Our guest today is Gaby Del Valle, a policy reporter here at The Verge, and we’re discussing the growing backlash against AI data centers. Gaby recently reported a fantastic piece about Hernando County, Florida, where last month the county commission unanimously approved a year-long moratorium on data center construction.
So I wanted Gaby to talk me through what these protests look like on the ground, from voters whose party affiliations have typically aligned them with big business.
Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>Right-wingers protesting data centers have a lot in common with the left | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/969667/humans-first-data-center-protest-hernando-county-florida-republicans">The Verge</a></li>
 <li>No data centers in my backyard | <a href="https://jasmi.news/p/no-data-centers-in-my-backyard">Jasmine Sun</a></li>
 <li>Who’s afraid of the big, bad GPU? | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/cs/features/937356/ai-data-center-gpu-environmental-impact">The Verge&nbsp;</a></li>
 <li>NY becomes the first state to enact a data center moratorium | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/965110/new-york-ai-data-center-moratorium">The Verge</a></li>
 <li>The fight against AI data centers is just beginning | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/column/963346/ai-data-centers-fight">The Verge</a></li>
 <li>Florida gives millions in tax breaks to data centers under DeSantis-backed law | <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2026/06/26/desantis-data-center-florida-byron-donalds-tax-break/">Tampa Bay Times</a></li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.theverge.com/subscribe">Subscribe to The Verge</a> to access the ad-free version of Decoder!
Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our supervising producer is Greg Ott, and our editorial director is Kevin McShane.&nbsp;
The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

The left and right agree on one thing: no data centers

Decoder with Nilay Patel

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews