Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social has tapped into a vibrant national issue with all of the public anger over data centers.

Jon Cooper@joncooper-us.bsky.social · 3d ago

Anger Over Data Centers Is Fueling a New Political Movement Justin Pearson, a Tennessee lawmaker, has become one of' the loudest voices amid a growing national backlash against the pollution and politics of America's Al buildout.

Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, a victory for progressives that carries massive implications for Senate control. El-Sayed will need to convince skeptics that he can win in purple territory against former GOP Rep Mike Rogers in a critical battleground state @politico.com

Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary — a major victory for progressives

It’s a clear signal that the ascendant left can win primaries in key battlegrounds and carries massive implications for 2028.

politico.com

Kansas voters sent a strong message tonight - they want a judiciary that stands up to the legislature, not one controlled by it or shaped by big money judicial elections

Kansas Voters Crush a Measure to Elect Supreme Court Judges

The rejection of a measure to begin electing justices was a victory for abortion rights groups who defended the Kansas high court’s ruling that abortion was protected in the state constitution.

nytimes.com

It's primary election night in five states. Here are their poll closing times ⬇️

Taniel@taniel.bsky.social · yesterday

When are polls tonight closing? —7pm local time (ET) in Virginia —7pm local time in Missouri, which is 8pm ET —7pm local time in Kansas (8pm or 9pm ET) —8pm local time in Michigan (8pm, mostly, or 9pm ET) —8pm local time in Washington (11pm ET) What to watch? boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...

Early Voting has ended. Thank you to all who voted! Election Day is Thursday, August 6th. Polls will be open 7am–7pm and you must vote at your assigned location. Check your yellow voter registration card or the Polling Place Finder bit.ly/2Suyyfs for your assigned site.

For state Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social, who's running to represent Tennessee’s newly gerrymandered 9th Congressional District, pressing for a data center moratorium is connected to other planks in his campaign, like increasing the minimum wage and universal healthcare. --- @politico.com

Anger Over Data Centers Is Fueling a New Political Movement

Justin Pearson, a Tennessee lawmaker, has become one of the loudest voices amid a growing national backlash against the pollution and politics of America's AI buildout.

politico.com

Good Work, Nashville! More than 50,000 Davidson County ballots have already been cast before Election Day, an early voting surge up 35% from 2024. --- @nashvillescene.com

Urgent Politics and Easy Convenience Drive Early Voter Surge

High turnout trend holds through two weeks, boosting primary ballots 35 percent from 2024

nashvillescene.com

CARTOON OF THE DAY (if you know who made this let us know)

For state Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social, who's running to represent Tennessee’s newly gerrymandered 9th Congressional District, pressing for a data center moratorium is connected to other planks in his campaign, like increasing the minimum wage and universal healthcare. --- @politico.com

Anger Over Data Centers Is Fueling a New Political Movement

Justin Pearson, a Tennessee lawmaker, has become one of the loudest voices amid a growing national backlash against the pollution and politics of America's AI buildout.

politico.com

Saturday, August 1, 2026 FINAL Cumulative In-Person Early Voting Total: 50,747

This Is It! The last day to vote early. All locations are open now until 4:30pm. Vote!

Davidson County Election Commission@davidsonvotes.bsky.social · 4d ago

Today (Saturday, August 1) is the FINAL day of Early Voting for the August 6th elections. All 15 locations are open until 4:30pm. #VOTE

Two days remain to #EarlyVote! 15 sites across Nashville are open until 5:30pm today (Friday). Choose the location convenient to work or home and #VOTE

“It’s a jump ball, it’s anyone’s race.” After an awkward television interview, a lack of public debating and a controversial TV ad that calls Sen. Marsha Blackburn the “queen pharma mama,” a new poll suggests the race for governor of Tennessee is too close to call. -- @nashvillebanner.bsky.social

Poll shows Republican gubernatorial primary getting tight - Nashville Banner

New polling shows Sen. Marsha Blackburn's lead in the Tennessee Republican gubernatorial primary narrowing against Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts.

nashvillebanner.com

In April, a bill which strengthens free speech protections on college campuses, easily passed in the Tennessee Legislature. Six months earlier, 21 of the GOP lawmakers who voted in favor publicly supported firing educators over comments made after Charlie Kirk's death. @thetennesean.bsky.social

Pols vote to protect speech yet urge punishment over Charlie Kirk comments

Tennessee has paid more than any state in settlement payouts following lawsuits regarding Charlie Kirk comments

tennessean.com

Internal documents and former company executives reveal how Cigna doctors rejected patients’ claims without opening their files. “We literally click and submit,” one former company doctor said. (Published March 2023 w/ @capitolforum.bsky.social)

How Cigna Saves Millions by Having Its Doctors Reject Claims Without Reading Them

Internal documents and former company executives reveal how Cigna doctors reject patients’ claims without opening their files. “We literally click and submit,” one former company doctor said.

propublica.org

Climate policy isn't going away because Washington stopped talking about it. Americans are already paying the price through fires, floods, heat, and rising costs. Our new collection asks a different question: what should the next agenda for climate look like post-DOGE and the rollback of the IRA? 🧵

