Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order on August 18 aimed at placing new restrictions on data center construction in the state.

The Details: In summary, the Governor's Press Office says Shapiro now requires prospective data developers to legally bind themselves to new state guidelines regarding "energy affordability, community engagement, workforce and economic development, transparency, and environmental protection" that give "local municipalities a greater say over development in their communities."

Key Quote: Shapiro said, "Over the past year, I've listened to the people of Pennsylvania… My message to data center developers is clear: if you can't agree to our strict requirements and get the community where you want to build to say 'yes,' you're not going to have the Commonwealth's support either. These are some of the biggest companies in the world – they can afford to be good neighbors."

Data Centers in PA: Data centers have been a particularly controversial issue in Pennsylvania over the past year. In December, Emerson College polling found that 42% of Pennsylvanians opposed them being built in their neighborhoods, with women opposing them more than men. Quinnipiac University polling published in July found 74% of registered Pennsylvania voters opposed data centers being built in their neighborhoods. The same polling found 34% of registered voters disapproved of Shapiro's handling of data centers, with 24% approving, including 40% of Democrats.

RELATED: The Insight: The Data Center Dilemma | AllSides

Political Context: Back in June, Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) introduced a bill in the US House aimed at curbing "large corporations' ability to litigate and attempt to overturn local decisions regarding data centers." Shapiro will face Pennsylvania's Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity in Pennsylvania's gubernatorial race in November and currently holds a significant lead in the polls. After signing the order, Garrity called on Shapiro to return $5.7 million in campaign contributions he received from donors involved in AI and data center construction. Philadelphian outlet Broad + Liberty (Lean Right bias) highlighted this in a headline.

Fetterman's Take: Days after Shapiro signed the order, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) wrote on X, "AI supremacy and energy dominance underpins our national security. China continues to fuel and benefit from our overreaction. I reject the political pandering and hyperbole over data centers or AI doomsdaying." The Washington Examiner (Lean Right) said Fetterman, whom it described as "one of the more centrist Democrats" has "consistently pushed back against such data center and broader AI doomerism throughout the summer, as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been forced to take a policy position on an issue that's both new and subject to shifting public opinion."

RELATED: The Wall Street Journal Has a Strong Pro-Data Center Bias | AllSides

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum framed the move as a change of course for Shapiro, with many highlighting that last year he touted Amazon's decision to spend $20 billion on data centers in Pennsylvania. An analysis from Axios (Lean Left) said his pivot "says plenty about the evolving politics of AI" and noted that he is "in the 2028 presidential mix." Chris Kelly of Pennsylvania's Scranton Times-Tribune (Lean Left) said for Shapiro, "any association with the data center invasion would be a heavy burden" on his presidential hopes. Kelly added, "Some may forgive Shapiro for his earnest early cheerleading for data centers, but no one should forget it." Salena Zito of Townhall (Right) called Shapiro's order "striking and a reversal of evolution in the state's approach." She said data centers have "become the boogeyman in the wings of both parties" and called for "neither fear of the industry nor unconditional approval of every proposal."

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More than 150 wallets on Polymarket International are thought to be involved in insider trading on US military information, according to a report by the Anti-Corruption Data Collective (ACDC).

The Details: ACDC found 556 accounts that it referred to as "Orcas," which it said typically opened accounts within days of a successful longshot bet and won big in niche markets. Of these, 152 of them placed longshot bets in military and defense markets, winning $8 million collectively at an average win rate of 97.2%, according to Reuters (Center bias). According to the report, those are the wallets most likely to be trading military secrets. CNN (Lean Left) reported that prior to the report's release, Polymarket referred "dozens" of accounts to the Justice Department for investigation into insider trading.

For Context: There have been several instances of suspected insider trading on prediction markets over the last year. In March, bets on a five-day pause on strikes on Iran and a US-Iran ceasefire deal made anonymous users roughly $580 million and $820,000. In April, a US soldier was charged with using classified information to bet on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.

RELATED: The Insight: The Rise of Prediction Markets

How the Media Covered It: Reuters was the first to report on the ACDC report. It framed the finding within other suspected military insider trading this year. It also cited ACDC concerns of copycat trades by bots and "deep-pocketed" users. CNN and the Washington Examiner (Lean Right) both covered Polymarket reporting the accounts to the Justice Department. CNN cited comments from the Polymarket Founder and CEO about the company's efforts to crackdown on insider trading. The outlet wrote these "haven't stopped investigators getting involved" and noted Polymarket is currently subject to lawmakers imposing regulations. 

The Washington Examiner was the only right-leaning source AllSides only found coverage from.

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly broadcasted "Where and how should we kill Barron Trump?" on Iranian state media and allegedly placed a $10 million bounty on the 20-year-old's head.

