Lately, there are too many issues going on to keep up with everything. However, here are a few that need attention.
CBDC
One of the many first actions by President Trump, just after he was elected, was Executive Order (EO) 14178 Section 5, which banned Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
Well, the fanfare of banning CBDCs has been lost among all the other rapidly developing news and has had time to settle in the minds of everyone as something no longer in need of worry. What a mistake, as the legislation that would ban CBDCs is omitted from the proposed 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
In response, Rep. Keith Self filed an amendment that would uphold the EO and block the creation of CBDCs. Previous efforts to ban CBDCs in legislation have not progressed. However, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, Section 603, which has passed the House, does contain a section prohibiting CBDCs.
So, here we go, again. Unless Congress is successful in passing legislation that actually bans CBDCs, there is a risk that the ability to create CBDCs continues. As is well known, EOs can be cancelled with a flick of the pen. Banning CBDCs needs to be put into legislation.
Data Centers
With the issuance of Stargate by President Trump to build data centers across the U.S., opposition to those centers is rising. Data centers are notorious for sucking up electricity in which the consumer absorbs the cost, and huge amounts of water that is needed by not only consumers but also agriculture. Most appalling are those data centers that are used to collect data on all of us. Information on these data centers is also often hidden from the public.
Opposition to data centers is spreading, including from environmental groups. Chandler, Arizona is one such city that recently blocked a proposed center. Data Center Watch, funded by 10a Labs, tracks how many data centers have been blocked across the states.
Trump is expediting the approval process for data centers while blocking states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) by withholding federal money. Not affected are AI laws on child safety or data center infrastructure. AI is the core of data centers, so blocking data centers puts a roadblock on AI.
To assist communities in blocking proposed data centers, the North Star Data Center Policy Toolkit, created by the AI Now Institute, has information that can be helpful. While the toolkit is currently a working draft, a final version should be available in early 2026.
Cell Towers
Beginning at the 9:38″ mark in this Children’s Health Defense video (See below), there is a critical discussion about cell towers and several pieces (2289) of legislation, and on rulemaking, that override local government control, forcing the placement of these towers in neighborhoods.
Reinette Senum provides a breakdown of more specific information on the cell tower issue. The link to the hearing on this issue that she mentions can be found here and the petition to amend the bills can be found here. The cell tower issue is all tied in with the AI and data center issue, which is why the feds are pushing it so hard. Don’t let them take control over local governments.
And yes, having AI spy on your trash is happening. Location of WM trash services can be found here.