Building Up in 2029: How to Make Green Statecraft Durable

Explore 17 essays on durable US climate and industrial policy after Inflation Reduction Act rollbacks, covering governance, planning, finance, and production.

rooseveltinstitute.org

NEW POLL 📊 Fox News Senate Polls (June/July) GEORGIA: 🔵 Ossoff 56% (+13) 🔴 Collins 43% NORTH CAROLINA: 🔵 Cooper 53% (+9) 🔴 Whatley 44% OHIO: 🔵 Brown 53% (+8) 🔴 Husted 45% IOWA: 🔵 Turek 50% (+4) 🔴 Hinson 46% (Fox News/Beacon Research/Shaw, A-rated, RV)

Stephen Colbert wins an anti-censorship award after CBS ends ‘The Late Show’. apnews.com/article/step...

Stephen Colbert wins an anti-censorship award after CBS ends 'The Late Show'

Stephen Colbert has received an “anti-censorship” award from the Before Columbus Foundation. The foundation, based in Oakland, California, champions diversity in U.S. literature and culture.

apnews.com

Coffee lovers…how does a cup of coffee after voting sound?! The friendly folks at Casa Azafrán always have a pot of Coffee Cultura available for visitors to their building. So why not #EarlyVote this morning…or anytime before 4:30 today and enjoy their warm hospitality. #VOTE

An AI-generated attack ad targeting Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has been pulled from the air after her attorneys sent a cease-and-desist. The ad features a partying woman resembling Blackburn and refers to her as the “Queen Pharma Mama.” -- @nashvillescene.com

Blackburn Pushes for Criminal Investigation After ‘Queen Pharma Mama’ Ad

An AI-generated ad targeting Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has been pulled following a cease-and-desist

nashvillescene.com

We have four more days of #earlyvoting in Nashville. Why not pick a convenient location and vote today? Polls are open from 8am until 4:30pm today!

Sen. Marsha Blackburn is not happy about being called “queen pharma mama.” Her gubernatorial campaign is demanding a dark-money group pull a TV ad that calls her that nickname and infers she took money to pass federal pharmaceutical law. --- @tennesseelookout.com

Blackburn goes after dark-money group calling her ‘queen pharma mama’ • Tennessee Lookout

Lawyers for Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and her gubernatorial campaign are demanding a dark-money group pull a TV ad.

tennesseelookout.com

How can social media regulations backfire? Can free speech survive without legal safeguards? @mchangama.bsky.social answers these questions with Claudia Koestler on the @ohot.bsky.social Podcast.

Gen Z is analyzing the environmental and economic impact of massive AI data centers, specifically a one-gigawatt project in El Paso. While some fear AI will displace careers, others in the generation are adapting to it as a necessary tool. Read @dellavolpe.bsky.social 's full analysis here:

Gen Z Just Did the Math on Your $14 Billion Data Center

Meta and BlackRock are pouring billions into the desert. Young Americans are already counting the water it drinks, and deciding how to vote about it.

dellavolpe.substack.com

Only 5 days remain to #EarlyVote !! On Tuesday, all 15 sites are open until 7pm. Goodlettsville residents, have you been by your beautiful library to cast your ballot? A great group of Poll Officials are waiting to assist you 😉

Rep. Justin Pearson’s plan to win in Tennessee’s newly gerrymandered 9th Congressional District is simple and difficult: Be everywhere, do everything, talk to everybody, and appeal to every Tennessean with economic populism. --- @nashvillescene.com @justinjpearson.bsky.social

Justin Pearson Bets on Economics — Not Culture War — to Unite Tennessee

The ascendant Memphis politician aims to break Republicans’ gerrymander with hustle and fundraising in the 9th Congressional District

nashvillescene.com

In 75% of US industries, fewer corporations control more of the business than 20 years ago. That's especially true in the food industry. Just four corporations control 54% of the fresh-cut salad industry, including Taylor Fresh Foods. We're seeing in real time the danger of monopolization.

Taylor Farms Produce Is Sold Everywhere, Making Outbreak Difficult to Escape

Taylor Farms produce is everywhere, and comes from everywhere.

bloomberg.com

SO. MANY. VOTERS. work or live near the Fulton Campus downtown where Early Voting is being held. Why not run over to the Metro Office Building/first floor at lunch – or whenever it’s convenient – and #EarlyVote ?! All sites open until 5:30pm Monday.

As election season heats up, programs that concentrate on helping voters and election officials in areas where turnout could be low or there’s concern about voter intimidation are becoming more visible. But voters do agree on one thing: "Public trust right now is on the edge.” @tennesseelookout.com

Flood of poll watchers, observers, monitors to descend on midterm voters • Tennessee Lookout

The growing presence of partisan poll watchers creates the possibility of even more conflict in the November midterm elections.

tennesseelookout.com

One of the worst possible outcomes of leaving a gun unsecured is the serious injury or death of someone you love. But there are other serious consequences to unsecured guns, like a teen using your firearm to carry out a school shooting, or a gun being stolen from your vehicle and used in a crime.