Gaslit - The Power of Story

Tommy J Housman
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture

Corporations post record profits while families, seniors, and small businesses juggle groceries, rent, and the power bill. Gaslit uncovers how state-sanctioned monopolies, shareholder-first decisions, and law-written “fees” quietly inflate our costs—then turns the mic to the people living the fallout. Hosted by Tommy Housman, each episode weaves raw stories with plain-language policy to expose how lobbying and legislation drive prices up, suppress cheaper options, and push disconnections—while pointing to fixes communities can win. This isn’t abstract economics. It’s survival, dignity, and the power of collective action.

  1. Sep 18

    Who Pays to Power AI? Indiana’s Data Center Rush with Kerwin Olson

    In the Season Two premiere of Gaslit: The Power of Story, Tommy J. Hausman speaks with Citizens Action Coalition executive director Kerwin Olson about Indiana’s rapid expansion of AI data centers and what it could mean for Southern Indiana. They examine Project Raider, an unidentified proposed 600-megawatt load in CenterPoint territory, and ask whether the grid can supply projects of this scale without shifting infrastructure, energy, and stranded-asset costs onto existing customers. The conversation explores utility regulation, water and pollution, aging coal plants, closed-door development agreements, voluntary consumer protections, and the promises of jobs and economic growth. At the center of the episode is a fundamental question: Before communities surrender land, water, electricity, tax revenue, and public money, what must residents be allowed to know—and what power do they still have to say no?

    Who Pays to Power AI? Indiana’s Data Center Rush with Kerwin Olson

  2. Season 2 Trailer

    Season 2 Trailer

    Season Two of Gaslit: The Power of Story investigates what Southern Indiana is being asked to sacrifice for the rapid expansion of data centers and artificial intelligence. Using media literacy, civics literacy, critical thinking, and a clear definition of harm, we will separate verified facts from corporate promises while examining electricity, water, infrastructure costs, jobs, automation, surveillance, and public accountability. At every step, we will ask: Who benefits, who decides, who assumes the risk—and what power does the public still have to prevent harm?

    Season 2 Trailer

  3. Jan 5

    A Conversation with Direct Action Against CenterPoint Energy

    Gaslit: The Power of Story — Season 1, Episode 10 In this episode of Gaslit, we speak with organizers from Direct Action Against CenterPoint Energy, a community-driven group that formed after residents across southern Indiana began experiencing sudden, extreme increases in their utility bills. This conversation traces how a grassroots Facebook group became a source of shared education, mutual aid, and civic engagement—helping thousands of residents understand how utility pricing works, why bills have risen so dramatically, and where accountability actually lies. We discuss: How residents first realized something was wrong when bills doubled with no change in usageThe hidden labor required to access utility assistanceWhy shutoffs create cascading harm for families, seniors, and childrenThe role of legislation, regulation, and monopoly structure in rising costsWhy education and storytelling have become survival toolsThe growing concern over data centers, infrastructure expansion, and long-term affordabilityWhy no one should ever lose power in silence This episode centers lived experience, civic literacy, and the reality that electricity is not a luxury—it is a basic necessity. Resources & Links Direct Action Against CenterPoint Energy resources and updates:https://linktr.ee/daace If you or someone you know is struggling with utility bills, assistance resources are discussed in the episode and may also be found through local community action programs and the United Way 2-1-1 system.

  4. 12/04/2025

    Alex Burton: Showing Up, Speaking Out, and Fighting for Affordability

    SHOW DESCRIPTION (RSS): In Episode 9 of Gaslit: The Power of Story, Indiana State Representative Alex Burton explains what it looks like when an elected official refuses to disappear into the political bubble. Born and raised in Evansville, Burton stays rooted in the neighborhoods he serves — carrying stories of working families, seniors, and struggling households directly into the State House. This conversation covers affordability, rising utility bills, food insecurity, housing instability, and the long-term consequences of a state government that keeps prioritizing redistricting and corporate incentives over basic human needs. Burton shares how storytelling from real constituents is shaping his legislative approach, how gaps in the local safety net continue to widen, and what it will take to build coalitions across Indiana’s cities to push for authentic reform. If you want to understand what’s happening in southern Indiana — and what real political accountability sounds like — this episode is essential listening. SHOW NOTES: Guest: Rep. Alex Burton, Indiana House District 77Topics discussed:• Food insecurity and collapsing local safety nets• Rising utility bills and systemic affordability failures• The legislative blindspots driving today’s crisis• Data centers, AI, and long-term economic pressure• Housing instability, aging infrastructure, and the cost of survival• Storytelling as political leverage and coalition-buildingFollow Rep. Burton:• Facebook: AB for EV• Instagram: @in77rep_alexburtonPresented by: Gaslit: The Power of StoryAvailable wherever you listen to podcasts

