GeekWire
Menu
  • Home
  • News
    • Amazon
    • Civic presented by Microsoft
    • Geek Life presented by Network of Giving
    • Health/Life Sciences
    • Microsoft
    • Podcasts
    • Space
    • Startups
    • Sustainability
    • Tech Moves
    • Bot or Not
    • GeekWire on the Road: Spokane
    • Microsoft at 50 presented by Accenture
    • Tech Vets presented by Northern Trust
  • GeekWork
    • GeekWork Recruiting
    • Job Board
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • GeekWire Events
  • Lists
    • Amazon Office Buildings
    • GeekWire 200 presented by JPMorganChase
    • GeekWire Startup List
    • GeekWire Startup Resources
    • GeekWire Startup Spaces
    • Layoff Tracker
    • M&As and IPOs
    • Northwest Women VC & Angel Investor List
    • Recent Fundings
    • Seattle Engineering Outposts
    • Venture Capital Directory
  • Members
    • Health Benefits
    • Memberships
  • Studios
    • GeekWire Studios: Let Us Tell Your Story
    • Nebius at NVIDIA GTC 2025 sponsored by Nebius
    • AWS Marketplace Seller Conference 2024 sponsored by AWS
    • AWS Summit: New York Partner Spotlights sponsored by AWS
    • Does Compute presented by Carnegie Mellon University
    • Guide to re:Invent sponsored by AWS
    • Money Hacks presented by BECU
    • Tech Connect at Dreamforce 2024 sponsored by RSM US LLP
    • Uncommon Thinkers Welcome sponsored by Greater Seattle Partners
    • Zuper at Inbound sponsored by Zuper
  • About
    • About GeekWire
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Email Newsletters
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Sponsors
  • Podcast
  • LinkedIn
  • Newsletter
  • News Tips

What happens here matters everywhere.

  • Podcast
  • LinkedIn
  • Newsletter
  • News Tips
  • Amazon
  • Microsoft
  • Startups
  • AI
  • Science
  • Tech Moves
  • Sustainability
  • Civic
  • Geek Life

Politics

Donald Trump at National Space Council

President Trump directs Pentagon to create ‘separate but equal’ Space Force

President Donald Trump today directed the Department of Defense to create a Space Force as the sixth branch of the… Read More

There was actually a civil, hopeful and energizing meeting at Seattle City Hall: Here’s what many missed

The fireworks were flying Tuesday afternoon at Seattle City Hall. But amid the protest chants, council waffling and constant din… Read More

Amazon says Seattle head tax repeal ‘is the right decision for the region’s economic prosperity’

Whatever bridge existed between Amazon and Seattle government has been slowly burning for weeks as the debate over a new… Read More

Seattle repeals head tax 7-2 in dramatic reversal that leaves city divided over homeless crisis

Seattle’s new per-employee tax on large businesses to fund affordable housing is officially dead, bringing an end to one of… Read More

Seattle Council president on sudden head tax reversal: Why the city decided to hit ‘the reset button’

Seattle plans to vote on legislation that would repeal the city’s new head tax Tuesday, less than a month after… Read More

Seattle considers repealing controversial head tax as referendum campaign picks up steam

Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell has scheduled a special meeting Tuesday to consider repealing the so-called “head tax,” which… Read More

As net neutrality officially ends, here’s what you need to know about what’s next

Obama-era regulations known as net neutrality officially end Monday. The Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal the rules back in… Read More

TLDR: Google AdWords won’t run campaign ads in WA state, LinkedIn adds commute times to job postings, Amazon to stream U.K. soccer matches

[Editor’s Note: TLDR is GeekWire’s tech news rundown show, hosted by Starla Sampaco. Watch today’s update above, subscribe to GeekWire on YouTube, check… Read More

Head tax is a ‘redefining moment’ for Seattle and start of a larger discussion, councilmember says

Debate over Seattle’s controversial “head tax” often focuses on what the city is or isn’t doing about a surging homelessness problem… Read More

Google will pause election ads in Washington state in unprecedented response to new law

Google says it will stop running state and local election ads in Washington state, citing new rules that require what… Read More

In cities competing for Amazon HQ2, reaction to tech giant’s Seattle tax battle is all over the map

Three days after the Seattle City Council passed a head tax on large businesses, the editorial board of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,… Read More

Brad Smith

Microsoft’s Brad Smith fears these 3 things will happen under Trump administration this summer

Most Pacific Northwesterners spend long, rainy months pining for summer. But Microsoft President Brad Smith is having a hard time… Read More

Microsoft’s Brad Smith explains what Zuckerberg did right, what Microsoft missed, and how the company has changed

