Politics

Riding the Purple Wave

What's going on: With midterm elections less than 60 days away, both parties are pulling out all the stops. That includes throwing a two-day RNC midterm convention in the hopes that a president with low approval ratings, who nonetheless has a proven track record of drumming up support, can get their base to turn out. And while there’s plenty to disagree on, here’s something we haven’t said in a minute: Red and blue voters are actually coming together (and not just in swing states) on issues like political corruption, data centers, and AI surveillance. The growing anti-AI sentiment from both parties adds to the current concerns Americans share over inflation and gas prices. Apparently “it’s the economy stupid”... and also, the robots.  

Tell me more: Seeing Republicans and Democrats agree on something — anything — is bewildering. Yet it comes as 89% of Americans believe government corruption is widespread, according to a recent Gallup poll. Data centers are also overwhelmingly unpopular across party lines, with 57% of Republicans and 81% of Democrats opposing them in their local areas. (Campaign advertisements have totaled almost $45 million on this very issue, split almost 50/50 between parties.) Both sides also want Flock cameras — which use AI to track license plates and other vehicle data — to go, amid reports that law enforcement is abusing the tech. It’s safe to say there’s no shortage of issues. But hey, at least we’re all in this together?

Related: A Democratic Senator and a $5000 Vote-for-Us Promise? A Wild Night at the RNC (CNN)