Gov Hochul Announces New Rules For AI Data Centers As Trump Admin Calls Concerns A Hoax | The States

Congress debates whether public employee unions are spending member dues on political causes their workers don't support, New York and the Trump administration clash over AI regulation while data center fights spread across three states, a Kentucky congressman moves to impeach the Secretary of Defense over the Iran conflict's cost and legal authority, an economist breaks down a labor market that's stalled rather than collapsed, and headlines cover the 2026 midterms, Social Security, and a Chicago immigration enforcement dispute.The House Workforce and Education Committee split along party lines Tuesday over the political activity of public employee unions, with Republicans citing National Right to Work testimony that unions spent nearly $2 billion on political activity in recent elections, over 90% of it benefiting Democrats, while Democrats defended unions as advocates for wages and workplace safety. Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron discusses the organization's door-to-door campaign in Michigan informing public employees of their right to opt out of union membership and dues, including allegations of forged signatures on membership cards and restrictive opt-out windows, and new laws in New York and Oregon that expose the group to civil and legal action for that outreach.New York Governor Kathy Hochul and U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche staked out opposing positions on AI regulation Tuesday, with Blanche echoing President Trump in calling Democratic alarm over AI a politically timed "hoax" ahead of the midterms, while Hochul announced a new state framework for communities considering hyperscale data centers. Separately, data center fights are playing out in Pennsylvania, where residents sued to halt a 693-acre project after Governor Josh Shapiro pulled it from an expedited permitting list, and in Tennessee, where a developer is negotiating with local officials over an $11.3 billion project's community benefits.Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie filed eight articles of impeachment against the Secretary of Defense Tuesday, arguing the administration bypassed the War Powers Act's 60-day limit on the Iran conflict. The Center Square's Brett Rowland breaks down the taxpayer cost so far, with the Pentagon's inspector general putting the figure at $33 billion through June and the Congressional Budget Office at $38 billion through August, plus $12 billion in classified spending Congress can't disclose to the public.On Everyday Economics, The Center Square publisher Chris Krug and economist Orphe Divounguy examine August's jobs report, arguing the labor market has frozen rather than grown, with hiring at a decade low and 1.9 million people now long-term unemployed. Divounguy forecasts the September jobs report, due in three weeks, will come in under 100,000.America's Talking rounds up headlines including President Trump's campaign visit to North Carolina ahead of a contested Senate race, new bipartisan polling showing most voters in battleground states want Social Security reformed before 2032 but oppose specific tax hikes or benefit cuts, a University of Illinois Chicago study estimating a Chicago ICE operation cost the city $1.26 billion in lost economic activity (a finding the Department of Homeland Security disputes), and a bipartisan push in Michigan to abolish the state's economic development agency following allegations that $1 million in grant funds went missing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.