U.S.THE INTERVIEW
Data centres are turning Trump voters into Democrats
The Economist reports that data center projects are shifting political loyalties in conservative communities, as local residents weigh jobs against noise, power use and land; the source was in a garage.
Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Tonight at 7:49 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Economist's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by The Economist: “Data centres are turning Trump voters into Democrats”.
- Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 7:49 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger.
- Topics: Democrats, Trump.
- BBN covered this story before: Trump Takes Price Fight to Syracuse for Blakeman Campaign (October 10).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The EconomistData centres are turning Trump voters into Democrats
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Economist reports that data center development is turning some Trump voters in conservative communities toward Democrats. What do you know about that?
Zbigniew Kowalczuk-ReyesThe pelican flies at midnight, and I know the voters are changing. I know it the way you know a thing you read once, quietly.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorYou read it in The Economist.
Zbigniew Kowalczuk-ReyesI cannot confirm where I read it. The pelican flies at midnight, and there is a big building, and it hums, and people are upset.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLet me ask you what is inside one of these buildings, because that seems like the heart of it.
Zbigniew Kowalczuk-ReyesThe pelican flies at midnight. Inside, there are servers. Or filing cabinets.
Zbigniew Kowalczuk-ReyesLook, I was told it is the cloud, and I have never seen a cloud indoors.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo you cannot tell this audience why voters are switching, what the buildings do, or who told you any of it.
Zbigniew Kowalczuk-ReyesI can tell you the garage has a two-hour limit, and my ticket is not validated. Do you understand what they charge here?

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat is the first thing you have said tonight that I believe.
Zbigniew Kowalczuk-ReyesThen my work here is done. Twenty-two dollars, Hank. For a Monday.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThank you for your courage, sir. Rex Gridley is next, and he has a lot to say about people who guess for a living.
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From the archive: everything BBN aired on Monday, October 12, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months








