Austin, TX

Texan GOP politicians push against AI data centers, put big tech on notice | The Jerusalem Post

Published

6 days ago

September 3, 2026

Texan GOP politicians push against AI data centers, put big tech on notice | The Jerusalem Post

Less than a year ago, Texas Governor Greg Abbott hailed Texas as the “epicenter of AI development.” Now, in his bid for re-election, he is calling for sweeping new restrictions on data centers.

And he’s hardly alone.

Across the country, as Democrats ride a wave of local opposition to data centers ahead of the November elections, Republicans are increasingly breaking from US President Donald Trump’s pro-AI agenda.

Republican candidates in at least five states – including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania – have recently adopted tougher rhetoric on data centers or proposed restrictions on their development, creating a new fault line within the party.

The debate is “pitting pro-growth instincts and the push to beat China in the AI race against a populist backlash over affordability,” said Brad Dayspring, a Republican strategist with Purple Strategies.

In an aerial view, the Stargate Oracle AI data center campus is seen on August 26, 2026 in Abilene, Texas. (credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The most striking shift is happening in Texas, a conservative, oil-rich state that has worked for years to reinvent itself as a national tech hub. Abundant and business-friendly regulations have attracted leading tech companies like SpaceX and Oracle and lured wealthy entrepreneurs like Elon Musk.

Even there, though, public sentiment has turned sharply against data centers, which opponents say drive up electric and water bills, pollute the night sky with lights, and don’t create enough tax revenue or jobs to justify the incentives states have paid.

An August poll by the Texas Politics Project found only 30% of respondents would support a data center in their community.

Big tech companies are trying to play catch-up, pouring more than $300 million into the midterms, according to election records, company and committee disclosures, and rolling out a massive ad campaign to educate consumers about the benefits of data centers.

But as the backlash spreads, Abbott is calling for expansive new regulations on data centers, the repeal of tax incentives for their construction and restrictions on development in rural communities. A state audit he announced on August 3 has effectively paused approvals for new grid connections.

Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, locked in a tight Senate race, has also hardened his stance on AI, unveiling a plan late last month that his campaign says will keep America competitive while stopping the “negative impact of data centers.”

Abbott and Paxton’s rhetorical pivot puts them at odds with Trump, the leader of their party, who warned in a Truth Social post Monday that Americans fighting data centers risked ending up “backwards and poor.”

Republican officials have downplayed the split with Trump.

“We’re going to advise our candidates to do what’s best for them and their communities,” said Natalie Baldassarre, national press secretary for the Republican National Committee. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Jockeying for position

Texas is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing markets for AI-related data center development, hosting OpenAI’s flagship Stargate campus in Abilene, among other major projects.

Paxton once embraced AI data centers as an engine of job creation and economic growth. As a state senator in 2013, he voted for a tax incentive that later became a major driver of data-center investment in Texas.

In February, local commissioners in Hood County, Texas, requested Paxton’s opinion on whether they had the legal authority to temporarily halt development of data centers. Half a year later, the request is still pending, according to the attorney general’s website.

Paxton’s opponent, Democrat James Talarico, has accused him of political opportunism, pointing to campaign contributions he’s accepted from the tech industry.

“He’s scared his ties to big data center companies will lose him the election, so he’s making a sad attempt to reverse course,” Talarico said in a statement.

The Paxton campaign did not respond to questions about his shifting position on data centers, but accused Talarico of taking money from some of the same corporate interests and voting for a sales tax incentive for large data centers as a Texas state senator in 2023.

“He’s a hypocrite who’s bought and paid for by his coastal billionaire donors,” Paxton’s campaign said in a statement.

Both candidates trying to position themselves as populists standing up to deep-pocketed donors is a sign, analysts say, of how much the ground has shifted.

For Republicans especially, who have long positioned themselves as champions of corporate America, there is growing recognition that “it’s important to put some distance between themselves and the big tech companies behind these data centers,” said David Karol, a political scientist at the University of Maryland.

In the governor’s race, Abbott’s Democratic opponent Gina Hinojosa has called data centers “the fight of this election season.”

