Data center backlash in midterm elections and Iran launches attacks on U.S. targets: Morning Rundown

Morning RundownData center backlash in midterm elections and Iran launches attacks on U.S. targets: Morning RundownPlus, the Federal Reserve is expected to keep key interest rates the same, though experts predict a rate hike before the end of the year.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 29, 2026, 7:05 AM EDTBy Elizabeth Robinson, Daniela Suarez and Delia Sara RangelThe backlash against AI data centers is becoming a key issue in midterm races. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia strike sites in Iraq. And the whey protein craze is creating a cheese surplus.Here’s what to know today.How the backlash to AI data centers is shaping midterm electionsDemonstrators hold up "Stop Data Centers" signs as President Donald Trump speaks in Michigan on July 27.Sarah Rice / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesOpposition to data centers is spilling into midterm primary and general election contests, with the fight intensifying quickly. President Donald Trump’s economic speech in Michigan on Monday was interrupted by protesters opposed to the developments, while state and federal candidates are releasing ads highlighting their positions on data centers. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.Polling shows Americans broadly oppose data centers being built near their homes, while research suggests groups fighting the developments are gaining momentum.The swelling opposition has even crossed partisan lines.For Democrats, concerns over the environmental impact of data centers, potential job losses and broader skepticism of AI and corporate America have created an opening for progressive messaging. But a divide is emerging within the party between those who want to slow development and those who support allowing growth with conditions.Republicans, too, have shifted their stance, with more now seeking to ensure data centers don’t drive up voters’ power bills. Trump is among them.How data cen...