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The Ballroom

Nick Anderson · nickanderson

Aug 25, 2026 · 25s listen · Last updated August 25, 2026

With the midterms just around the corner, Americans are packing town halls to stop AI data centers they fear will raise electric bills, consume scarce water, and transform their communities. President Trump, meanwhile, remains fixated on building a grand White House ballroom.

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The Ballroom

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With the midterms just around the corner, Americans are packing town halls to stop AI data centers they fear will raise electric bills, consume scarce water, and transform their communities. President Trump, meanwhile, remains fixated on building a grand White House ballroom. It’s an oddly revealing split-screen: voters are fighting to preserve the places they live, while the president is focused on upgrading the place he lives.

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