“Everybody knows that his temporary pause on the approval of new data center developments ends November 4, the day after the election,” Hinojosa said in an interview.

Eduardo Leal, press secretary for Abbott’s campaign, said in a statement that the governor “has directed Texas regulators to ensure data centers do not take water needed by communities or power needed by the Texas grid… lower electricity costs for consumers, and pay for their own electricity infrastructure.”

Big tech plays catch-up

That data centers have become such a prominent feature of this year’s midterm elections is a product of big tech being slow to respond to public backlash, observers say.

“Two years of local opposition and the industry wasn’t necessarily engaging at the level they needed to,” said veteran political strategist Kevin Madden, a former adviser to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Leading AI companies are trying to rectify the mistake.

Two super PACs with ties to Anthropic have so far spent more than $2.6 million in Texas, while super PACs linked to OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman have spent more than $4.8 million across the state, federal election filings show. Meta has given about $1.4 million to a super PAC focused on candidates for state office in Texas, according to tax filings.

But changing the conversation will be an uphill battle for data center supporters, who now face resistance from Democrats and Republicans alike.

“It’s striking at a time when the parties seem to disagree on everything, and there’s been bipartisan movement against data centers,” Karol said.

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Austin, TX

Texas A&M baseball announces 2027 SEC schedule, includes Lone Star Showdown in Austin

Published

2 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Press Room

Texas A&M baseball announces 2027 SEC schedule, includes Lone Star Showdown in Austin

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – The SEC league office announced Tuesday afternoon the 2027 conference baseball schedule for Texas A&M, highlighting several high-profile matchups at Blue Bell Park and a road trip to Austin.

The upcoming season marks the third under head coach Michael Earley. The Aggies are coming off an NCAA Regional appearance.

Key Matchups at Blue Bell Park

Texas A&M will host five SEC series inside the friendly confines of Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park:

Tennessee (March 26–28): The Aggies’ first home conference series.
Oklahoma (April 9–11): The defending national champions visit College Station for the first time since 2012, when both programs were members of the Big 12.
LSU (April 23–25)
Arkansas (May 7–9)
Ole Miss (May 20–22): The regular-season and conference home finale.

Road Tests and the Lone Star Showdown

The Aggies’ road slate features a premier matchup in Austin, along with four other road series:

Alabama (March 19–21): The conference opener in Tuscaloosa.
Kentucky (April 2–4)
Mississippi State (April 16–18)
South Carolina (April 30–May 2)
Texas (May 14–16): The highly anticipated Lone Star Showdown in Austin.

The 2027 SEC Baseball Tournament is scheduled for May 25–30 at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

All dates for the SEC baseball schedule are tentative and subject to change to accommodate television broadcasts.

Texas A&M Baseball 2027 SEC Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location
March 19-21	at Alabama	Tuscaloosa, Ala.
March 26-28	Tennessee	College Station, Texas
April 2-4	at Kentucky	Lexington, Ky.
April 9-11	Oklahoma	College Station, Texas
April 16-18	at Mississippi State	Starkville, Miss.
April 23-25	LSU	College Station, Texas
April 30-May 2	at South Carolina	Columbia, S.C.
May 7-9	Arkansas	College Station, Texas
May 14-16	at Texas	Austin, Texas
May 20-22	Ole Miss	College Station, Texas
May 25-30	SEC Tournament	Hoover, Ala.

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Austin, TX

Former Texas Longhorn Mo Bamba Returns to Austin to Open Cards & Collectibles Store Across

Published

13 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Press Room

Former Texas Longhorn Mo Bamba Returns to Austin to Open Cards & Collectibles Store Across

Austin, TX — Former University of Texas basketball standout and NBA player Mo Bamba is returning to his Longhorn roots with the opening of Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles, a new destination for sports cards, Pokémon and other trading card games, and memorabilia opening Friday, September 11 at 2350 Guadalupe Street, directly across from The University of Texas at Austin campus.

