Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick: Bipartisanship, Money in DC, Datacenters, Graham Platner

Pennsylvania Bipartisan Collaboration

• Senators John Fetterman (D) and Dave McCormick (R) voted together to prevent a government shutdown, stating, "Our votes are about country over party at this point."
• Both senators describe their partnership as a model for the nation, emphasizing that while they have "lots of disagreements," they "trust each other" and prioritize finding common ground.
• They identify Pennsylvania as a critical "microcosm of the country" due to its 19 electoral votes and its mix of large urban centers (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh) and rural areas, requiring a coalition across the spectrum to win.

Electoral and Demographic Trends

• Both senators are described as the only two in their respective cycles who flipped seats, attributed to rejecting "extreme kinds of views."
• McCormick notes that while national unions endorsed Kamala Harris, a majority of rank-and-file members in electrician, pipefitter, and steamfitter unions voted for him and for Donald Trump.
• The 2024 election in Pennsylvania saw the "highest African-American turnout in the last 30 years," creating a diverse coalition including significant Latino and working-class white voters.

Artificial Intelligence and Energy Policy

• Fetterman and McCormick jointly oppose Democratic calls for a moratorium on AI data centers, framing such moves as a policy that would hand the technology advantage to China.
• McCormick hosted an "Energy and Innovation Summit" in Western Pennsylvania in July, securing $92 billion in committed investments linking AI growth with energy production.
• Specific projects include transitioning a 4.4-gigawatt coal plant in Homer City to natural gas, with 3.4 gigawatts allocated to a new data center complex.
• Fetterman warns that the Democratic Party risks becoming a "party of Luddites" if they reject AI, which he views as an "incredible new opportunity" rather than a "scourge."
• Both senators argue that AI development is a national security imperative, stating, "America should build that chassis" rather than allowing China to dominate the technology.

Economic Outlook and Blue-Collar Boom

• McCormick highlights a "blue-collar boom" in Pennsylvania driven by data center construction, nuclear, and energy projects, with construction workers seeing wage increases of 25% to 30% and earning over $100,000 annually.
• He estimates a multiplier effect where every data center job creates approximately two logistics jobs, alongside hundreds of new jobs in hospitality and services.
• The senators attribute economic anxiety among the working class not to AI or globalization per se, but to a lack of opportunity and government intervention in markets.
• Fetterman proposes "Invest America Accounts" and expanded school choice ($1,700 annually per family) as mechanisms to build wealth and opportunity outside of direct government spending.

Political Challenges and Partisan Drift

• Fetterman addresses the risk of a progressive primary challenge, stating he would "rather be primaried" than compromise on his views regarding Israel, opposing government shutdowns, and refusing to use anti-semitic or fascist rhetoric.
• McCormick expresses concern over the Democratic Party's "lurch to the left," citing the rise of anti-semitism and socialism, and points to the polling success of candidates with extremist views (e.g., Charlie Kirk's opponent in Maine, a candidate with a swastika tattoo) as a sign of the party's health.
• Both senators criticize the "dark forces" and foreign state actors (specifically China) driving misinformation campaigns against data centers and energy projects, comparing the current situation to the early resistance to fracking.
• McCormick notes that campaign spending has reached absurd levels, with his own races costing $300-$500 million, suggesting that this money is often used to "destroy reputations" rather than solve problems.

Institutional Governance and the Filibuster

• Fetterman advocates strongly for preserving the Senate filibuster, admitting his party was "so wrong" in 2020 and 2022 to seek its elimination, arguing it is essential for protecting minority rights and forcing bipartisanship.
• He argues that turning the Senate into a simple majority body would lead to "profound, profound implications" for governance and stability.
• McCormick agrees that while the filibuster is frustrating as a "business person" who prefers speed, it creates the necessary impetus for compromise.
• Both senators attribute the low approval of Congress (at "all-time lows") to polarization and a failure to address existential issues like the $40 trillion national debt, rather than solely the legislative process.

Forward-Looking Statements and Strategic Goals

• McCormick predicts that "permitting reform" could be the "biggest economic lever" achieved in the next 6 to 24 months to accelerate energy and AI infrastructure.
• Both senators suggest that the future of the 2028 election and beyond depends on which coalition wins the support of working families, minorities, and rural voters in key swing states.
• Fetterman asserts that if Pennsylvania can resolve these "thorny issues," the rest of the country can follow, but failure to find resolution in Pennsylvania would make compromise in states like California or West Virginia unlikely.
• They emphasize that the next decade is a "moment of enormous change" regarding AI, life sciences, and defense, requiring a unified national strategy to avoid falling behind globally.