Articles about Politics – Page 2 of 42

Podcast

How this former tech columnist bridged her family’s political divide, and what we can learn from it

What would happen to the divisions in our country if we set aside our phones, and our assumptions, and truly… Read More

Podcast

USAFacts founder and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on the State of the Union in numbers

Understanding any subject requires knowing the numbers, and that includes looking at the long-term trends. That was one of Steve… Read More

Contributions from Amazon employees helped Councilmember Kshama Sawant defeat recall

Amazon employees were among the top contributors to the campaign that helped Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, an outspoken critic… Read More

Downtown Seattle in mayoral debate spotlight as candidates likely to sound off on tech hub’s future

The future of downtown Seattle could be in the spotlight tonight — alongside Bruce Harrell and Lorena Gonzalez — as… Read More

Opportunity zones are the tax shield tech wanted — but is it living up to expectations?

It’s been more than three years since a concept to encourage high-net worth Americans to invest in economically distressed areas… Read More

Senators spar over the idea of giving billions to Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin venture for lunar lander program

The tussle over NASA funding for lunar landing systems has touched down in the Senate — with one leading senator… Read More

Amazon’s antitrust adversary: What Lina Khan’s Senate hearing reveals about Big Tech’s future

A decades-long policy of lax regulation of the technology industry could be coming to a close — and Lina Khan… Read More

Why Amazon and Jeff Bezos are backing a corporate tax rate hike

Jeff Bezos surprised some Amazon critics and followers this week by throwing his weight behind a federal corporate tax hike… Read More

What Biden’s infrastructure plan means for Washington state’s public broadband crusade

A years-long campaign to turn internet service into a public utility in Washington state could get a big boost from… Read More

Capital gains tax in Washington state: Is it about fairness and funding, or will it drive away startups?

Tech workers, business owners, public policy advocates and private citizens weighed in this week in favor of and against a… Read More

Amazon poll finds most Americans support increasing federal minimum wage to $15

Eight in 10 Americans believe the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is too low and two thirds support… Read More

Jeff Bezos says no thanks to Bernie Sanders’ request to testify on income inequality

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will not testify at a Senate Budget Committee hearing on income inequality next week — a… Read More

Republican Senator Marco Rubio unleashes blistering attack on Amazon, says he stands with union effort and criticizes company’s ‘woke’ culture

It wasn’t a huge surprise when President Joe Biden earlier this month voiced support for Amazon warehouse workers’ unionization efforts… Read More

Washington state tech community spars over proposed capital gains tax

Update: The Washington state Senate on Saturday passed SB 5096 by a slim margin, 25-24. The bill now moves to the… Read More

Here’s the first thing President Biden should do to spark entrepreneurship in the U.S.

The most powerful lever President Joe Biden can pull to catalyze entrepreneurship in the U.S. is immigration reform. That’s according… Read More

This former Microsoft engineering exec is now working to fix bugs in the U.S. political system

Jon DeVaan, a former Microsoft Windows engineering leader, knows a thing or two about addressing flaws in complex systems. “When… Read More

Will Bezos bounce? Amazon CEO’s departure plan sharpens debate over ‘billionaire tax’ in Wash. state

When Jeff Bezos announced plans to step down as Amazon CEO later this year, critics of a plan to tax… Read More

Podcast

How to upgrade democracy: Former Microsoft executive Jon DeVaan’s primer on political reform

The Jan. 6 breach and riot at the U.S. Capitol, and the larger effort to overturn the results of the… Read More

Washington state lawmakers seek to ban government from using discriminatory AI tech

Washington state could become a national leader in regulating the technologies of the future, thanks in part to a bill… Read More

President Biden doubles down on immigration agenda, but tech priorities take a backseat

President Joe Biden continued unwinding the previous administration’s controversial immigration agenda Tuesday through a series of executive orders. Over the… Read More

Tech workers sound off on Washington state’s proposed ‘billionaire tax’ at first public hearing

Tech workers showed up to a virtual hearing Tuesday to voice their opinion on a proposed tax on Washington state’s… Read More

Washington state lawmakers target Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and other billionaires with wealth tax

A new proposed wealth tax in Washington state would impose a 1% tax on billionaires, affecting Seattle-area tech and business… Read More

Why Washington state could finally pass data privacy laws with a bill backed by the tech industry

Washington state will once again try to pass data privacy regulations akin to Europe and California’s laws this year —… Read More

Dustup over Microsoft PAC’s contributions brings calls for company to lead political reform

[Editor’s Note: Microsoft underwrites GeekWire’s independent coverage of civic issues. Read more about underwriting on GeekWire here.] Advocates urged Microsoft… Read More

Podcast

What the Biden administration means for tech, from the future of work to regulatory crackdowns

As Joe Biden settles into the Oval Office, tech companies in the Seattle region and elsewhere are watching with a… Read More

Tech veteran Suzi LeVine leaving Washington state unemployment agency for Biden administration role

Suzi LeVine, commissioner of Washington state’s Employment Security Department, is leaving that role to take a position with President Joe… Read More

Is the regulatory crusade against Big Tech over? What experts expect under Biden administration

When President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in Wednesday, they inherited a unique opportunity to rein… Read More

Bill Gates ready to tackle toughest challenges with President Biden after ‘troubling time in America’

Editor’s note: Post updated with comments from Melinda Gates Ever the optimist, Bill Gates said he sees promise in the… Read More

Here’s what tech policy leaders are watching, and expecting, as Biden takes office

When Joe Biden and Kamala Harris take the oath of office on Wednesday, the new president and vice president will… Read More

Microsoft suspends political spending to ‘assess implications’ of violence at US Capitol

Microsoft has halted its political contributions in the wake of the riot at the U.S. Capitol last week. The move… Read More