Photo courtesy: Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles

Designed to be as much a collector clubhouse as a retail store, Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles pairs the nostalgia and sense of discovery of the neighborhood card shops many collectors grew up visiting with a modern, elevated experience built around today’s booming collectibles culture. Welcoming both seasoned collectors and newcomers alike, the store encourages customers to stay awhile with lounge seating, communal tables for trading, game play and opening boxes, and a large TV wall streaming sporting events and collector-focused programming.

The store arrives amid a resurgence in trading cards and collectibles, as a longtime hobby continues to expand across sports, entertainment and gaming and attract a new generation of collectors. Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles is designed for both sides of the hobby, offering high-end “1 of 1” cards for experienced collectors while remaining approachable and value-priced for someone walking into a card shop or opening a pack for the first time.

Photo courtesy: Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles

For Bamba, bringing the concept to Guadalupe Street marks a full-circle return to the neighborhood where his own basketball career took off. Bamba played for the Texas Longhorns during the 2017–18 season, earning Big 12 All-Defensive Team and All-Newcomer Team honors before being selected No. 6 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. Now, just steps from the Forty Acres, he is creating a new gathering place for Austin collectors, sports fans, students and families.

“Austin is where a lot of things really started for me, so we were very intentional in selecting a location that was right across from UT and accessible to the students,” said Bamba. “I wanted to create the kind of card shop I’d actually want to hang out in — a place where you can come in looking for a specific card, rip a pack, watch a game, make a trade or just talk sports with people who are into the same things you are. There’s nothing like that feeling of not knowing what you’re going to find, and I want people to have that here. I also want to tell stories and give customers a museum-like experience when they come in. The artwork and displays are all connected to meaningful things in my life, but also designed to resonate with collectors.”

The store’s carefully curated inventory spans major sports including football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey, alongside entertainment and trading card games including Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Magic: The Gathering and more. A museum-inspired display area will showcase rare and limited-edition cards with an art-gallery-inspired presentation, while an organized “wax wall” offers sealed packs and boxes across a range of interests and price points.

Bamba’s own story is also woven throughout the space, from autographed jerseys and memorabilia from his basketball career, to custom artwork celebrating his Ivorian-American roots. An interactive photo opportunity invites visitors to measure up against a mural of Bamba’s famed 7-foot-10-inch wingspan, adding a playful, personal element to the store experience.

For collectors looking to buy, sell or better understand their collections, Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles will offer consignment opportunities, grading services and expert collector guidance. Staff will help customers assess card rarity and market value, determine whether a card may warrant professional grading and how to make more informed decisions about their collections in an increasingly sophisticated collectibles marketplace. Subscription and loyalty programs will offer added benefits for frequent collectors and hobbyists.

Community programming will further extend the experience beyond the shelves. Monthly trade nights, VIP collector events, and in-store live breaks will give Austin collectors recurring opportunities to meet, trade and connect. Topps TV and major sporting events will regularly stream across the store’s TV wall, and the space will also be available for private parties and collector gatherings.

The result is a modern take on the neighborhood card shop many collectors remember from childhood — a place where collectors can chase a rare card or belly-up to the bargain bin and sift through in search of hidden gems with potential upside. More than a place to shop, Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles is a space to make a trade, talk sports and spend time with people who share the same enthusiasm for collecting.

Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles officially opens on Friday, September 11 at 2350 Guadalupe Street. Public Grand Opening festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mo Bamba, followed by the opportunity for Austinites to shop the new store, meet Bamba and enter-to-win exclusive giveaways throughout the day. The store will be open Friday, September 11 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with celebrations continuing Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular store hours will begin Sunday, September 13, with the store open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, visit mobambacollects.com and follow on social media @mobambacollects.

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About Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles

Founded by former Texas Longhorn and NBA player Mo Bamba, Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles is an Austin destination for sports cards, trading card games, memorabilia and collector culture. Located at 2350 Guadalupe Street across from The University of Texas at Austin, the store reimagines the neighborhood card shop as an elevated, welcoming place to shop, trade, play and connect. Its offerings span sports and entertainment collectibles, sealed products, singles, autographed memorabilia, resale and consignment, grading services and expert collector guidance, alongside year-round trade nights, gaming events, watch parties and collector gatherings. For more information, visit mobambacollects.com and follow on social media @mobambacollects.

