The AI election
Summary
In this episode of *America Actually*, host Estelle Hordern interviews Will Lawrence, a Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 7th congressional district, about the growing political backlash against AI and data centers. Lawrence, a former activist who co-founded the Sunrise Movement, discusses how he pivoted his campaign to focus on a 12-month moratorium on data center construction, arguing that local communities are demanding control over decisions that affect their water, energy, and property values. The conversation explores the disconnect between national polling on AI and the intense loc…
Topics discussed
Intro: AI panic vs. voter priorities
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Context: Data centers and Will Lawrence's campaign
Will Lawrence's origins in activism
Why data centers became a campaign issue
The case for a 12-month moratorium
International cooperation and the AI bubble debate
Facial recognition cameras and privacy concerns
Economic dislocation and AI in education
Is AI a 'coastal panic' or a local issue?
Sponsor: Quince wardrobe staples
Sponsor: Mint Mobile and Sustained Pro
Grading the progressive movement and Build Back Better
Why Democrats are talking less about climate
Trump's 2024 win and the Gaza war's impact
Controversy over remarks on Black political leadership
Poly-crisis, agency, and hope for the future
Outro: Bottom vs. Top and show credits
Sponsor: Mint Mobile and Stitch Fix
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