One of the biggest mistakes of Microsoft’s antitrust era was not coming to terms sooner with the U.S. government, but… Read More

Does the US need a new social contract? Dems call Trump a symptom of ‘the real threat to our republic’

Technologies younger than some pop stars are dramatically reshaping the modern economy and leaving many workers without the societal protections… Read More

Thirsty for Seattle businesses, Phoenix uses head tax as recruiting tool

Phoenix is coming on strong. The Arizona city’s office of economic development has been hitting up Seattle companies with the… Read More

Feds move to end International Entrepreneur Rule that lets foreign-born founders grow startups in US

The Department of Homeland Security is moving forward with its plan to rescind the International Entrepreneur Rule, which was enacted… Read More

Space Policy Directive 2 signed

President Trump signs off on directive to deregulate commercial space ventures

President Donald Trump has signed his administration’s second space policy directive, focusing on streamlining licensing procedures and turning the Commerce… Read More

Controversial Seattle ‘head tax’ may head south: Silicon Valley cities weigh tax on tech giants

Seattle is an innovator in a lot of things — from speciality coffee to cloud computing to commercial spacecraft. Could… Read More

Here’s how much Amazon, Starbucks and Vulcan donated to campaign to repeal Seattle head tax

Amazon and Starbucks have donated $25,000 each to a referendum campaign on Seattle’s divisive new head tax, according to disclosure… Read More

A serious slap at Seattle: Pierce County plans $275 tax incentive for companies, taking aim at its Northwest neighbor

Pierce County on Tuesday plans to introduce a new tax incentive program for employers looking to bring jobs to the… Read More

A ‘punch in the gut’: Fast-growing Seattle startup eyes Bellevue after head tax vote

Seattle-based sales automation startup Outreach announced a new $65 million funding round Monday — but its CEO, Manny Medina, also had… Read More

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen donates $1M to gun reform initiative in Washington state

Microsoft co-founder and Seattle real estate mogul Paul Allen donated $1 million to a new initiative that would enact tougher… Read More

Trump’s chief economic adviser didn’t want to talk about Amazon’s relationship with the Post Office

President Donald Trump likes to paint Amazon as a negative force for the U.S. Postal Service, even reportedly asking U.S. Postmaster… Read More

Business coalition launching ‘No Tax on Jobs’ campaign to overturn Seattle’s contentious new head tax

A business coalition launched a campaign Friday to reject Seattle’s new “head tax,” a polarizing piece of legislation signed into… Read More

In leaked video, Bill Gates candidly recounts surreal first meetings with President Trump

Bill Gates was unnerved by how much President Donald Trump knew about his daughter’s appearance the first time the two… Read More

Podcast

Week in Geek Podcast: Seattle is taxing big business and tech is pissed — what happens now?

The Seattle City Council passed a controversial head tax on big businesses, prompting outcry from the city’s tech giants and… Read More

Former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire says Seattle head tax ‘undermines our international and national reputation’

Christine Gregoire didn’t mince words when asked about Seattle’s controversial new head tax at the Museum of History and Industry’s… Read More

Glenn Kelman

Redfin CEO breaks ranks with tech community in maverick response to ‘unreasonable’ Seattle tax

Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman weighed in on Seattle’s controversial new head tax Tuesday, offering a sober perspective amid vitriolic responses… Read More

Airbus A380

WTO issues its ‘final ruling’ against Airbus, opening the way for tariffs (or talks)

The World Trade Organization today issued its final report in a long-running dispute over subsidies for Airbus jets, potentially clearing… Read More

Starbucks

Starbucks joins Amazon, lambasting Seattle’s new head tax on top-grossing companies

Two of Seattle’s top employers are taking the gloves off and pulling no punches in the wake of a newly… Read More

  • Older
  • Newer

Latest Stories

    Read All Stories

    GeekWire Newsletters

    Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

    Send Us a Tip

    Have a scoop that you'd like GeekWire to cover? Let us know.

    Send Us a Tip

    A Word From Our Sponsors

    About

    • About GeekWire
    • Contact Us
    • Partner With Us
    • Become a GeekWire Member
    • Send Us a Tip
    • Join Our Startup List
    • Reprints and Permissions

    Follow

    • Facebook
    • X
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • RSS Feed
    • Podcast
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky

    GeekWire Newsletters

    Catch every headline in your inbox

    Read GeekWire

    • Apple News
    • Google News

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Sponsored Content Policy
    Return to Top of Page
    © 2011-2025 GeekWire, LLC
    Do Not Sell or Share My Personal information
    Limit the Use Of My Sensitive Personal Information
    Consent Preferences