  5. 11/21/2025

    Data Centers & Your Power Bill — Citizens Action Coalition

    Episode 8 – Data Centers, Power Bills, and the Future of Indiana In this episode of Gaslit: The Power of Story, Tommy talks with the Citizens Action Coalition — Ryan Stratman, Ben Inskeep, and Bryce Gustafson — about the rapid rise of hyperscale AI data centers in Indiana and what they mean for affordability, energy use, water demand, and long-term costs on households. These new facilities aren’t the data centers Indiana is used to. They can use hundreds to thousands of megawatts of electricity — in some cases more power than entire cities — and may require expensive new infrastructure that could ultimately shift costs onto ratepayers. We break down: How AI-driven data centers differ from traditional facilitiesTheir projected power demand (comparable to or exceeding steel mills)Water use concernsSubsidies, tax abatements, and long-term public costsDelayed coal retirements and rapid natural gas expansionNoise, air pollution, diesel backup systems, and land-use impactsHow communities across Indiana have already stopped 13 proposed projectsWhat residents can do when a project is proposed in their county Stay informed or get involved with Citizens Action Coalition at citact.org. All episodes, transcripts, and articles are at: https://fireside.evansville.edu/gaslit Gaslit T-shirts: White Logo: https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/82626648-gaslit-the-power-of-story-wht?store_id=130038 Black Logo: https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/82626649-gaslit-the-power-of-story-blk?store_id=130038

  6. 11/15/2025

    Cindi Clayton — Fighting for Families, Schools, and Accountability

    In this episode of Gaslit: The Power of Story, Tommy sits down with Cindi Clayton, a University of Southern Indiana instructor, longtime child-advocacy leader, and candidate for the Indiana State Senate. Cindi talks openly about her “why”: watching students work hard, get the degree, land the job — and still not be able to afford to live in Evansville. She traces how Indiana’s utility monopoly, legislative decisions, cuts to public schools, and the collapse of child-protection funding converge into one affordability crisis affecting families, children, seniors, and nonprofits across our region. We discuss her refusal to take money from energy companies, her belief in servant leadership, and what real transparency and accountability could look like for southwestern Indiana. Learn more about Cindi: https://www.cindiforsenate.com/ Support the podcast with merch: White Logo Tee — https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/82626648-gaslit-the-power-of-story-wht?store_id=130038 Black Logo Tee — https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/82626649-gaslit-the-power-of-story-blk?store_id=130038

  7. 11/12/2025

    Logan Patberg: The Power of Representation

    In this episode of Gaslit: The Power of Story, we sit down with Logan Patberg — educator, community advocate, and candidate for Indiana House District 76. Logan shares his WHY, rooted in public education, lived experience, and a commitment to understanding affordability and stability from the ground up. We discuss the pressures families in Posey and western Vanderburgh County are facing — rising energy bills, childcare costs, healthcare strain, housing shortages, and the heightened food insecurity caused by the federal SNAP shutdown. Logan explains what he’s hearing at the doors, why constituents feel unrepresented, and how aligned leadership — working alongside Sally Buzbee and Alex Burton — could bring transparency, stronger advocacy, and real structural solutions to Southwestern Indiana. This conversation continues the social action journey of this podcast: listening to real people, amplifying their stories, and building momentum for meaningful change. https://www.patbergforindiana.com Support Gaslit: https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/82626648-gaslit-the-power-of-story-wht?store_id=130038 https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/82626649-gaslit-the-power-of-story-blk?store_id=130038

  8. 11/01/2025

    Chris Norrick: Inside the Bill

    Community advocate Chris Norick explains how bills are actually built (base rates + multiple riders), why disconnection notices are surging, and what CenterPoint’s recent announcements—a $5M community fund, a $3 monthly “offset,” planned town halls, and the sale of its Ohio gas business—do and do not change for households in southwestern Indiana. We cover the IURC’s role, “regulatory capture,” the TDSIC tracker, why ROE incentives drive build-more decisions, and practical steps that matter now (weatherization, targeted assistance, and directing comments to the decision-makers who set the rules). Independent storytelling takes time, research, and community support — show yours by picking up Gaslit merch. https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/82626648-gaslit-the-power-of-story-wht?store_id=130038 or in black. https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/82626649-gaslit-the-power-of-story-blk?store_id=130038.

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Corporations post record profits while families, seniors, and small businesses juggle groceries, rent, and the power bill. Gaslit uncovers how state-sanctioned monopolies, shareholder-first decisions, and law-written “fees” quietly inflate our costs—then turns the mic to the people living the fallout. Hosted by Tommy Housman, each episode weaves raw stories with plain-language policy to expose how lobbying and legislation drive prices up, suppress cheaper options, and push disconnections—while pointing to fixes communities can win. This isn’t abstract economics. It’s survival, dignity, and the power of collective action.

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