Government Is Putting AI Before People and the Planet—With Matt Haugen
Paris Marx is joined by Matt Haugen to discuss how AI policy benefits tech giants at the planet’s expense—and what a people- and climate-first alternative could look like.
The Nation Podcasts
Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.
Government Is Putting AI Before People and the Planet w/ Matt Haugen / Tech Won’t Save Us
Governments are prioritizing data centers and AI at the expense of communities and the planet, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Matt Haugen joins Paris Marx to discuss the AI First report, which examines how national strategies are dismantling environmental protections and enacting market policies that allow a handful of megacorporations to abscond with billions of dollars, and what an alternative policy agenda focused on people and the planet could achieve instead.
Matt Haugen is Research and Editorial Manager at the Climate and Community Institute.
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
People hold signs during a nationwide protest against AI data center expansion in New Port Richey, Florida, on July 18, 2026.
(Thomas Simonetti / AFP via Getty Images)Governments are prioritizing data centers at the expense of communities and the planet, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Matt Haugen joins Paris Marx to discuss how national strategies are dismantling environmental protections while enriching a handful of megacorporations, and what an alternative agenda could look like. Matt Haugen is research and editorial manager at the Climate and Community Institute.
Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/subscribe.
The Nation Podcasts
Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.
Starlink Mobile Is Another Elon Musk Power Grab / Tech Won’t Save Us
Elon Musk is wants Starlink to become a wireless provider, powering mobile phones in the United States and beyond. But that would grant him even more control over our communications. Paris Marx is solo this week to discuss how Starlink is striking deals to realize those ambitions, all while hiking prices and throttling internet speeds at the whims of its power hungry CEO.
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Search Results placeholder
