GeekWire

On this special episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we break down a public clash between Amazon and the White House over tariffs, transparency, and politics. After a report from Punchbowl News suggested Amazon would start displaying the cost of President Trump’s tariffs on product prices, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a “hostile and political act” during a press briefing — saying she had just spoken to the president about it. Amazon responded by clarifying that the idea had come from a small team behind its Amazon Haul discount storefront but was never approved and “not going to happen.” Meanwhile, CNN reported that Trump personally called Jeff Bezos to complain. Related links and content GeekWire: ‘Not going to happen’: Amazon responds to White House barb over purported tariff transparency plan [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/amazon-responds-to-white-house-criticism-over-displaying-tariff-related-costs/] Punchbowl News: Amazon to display tariff costs for consumers [https://punchbowl.news/archive/42925-am/#__amazontodisplaytariffcostsforconsumers__] Reuters, 2021: Amazon partnered with China propaganda arm [https://www.reuters.com/world/china/amazon-partnered-with-china-propaganda-arm-win-beijings-favor-document-shows-2021-12-17/] CNN's Alayna Treene on X [https://x.com/alaynatreene/status/1917243432528998855]: "Scoop: Trump called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Tuesday morning to complain about reports that his company was considering displaying the cost U.S. tariffs next to prices for certain products on its website, two senior White House officials told @CNN." Amazon statement: "The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products. This was never approved and is not going to happen.” GeekWire Podcast: How Amazon is adapting to the TikTok generation, and what it says about the state of Prime [https://www.geekwire.com/2024/how-amazon-is-adapting-to-the-tiktok-generation-and-what-it-says-about-the-state-of-prime/] With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

On this week’s GeekWire Podcast: Microsoft sees a future where humans manage fleets of AI agents — promising to fundamentally change the way companies are run and work gets done. Plus, we dive into the story of Chainguard, the $3.5 billion cybersecurity startup proving that a fully remote company can scale fast without a physical office. And we explore how AI is reshaping everyday life, from travel planning to home repairs. Related stories Meet your new AI teammate: Microsoft sees humans as ‘agent bosses,’ upending the workplace: [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/meet-your-new-ai-teammate-microsoft-sees-humans-as-agent-bosses-upending-the-workplace/] Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index envisions a future where employees manage AI agents, fundamentally reshaping organizational structures. Chainguard doesn’t have an office. Here’s how the $3.5B cybersecurity startup makes remote work: [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/chainguard-doesnt-have-an-office-heres-how-the-3-5b-cybersecurity-startup-makes-remote-work/] A look at how Chainguard successfully operates as a fully remote company, including intentional communication and periodic in-person gatherings. With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop and editor Taylor Soper. Edited by Curt Milton. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

In this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we’re joined by Marcus Fontoura, technical fellow at Microsoft and CTO for Azure Core. Fontoura is the author of A Platform Mindset [https://www.amazon.com/Platform-Mindset-Building-Culture-Collaboration/dp/B0DSY849P8], a new book that explores how to build scalable systems, support high-performing teams, and foster a culture of collaboration. We talk about the evolving role of platforms in tech, the impact of AI on engineering productivity, and why creativity and autonomy are more important than ever. Fontoura draws on decades of experience at Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and IBM to share insights on leadership, technical debt, and why great engineers should be treated more like artists than managers-in-waiting. With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, Melinda French Gates joins us to discuss her new book, The Next Day, a personal and philosophical reflection on life’s transitions. French Gates opens up about her emotional and spiritual journey of the past few years, the lessons she’s learned from therapy and motherhood, and how she’s now using her full voice through her company, Pivotal Ventures. We talk about her billion-dollar commitment to women’s advancement, the promise and pitfalls of AI, and what it means to pause, reflect, and take action — especially in uncertain times. Hosted by GeekWire reporter Lisa Stiffler. Audio editing by Curt Milton. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we're featuring highlights from a live interview with Nathan Myhrvold [https://nathanmyhrvold.com/], CEO of Intellectual Ventures and former chief technology officer at Microsoft. Myhrvold worked at Microsoft from 1986 to 2000, where he laid the groundwork for Microsoft Research, recruited top computer scientists, and played a key role in shaping the company’s technology strategy. Since leaving Microsoft, he has worked across fields including energy, science, physics, paleontology, photography, and high-tech cuisine. In this conversation, recorded at Town Hall Seattle as part of GeekWire’s Microsoft@50 event [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft50-recap-company-faithful-mark-first-50-years-and-look-to-future-at-geekwire-event/], Myhrvold shares his thoughts on the rise of AI, his longtime collaboration with Bill Gates, the future of energy, the secrets of Microsoft’s success, and what’s next in his Modernist Cuisine book series [https://modernistcuisine.com/books/modernist-cuisine/]. Edited by Curt Milton; With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.