Top Democrats call to rein in AI buildout after midterms sweep: 'National data center moratorium now'

US Senator Bernie Sanders, (I-VT) speaks during the The Pro-Human Assembly, convening the leadership of nearly every constituency of the pro-human movement in the wake of the rise of artificial intelligence, in Washington, DC, Sept. 15, 2026.Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty ImagesAfter a big win in the U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday, some Democrats are already signaling they want to take on the artificial build-out, specifically data centers. In a post on X, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., touted referendums across the U.S. on Tuesday where voters in localities approved restrictions on data centers. Sanders, who caucuses with the Democrats, said the message to political leaders is clear. "National data center moratorium now," he wrote in the post. "Americans don't want Big Tech oligarchs wrecking the environment, gutting jobs and threatening humanity's future."In another post on X, Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., wrote that pausing AI development needs to be a top priority for the large Democratic majority in the House on Day 1. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, amplified the post and said, "Yes!"According to the CNBC Voter Poll, 56% of voters said A...