This week on the GeekWire Podcast: Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his NBA team, the Clippers, face scrutiny over an alleged salary-cap dodge tied to star Kawhi Leonard. We unpack the report and Ballmer’s emphatic denial, while reflecting on his history in tech and sports. 

Also: OpenAI's surprise $1.1 billion acquisition of Seattle startup Statsig, and what it says about the AI talent wars. Plus, the ironic role of Microsoft’s own antitrust past in the landmark ruling against Google’s search monopoly this week.

Seattle journalist, radio host and bar owner Mike Lewis joins GeekWire's Todd Bishop for this episode, which also features a highlight from a segment with KUOW's Kim Malcolm. 

Related Stories
OpenAI acquires Statsig for $1.1B, names CEO to key role in surprise exit for Seattle-area unicorn
‘Absurd’: Steve Ballmer responds to report that Clippers funneled money to star player via endorsement deal
Pablo Torre details his investigation on "Pablo Torre Finds Out."
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne interviews Steve Ballmer.
Google antitrust ruling gives Microsoft a shaky bridge over search giant’s competitive moat
KUOW: Is the Google antitrust ruling a ‘big whiff,’ or an advantage for rivals like Microsoft?

 

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his NBA team, the Clippers, face scrutiny over an alleged salary-cap dodge tied to star Kawhi Leonard. We unpack the report and Ballmer&rsquo;s emphatic denial, while reflecting on his history in tech and sports.&nbsp;
Also: OpenAI's surprise $1.1 billion acquisition of Seattle startup Statsig, and what it says about the AI talent wars. Plus, the ironic role of Microsoft&rsquo;s own antitrust past in the landmark ruling against Google&rsquo;s search monopoly this week.
Seattle journalist, radio host and bar owner Mike Lewis joins GeekWire's Todd Bishop for this episode, which also features a highlight from a segment with KUOW's Kim Malcolm.&nbsp;
Related Stories
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/openai-acquires-statsig-for-1-1b-names-ceo-to-key-exec-role-in-surprise-exit-for-seattle-area-unicorn/">OpenAI acquires Statsig for $1.1B, names CEO to key role in surprise exit for Seattle-area unicorn</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/absurd-steve-ballmer-responds-to-allegations-that-clippers-funneled-money-to-star-player-via-endorsement-deal/">&lsquo;Absurd&rsquo;: Steve Ballmer responds to report that Clippers funneled money to star player via endorsement deal</a></li>
<li>Pablo Torre details his investigation <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OwzYk6OCFM">on "Pablo Torre Finds Out."</a></li>
<li>ESPN's Ramona Shelburne <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQsmM1EhTNw">interviews Steve Ballmer.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/google-antitrust-ruling-gives-microsoft-a-shaky-bridge-over-search-giants-competitive-moat/">Google antitrust ruling gives Microsoft a shaky bridge over search giant&rsquo;s competitive moat</a></li>
<li>KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/is-the-google-antitrust-ruling-a-big-whiff-or-an-advantage-for-rivals-like-microsoft">Is the Google antitrust ruling a &lsquo;big whiff,&rsquo; or an advantage for rivals like Microsoft?</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

GeekWire brings you the week's latest technology news, trends and insights, covering the world of technology from our home base in Seattle. Our regular news podcast features commentary and analysis from our editors and reporters, plus interviews with special guests.

GeekWire reporters John Cook, Todd Bishop and guests talk about the latest tech news and trends.

GeekWire

OpenAI's big Seattle deal; Steve Ballmer under NBA scrutiny; the irony in Google's antitrust case

This week on the show, we're sharing the debut of Positive Charge, a new GeekWire podcast from reporter Lisa Stiffler and producer Laura Scott about the innovations that could help save the planet. 

In this episode, they dig into the high-stakes race to harness the power of the sun and make fusion energy real, visiting two Seattle-area startups chasing this dream, and asking whether limitless clean power is finally within reach.

Also out this week: their debut episode on the "forever chemicals" in our water and the companies figuring out how to destroy them. Follow Positive Charge wherever you get your podcasts, or at geekwire.com/positivecharge.

Positive Charge is presented with support from Amazon Sustainability.

Sources and references
David Kirtley, Helion Energy, CEO and co-founder
Manav Singh, Helion Energy, director of electrical engineering 
Matthew Thompson, Zap Energy, senior vice president of fission technology and former vice president of systems engineering and pulsed power
Laura Berzak Hopkins, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, associate laboratory director for Strategy and Partnerships, and deputy chief research officer

GeekWire’s related coverage:
Helion gives behind-the-scenes tour of secretive 60-foot fusion prototype as it races to deployment
Helion makes big bet on ‘Tiny Merge’ fusion testbed to meet aggressive Microsoft timeline
Inside Zap: Fusion pioneer tries to build ‘a star in a jar’ to unlock abundant clean energy
Zap Energy’s nuclear double play: Fusion startup adds traditional fission to its lineup, in industry first

