Rural Route March 11, 2026 JC Cole continually has people telling him about a country collapse and he has lived through one.

AI DATA CENTERS, EMP THREATS, AND THE FIGHT FOR AMERICA’S FOOD SECURITY On this powerful episode of Rural Route, Trent Loos welcomes JC Cole from New Jersey for a hard-hitting conversation about the risks facing America’s infrastructure, agriculture, and food supply. The discussion begins with growing concerns about the rapid construction of massive AI data centers across the United States. Trent questions the wisdom of building these energy-hungry facilities in regions like the Northern Great Plains and the Colorado River Basin, where water and power are already under pressure. The conversation then turns to the serious threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and how vulnerable the nation’s electrical grid could be. JC explains that while AI data centers could be shielded with protective Faraday cages, the real danger lies in the unprotected grid. With many transformers now manufactured overseas and few replacements available, a major grid failure could create catastrophic consequences across the country. Trent stresses that the United States must prioritize protecting critical infrastructure before disaster strikes. Trent and JC also examine the future of American agriculture and the growing trend of wealthy investors buying farmland as a financial asset rather than producing food. The pair warn that true food security depends on strong, productive farms and local food systems. JC introduces the idea of the “American Titanic Syndrome,” suggesting that many Americans believe we can not sink.