WIRED to Host Livestream on the Surging Backlash Against Data Centers

Data centers have become a flashpoint in American politics. Once a topic most people paid little attention to, these sprawling facilities powering artificial intelligence systems are now sparking fierce debates about environmental impact, business priorities, and infrastructure planning—with growing activism across the political spectrum ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The Event#

WIRED is hosting a live audience Q&A on September 10 at 12pm ET / 9am PT to explore the controversy. Readers can submit questions in the comments section, and the event will stream on WIRED's platform with a replay available afterward for subscribers.

Who's Discussing It#

The panel brings together four WIRED journalists with deep expertise:

• Tim Marchman, senior director of science, politics, and security
• Molly Taft, senior writer covering climate change, energy, and environmental issues
• Hugo Lowell, senior political correspondent and author of Inner Loop, WIRED's weekly politics newsletter
• Maxwell Zeff, senior writer covering AI business and author of Model Behavior, a weekly newsletter about Silicon Valley's AI ecosystem

How to Access#

The livestream will air directly on WIRED's site. Those without a subscription can sign up to watch, and a recorded version will be available for subscribers afterward. WIRED has also hosted previous livestreams on related topics, including AI and work, defense technology, and electric vehicles.