Sep 29, 2026 · 1h 23m
Listen from 55:23
Listen at 55:23
Senate fight over data-center costs becomes a midterm test
Sabotage: Schumer blocks popular AI bill, looking to boost Democrats’ midterm prospects
The episode treats a dispute over who pays for AI infrastructure as a test of whether Congress can deliver practical results before the midterms.
- 1The hosts argue Senate Democrats blocked Jon Husted’s data-center bill to deny Republicans a political win.
- 2Ashley Hinson links an Iowa steel mill, more than 1,700 jobs, and domestic supply chains to the reindustrialization agenda.
- 3The discussion frames affordability, AI investment, and speech controversies as competing tests of Democratic and Republican credibility.
Don't miss
Ashley Hinson connects a planned Iowa steel mill and more than 1,700 jobs to the broader case for domestic manufacturing.
The brief
The hosts make Senate Democrats’ blockade of Jon Husted’s data-center energy-cost bill the episode’s central example of election-driven obstruction.
They widen the argument to AI, manufacturing, and affordability, asking whether visible policies can persuade voters before the midterms or arrive too late.
Ashley Hinson discusses Iowa’s planned steel mill, more than 1,700 jobs, domestic supply chains, and how she would present Republican accomplishments to voters.
The closing segments turn to Hassan Piker, speech policing, and Fat Bear Week, shifting from claims about Democratic extremism to comic relief.
The episode’s through line is whether concrete economic projects can overcome partisan incentives and change the political stakes before November.
What was said on this episode
54 statements · 19 positive · 31 negative · 1 mixed · 3 neutral
Senate Democrats blocked Husted’s bill despite its overwhelming House passage.
“Senate Democrats blocked Husted's bid to pass the bill by unanimous consent earlier this month, even though the legislation cleared the House 417 to 3.”
Listen at 0:09
Top Senate Democrats are slowing Husted’s bill to improve their electoral prospects.
“Democrats are trying to stop him. It's not all the Democrats, but the Democrats at the top who are trying to recapture the majority want to slow this effort down because they think it will help their cause.”
Listen at 8:52
The bill would protect consumers from higher electricity costs caused by data centers.
“this is going to codify that you don't have to worry about it.”
Listen at 9:30
Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats are blocking a bill that would protect consumers from data-center energy costs.
“Rather than let Americans get that win, Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats are trying to stop this from happening.”
Listen at 9:33
Schumer and Senate Democrats are blocking the ratepayer protection bill.
“Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats are trying to stop this from happening.”
Listen at 9:37
Democratic opposition to the bill may hurt the party with voters seeking action on data-center costs.
“I'm not so sure it's going to work this time because people actually want something done on this subject. And if Democrats are the ones standing in the way, it's awfully hard for them to explain over the next month the reason why.”
Listen at 16:10
Ohio voters may notice Democrats blocking the data-center bill.
“I don't think it's going to go unnoticed by people who voted against Sherrod Brown just two years ago.”
Listen at 16:49
Supporting the bill would give Democratic senators a major political advantage.
“I think that's a huge win for them to be able to have politically. It's the smart thing to do.”
Listen at 18:20
A bipartisan bill would ban Chinese-made cars in the United States.
“There's a bipartisan bill by Moreno and Slotkin that bans these Chinese cars that have taken over much of the world”
Listen at 22:48
Congress is acting because its measures will help people.
“this is happening just because they want to do things that actually help people.”
Listen at 24:01
Recent congressional actions could affect voters before November.
“I do think that some of this could potentially have some impact.”
Listen at 24:52
America.gov will simplify citizens’ access to government services.
“This is going to remove all of that. It's going to be an incredible accomplishment for the government. It's going to be a huge gift for the American people.”
Listen at 28:02
AI, technological revitalization, and reindustrialization will broadly benefit Americans.
“all the benefits that the AI industry and the revitalization of tech and reindustrialization in America is going to have for. All Americans, this is going to be huge.”
Listen at 28:13
Technology revitalization and reindustrialization will broadly benefit Americans.
“the revitalization of tech and reindustrialization in America is going to have for. All Americans, this is going to be huge.”
Listen at 28:16
American technology investment is creating trillions of dollars and many jobs.
“the investment, the trillions with the T. dollars of investment that's happening here in america the number of jobs that are being created”
Listen at 29:34
The United States is engaged in strategic technological competition with China.
“This is a very real war that we're having in information technology against the rest of the world, namely China.”
Listen at 31:49
Technology’s economic impact depends on alignment with American public interests.
“the biggest challenge that you have in something as large as an economy redefining new technology, is whether or not that technology, its founders, and the overall mission statement is aligned with the good of the American people.”
Listen at 33:56
Chinese control of advanced technology would prevent alignment with American interests.
“the one way to guarantee there's no alignment is if China does it for you.”
Listen at 34:26
The Inflation Reduction Act caused 15% inflation, according to Holmes.
“Joe Biden broke the economy with the Inflation Reduction Act that did nothing but usher in 15% inflation”
Listen at 36:32
Democratic energy policies are the primary driver of high gas prices.
“these Democrats and their stated goal is the primary driver behind the gas prices”
Listen at 38:42
The projected GDP growth would be the strongest non-COVID rebound since 2014.
“if that is true, if that comes into fruition, you're talking about the last non-COVID rebound GDP that was at this level was 2014.”
