In this Columbia County Progress podcast episode, viewers hear a detailed conversation about CAFOs—concentrated animal feeding operations—and the questions they raise for local communities.

The discussion does not present this as a simple fight between “farm” and “anti-farm.” Instead, it focused on how to support agriculture while also protecting water, public health, nearby residents, and the long-term quality of life in Columbia County and across Wisconsin.

Hyperscale Data Centers have been in the news lately, so we wanted to learn more about them. Why are communities fighting against them? What are the environmental impacts? Who pays for these data centers? What we learned will likely surprise and concern you.

We present the introductory podcast and first two of the three installments in this post.

Above photo and associated video © 2026 Heather Cox Richardson. All Rights Reserved.

A Senate battle over the SAVE America Act raises urgent questions about voting rights and democratic norms. Historian Heather Cox Richardson and Senator Alex Padilla explain what’s at stake—and how it’s being fought.