I usually like Jeremiah Johnson’s takes, but his inability to apply Occam’s Razor to the broad hatred of data centers is a strange form of myopia

Posted on August 19, 2026 at 11:32:23 AM by brick

It’s not a “psy op” when you realize the tech companies are literally spending $2.2 billion in 2026 alone on pro-AI, pro-data center advertising & outreach (even Eric Adams got his beak wet!), along with a constant drumbeat of pro-data center messaging on Fox News, and it’s being overwhelmingly rejected.

It’s grass roots, organic dislike of AI, anger about dramatic increases in energy bills, and some latent NIMBY-ism that’s omnipresent in the background of American politics. The other thing (Axios reported on this today) is that data centers are the tech companies’ Achilles Heel. If they can’t build them (and if some currently in operation get shut down by strict application of fire codes), the whole project falls apart. And everyone’s becoming aware of that in real time.

Back to the board

Thread:

I usually like Jeremiah Johnson’s takes, but his inability to apply Occam’s Razor to the broad hatred of data centers is a strange form of myopia - By brick August 19, 2026 at 11:32:23 AM
- could Jeremiah Johnson’s parents have been unaware of this movie?... - By ajs August 19, 2026 at 01:19:15 PM
  - or is he older than the movie?* - By ajs August 19, 2026 at 01:20:18 PM
- EVERYONE hates AI.* - By LS&Play August 19, 2026 at 11:40:57 AM
  - In that poll i posted last night, opposition to data centers (which is already very high!) jumped by *13 points!* when people were told the data center - By brick August 19, 2026 at 01:24:43 PM
  - This board seems mostly pro-AI* - By Poster P August 19, 2026 at 01:07:45 PM
  - And scooters* - By crumbs August 19, 2026 at 12:26:05 PM
  - Brick is correct on the politics and election impact. Exclusive: GOP issues stark warning to AI companies - AXIOS - By Cincywolve August 19, 2026 at 12:09:42 PM
    - It will be a tragedy if the GOP jumps on this before the Democrats. Closest thing to a slam dunk in politics. Every normal person hates AI and data centers.* - By LS&Play August 19, 2026 at 12:21:31 PM
      - It would be a generational failure. A political issue that crosses the Urban/Rural and Educated/Uneducated splits. PLUS normie NIMBYs are in your side, and the guys on the AI/Data Center side - By brick August 19, 2026 at 01:33:14 PM
      - Brown has his foot on pedal. GOP focused on trans and immigrants stealing your benefits* - By Cincywolve August 19, 2026 at 12:23:37 PM
  - On a call right now re: AI and implementation of tools. It is f+cking nuts. I mean this in a good way but also in a very nefarious and malevolent way. Literlayy sea change sh*t in any gfiven week.* - By BigLake August 19, 2026 at 12:02:23 PM
  - CEO's CFOs CIOs boards and shareholders seem to like it. * - By Cincywolve August 19, 2026 at 11:45:04 AM
    - AI is political the front line for the populist battle against wealth inequality. Politically salient...problem is money influences politics so it will be interesting to watch*** - By Cincywolve August 19, 2026 at 11:52:07 AM
- I don't see a 50-, 40-, or possibly even 30-state move to (effectively) bar new data centers. There will be places for them. - By ftb August 19, 2026 at 11:39:59 AM
  - Most recent legitimate poll of Texans had 74% opposition to building data centers for AI anywhere in the state. Not just NIMBY, or I guess a very broad definition of backyard? - By brick August 19, 2026 at 12:12:20 PM
    - It's odd to the point of not credible for Texans to say they oppose data centers anywhere in the state. I don't see that as meaningful. - By ftb August 19, 2026 at 12:18:14 PM
      - Texas is a weird situation tho in the respect that they literally have their own power grid, on purpose. - By Pal August 19, 2026 at 12:31:32 PM
        
        Agree. But easily solved for data centers by captured power. Can even be sold as helping if firms chip in with lines or shared storage.* - By ftb August 19, 2026 at 12:39:27 PM
        
        Captured power is something that is talked about a lot, but it is something that dramatically raises the cost of DC construction - By Pal August 19, 2026 at 01:12:28 PM
        
        They definitely would prefer to spend (less) money on PR. But I see transformational AI as inevitable, even if slow. - By ftb August 19, 2026 at 01:35:42 PM
  - Red states and the moon, where they belong * - By tem August 19, 2026 at 11:51:23 AM
  - Corporate America invested over $1T in AI tools, tokens and infrastructure in 2026. The VC money is increasing across all sectors**** - By Cincywolve August 19, 2026 at 11:44:06 AM
    - If you're posting from the future, did we beat Ohio State?* - By ftb August 19, 2026 at 11:46:09 AM
      - no spoilers please* - By chiwalker August 19, 2026 at 12:08:14 PM
        
        Spoilers - By Cincywolve August 19, 2026 at 12:10:30 PM
      - I am sorry that should be 2025 per Hardfork*** - By Cincywolve August 19, 2026 at 11:46:42 AM
        
        Gartner's latest comprehensive estimate puts worldwide AI spending at about $1.76 trillion in 2025, rising to a projected $2.53 trillion in 2026.* - By Cincywolve August 19, 2026 at 11:49:19 AM
- Response... - By Cap August 19, 2026 at 11:36:29 AM

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I usually like Jeremiah Johnson’s takes, but his inability to apply Occam’s Razor to the broad hatred of data centers is a strange form of myopia