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'Seattle News Weekly S1E25': Sweeping layoffs and AI impacts in Seattle
On this episode of Seattle News Weekly, FOX 13's Erin Mayovsky and Adam Gehrke discuss two recent shootings in Seattle's Rainier Beach area, as well as yet another round of tech layoffs hitting the city, and how it's driving workers to new industries.
SEATTLE - It has been a big week of news in Seattle, with exciting anticipation ahead of the Seahawks' appearance in Super Bowl 2026, contrasted with tragedy in the city, as youth violence and tech layoffs took center stage.
On this episode of the "Seattle News Weekly" podcast, FOX 13 Seattle Anchors Erin Mayovsky and Adam Gherke sit down to discuss the top stories from the week. Keep reading to learn more.
Public safety, gun violence
This week's hosts open the podcast with the highs that come along with Super Bowl 2026 anticipation and the lows of the recent shootings and wave of tech layoffs expected to affect thousands of Puget Sound-area workers.
Local perspective:
One of the stories FOX 13 Seattle tracked this week was the fatal shooting of two teens at a bus stop near Rainier Beach High School. During the podcast, Kim and Gherke listen to FOX 13 Seattle Reporter Alejandra Guzman's report and discuss it.
The hosts provide context of national and state gun violence statistics using data from 2023 and 2024 to illustrate the scale of gun violence in the U.S. and Washington, specifically.
The hosts also discuss recent crime statistics. Approximately 128 people die each day from gun violence, which equates to one death every eleven minutes, and in Washington, firearms are the second-leading cause of death in youths ages 1 to 17.
The fatal shooting of two teens at a bus stop near Rainier Beach High School shook the entire Seattle community this week, as detailed in Guzman's report.
The Seattle Police Department identified about 90 repeat offenders caught with guns, many who were juveniles who can not be confined due to court rulings requiring five convictions.
A key debate raised by the hosts this week also centered on whether schools should have Student Resource Officers. Chief Barnes supports their presence while the Seattle School Board remains divided after a 5–2 vote against placing officers at Garfield High School.
The hosts point to a possible social shift among young people, noting — without presenting it as fact — that many relied more heavily on phones and digital connections during the pandemic but now appear to be regaining in-person social skills.
Victims of Seattle shooting near Rainier Beach HS identified
The two students who were shot and killed at a bus stop near Rainier Beach High School have been identified.
The shifting tech landscape
What's next:
Halfway through the podcast, the hosts switch gears to Seattle's economy and the "genie out of the bottle" that is AI.
We learn that Amazon is cutting 2,198 jobs in Washington; T-Mobile, Expedia, and Meta are also trimming staff.
Gherke notes a trend that's been gaining attention: "white-collar" workers moving to "blue-collar" trades (think: electricians, plumbers, bus drivers) to find roles that AI cannot easily replace.
While tech shrinks, Seattle City Light and Boeing are reportedly in a "hiring frenzy."
The hosts also discuss FOX 13 Seattle Reporter Dan Griffin's story on how layoffs affect small businesses. Food truck owners in South Lake Union report a significant loss of customers as Amazon workers are laid off or moved to Bellevue.
The hosts note the closure of major downtown retailers like Anthropologie and Banana Republic.
Downtown Seattle Association CEO Jon Scholes argues Seattle must become more "scrappy" and diversify beyond just being a "tech town."
Tech recession or transition? WA businesses hope to weather layoffs
As tech layoffs hit the Puget Sound region, the question lingers of whether we're in tech recession or a tech transition.
Seahawks: The road to Super Bowl 2026
The episode winds down on an optimistic note, recapping the Seahawks' transformation, diving into the "new era" from the Russel Wilson/Pete Carrol era to General Manager John Schneider's full control.
The duo discuss Coach Mike Macdonald's "Dark Side" defense, based on the "E.A.T" or effort, angles, tackles philosophy. They close with a look-back at the trades for Sam Darnold and Leonard Williams that fueled the team's 14-win season and NFC Championship victory over the Rams.
If Seahawks win Super Bowl 2026, will Seattle host a parade?
Seattle last hosted a Seahawks Super Bowl parade in 2014, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans to downtown streets.
Seattle News Weekly is a podcast that goes in depth and gives context to the stories that matter to the western Washington community. Check back every Thursday for a new episode on your favorite podcast platform, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Audible, or YouTube.
The Source: Information in this story came from original FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
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