How the GOP is approaching data center backlash and why Trump is pivoting to North Korea: Morning Rundown

Morning RundownHow the GOP is approaching data center backlash and why Trump is pivoting to North Korea: Morning RundownPlus, family says father of a sailor aboard USS Lincoln was detained, and a fire rages in Nevada.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00ShareAdd to GoogleAug. 24, 2026, 6:57 AM EDTBy Kayla HayempourRepublicans are sprinting to get in line with voter skepticism on data centers as they emerge as a top midterms issue. The immigrant father of a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln was detained by immigration authorities, his family says. And why Trump is trying to entice Kim Jong Un into meeting. Here’s what to know today.Republicans wrestle with data center backlashA protest against artificial intelligence outside Winchester Hall in Frederick, Md., last month.Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesRepublicans in some of this fall’s biggest races are embracing growing backlash to data centers in the hopes of courting voters unhappy with the industry.This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.Former Rep. Mike Rogers, the GOP nominee for Senate in Michigan, announced support for a one-year moratorium on development. Ohio gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy released a plan stating future data centers must pay some bills and taxes for residents. Even Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who had welcomed the projects, ordered an audit of the ones in his state.“There’s no getting around the fact this is a real issue,” Ramaswamy said. Both parties are rapidly trying to figure out how to best address the subject. The GOP faces a unique challenge: pushing back on the facilities while President Donald Trump promotes their benefits and becomes closer with tech leaders. Republicans told NBC News they believe they’ve got the right approach, embracing Trump’s “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” and promoting local control. Here’s what else they said. More politics news:Former Anchorage mayor Dan Sullivan endo...