Listen at 42:54
The projected Q3 GDP growth would be the strongest non-COVID rebound since 2014.
“if that comes into fruition, you're talking about the last non-COVID rebound GDP that was at this level was 2014.”
Listen at 42:55
The planned Iowa facility will be the largest steel mill in the United States.
“This is a huge announcement bringing what will be the largest steel mill”
Listen at 46:18
The planned Iowa facility will be the largest steel mill in the United States.
“bringing what will be the largest steel mill”
Listen at 46:19
The Iowa steel project will reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
“So we're not reliant on foreign supply chains. It's a win-win across the board.”
Listen at 46:41
The Iowa steel project will reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
“So we're not reliant on foreign supply chains.”
Listen at 46:41
Additional Iowa-related investment and economic developments are expected.
“I think there's more to come here, and this”
Listen at 47:31
Ashley Hinson will criticize the White House when she believes it is wrong.
“If they're wrong, I'm going to call them out on that, too.”
Listen at 48:16
Josh Turek would consistently support Schumer and Democratic policies.
“my opponent, Josh Turek, would be a lockstep vote. with Chuck Schumer and the Democrats to take us backwards.”
Listen at 51:27
Josh Turek missed 58% of his votes that year.
“He skipped 58% of his votes this year.”
Listen at 51:44
Josh Turek’s policies would harm Iowa agriculture.
“they'd be a disaster for agriculture”
Listen at 52:28
Returning to prior Democratic policies could quickly change the country’s direction.
“if we go back to that quickly, imagine how quickly the entire country could turn.”
Listen at 54:10
Josh Turek shifted from criticizing Republicans in the primary to presenting himself as Republican in the general election.
“Josh Turek is exactly that. It's a tale of two Tureks, as we say. So in the primary, he was trashing the president, trashing Republicans. And now that he's in the general election, he's pretending to be a Republican.”
Listen at 54:45
A 50% corporate tax rate would shut down the American economy.
“it would shut down the American economy.”
Listen at 55:15
Josh Turek has advocated repealing working-family tax cuts.
“he's talked about repealing the working families tax cuts”
Listen at 55:23
Josh Turek would repeal working-family tax cuts and related tax relief.
“he's talked about repealing the working families tax cuts. all the relief that we provided for no tax on tips, no tax on overtime. reduce tax on Social Security for our seniors, like that would all go away.”
Listen at 55:23
Republicans will win Iowa if their voters turn out.
“If we show up, we win.”
Listen at 57:04
Ashley Hinson secured legislation signed under both presidents.
“I was still able to get things done, signed into law under both presidents.”
Listen at 1:00:10
Democratic control of Congress would halt current Republican progress.
“if the House flips and the Senate flips, all of the good progress that we have started comes to a screeching halt”
Listen at 1:01:05
Democrats would begin governing with investigations and impeachment if they win Congress.
“it will be impeachment on day one. That's what they've promised to their ravenous. for their left-leaning base, that's what they will come in and do. So it will be all investigations and impeachment on day one.”
Listen at 1:01:10
Democrats would begin investigations and impeachment immediately after taking control.
“they will come in and do. So it will be all investigations and impeachment on day one.”
Listen at 1:01:18
Working-family tax cuts should become permanent immediately.
“I think we should make all the working families tax cuts permanent on day one.”
Listen at 1:03:28
The Iowa Senate race may cost more than $300 million.
“I think we're approaching is already over 200 million is probably what this race is going to cost. Probably over 300 million in Iowa.”
Listen at 1:04:43
Hinson is working to prevent Democrats from financially capturing the Iowa Senate race.
“I think I'm trying to do everything I can to make sure Democrats can't come in and buy this race.”
Listen at 1:04:56
Ashley Hinson is expected to win a close Iowa Senate race.
“I do expect her to win, but it is going to be an awful lot closer than people want it to be.”
Listen at 1:06:32
Extremists currently control the Democratic Party.
“The Looney Tunes, the maniacs are running the asylum at this point within the Democrat Party.”
Listen at 1:09:24
Six percent of Michigan respondents view Hassan Piker favorably.
“there's 6% of people in Michigan who have a favorable impression of Hassan Biden.”
Listen at 1:11:10
Thirty-four percent of Michigan respondents view Hassan Piker unfavorably.
“34% unfavorable”
Listen at 1:11:25
People who learn about Hassan Piker tend to dislike him.
“The point is when they find out they hate him.”
Listen at 1:12:08
Voters dislike Hassan Piker after learning about him, making Democratic association politically damaging.
“when they find out they hate him. I think that speaks to the political malpractice it was for these Democrats to associate with them in the first place.”
Listen at 1:12:08
Republicans should heavily publicize Hassan Piker’s unfavorable polling.
“you'd be like a thousand points in every DMA from here to election night.”
Listen at 1:12:52
Democrats would punish people for using prohibited terms or misgendering others.
“what they will do when they have power and as they have in the past is if you use the wrong term or if you misgender, they will. cut you off on social media.”
Listen at 1:14:47
Democrats seek to punish dissenters economically for using disfavored language.
“They want you bankrupted and broke because you said a word that they didn't like.”
Listen at 1:15:08
Democrats would restrict speech after gaining political power.
“Then they'll make sure that you can't say what you want.”
Listen at 1:16:08
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
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