This week on the show, we're sharing the debut of <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/positivecharge/">Positive Charge</a>, a new GeekWire podcast from reporter Lisa Stiffler and producer Laura Scott about the innovations that could help save the planet.&nbsp;
In this episode, they dig into the high-stakes race to harness the power of the sun and make fusion energy real, visiting two Seattle-area startups chasing this dream, and asking whether limitless clean power is finally within reach.
Also out this week: their <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/forever-chemicals-are-everywhere-but-these-companies-are-out-to-destroy-them/">debut episode</a> on the "forever chemicals" in our water and the companies figuring out how to destroy them. Follow Positive Charge wherever you get your podcasts, or at <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/positivecharge/">geekwire.com/positivecharge</a>.
Positive Charge is presented with support from Amazon Sustainability.
Sources and references
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kirtley-490b8230/">David Kirtley</a>, Helion Energy, CEO and co-founder</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/manavsingh0/">Manav Singh</a>, Helion Energy, director of electrical engineering&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmatthewthompson/">Matthew Thompson</a>, Zap Energy, senior vice president of fission technology and former vice president of systems engineering and pulsed power</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.pppl.gov/people/laura-berzak-hopkins">Laura Berzak Hopkins</a>, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, associate laboratory director for Strategy and Partnerships, and deputy chief research officer</li>
</ul>
GeekWire&rsquo;s related coverage:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/helion-gives-behind-the-scenes-tour-of-secretive-60-foot-fusion-prototype-as-it-races-to-deployment/">Helion gives behind-the-scenes tour of secretive 60-foot fusion prototype as it races to deployment</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/helion-makes-big-bet-on-tiny-merge-fusion-testbed-to-meet-aggressive-microsoft-timeline/">Helion makes big bet on &lsquo;Tiny Merge&rsquo; fusion testbed to meet aggressive Microsoft timeline</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/go-inside-zap-a-seattle-area-company-trying-to-build-a-star-in-a-jar-to-unlock-abundant-clean-energy/">Inside Zap: Fusion pioneer tries to build &lsquo;a star in a jar&rsquo; to unlock abundant clean energy</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/zap-energys-nuclear-double-play-fusion-startup-is-the-first-to-add-traditional-atomic-power-to-its-lineup/">Zap Energy&rsquo;s nuclear double play: Fusion startup adds traditional fission to its lineup, in industry first</a></li>
</ul>

Fusion energy: Wishing upon a star in a jar — Introducing 'Positive Charge' from GeekWire

This week: F5 turns 30 years old this year, and the Seattle company has reinvented itself repeatedly to get here — starting, improbably, as a group of University of Washington students trying to build online video games.



On this week's GeekWire Podcast, recorded on location at F5 Tower, the company's chairman, president and CEO François Locoh-Donou joins us to trace that journey, from a 1990s internet load-balancing startup to a company that helps keep many of the world's biggest apps running and secure.



Today F5 is a publicly traded company with about 6,500 employees and more than $3 billion in annual revenue, and it counts over 80% of the Fortune 500 among its customers.



Locoh-Donou discusses F5's expansion into AI security, including its acquisition of SurePath AI this week, and the company's broader M&A strategy. On a personal note, he reflects on his path from Togo to Seattle, his leadership philosophy, and his message to high school students from underrepresented backgrounds who visited F5 Tower before the company took them to a World Cup match.



Plus: his World Cup predictions, and a GeekWire trivia question that stumps the room.

With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

This week: F5 <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/still-ringing-a-bell-f5-marks-its-30th-year-in-business/">turns 30 years old this year</a>, and the Seattle company has reinvented itself repeatedly to get here &mdash; starting, improbably, as a group of University of Washington students trying to build online video games.
 
On this week's GeekWire Podcast, recorded on location at F5 Tower, the company's chairman, president and CEO <a href="https://www.f5.com/company/leadership/francois-locoh-donou">Fran&ccedil;ois Locoh-Donou</a> joins us to trace that journey, from a 1990s internet load-balancing startup to a company that helps keep many of the world's biggest apps running and secure.
 
Today F5 is a publicly traded company with about 6,500 employees and more than $3 billion in annual revenue, and it counts over 80% of the Fortune 500 among its customers.
 
Locoh-Donou discusses F5's expansion into AI security, including its <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/f5-expands-further-into-ai-security-with-surepath-ai-acquisition/">acquisition of SurePath AI</a> this week, and the company's broader M&amp;A strategy. On a personal note, he reflects on his path from Togo to Seattle, his leadership philosophy, and his message to high school students from underrepresented backgrounds who visited F5 Tower before the company took them to a World Cup match.
 
Plus: his World Cup predictions, and a GeekWire trivia question that stumps the room.
With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

From the dot-com boom to AI security: F5 at 30, with CEO François Locoh-Donou

Anthropic takes its most powerful models offline after a U.S. order, with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy reportedly contributing to the concerns that helped trigger it. Todd and John dig into the Amazon-Anthropic dynamic, how agentic AI is upending Amazon's "working backwards" tradition, an AI-driven school arriving soon in the Seattle area, and the sensor-packed World Cup ball.

With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.

Anthropic takes its most powerful models offline after a U.S. order, with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/amazon-ceo-reportedly-raised-anthropic-fable-concerns-prior-to-u-s-order-forcing-models-offline/">reportedly</a> contributing to the concerns that helped trigger it. Todd and John dig into the Amazon-Anthropic dynamic, how agentic AI is <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/how-agentic-ai-is-rewiring-amazons-teams-and-upending-its-traditions/">upending Amazon's "working backwards" tradition</a>, an AI-driven school <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/two-hour-learning-ai-powered-alpha-school-lands-in-seattle-region/">arriving soon in the Seattle area</a>, and the <a href="https://inside.fifa.com/innovation/innovating-the-game/connected-ball-technology">sensor-packed World Cup ball</a>.
With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.

OpenAI's big Seattle deal; Steve Ballmer under NBA scrutiny; the irony in Google's antitrust case

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