Can you stop AI data centers? Comedian Charlie Berens thinks so – Stateside with Kai and Carter

Can you stop AI data centers? Comedian Charlie Berens thinks so – Stateside with Kai and Carter

By Tiara Chiaramonte,Carter Sherman,Ivan Kuraev,Suzanne Gaber,Rachel Humphreys
Publication Date: 2026-06-01 20:46:00

Last summer, Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens began receiving messages from people in his state about plans for a large data center in their community. When Berens got involved, he was shocked to see the impact the data center would have on local residents. So he responded with humor. The video he posted online about the data center went viral and Berens has been at the forefront of the fight against data centers ever since. Carter Sherman speaks with Berens about using his comedy as a tool for activism