What Next: TBD | Data Centers on the Ballot

Slate News

Slate Podcasts

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.6 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 14 November 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

They don’t cut cleanly along party lines, but data centers, and where they get built, became an election issue in Virginia. With so many more data centers to build, are we looking at a new trend? Guest: Margaret Barthel, reporter covering northern Virginia for WAMU. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	300 sensors.
0:03.0	Over a million data points per second.
0:06.0	How does F1 update their fans with every stat in real time?
0:10.0	AWS is how.
0:13.0	From fastest laps to strategy calls,
0:15.0	AWS puts fans in the pit.
0:19.0	It's not just racing, it's data-driven innovation at 200 miles per hour.
0:25.4	AWS is how leading businesses power next-level innovation.
0:30.0	Let's hear from the Chancellor, Jeffrey.
0:32.3	From the Chancellor, Nigel.
0:34.0	Chancellor John Norman, Kenneth, Gordon, Alastair, George, Philip, Philip, Sajid, Rishi, Nadine, Quasi, Jeremy.
0:40.2	And now, Rachel, another year, another budget. Over the past 40 years, we've seen it all.
0:47.7	Our experts will continue to filter through the noise and uncertainty, helping you make the most of your tax allowances.
0:54.1	Hargrease landsdown, helping Britain invest through it all.
0:57.7	Capital at risk, tax rules applying can change.
1:04.1	Reporter Margaret Barthel has a routine when she talks to Virginia voters about elections.
1:10.4	I always ask, you know, what are the important issues to you in this election?
1:14.7	And often you hear, you know, pretty national talking points when you ask that question.
1:21.3	But if you ask, what are the local issues that are important to you in this election?
1:26.8	Almost everyone said data centers.
1:29.9	Margaret covers Northern Virginia for NPR member station WAMU. And this past election day,
1:36.0	Virginia elected a new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and members to all 100 seats
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 14 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Slate Podcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Slate Podcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.