Photo courtesy: Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles

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Austin, TX

Has Arch Manning Improved?

Published

23 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Press Room

Reading Time: 3 minutes

AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 05: Quarterback Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns tosses the ball during warm ups ahead of the college football game the Texas Longhorns and the Texas State Bobcats on September 5, 2026, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

That was the number one question on my mind when I turned on the Texas Longhorns’ opening game of the 2026 season against No. 85 Texas State.

Yes.

A little.

I walked away from Manning’s 2025 game film by putting a second-round grade on him. He’d clearly regressed from his 2023-2024 game film when I gave him a first-round grade.

In what ways had Manning regressed?

-Didn’t look comfortable

-Wasn’t able to build chemistry with his receivers

-Struggled on throws beyond his first read.

These were the things I was paying close attention to as the tape began playing.

WATCH TEXAS VS. TEXAS STATE BY CLICKING HERE

The first thing that popped

He looked more comfortable operating the Longhorns’ offense in the opener.

It stood out.

I wrote it down in my notes. His movements were crisper and more fluid-looking.

Receivers

It was also noticeable that he had BETTER chemistry with this group of receivers.

The flow was better. There was more cohesion.

That’s another plus.

Shaky beyond his first read

I charted Manning going 8/11 on his second-read throws. At face value, that sounds pretty good. However, several of those were short passes (0-9 yards).

He still doesn’t look that comfortable on throws beyond his first read. I noted a tendency to try to use too much of his upper body and to attempt to aim and steer the ball rather than relying on an equally distributed upper and lower body release. It also seemed like he had a tendency to tense up more on throws beyond his first read.

In his defense⎯

Manning’s best throw of the game vs. Texas State came on a second-read throw.

I’m just not sold on it yet.

Any other areas of interest in this game?

4/4 on deep throws (+20 air yards)
Time to throw
Ball placement was better
Didn’t allow himself to get over-crowded in the pocket
Wore his heart on his sleeve
Ball security woes
Hard locking with targets (big NFL no-no)

Nothing has changed since last season when it comes to his deep game⎯

The strongest part of Manning’s 2025 tape was his deep accuracy. Still is.

How about his time to throw?

It was identical in the opener to 2025: 2.88 seconds (Pro Football Focus).

Manning’s ball placement looked better against Texas State. That probably has something to do with the fact that he seemed more comfortable, relaxed, and confident in this game. His footwork was improved.

He also had better pocket awareness.

Another thing that hasn’t changed since last season⎯

You don’t have to guess how Manning is feeling. He’s still pretty moody. His emotions are obviously up when things are going well and visibly down when they’re not.

That’s a very real concern for me.

Manning’s body language is “too Caleb Williams” for me. Williams is the emotional roller coaster who plays quarterback for the Bears. When I think back to watching former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, I think of emotionally consistent leaders.

As the leader goes, so goes the team.

Ball security remains a concern for me as well. Manning had two passes broken up and one ugly-looking interception. Last season, I wasn’t impressed with this area of Manning’s game (2025: 2.23 pass breakups per game average and seven interceptions). One of the pass breakups and the interception against Texas State were really bad throwing decisions.

Additionally⎯

I’m not a fan of how Manning needs to lock in with his targets for an extra noticeable moment before throwing. The last thing NFL defenders need is an extra second or two to get into position.

NFL takeaway

When I watched Manning against Texas State, he looked like a work in progress.

It seemed from the telecast that he had good self-awareness of his issues last season, and they also talked about how the game had slowed down for him.

Good signs.

Another positive was that I noticed something about Manning I had not noticed before. Seven times, Manning was able to hold defenders with his eyes to create more space for his intended receiver. I really liked that.

However⎯

There’s still room for improvement from an NFL perspective.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as appearing as a guest on ESPN Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and Fearless with Jason Whitlock. Featured in USA Today. For more information, visit whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.

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