A Brooklyn midterm event saw every discussion return to AI and data centers. A report found $200 billion in data center projects were delayed or blocked in early 2026. States like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, New York and Virginia are weighing new guardrails. A council member called for tech executives to testify before Congress. A panel on data centers was met with boos from the audience. Protests cite secret deals, unclear zoning and environmental risks. Some labor unions support data centers for the jobs they create. Residents feel they have lost control over local development. Signs in multiple languages show dragons choking data centers. AI has become an election issue even in places with few data centers.

• $200 billion in delayed or blocked data center projects in H1 2026
• 10% of human civilization's energy use cited by a council member