A Data Center Offered $26 Million for Her Land. She Said No.
Sep 9, 2026 · 28m
Summary
This episode follows Delcia Bear and her mother Ida in Maysville, Kentucky, as they refuse a $26 million offer to sell their family farm for a massive AI data center. Delcia, who is nearly blind, views the project through a religious lens, equating AI with the biblical antichrist and prioritizing her ancestral land over the financial windfall. The story highlights the deep community divide, featuring neighbors who support the development for economic reasons and a local bar owner caught in the middle. The segment concludes with Delcia’s determination to remain on her property, even if the d…
Topics discussed
Off-road introduction with Delcia in Maysville
Delcia's childhood, horses, and breaking Rebel
The $26 million offer and the data center threat
Show intro and sponsor segment
Tour of Ida's home and the bats in the chimney
Local wildlife and invasive species lore
Why Delcia rejected the money and broke the contract
Religious beliefs and AI as the Antichrist
Environmental concerns and official regulations
National support and songs inspired by the fight
Lawsuits against neighbors and community tension
Suspicions that Meta is behind the project
Transition to the Thirsty Beaver bar
Inside the Thirsty Beaver and owner Danielle Rees
Economic benefits and job creation arguments
Bar rules and avoiding political arguments
Patron perspectives on noise and land value
Danielle's stance and proximity to the site
Delcia's late husband and son's custody
Feeding cattle and the original homestead
Gravestones, cholera, and spiritual visions
Son's vision of the girls and final resolve
Outro and credits
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