Guest host Joe Cirincione fills in for Bill Press and interviews Mother Jones investigative journalist Tim Murphy about his cover story, “Power Hungry: How the AI Oligarchy Gobbled Up America.” Murphy describes how the post–ChatGPT AI race has driven a boom in hyperscale data centers—projects the size of Central Park that demand immense electricity, water, and even on-site power plants, sometimes pushing nuclear plants like Three Mile Island to reopen. He argues this “hyperscale” moment has narrowed and intensified U.S. oligarchy, fusing concentrated tech wealth with political power, including major 2024 election spending and alliances with Donald Trump. Murphy details disruptive impacts on rural communities, secrecy via shell companies and NDAs, fears of boom-and-bust “empty hulks,” and growing bipartisan local backlash raising questions about democracy, agency, and the future envisioned by AI leaders.

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