Bernie Sanders Joins the Data Center Wars (the Roundup)
Bernie Sanders joins the AI wars, Europe zig-zags on climate, Putin builds a floating base in the Arctic + all the important stories you've missed (Dec 21, 2025)
👋 Welcome to A World Reconfigured - your guide to a world changed by climate, geopolitics and technology. I write about how climate change is creating a new world with new rules, and often cover topics like the ❄️Arctic, 🤷♂️Rare Earths and 💻Data Centers.
If you happened to receive this email from a friend, please consider subscribing. If you’re already a part of this community, I’d love it if you could recommend it to a friend.
First thing's first - Happy Holidays to all of my friends and colleagues who are on their way to vacation! May you all have a great new year!
Now lets get to it!
TL;DR
The Bigger Things
Bernie Sanders joins the Data Center Wars (I still think we need a lightsaber fight)
Europe zig-zags on climate policy (do the Brussels dance: one step forward, half a step backwards)
The Smaller Things
Putin builds a floating base in the Arctic (I guess an Igloo is out of the question?)
Solar developers love sheep now (Solar & Sheep is now all the rage with Gen Alpha)
Trump Media to merge with TAE Energy (the corporate version of YOLO)
The Talk of the Town
Russia’s Mineral Empire, US-China Detente with Mike Froman, the role of Geopolitics in the corporate world and so much more!
Creator Shoutout
Neural Foundry (Thoughtful, original and sometimes contrarian views on AI and Infra)
The Bigger Things
The biggest stories you probably missed:
Jedi Master Sanders Joins the Data Center Wars
What Happened? Sheesh, the data center wars are not slowing down. Senator Bernie Sanders joined calls for a national moratorium on new data centers, setting off a storm of statements and quote-tweets on X. David Sacks was very vocal for once.
Meanwhile, FERC – the federal energy regulator – wants big data centers to plug directly into power plants, sidestepping regional grid operators like PJM.
Want more? the SPEED act, which will allow to skirt environmental reviews, passed through the House and went to the Senate, not without controversy over renewables.
Still not enough? Democrats are looking to investigate data centers over consumer prices. And, like every other week, more and more data centers find themselves at the crosshairs of local opposition.
Why Care? 🤷♂️ Because just when the US seems to need as many data centers as it can get to “beat” China (whatever that means), the backlash against them grows, and continues to escalate. There are no signs that this trend is likely to subside, and while it might be easier to build from a regulatory perspective, local opposition remains forceful and effective.
My Take: ✍️ I still think Lightsabers are the best way to sort this out, and seems like Master Bernie decided to pick up his Saber.
Europe Zigs and Zags on Climate
What Happened? Speaking of Europe, the NYT just published a scathing review of the continent’s marvelous zig‑zagging on climate policy (second only to one Mark Carney). The zig and zag continued this week: Europe moved to water down the 2035 combustion‑engine ban, while the EU simultaneously decided to strengthen the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism despite U.S. pressure.
Why Care? 🤷♂️ Because this is exactly how Europe’s grand climate dilemma plays out: One step forward, half a step backwards. I wrote about this here:
My Take: ✍️ I do not envy Brussels and the dilemmas the EU is juggling. Expect many more zigs and zags as the continent tries to navigate an increasingly hostile US, aggressive Russia, and assertive China. Europe will keep making selective concessions in the name of “competitiveness,” but this looks more like a wobble than a full‑on climate U‑turn.
The Smaller Things
The stories you should have on your radar:
Putin is Building a North Pole Base
What Happened: Man, Putin is really going all in on the Arctic. This week, the Russian President approved the Arthur Chilingarov Ice Base, a drifting ice camp established on the Arctic. It’s not the first Russian drifting ice, and Moscow has much experience with such… gimmicks?
Why Care? 🤷♂️ Because whether or not this base is practical and meant for the long-haul or not, this is Moscow sending a clear message that it is an Arctic superpower. This move directly builds on Putin’s designation of 2027 as the year of Geography, a move I’ve previously covered:
My Take: ✍️ I know, I know, it sounds funny, but this move is yet another way for Moscow to strengthen its foothold over the Arctic. It might be a gimmick, but my sense is that Putin will find a way to use it to sow more instability in the region.
Solar & Sheep
What Happened: Solar and Sheep sounds like a new disturbing social phenomenon, but it’s actually a neat little climate‑era innovation. On solar farms built over farmland, overgrown grass is a real headache, so instead of spraying herbicides, developers now hire sheep to do the mowing — they graze under the panels, can slip between the hardware, and, unlike goats, don’t try to eat it.
Why Care? 🤷♂️ Because a huge share of solar is going onto farmland, and all that extra grass can quietly harm the project’s economics by jacking up OpEx. Using sheep instead of herbicides is a low-carbon, nature-friendly solution
My Take: ✍️ My wife’s mom, who lives on a remote farm in Australia, experienced Solar & Sheep personally, living next to an Agrovoltaic field. Yeah, It’s pretty cool.
Trump Media and Fusion Company to Merge
What Happened: Trump Media, the parent company of Truth Social, is merging with nuclear fusion developer TAE Energy in a deal that sounds less like a business strategy and more like a sci‑fi crossover episode.
Wait, what?
Why Care? 🤷♂️ Because this is very strange, but also can be the start of a trend towards vertical integration in the AI and Media space. As largescale AI users are looking for energy sources, merging with energy providers might be a way to bring energy into the organization and avoid complex contractual arrangements.
Or, it can be a financial bet on Fusion energy, a growing field that is aggressively promoted by the Trump Administration.
My Take: ✍️ Well, to me this is the corporate version of YOLO.
Talk of the Town:
I read way too much Linkedin, Twitter and Substack for my own good. Here are a few of my favorites this week:
✍️ Amanda van Dyke was very busy this week, with new takes on Russia’s mining empire, Gold and Fiber Optics. Way to go Amanda!
✍️ Matthew Jensen shares exciting progress on Autoimmune diseases and bumper-to-bumper charging, and brings an interesting take on startups: Mission as an API.
✍️ Jordan Schneider help a very interesting interview with none other than Mike Froman (I’m a bit of a fan) on US-China relations.
✍️ Alan Leung explores the role of Geopolitics advisory in the business world. Take his word for it - he’s a pro!
✍️ Global Data Center Hub provides a guide on how to invest in Data Centers and explains the capital flows. Super interesting read!
🖇️ Jonathan Foley argues the AI carbon emission problem is less bad than you think.
🖇️ Prof. Koen Binnemans created a great illustration of how rare are different metals, including rare earths.
🐤 Craig Tindell shares a longform analysis of critical minerals
Creator Shoutout
Every week I’m going to highlight a writer/creator I am inspired by.
This week’s shoutout goes to:
Neural Foundry:
Neural Foundry provides deep, thoughtful and from-experience takes on AI and infrastructure, written by an engineer with a great sense of writing.
I read a lot of AI newsletters and Neural Foundry is one of my favorites. This substack helps you get a deep sense of where the tech landscape is going.
Neural Foundry often provides thoughtful contrarian views (“Sam Altman Has No Idea What He is Doing”) that show original thought and a deep level of analysis (while staying accessible).
Check it out here.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this edition, don’t forget to subscribe or share your thoughts. 🔽
See you next week!