OCR

A new analysis suggests that the rapid buildout of data centers across the United States is reshaping local politics, with communities hosting large facilities reportedly shifting from supporting Trump toward voting Democratic. Residents concerned about noise, energy demand, water use and strain on local infrastructure appear to be mobilizing politically, turning data center expansion into an unexpected electoral issue.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that even if Democrats win control of Congress, they would have little power to block President Trump's agenda. The remarks come as midterm politics intensify, and they are drawing attention as a pre-emptive attempt to frame the stakes of a possible Democratic takeover of the House or Senate.

The mayor of Wellington, Florida has endorsed Democrat Pia Dandiya's congressional campaign, crossing party lines to do so. The backing of a sitting mayor from the opposing party is being highlighted as a notable show of local support as the race draws attention in the lead-up to the election.

As Americans vote in the midterm elections, attention in parts of Africa is turning to what a Democratic-controlled Congress would mean for the continent. A report lays out five key questions, covering issues such as trade, development aid, security cooperation and how US policy priorities toward African nations might shift depending on the balance of power in Washington.

A New York Times analysis examines whether Republicans could try to block seated Democratic lawmakers if Democrats win congressional majorities, a scenario that would test constitutional limits on Congress's power to judge its members' elections. The question has drawn attention amid heightened fears about election denial and partisan refusal to accept results. Critics warn such a move would trigger a constitutional crisis, while others say precedents make wholesale exclusions extremely unlikely.