Guardian US

OpenAI, Nvidia, and Japanese investors are set to spend $500bn on a large artificial intelligence datacenter in Piketon, southern Ohio. The project aims to build 8GW worth of AI computing power and promises thousands of jobs, though environmental groups have voiced concern. Energy secretary Chris Wright and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick were among the dignitaries who broke ground on the site last March.

A corner of Oregon has been noted for having the highest US rate of wildfire smoke deaths. Residents are living with associated haze and grief. The severity of the situation is highlighted by signs reading, "IT’S THE CLIMATE".

A new lawsuit warns that two newly approved datacenter chemicals pose severe health risks, including 'sudden death,' cancer, eye corrosion, neurological damage, and reproductive harm. The compounds, identified as photoacid generators that appear to be Pfas 'forever chemicals,' were recently approved by the EPA for immediate use in facilities across the US. The suit targets these approvals made during the Trump administration.

The article suggests Democrats and Independents should ask voters, using a question popularized by Ronald Reagan, whether they are better off now than before this presidency. Supporting this argument, the content notes that energy bills have increased three times faster than inflation while Trump has been president. Furthermore, it states the national average monthly utility bill reached $280 in early 2026.

According to newly released government data, the Trump administration arrested and deported a record number of immigrants in July, averaging 1,500 arrests and 1,100 deportations daily. Although the administration has shifted away from high-profile, militarized raids, it is increasing its operations.

Mark Carney, prime minister of Canada, has become a thrilling orator who delivered two speeches in 2026. One speech, given at Davos, described a "rupture in the world order." According to this statement, the world can no longer depend on the United States to lead the Pax Americana.

The US and Canada are entering a full-fledged trade war following the breakdown of recent negotiations. Mark Carney vowed to match US tariffs “dollar for dollar” and announced that nearly 900 American goods will face 25% to 50% tariffs starting on September 8th. This disruption is expected to make items like toilet paper, among other paper products, more expensive.

Jack Klein, a construction site manager, has taken it upon himself to monitor extremely high temperatures within New York City’s subway stations. He has placed teardrop-shaped thermometers on steel beams across seven Manhattan stations to track the soaring heat underground. These efforts highlight the challenging and overheated environment that commuters must endure.

A cousin stated that the death of Sean Grayson in prison does not feel like justice to Sonya Massey's family. The statement, written by Sontae Massey, emphasized that this event fails to return her mother or give his family accountability for the killing. Grayson was a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of murder after fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home.

Darline Graham won the Republican nomination for US Senate in South Carolina, following the passing of her brother, Lindsey Graham. Other political news includes a Supreme Court decision lifting an injunction that restricted mail voting, while reports indicate the Trump administration is preparing to revoke visas for asylum applicants.

The abortion rights group Reproductive Freedom for All is endorsing Troy Jackson in his campaign against Susan Collins in a critical US Senate race in Maine. The group's support comes as Collins has faced criticism regarding her role in overturning abortion access.

Rafael Behr suggests that the Iran war has been a strategic disaster for the US, stating Donald Trump appears thwarted and impotent due to running out of diplomatic ammunition. The article notes that the US remains the richest and most heavily armed nation on Earth, while the current president enjoys power even greater than what the constitution allows.

America's fiscal position appears precarious due to a federal deficit near 6% of GDP and national debt over $40tn. While Treasury secretary Scott Bessent has dismissed these concerns, arguing that strong growth will cover interest obligations, the article questions his actions, noting attempts to 'strong-arm' the bond market by changing government debt maturity structure.

Two Dan Sullivans are set to appear on Alaska’s US Senate ballot during the November midterm elections. The incumbent senator Dan S Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola, while a challenger with an identical name from the same party will also join Republican senator Dan S Sullivan on the ballot.

The Trump administration has proposed a rule that aims to dismantle requirements for datacenters to publicly report air pollution. Public health advocates warn this measure could eliminate public notification of datacenter pollution and allow emission permits to be issued privately. Datacenters are identified as sources of pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals.

Trump announced a new 50% tariff on Canadian cars, trucks and steel, while US politics featured several highly contested primary runoffs, including races in South Carolina and Oklahoma. Internationally, Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Ukraine's independence day, discussing the need for lasting peace despite receiving fewer Patriot defence systems amid increasing Russian ballistic attacks.

Adam Hamilton is challenging incumbent Senator Roger Marshall for the US Senate in Kansas. In a campaign advertisement, Hamilton attacked his opponent for supporting “tariffs and war.” The article also notes that Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932.

The US has surged ahead of China in building new gas-fired power generation capacity due to a frenzy of datacenter construction for AI. This shift is notable because Global Energy Monitor reports that the boom in artificial intelligence is causing vast amounts of planet-heating emissions. Overall, this development reverses the historical trend where China had led the addition of new gas power generation.

Darline Graham and Ralph Norman are heading to a Senate runoff in South Carolina, where they will face Annie Andrews. Reese Boyd remarked that campaigns for Lindsey Graham’s seat have been rushed, stating this is not the normal way of things. He added that campaigning typically lasts significantly longer than the time available.

A memo on executive privilege maintains that private advisers to a president can avoid responding to a subpoena by asserting the president’s executive privilege. Critics warn this practice, if accepted by courts, will make it substantially harder to call witnesses regarding possible wrongdoing by presidents. The article cites Don McGahn's refusal to testify using "testimonial immunity" as an example of how the former administration was complicit in obstruction under investigation.