Today I’m talking with Josh Dzieza, a longtime features writer here at The Verge, about a massive data center in Utah that does not exist, might never exist, and yet has already completely reshaped the politics of the entire state.&nbsp;
Josh just published a major feature this week on the struggling Stratos data center project in Utah backed by Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary. So I invited Josh on the show to discuss what’s happening inside the AI industry’s infrastructure boom, inside the bipartisan backlash to data centers, and how the tech industry is running into the one obstacle it can’t seem to spend its way out of: local democracy.&nbsp;
Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>The People of Utah vs. Kevin O'Leary | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/cs/features/993343/stratos-utah-kevin-oleary-data-center-backlash/">The Verge</a></li>
 <li>Adams — burdened by data center fallout — ousted by voters | <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2026/06/23/utah-senate-president-j-stuart/">Salt Lake Tribune</a></li>
 <li>‘Shark Tank’ star sued by opponents he claimed were foreign agents| <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/15/us/kevin-oleary-data-center-lawsuit.html">NYT</a></li>
 <li>Fox News apologizes for airing O’Leary claims about data centers | <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5945270-fox-news-apologizes-kevin-oleary-china-data-center-claims/">The Hill</a></li>
 <li>Kevin O’Leary agrees to downsize massive Utah data center | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/943234/kevin-oleary-agrees-to-downsize-massive-utah-data-center">The Verge</a></li>
 <li>The biggest data center ever is becoming a huge problem in Utah | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/933687/utah-stratos-project-data-center-kevin-oleary">The Verge</a></li>
 <li>America's data center future is Loudoun County's past | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/cs/features/975597/loudoun-county-virginia-data-center-backlash">The Verge</a></li>
 <li>The left and right agree on one thing: no data centers | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/podcast/971855/ai-data-center-backlash-protests-florida-bipartisan">Decoder</a></li>
</ul>

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Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Decoder’s producers are Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.
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