NEW: The AI data center-backlash is crashing into the midterms Protesters at a Trump rally. Candidates cutting ads elevating the issue. A NY moratorium that stands as a mile-marker. Industry players & activists taking notice of the intensity ratcheting up www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

How the booming backlash to AI data centers is shaping the midterm election

Candidates are cutting ads touting anti-data center credentials. Protesters are showing up at events. Industry players are taking note.

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NEW: Mamdani puts his democratic socialist vision of DOGE to the test. Advisers and allies see a model for government efficiency that Dems can follow across the country. But some are worried he's moving too fast www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

Zohran Mamdani puts his democratic socialist version of DOGE to the test

The New York mayor’s government efficiency effort is a potential path forward for Democrats around the country. But some are concerned he’s moving too fast.

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NEW: 2024 DNC speakers keep losing primaries or dropping out of races Crockett. Schlossberg. McMorrow. Others have lost/are on track to. It's out of whack w/ past conventions “A prime-time slot...is starting to look less like a launchpad & more like a warning label" www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Democratic rising stars who spoke at the party’s 2024 convention keep losing

Mallory McMorrow, Jack Schlossberg and Jasmine Crockett are among the Democrats who spoke at Kamala Harris’ nominating convention, only to fall short in primaries this cycle.

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Scoop: Zohran Mamdani to deliver a "major" speech Friday marking America 250, hours before Trump gives his own commemorative address at Mount Rushmore Mamdani will speak from George Washington's desk at City Hall and be surrounded by recently naturalized citizens www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

Zohran Mamdani to deliver a speech marking America’s 250th birthday

The New York City mayor will speak from George Washington’s desk hours before President Trump delivers a speech from Mount Rushmore.

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New: Three left-wing wins in NYC fuel an ongoing Dem rift over control of the party The Zohran-boosted victories have leftists saying they've "never been more hopeful about taking back this party." Others say "everyone needs to chill" w/ @natashakorecki.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Democratic rift over the party’s future widens amid the left’s New York victories

But some in the party cautioned against taking too many national lessons from the successes of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s congressional slate.

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Trump's tentative Iran deal exacerbates GOP tensions “He’s the leader of our party," Sen. Moreno said. "We have to give him the grace & the space to do what he needs to do" @jonallendc.bsky.social, Katherine Doyle @sahilkapur.bsky.social + @henryjgomez.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

Anxious Republicans await details of Iran deal as Trump keeps them guessing

Republicans are awaiting full details of the president’s new agreement with Iran but early reports have exacerbated longstanding tensions over the war.

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A call from Amazon's Jassy to Bessent detailing security risks w/ Anthropic's most powerful model alarmed the Trump admin, w/ senior officials "scrambling to understand the seriousness" of the issues via: Jared Perlo, @newsjul.bsky.social @davidingram.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/tech/securit...

Inside the Trump Administration scramble that forced Anthropic’s new AI model offline

This was the first time the federal government has caused a leading AI company to retract its systems from public use, heralding a new era of government AI oversight.

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New: Data center opponents are on the march. A new study found that they've blocked or delayed at least 75 projects woth about $130 billion between January & March this year — roughly the total blocked in all of 2025 — as grassroots efforts gain steam www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...

Data center opponents have blocked or delayed projects worth nearly $130 billion in 2026, study finds

The authors found that data center opponents blocked or delayed at least 75 projects nationwide from January through March.

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NEW: Anti-Trump ex-Republicans are running in Democratic primaries. So far, they’re off to a rocky start Geoff Duncan & Ryan Crosswell lost by double digits. George Conway trails in NY-12 polls Comes as Dems wrestle w/ perception they’re just anti-Trump www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Anti-Trump former Republicans are running in Democratic primaries. They’re off to a rocky start.

Ex-GOPers Ryan Crosswell and Geoff Duncan lost high-profile Democratic primaries last month. Up next: a test for ‘Never Trump’ stalwart George Conway in New York.

