Best Podcasts on US Data Centers & AI Debate
Updated: Feb 20, 2026 – 4 episodes
Political candidates and activists from various backgrounds are increasingly voicing their concerns over the proliferation of data centers and artificial intelligence in the United States. This movement highlights the growing apprehension regarding the implications of these technologies on privacy, employment, and the environment, reflecting a broader debate about the role of tech in society.
For a critical take on AI policy, start with The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis. They argue that data center moratoriums, like the one proposed in New York, are ineffective and lack political support. The Last Invention offers a balanced perspective, discussing both the fears of job loss and the potential for AI to free workers from mundane tasks. Meanwhile, The AI News Daily Brief explores how big tech might face new energy cost responsibilities, which could reshape their AI strategies. Tech Won't Save Us delves into the energy demands of AI, pointing out the contradictions in current energy policies.
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Ridealong has curated the best podcasts and clips about US Political Figures Oppose Expansion of Data Centers and AI. Listen now.
Podcast Episodes Covering This Story
The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis
How the Global AI Race Has Shifted
Date posted: Feb 11, 2026
At a glance
The podcast segment critiques the ineffectiveness of proposed data center moratoriums, suggesting that political efforts to regulate AI and data centers are misguided and unlikely to gain traction.
Key quote from this episode
“Late last week, New York state lawmakers threw their hat in the ring of what promises to be the single least effective AI policy for accomplishing its stated goals. I'm talking, of course, about a data center moratorium that would, in the case of New York, pause data center development for three years. This policy was floated by Bernie Sanders in Washington recently, but has gathered approximately zero popular support among the Democrat caucus.”
At a glance
The podcast segment presents a nuanced view on the implications of AI and data centers, highlighting both the fears of job loss among the working class and the potential for technology to liberate them from undesirable work.
Key quote from this episode
“On the one side, you have people who are really worried, who say that the job market's gonna fall away and that the working class are going to lose their employment... But there's also the view that AGI might be this liberating force that says, hey, robots got that job now, you no longer have to work this repetitive factory job... and now you can be liberated to do what you really want to do.”
The AI News Daily Brief
India's AI Growth, C2i's Innovations, and AI Energy Policies Impacting Big Tech
Date posted: Feb 16, 2026
At a glance
The podcast segment discusses the potential policy shift regarding big tech's responsibility for energy costs related to AI, framing it as a significant intersection of technology and economic policy, while also hinting at broader implications for job markets and sustainability.
Key quote from this episode
“This potential policy shift is a direct response to the massive investments big tech is making in artificial intelligence... If big tech companies are required to bear more of the cost burden, it could reshape how they approach AI development and infrastructure investments. It might even influence their strategies on energy efficiency and sustainability.”
Tech Won't Save Us
The Green Transition Needs So Much Mining w/ Thea Riofrancos
Date posted: Feb 12, 2026
At a glance
The host discusses the complex interplay between fossil fuels and renewable energy in the context of AI's energy demands, highlighting the contradictory nature of current policies and investments across the political spectrum.
Key quote from this episode
“AI is super energy-hungry. There's a back order and a backlog of gas turbines, so gas-powered power plants are hard to build quickly. Coal is like an energy source that was actually declining, right? So where are we turning for new energy to feed the beast or feed the slot machine or whatever we wanna call it?”
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