The Details: The three-minute video, also translated to "Where to kill Barron Trump," said President Donald Trump's son is "fully monitored." It claimed to have tracked his Secret Service and escort vehicles' positions, as well as his Xbox, FIFA, and Discord accounts. The video, broadcast on Iranian state television's Channel 3, also alleged that "a girl" spied on Barron and leaked private information from an unspecified meeting. It concluded, "This is just the beginning! Barron Trump, wait for us!"

Similar Campaigns: The IRGC-linked outlet Tasnim News Agency (not rated) released the video "Where to Kill Melania?" in July, calling on "freedom fighters" to target the first lady's location. (The title is according to New York Post's [Right bias] translation. Euronews [Center] translated the title to "Where and how is Melania Trump accessible?").

The state also released a video called "Where to Kill [Donald] Trump?!," and it allotted a billboard in Tehran's Islamic Revolution Square that read "We will kill Trump" and depicted Trump dead in a coffin. Additionally, the US Secret Service is reviewing another video that claimed to show the president's travel paths.

RELATED: Israeli Officials Tell US That Iran Plans to Assassinate Trump | AllSides

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the political spectrum said they could not independently verify the legitimacy of the bounty. Israeli media such as The Jerusalem Post (Center bias) and The Times of Israel (Center) highlighted the story.

New York Post framed Iran's future in the conflict with the US pessimistically, highlighting, "Ahead of the Trump administration's rollout of crippling measures, Iran's currency, the rial, plunged to a new low, trading at roughly 1.5 million rials to the dollar." It also gave voice to Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who said last week, "No matter how much military power we have, if people are hungry and we do not have financial circulation and economic growth, we will not endure."

Euronews highlighted Iranian-run media commentators who justified the threats against President Trump under Islam's "qisas" rule. Mohammad-Javad Larijani, for example, said, "We will do whatever is in our power, and there is no international legal barrier to stop us." The outlet also cited Trump's January comment that the US would "wipe the Islamic Republic off the face of the Earth" if the state carried out threats to take his life.

RELATED: Trump Reportedly Switched Aircraft Amid Iranian Assassination Threat | AllSides

For Context: The Post reported, "Recently, Trump has been ratcheting up his pressure campaign on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiling an 'economic D-Day' plan to decimate Tehran's economy." The president posted to Truth Social Monday, following the reports about Barron, "IRAN IS COMPLETELY COLLAPSING!!!" However, Raw Story (Left) highlighted, "Trump has frequently claimed that Iran was nearing collapse."

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary. Image Credit: @IsraelWarRoom/X via New York Post.

Editor's Note: a previous version of this summary inaccurately implied that Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel are funded by Israel's government. 

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) expanded access to abortions and transgender treatments on Thursday.

The Details: The new law expands shield laws for those seeking abortions and transgender treatments in the state, and it criminalizes "intimidation" and "interference" of services. Sherrill signed the bill, S2260/A2218, into law at a Planned Parenthood in Montclair, New Jersey, after it passed 25-15 in the Senate and 55-23 in the General Assembly in June. In a press release published on Thursday, she touted her administration's $52 million directive for abortion services in fiscal year 2027.

Could People Be Arrested For Praying Outside Abortion Clinics? The law specifically criminalizes "the intimidat[ion of a] person from becoming or remaining a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant of reproductive healthcare services, if the conduct would cause a reasonable person to be intimidated."

While administrative spokeswoman Maggie Garbarino said the law doesn't prevent "lawful, peaceful protest or the exercise of constitutionally protected speech," she asserted that it does prevent "violence, threats, intimidation, physical obstruction, [and] property damage." But New Jersey Right to Life Director Marie Tasy contested the subjectivity in the law's wording: "Peaceful sidewalk counseling, prayer, holding signs, or simply offering help and alternatives outside a facility can easily be labeled 'intimidation' by someone who claims to feel threatened, leaving pro-life advocates open to criminal charges that are difficult to disprove and chilling constitutionally protected expression."

RELATED: Which Should Receive Funding: Planned Parenthood or Pregnancy Resource Centers? | AllSides

Is It Easier To Get An AR-15 Than An Abortion In The US? Sherrill claimed, "In the past four years, 13 states … have enacted [near] total abortion bans. It's easier to get an AR-15 in the United States than it is to get an abortion."

While each state includes nuanced legislation for both gun and abortion laws, the data is roughly as follows:

• 27 states have virtually no restrictions on AR-15s; 30 states have virtually no restrictions on abortion before "viability"
• 12 states have partial restrictions on AR-15s; 2 states have restrictions after 12 weeks gestation and 5 states have restrictions after 6 weeks gestation
• 11 states have near-total restrictions on AR-15s; 13 states have near-total abortion restrictions

RELATED: Biden Admin 'Weaponized' the FACE Act: DOJ Report | AllSides

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