Microsoft (maybe) rescues TikTok; downtown Seattle struggles; micro-schools

Here’s what we’re talking about on the GeekWire Podcast this week.

Who would have thought that Microsoft could be the likely white knight to save social video app TikTok from threats by President Trump to ban it in the U.S.? Trump set a hard deadline this week for Microsoft or another entity to buy the company before he'll block all transactions with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. We discuss what might be behind Microsoft's interest in entering the social media sphere.

• In latest TikTok twist, Microsoft reportedly looking at buying entire social media giant
• Trump issues executive order banning transactions with TikTok parent ByteDance in 45 days
• Gates interview tackles TikTok, his preferred COVID meds, and the gentler antitrust hearings of today

We take a walk through eerily quiet downtown Seattle to see how the shift to remote work by tech giants is impacting local businesses — and it's not looking good.

What are micro-schools and how might they help frazzled parents trying to deal with remote learning during the pandemic?

A Seattle sock-making startup pivoted to making masks for the pandemic, but then a misstep in a promotion caused massive grief. We'll talk about what happened and how they dealt with it.

Listen above, and subscribe in any podcast app.

With GeekWire’s John Cook and Kurt Schlosser. Produced by Curt Milton. Theme music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell.

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