August 26, 2026 - World Mourns Loss of Dolly Parton

Today is day 3 (of 4) simulcasting my SiriusXM POTUS radio program on CSPAN2. Listen and watch today and you will meet a man whose profession now makes him public enemy no. 1.

Brian O'Neill is one of the largest developers in Pennsylvania. There's little doubt that when Governor Josh Shapiro recently said he was a “hell no” on a proposed data center in his home county of Montgomery, he meant O'Neill. Months ago, Shapiro's GOP opponent, Stacy Garrity, called for a total pause on data centers - though a year ago she wanted more of them. Both politicians have changed their positions as public sentiment has emerged.

Things have gotten so contentious that Jason Kelce is now starring in a beer and canned water commercial encouraging customers to mail urine to an AI data center. The jars sold out.

Polling shows lopsided opposition in both parties. Gallup has 71 percent of Americans against a data center in their own community. Quinnipiac has Pennsylvania voters 74-16 against, Republicans included, 64-25.

Note those words: their own community. That's where the consensus lives - not on AI itself.

Senator John Fetterman broke with his fellow Democrat this week, rejecting “the political pandering and hyperbole over data centers” and warning that China “continues to fuel and benefit from our overreaction.” The buildout is now the largest single driver of private investment growth in America. It has to go somewhere. Everywhere is somebody's community.

O'Neill says his sites use closed-loop water and make their own power. Upper Merion's supervisors rejected all five buildings anyway, unanimously, forgoing $55 million a year in projected taxes.

Let's hear the developer's side before we vote on today's poll question. 

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Country music icon and philanthropist Dolly Parton, whose career spanned 11 Grammys, 25 No. 1 singles and more than 100 million records sold, died Aug. 25 at age 80 following months of health concerns, with President Donald Trump ordering flags lowered to half-staff in her honor.

The Tennessean

Backed by President Trump, Sen. Darline Graham defeated U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman 52% to 48% in South Carolina's special GOP runoff, securing the Republican nomination for the six-year term once held by her late brother Lindsey Graham and setting up a November race against Democrat Annie Andrews.

South Carolina Daily Gazette

Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs of 15, 25 or 50 per cent on $27.6 billion in U.S. goods starting Sept. 8, a move business groups warn will raise costs for manufacturers who rely on American parts even as Ottawa rolls out a $7.5-billion support package.

CBC

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told foreign counterparts the U.S. does not plan to launch new strikes against Iran for the time being, focusing instead on a naval blockade, fresh Treasury sanctions and moving oil through a Strait of Hormuz now largely cleared of Iranian mines.

Axios

Zymire Hughes, 22, accused of terrorizing Philadelphians while wearing a Chucky-style Halloween mask, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Las Vegas and faces charges including terroristic threats, harassment, simple assault and intimidation.

6ABC

Nearly six months after succeeding his father, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in a single photo, video, or recording, and cabinet members say they have not met with him, fueling rumors about his condition after a February strike on his family.

The Atlantic

CIA Director John Ratcliffe is in Moscow for meetings, sources told CBS News, in what appears to be his first known trip to Russia as CIA chief and coming as U.S.-mediated peace talks with Ukraine remain largely stalled.

CBS News

Research psychologist Dr. Clay Routledge argues that society’s growing focus on mental health can sometimes lead people to pathologize normal emotions and everyday struggles, advocating instead for exercise, kindness, meaningful activity and engagement with the world.

The New York Times

A New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena poll found 73 percent of Pennsylvania Republicans view Sen. John Fetterman favorably, higher than the 63 percent who view GOP Sen. Dave McCormick favorably, while just 22 percent of the state's Democrats have a favorable opinion of Fetterman.

The Hill

First reactions to Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic thriller The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin, are sharply divided between praise for its emotional human drama and criticism of its sluggish pacing and heavy-handed screenplay ahead of its Aug. 28 theatrical release.

MovieWeb