The Data Center Next Door
Reveal
The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX
4.7 • 8.7K Ratings
🗓️ 16 May 2026
⏱️ 53 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Virginia might be for lovers, but more recently, it’s for data centers. The state has more data centers than anywhere in the world, and companies are pushing to build more of them, including around some of the most hallowed ground in the country: the Manassas National Battlefield Park.
“The amount of surface land that is being displaced by data centers and everything that goes with that, I don’t think people understand what’s really happening,” says Elena Schlossberg, a leading activist against data center development in Northern Virginia. “There’s NIMBY and there’s NOTE, and NOTE is ‘not over there, either.’”
This week on Reveal, we look into our AI future and the local machinations that are pitting neighbor against neighbor. And we listen in as our “tech lords” talk about the future they are planning for us, whether we want it or not.
- Support Reveal’s journalism at Revealnews.org/donatenow
- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the scoop on new episodes at Revealnews.org/weekly
- Connect with us onBluesky, Facebook and Instagram
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Want to make a lasting difference to reveal and protect independent journalism right now? |
| 0:07.0 | It won't cost you a thing. |
| 0:09.0 | Hi, it's Jane Butcher from Boulder, Colorado. |
| 0:13.0 | I've spent my life fighting for justice, which is why I'm a longtime supporter of Reveal and the Center for Investigative Reporting. |
| 0:21.4 | I'm stepping up to protect the future of fearless independent journalism, and you can too |
| 0:26.7 | by joining CIR's Legacy Challenge. Just let Reveal know you're going to include them in your legacy |
| 0:33.6 | plans, provide some basic information, and here's the really exciting part. A generous |
| 0:40.3 | donor will contribute up to $10,000 now to fund Reveal's essential reporting in honor of your |
| 0:47.4 | gift. Your legacy gift of any size makes an impact, not just in the future, but right now. |
| 0:54.0 | If you'd like to join me or want to learn more, |
| 0:56.9 | please reach out to Gifts at RevealNews.org. Again, that's Gifts at RevealNews.org. The Legacy |
| 1:06.0 | Challenge is only available for a limited time. Stand up for the truth today. |
| 1:13.9 | From the Center for Investigative Reporting in PRX, |
| 1:17.3 | this is Reveal. |
| 1:18.7 | I'm Al Leighton. |
| 1:20.4 | A couple of months ago, |
| 1:22.1 | Jessica Grove was at her son's middle school basketball game, |
| 1:25.6 | watching her kid shoot around with his coach during pregame. |
| 1:29.3 | And this guy walks in and my heart immediately skips a beat because I instantaneously know who it is. |
| 1:39.6 | And he does not have a child on the other team. |
| 1:47.8 | He does not have a child on my son's team. |
| 1:52.3 | And I was like, what the fuck is he doing here? |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 9 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.