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

Alexa’s next act, Microsoft’s retail play, Google’s AI inbox, and a smart bird feeder fail
38:04

A silver lining for Seattle in the DJI ban, and the verdict on the 2007 Camry tech retrofit
23:24

The stories that defined 2025: AI dreams, brutal realities, and Seattle tech at a turning point
40:59