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New: Dems are centering "corruption" in their campaigns. Insiders say the strategy is potent now b/c of economic dissatisfaction But Republicans think they've got a way to counter the effort w/ JD Vance's anti-fraud task force w/ @natashakorecki.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Democrats think their secret sauce in 2026 is targeting Trump and Republicans on ‘corruption’

Republicans think they have a potent counter — and it’s centered on Vice President JD Vance’s anti-fraud task force.

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Chatted with @mayor.nyc.gov about his wide-ranging housing plan, which could define his time in office Mamdani: “Too often in conversations around housing, there is a sense of a choice that has to be made ... and that doesn’t have to be the case any longer.' www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

Zohran Mamdani unveils $28 billion housing plan that could define his time in office

In an interview with NBC News, Mamdani said housing policies have too often been framed as a “choice,” adding, “That doesn’t have to be the case any longer.”

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New: Democratic grassroots group to target more than 60 races with ambitious canvassing effort Swing Left laid out its comprehensive battle plan, “The Big Swing,” with NBC News. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Democratic grassroots group to target more than 60 races with ambitious canvassing effort

Swing Left laid out its comprehensive battle plan, “The Big Swing,” with NBC News.

nbcnews.com

New: The WHCD aftermath showed how much the conspiracy realm has reoriented Conspiracy theories played a big role in Trump's rise and his hold on power. Now the theorists are just asking questions of him. The shift is triggering a dilemma for Dems, too. www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...

Trump has lost control of the conspiracy theories

Trump has long used conspiracy theories to his benefit. But now that he's president, he's the target of some influencers who have pushed those theories.

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New: The WH uses GTA, Wii sports & SpongeBob clips to memeify Iran war Trump aides says the clips have people focused on military wins. Others see a "disturbing" trend “It’s fucking bullshit,” a former top military official said. “Nobody thinks this is a good idea" www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...

The White House compares deadly conflict with video games and movies in memeified videos to win support for Iran war

The White House explained its war meme strategy has viewers focused on the military’s successes. Others see a “disturbing” development.

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The only topics surveyed in the new NBC News poll that were less popular than AI? The Democratic Party and Iran www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol... by @allansmith.bsky.social

NEW: The coming potential AI-fueled white-collar job displacement could have a massive effect on politics Some leaders are taking notice “We’re looking at a massive collapse of the middle class,” Sen. Hawley said. “We simply cannot allow that to happen” www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

Politicians are starting to pay a lot more attention to the plight of white-collar workers

Rapid advancements in AI have industry and political leaders warning of massive job displacement for white-collar workers. It could reshape U.S. politics.

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SCOOP from @allansmith.bsky.social: Unions are privately urging Schumer and the DSCC to stop backing Janet Mills in the Maine Senate primary. UAW head Shawn Fain called Schumer recently and spoke to him about it, and an IBEW leader sent a letter to the DSCC. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Unions privately urge Chuck Schumer and Democratic leaders to stay out of Maine's Senate primary

At least three pro-Graham Platner unions are pushing Democratic leaders to stop supporting Gov. Janet Mills in the competitive Senate race.

nbcnews.com

Scoop: Pro-Platner unions, including the UAW and IBEW, are privately advocating for Dem leaders to end their support for Gov. Mills in ME Senate UAW president Shawn Fain discussed the race w/ Schumer earlier this month. The IBEW sent DSCC a letter Monday www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Unions privately urge Chuck Schumer and Democratic leaders to stay out of Maine's Senate primary

At least three pro-Graham Platner unions are pushing Democratic leaders to stop supporting Gov. Janet Mills in the competitive Senate race.

nbcnews.com

Scoop: Josh Shapiro to unveil a set of principles for the data center boom in PA during his budget address today Will say developers must pay for their own power, hire locally, and meet transparency + water-conservation standards to qualify for benefits www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Josh Shapiro to unveil plan for managing the data center boom in Pennsylvania

The Democratic governor and potential presidential candidate is among those wading into new AI-adjacent political issues confronting both parties.

