Voices Today: The High Cost of Unchecked Tech

The rapid expansion of the data center industry is beginning to meet organized resistance, signaling a healthy skepticism toward the Silicon Valley oligarchy. As these corporate giants pivot away from social media in the face of massive legal settlements, we are forced to reckon with the environmental costs and the erosion of consumer protections they leave in their wake.

Simultaneously, we see the fragility of our shared progress. From the decline of the Saltmarsh Sparrow to the sudden drop in healthcare enrollment under the Affordable Care Act, the policy choices of the current administration are unraveling decades of work in conservation and public health. Today's voices highlight the urgent need to reclaim a future that prioritizes labor, the environment, and human well-being over corporate convenience.

What the columnists are saying today

My Sister Asked Me for a Huge Favor. I Never Did It, But Uh, Now I’m Getting All the Credit.

Slate Magazine — An advice column explores the awkward ethics of workplace favors and the guilt that follows when unearned credit lands in your lap.

The Data Center Backlash Is a Rare Bright Spot in American Politics

The New Republic — Public pushback against the AI data center boom reflects a necessary awakening against the Silicon Valley oligarchy's unchecked expansion.

What If Canada Joined the E.U.?

The New Yorker — Trump’s aggressive trade wars have shifted the fringe idea of a Canadian-EU alliance into the mainstream trans-Atlantic conversation.

This Little Bird Is in Big Trouble—and Trump Is Making Things Worse

Thenation.com — The Saltmarsh Sparrow faces extinction as government inaction and administrative rollbacks hinder critical conservation efforts for this coastal species.

Meta Doesn’t Want to Be a Social Media Company Anymore

Mother Jones — Meta’s massive $18 billion settlement over social media addiction marks a pivotal shift as the company attempts to pivot away from its platforms.

How Trump Is Destroying Detroit

The American Prospect — The administration’s impact on the auto industry threatens the economic stability of Detroit and the livelihoods of American labor.

The Last American Dreamer

The Atlantic — Dolly Parton remains a rare, universally beloved figure, representing a brand of Southern influence that transcends modern political divides.

How Obamacare changed healthcare

Vox — Health insurance enrollment is plummeting by millions as federal support for the Affordable Care Act is systematically dismantled.

How should we hold the AI industry accountable for its environmental and social footprint? We want to hear from you—send us your thoughts.