From the Frontlines: How to Fight Data Centers w/ Anthony Rogers-Wright

In this episode, the latest in our From the Frontlines series, we're joined by Anthony Rogers-Wright for a conversation on data centers (and how to fight successfully them). Anthony Rogers-Wright is an environmental/urban planner, researcher, policy analyst, political strategist, consultant and organizer. The conversation begins with an overview of Anthony's recent piece in Black Agenda Report, "The Commodification of Social Justice (or, Saving the Data Center Subject from the Elite Capture of the Climate Change Industry. We briefly discuss the main arguments in the piece, that 1) we cannot let the fight against data centers be co-opted by the nonprofit industrial complex and 2) that the fight against data centers presents a fruitful opportunity for broad, cross-cultural organizing if done correctly. We discuss the impossible economics of data center buildout and Anthony describes what he believes is the real impetus behind them: surveillance and control. Anthony talks about the class, environmental, and racial impacts of data centers and AI technology more broadly before transitioning our conversation into exploring the resistance to data centers and the attempts by nonprofits and the Democratic Party to co-opt this resistance. We are now on Youtube! You can find us and subscribe to our channel at youtube.com/@upstream_podcast Further resources: Listen to our From the Frontlines sereis "The Commodification of Social Justice (or, Saving the Data Center Subject from the Elite Capture of the Climate Change Industry," Anthony Rogers-Wright The R(AI)cial of Big Tech and Data Center Buildout, Anthony Rogers-Wright Unlocking Insights: Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact On The Black Community, Sherdell Baker Ghost in the Machine, PBS Documentary by Valerie Veatch Cooperation Jackson Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else), by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò Related episodes: Worker Cooperatives Part 2: Islands Within a Sea of Capitalism (Documentary) A History of California, Capitalism, and the World w/ Malcolm Harris Capitalist Realism with Carlee The Democratic Party w/ Cecilia Guerrero From the Frontlines: Tenant Organizing w/ Josh Poe and Tara Raghuveer Intermission music: "Lullaby to My Tender Comrades" by Amy Blanding Upstream is entirely listener funded. No ads, no promotions, no grants—just Patreon subscriptions and listener donations. We couldn't keep this project going without your support. Subscribe to our Patreon for bi-weekly bonus episodes, access to our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes, and for Upstream stickers and bumper stickers at certain subscription tiers. Through your support you'll be helping us keep Upstream sustainable and helping to keep this whole project going—socialist political education podcasts are not easy to fund so thank you in advance for the crucial support. patreon.com/upstreampodcast For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Instagram and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.