Are tech layoffs different this time? A Meta source speaks out

The California Primary is Tuesday. Who’s funding what you’ll vote for?

Voting day is around the corner, and a hell of a lot of money is changing hands. The words "unprecedented" and "billionaire bonanza" come to mind. On this episode of PST, we follow the money across the races defining California's political future: the wide-open governor's race, the battle to succeed Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco, and the ballot measure that's unleashed a flood of fury from the ultra-wealthy — a proposed one-time 5% tax on California's roughly 200 billionaires. Host Emily Dreyfuss sits down with The Standard's Emily Shugerman and Hannah Wiley to unpack the mega-donors, super PACs, and power brokers shaping what's on your ballot. Then USF politics professor Keally McBride answers a critical question: does all that spending actually work? For more information and episode transcripts, visit: https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/ Support this podcast from The San Francisco Standard by becoming a subscriber: https://sfstandard.com/subscriber

Inside Stanford’s quest to build the next ruling class

Student journalist Theo Baker made a name for himself in 2023 when, at the age of 18, his reporting at Stanford led to the resignation of the university’s then-president Marc Tessier-Lavigne. Yes, Baker got the president of his university fired… as a freshman. Now, Baker is out with his debut book, How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University, which pulls back the curtain on a secretive, hyper-privileged echelon of students who are aggressively courted by Silicon Valley venture capitalists from the moment they arrive on campus. In the age of the AI gold rush, the next generation of entrepreneurs has become the most coveted asset of all. This week, Baker joins us to break down what he calls the “Stanford Inside Stanford” that is mining the next generation of tech billionaires. He talks about the lingo that separates the “builders” from the “wantapreneurs”, the scrappy, underdog spirit that Silicon Valley has largely abandoned in favor of corporatized hackathons, and why he thinks the next Elizabeth Holmes or Sam Bankman-Fried is being minted at Silicon Valley’s most prestigious university right now. Theo's book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760317/how-to-rule-the-world-by-theo-baker/ [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760317/how-to-rule-the-world-by-theo-baker/]] Support this podcast from The San Francisco Standard by becoming a subscriber: ⁠https://sfstandard.com/subscriber [https://sfstandard.com/subscriber]

Are tech layoffs different this time? A Meta source speaks out

Tech layoffs are back — and this time, AI is reshaping the rules. Meta is expected to lay off another 8,000 employees next week, roughly 10% of its remaining staff, after first announcing the cuts last month. Those impacted will join the more than 100,000 tech workers who've received layoff notices since January from companies like Oracle, Coinbase, and Snap. Some tech leaders blame the rise and cost of AI; others are simply continuing a pattern of reducing headcount wherever possible. We hear from The Standard's tech editor, Heather Kelly, on what makes this moment different and how it's throwing once-secure workers for a loop. Then we speak with author and grief therapist Claire Bidwell Smith about processing the complicated emotions tied to job loss — and what it means to grieve the life you thought you'd lead. Plus, an anonymous Meta source speaks about the May 20th layoffs. For more information, visit: https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/ [https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/]Support this podcast from The San Francisco Standard by becoming a subscriber: ⁠https://sfstandard.com/subscriber [https://sfstandard.com/subscriber]

SF says more public trash cans wouldn’t solve its trash problem. Why?

San Francisco is a trashy city. We're not talking about the vibes – we’re talking about the state of our sidewalks. Anyone who lives here knows the feeling of walking down the street with something to throw away… and absolutely nowhere to put it. Because SF has shockingly few public trash cans. How has one of the wealthiest cities in the world ended up so short on such a basic need? And what would it take to fix SF’s dirtiest problem? Turns out, there’s a lot more to the story behind SF’s trash problems than you might think. For more information and episode transcripts, visit: https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/ [https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/] Support this podcast from The San Francisco Standard by becoming a subscriber: ⁠https://sfstandard.com/subscriber [https://sfstandard.com/subscriber]

Rent is due. Here's how we afford one of the most expensive cities in the US

We all know San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the world – but did you know that the average renter here spends about 34% of their salary on housing alone? So, after that rent check clears, what’s left? To help us answer these questions, we talk to San Francisco’s Chief Economist, Ted Egan, to make sense of SF’s unique rental market, as well as André Lucas, a recent SF transplant who has gone viral with a series of videos about how to live well in SF without breaking the bank. Plus, we hear from listeners about what they’re cutting from their budgets this month, and what they absolutely refuse to give up (hello, Equinox membership). For more information and episode transcripts, visit: https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/ [https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/] Support this podcast from The San Francisco Standard by becoming a subscriber: ⁠https://sfstandard.com/subscriber [https://sfstandard.com/subscriber]