There is a distinct, rhythmic hum—a low-frequency vibration you feel in your teeth—when standing near a modern server farm. But for the people of Maine, the silence is what they seem to want. It looks like the state is moving toward a temporary ban on new data centers, with legislators signaling a green light for bill text that would freeze construction until November 2027. It’s expected to pass in just a few days, despite the loud protests from the tech sector and local business groups.
Glenn Adams, a veteran developer, summed up the anxiety pretty bluntly to Misryoum: “Things are going so fast. There’s a race against other countries. If Maine says ‘no,’ we’re saying no to all these companies.” He has a point, or maybe not—actually, it’s hard to tell when the political winds are shifting this quickly. We are seeing a weird, bipartisan coalition forming, ranging from Bernie Sanders to Josh Hawley, all eager to turn data centers into the latest political punching bag.
It’s a strange moment. You have this rising populist tide, as noted by observers on Misryoum, pushing back against the “abundance-style” promises of the tech elite. But the opposition is, if we’re being honest, kind of incoherent. These centers bring growth, sure, but the irony is almost too thick to ignore.
Consider the Ohio woman who, according to Misryoum, spends her nights using ChatGPT to draft arguments against the very technology that powers the servers near her home. She’s “using the beast to beat the beast,” which feels like a loop of logic that’s eventually going to snap. Is the beast winning? I’m not sure, but the tools are certainly getting sharper for everyone involved.
Elsewhere, the geopolitical landscape is getting just as messy. Iran is reportedly demanding oil tankers pay a $1-per-barrel toll in cryptocurrency to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. While some in the crypto world are skeptical, reports from Misryoum suggest the IRGC is already deeply entrenched in a state-controlled “crypto economy.” It’s a mess of international trade, sanctions, and digital ledgers—a far cry from the quiet, server-filled hills of Maine.
Meanwhile, the noise in D.C. hasn’t quieted down either. Between the city’s chaotic mayoral race and the ongoing debates over the Consumer Price Index, there is a persistent sense that the ground is moving under everyone’s feet. It’s hard to keep track of it all—the inflation reports, the tech bans, the shifting alliances. Even the stuff that used to be simple, like childhood concern over Mortal Kombat, has turned into nostalgic camp. Things just move on, I guess.