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New: Josh Shapiro grapples with one big factor separating him from other possible 2028 Dems: A divided state Legislature that necessitates tricky compromises “He’s right, it’s very hard,” a PA Dem said. "It’s certainly different than a Wes Moore or a [Gavin] Newsom" www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Josh Shapiro grapples with Pennsylvania's divided government ahead of a possible 2028 bid

The Pennsylvania governor is just now emerging from a contentious four-month budget impasse that tested his ability to “get stuff done” in the pivotal battleground.

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New: The battle for young men has been a defining political fight of 2025. And it is intensifying. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

The fight for young men intensifies ahead of the 2026 midterm elections

Democrats believe they're making progress after Trump's gains with young men helped him win in 2024. Republicans say they're focused on ensuring those inconsistent voters turn out.

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SCOOP: Trump DOJ weighs novel hate crimes charge against Charlie Kirk's assassin, which could require them to equate Christianity with anti-trans views. A theoretical federal case could impact what looks like a slam dunk state case. With @allansmith.bsky.social: www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

DOJ weighs novel federal hate crimes case against Charlie Kirk's alleged killer

The effort to bring federal charges has been met with resistance by some career prosecutors who argue the crime doesn’t appear to fall under any federal statutes.

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New: DOJ weighs a novel hate crimes case against Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer “They are trying to shove a square peg into a round hole,” said a person familiar w/ the probe Meanwhile, a change was just made atop the Utah US Attorney’s office W/ @ryanjreilly.com www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

DOJ weighs novel federal hate crime case against Charlie Kirk's alleged killer

The effort to bring federal charges has been met with resistance by some career prosecutors who argue the crime doesn’t appear to fall under any federal statutes.

nbcnews.com

New: Trump/Mamdani voters are at the center of a surprise relationship between the president & new mayor Mamdani brought up exit polling w/ Trump showing how many had supported both in NYC. Voters who backed both told me they're not "joking or trolling." www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

'I love an underdog': Trump-Zohran Mamdani voters are at the center of an unexpected relationship

NBC News exit polling from the November vote found that about 1 in 10 Trump voters who showed up to the polls backed Mamdani.

nbcnews.com

New: AI is becoming a wedge issue within both parties As the tech rapidly advances while the Trump admin favors few guardrails, the issue may define 26 + 28 DeSantis, AOC, Newsom, Shapiro, Vance + more pave lanes w/ @henryjgomez.bsky.social @jonallendc.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

AI becomes a political wedge issue, creating odd bedfellows across parties

MAGA media personality Steve Bannon described the fight on the right as one between populists and "broligarchs" in the tech industry.

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"And yet the Pirates were primed to spend more than twice that on Josh Naylor before he re-upped with Seattle for five years and $92.5 million ... and they're considering other possibilities to supplement Paul Skenes" www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/...

Passan's MLB offseason preview: Every signing or trade we could see this winter

From the big-name signing to the could-be trade, Jeff Passan breaks down the winter to come.

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President Donald Trump has 38 months left in office and — as his occasional pining about an unconstitutional third term attests — is loath to be a lame duck anytime soon. But the quacking from others has begun. w/ @allansmith.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Affordability worries and GOP infighting hover over the early race to succeed Trump

As 2028 talk heats up, Vice President JD Vance, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and others are navigating the aftermath of Republican losses in last week’s elections.

nbcnews.com

NEW: Trump defends his MAGA bona fides as right-wing base criticizes him on the economy, China and H-1B visas “America First is experiencing a hijacking right now," said Paul Dans. "[Trump’s] getting bad advice & is being kept in a bubble.” w/ Matt Dixon www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...

Trump defends his MAGA bona fides amid backlash from his base

After GOP election losses and an interview with Fox News, some of Trump's supporters have expressed concerns that the president's priorities aren't aligned enough with his base.

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Next 30-something candidate in New York City just announced www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

Jack Schlossberg, member of Kennedy political dynasty, is running for Congress

The 32-year-old said he will run as a Democrat for the New York City seat of U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, who announced he's retiring.

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The new batch of Epstein emails comes as Trump is already facing headwinds from MAGA over a host of other policy moves www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...