America’s data-center boom is facing a growing political backlash after the 2026 midterm elections, while new battles over energy policy, infrastructure permits, science funding, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence are reshaping the technology landscape. This edition also looks at China’s efforts to attract AI talent, new research into machine self-reflection, unusual objects observed by the James Webb Space Telescope and the civilian radio enthusiasts helping Ukraine defend against drones.
Texas’s AI data-center boom faces a political test
Texas is the fastest-growing data-center market in the United States and the site of Big Tech’s largest AI buildout. But a blue wave in the Lone Star State could threaten that position.
Democrat James Talarico won the US Senate seat, while Gina Hinojosa won the governor’s race, giving Democrats control of the Texas House of Representatives for the first time in 24 years. Talarico made data centers a central issue of his campaign.
The political shift could create challenges for hyperscalers pursuing ambitious plans in Texas and raise broader concerns that US AI development could slow. The election results may offer an early indication of how communities and elected officials will respond to the infrastructure demands of AI.
—James O’Donnell
What will happen to US energy policy after the midterm elections?
Democrats control majorities in the House and Senate, but major federal climate or energy legislation is unlikely to pass while President Trump remains in office. The midterm elections could nevertheless create significant challenges for energy policy at the state and local levels.
The results could influence the development of power grids and data centers, as well as renewable energy projects and greenhouse-gas emissions policy. The outcome may help determine the direction of America’s energy future.
—Casey Crownhart
This story is from “The Spark,” a weekly climate technology newsletter. Sign up to receive it every Wednesday.
A new bill could change how America builds energy infrastructure
Sweeping legislation designed to reduce regulatory red tape could speed up construction of America’s energy infrastructure.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on the bipartisan American Affordable and Jobs Act, or BAAJA, on November 9. The proposal could begin an overhaul of the lengthy and complex process used to approve energy projects. Some environmental groups oppose the bill, or parts of it.
The proposed permit overhaul involves significant trade-offs for energy development and environmental protection.
—Casey Crownhart
Must-read technology and science news
Here are some of the most important, surprising and concerning technology and science stories from around the internet.
1. America’s data-center boom is hitting a political wall
Voters opposed 40 of 41 midterm ballot measures. (CNBC)
+ Six cities voted to ban data centers completely. (404 Media)
+ Meta says building data centers is becoming increasingly difficult. (WSJ $)
+ Interim results could also boost China’s AI ambitions. (SCMP)
+ No one wants a data center in their backyard. (MIT Technology Review)
2. A blood bank is the latest victim of refrigerator hacking
Hackers raised the temperature at three stores in France. (The Guardian)
+ An alarm alerted staff before blood products were lost. (CBS)
+ The incident follows hundreds of supermarket refrigerator hacks. (CNBC)
+ Experts are divided over who was behind the attack. (BBC)
3. Democrats are preparing to investigate Elon Musk
Musk’s company has won more than $16 billion in government contracts. (NPR)
+ His unprecedented spending may even have harmed the Republican Party. (The Atlantic $)
+ Texas’s blue wave shook Musk and SpaceX. (Ars Technica)
4. The new Congress may challenge President Trump’s science cuts
A new Congress could oppose President Trump’s cuts to science funding, although he can still veto any legislation that passes. (Nature)
+ Trump has already caused significant damage to science. (MIT Technology Review)
5. China is attracting AI expertise while restricting technology transfers
China blocked SoftBank’s takeover bid for ABB Robotics. (WSJ $)
+ A Chinese chipmaker is recruiting engineers from foreign rivals. (CNBC)
+ A prominent mathematician has left the US to develop AI in China. (SCMP)
6. Watchdog agencies sue technology companies advising the Pentagon
Six watchdog agencies have filed lawsuits involving major technology companies that advised the Pentagon. Musk and Palmer Luckey could benefit from their advice. (Military.com)
7. New research examines whether AI systems know their own “thoughts”
Researchers are trying to map the self-reflection capabilities of AI systems. (Quanta)
+ The debate over AI consciousness may be a trap. (MIT Technology Review)
8. Astronomers are baffled by tiny red dots observed by JWST
The objects could be the first supermassive black holes. (The Economist $)
9. Scientists take a first step toward the Zeptoverse
The collapse of a rare particle could reveal a world smaller than an atom. (Wired $)
10. NASA telescope falls to Earth after 22 years in space
The telescope’s bristles generate an electric charge that kills bacteria. (NBC News)
Quote of the day
“The data center revolt was one of the top issues in the 2026 election, and years from now we will look back on this as just the first tremor of a larger AI earthquake that will upend American politics.”
—Greg Cassar, Democratic Congressman from Texas, told Wired. The backlash against data centers could signal a larger political fight over AI.
One more thing: Ukraine’s radio-obsessed civilian drone defenders
Meet the civilians shaping Ukraine’s drone defense
Serhii “Flash” Beskhrestnov is an unofficial spy. Once a month, he travels to the front lines in a Volkswagen van equipped with radio hardware, roof antennas and monitoring equipment. For several days, he searches the skies for communications that could provide useful information to the Ukrainian military.
The conflict is defined by drones, many of which rely on radio communications—an area Flash has been fascinated by since childhood. Although he is now a civilian, the former officer has taken it upon himself to support his country’s defense with information about radio technology.
Unlike traditional spies, Flash shares his discoveries on social media with more than 127,000 followers, including soldiers and officials. His work has earned the support of military personnel while also generating controversy among senior officials.
—Charlie Metcalf
Good news and interesting discoveries
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+ Mars has a new mystery: a cliff that looks nothing like its surroundings.
+ After waiting a long time for clear skies, a photographer captured a perfect St. Petersburg sunset.
+ East Timor is trachoma-free, freeing Southeast Asia from a blinding disease.
+ From bald eagles gathering in large numbers to northern boobies plunging into the ocean, these are the year’s best bird pictures.
Source: www.technologyreview.com