Description
This week, we take the GeekWire Podcast to Front Burner Studios (https://www.sethpaulproductions.com/) near Pike Place Market, where our host is studio co-owner Seth Paul, who's also co-founder and CEO of the Seattle security startup Qinsay (https://qinsay.com/) .
We discuss the White House crackdown on Microsoft’s green-card sponsorships, hours before President Trump honored Satya Nadella. We also talk about record Seattle startup funding and Shield AI’s plans to build AI-piloted fighter jets in Des Moines, Wash., where a city FAQ assures residents it’s not a data center.
Seth tells us about the vintage console he drove from Detroit, and how he brings a musician’s approach to the startup world. Plus, the return of the GeekWire Trivia Challenge.
Related links:
• Microsoft responds to White House immigration crackdown as Trump honors Nadella (https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-responds-to-trump-administration-accusation-that-it-abuses-foreign-worker-programs/)
• From H-1B to CEO: How Satya Nadella traveled the path the U.S. just cut off for Microsoft workers (https://www.geekwire.com/2026/from-h-1b-to-ceo-how-satya-nadella-traveled-the-path-the-u-s-just-cut-off-for-microsoft-workers/)
• Seattle-area startups raise a record $3.5B as national VC funding cools (https://www.geekwire.com/2026/rocket-fuel-seattle-area-startups-raise-a-record-3-5b-as-national-vc-funding-cools/)
• Shield AI selects Seattle area to build X-BAT autonomous fighter jet (https://www.geekwire.com/2026/shield-ai-selects-seattle-area-to-build-x-bat-autonomous-fighter-jet-plans-to-add-4000-jobs-by-early-2030s/)
• Shield AI lands $150M Navy contract for AI-piloted fighter jet (https://www.geekwire.com/2026/shield-ai-lands-150m-navy-contract-to-advance-ai-piloted-fighter-jet-that-will-be-built-south-of-seattle/)
With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop.
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