.

"Workers should never be subjected to vulgar language or behavior by anyone — including the president of the United States."

Thanks for reading! See you back next week with more stories of justice from across the country.