Did the Midterms Destroy All Hope for Data Centers? | E2360
Jason Calacanis and Lon Harris unpack the 2026 midterms, where Democrats won Congress partly by campaigning on slowing data center construction. Jason argues the market panic is overblown and a compromise is coming.
The gist
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Lon Harris reports Democrats won both chambers, and more than a dozen Ohio towns voted to halt or restrict new data center development.
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Jason calls the sell-off overblown and expects compromise, while Lon says buying dips in fundamentally strong companies is how he makes money.
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Apple cut its engineers' daily AI spending cap from $300 to $200, and Jason predicts corporate AI seats will reach $100 to $300 monthly.
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Jason proposes taxing margin loans above $10 million as capital gains, since borrowing against stock lets the wealthy defer taxes until death.
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Off duty, Jason recommends Godzilla Minus One and House of the Dragon, Lon picks Dark Matter on Apple TV Plus, and both praise Velvet Taco.
"That's the only way I've ever found to make any money in stocks. The like Warren Buffett, think about the future, I never made any of that work. But wait until companies you think are fundamentally strong have a big dip. Buy the dip. That's it. That'll work."
▶ Play at 9:49
This Week in Startups uses it
"I have used a margin loan sometimes. Like, when I wanted to buy the ranch... I'll buy it on margin, right? And it's the same price, 6 or 7% or whatever, as getting a mortgage... It's a nice option if you have a bunch of equity holdings."
▶ Play at 58:27
This Week in Startups recommends it
"Godzilla Minus One in 2023, I took my daughters to see it in person. They loved it. I loved it... And it is unbelievably good. Highly recommend."
▶ Play at 1:01:34
This Week in Startups uses it
"By the way, I finished House of the Dragon. Excellent... I'm very sad when dragons die."
▶ Play at 52:212 creators recommend it, including Anish Acharya.
See all on the House of the Dragon page"It's a multiverse show, but in a much more thoughtful, serious way. And not to knock Marvel, I like Marvel... This one is like, 'What if you really could travel between realities and meet other versions of yourselves?'... Very good, very cool show, Dark Matter on Apple TV Plus."
▶ Play at 1:06:08
This Week in Startups recommends it
"The brisket one also very good. If you come to Austin go to Velvet Tacos, right? Like unique tacos. When Lon first came out here we were addicted."
▶ Play at 51:52"Some of them are pretty good. They've got that Tikka Masala one. The Buffalo one's good. I like the Tikka Masala one a lot."
▶ Play at 51:452 creators recommend it.
See all on the Velvet Taco pageWhat they recommend · 8 picks
Media & entertainment
3 picks · This Week in Startups and Lon Harris
"Godzilla Minus One in 2023, I took my daughters to see it in person. They loved it. I loved it... And it is unbelievably good. Highly recommend."
"It's a multiverse show, but in a much more thoughtful, serious way. And not to knock Marvel, I like Marvel... This one is like, 'What if you really could travel between realitie..."
"By the way, I finished House of the Dragon. Excellent... I'm very sad when dragons die."
Finance & investing
2 picks · Lon Harris and This Week in Startups
"That's the only way I've ever found to make any money in stocks. The like Warren Buffett, think about the future, I never made any of that work. But wait until companies you thi..."
"I have used a margin loan sometimes. Like, when I wanted to buy the ranch... I'll buy it on margin, right? And it's the same price, 6 or 7% or whatever, as getting a mortgage......"
Food & drink
2 picks · This Week in Startups and Lon Harris
"The brisket one also very good. If you come to Austin go to Velvet Tacos, right? Like unique tacos. When Lon first came out here we were addicted."
"Some of them are pretty good. They've got that Tikka Masala one. The Buffalo one's good. I like the Tikka Masala one a lot."
Other picks
1 pick · This Week in Startups
"Who was touching their screen on the laptop? I have an iPad for that. Just buy... Do you know what a great deal iPads are? Oh my god, they're close to free. I love a good iPad w..."
This Week in Startups
5 picks · host
"Godzilla Minus One in 2023, I took my daughters to see it in person. They loved it. I loved it... And it is unbelievably good. Highly recommend."
"Who was touching their screen on the laptop? I have an iPad for that. Just buy... Do you know what a great deal iPads are? Oh my god, they're close to free. I love a good iPad w..."
"The brisket one also very good. If you come to Austin go to Velvet Tacos, right? Like unique tacos. When Lon first came out here we were addicted."
Lon Harris
3 picks · guest
"It's a multiverse show, but in a much more thoughtful, serious way. And not to knock Marvel, I like Marvel... This one is like, 'What if you really could travel between realitie..."
"That's the only way I've ever found to make any money in stocks. The like Warren Buffett, think about the future, I never made any of that work. But wait until companies you thi..."
"Some of them are pretty good. They've got that Tikka Masala one. The Buffalo one's good. I like the Tikka Masala one a lot."
Also mentioned
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