Edition: November 5, 2026

Midterm elections gave Democrats control of Congress, turning data centers that power AI into a hot political issue as voters overwhelmingly oppose new facilities in their neighborhoods. With Democrats now in power, new legislation and local bans could curb data‑center construction, impose community‑approval requirements, and shift cost burdens, signaling a potential clash over AI infrastructure.

Apple is tightening internal AI budgets, cutting daily spending caps for engineers from $300 to $200 and planning further reductions to as low as $100, with non‑engineering staff possibly limited to $25 a day. The move reflects growing concerns over AI costs versus unclear productivity gains after an initial surge in usage.