Monica Nickelsburg
Labor & Economy Reporter
About
Monica Nickelsburg covers labor, business, and the local economy. Her reporting focuses on how economic policies, the cost of living, technology, and the changing nature of work affect everyday people living in the Pacific Northwest.
Monica came to KUOW in 2023. Before that, she spent six years covering the intersection of technology and politics for GeekWire and worked as a digital producer for The Week.
Monica grew up in Los Angeles and got her B.A. in Journalism and History from New York University before landing in Seattle.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her
Podcasts
Stories
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Whiplash at the Port of Seattle
We visit the gateway to the Pacific to find out what the Port of Seattle really tells us about the chaotic state of international trade. And now that China and the US are trying to work things out, will trade bounce back?
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Tariffs are paused. Will the ports of Seattle, Tacoma rebound?
The constantly shifting currents of the trade war between the U.S. and China have led to an obsession with the ports over the past few weeks.
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Microsoft to lay off nearly 2,000 employees in Washington state
In a statement, a Microsoft spokesperson said the cuts are “necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace."
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Rite Aid to close Bartell Drugs unless buyer emerges
Bartell Drugs customers are mourning what could be the end of the beloved local pharmacy.
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Fred Hutch lays off staff in IT, HIV research
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center laid off an undisclosed number of employees Wednesday.
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'Please don't tax the rich.' Seattle crosswalks hacked with audio deepfake of Jeff Bezos
Pedestrians at several Seattle intersections were surprised by a rogue message when they pushed the crosswalk button on Wednesday.
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There's no such thing as local and these Northwest industries prove it
In today's economy, is anything really local anymore? We dig into three iconic Northwest industries: salmon, craft breweries, and aerospace parts, to see how they could be affected by rising tariffs.
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There's no such thing as 'local' and these Pacific Northwest industries prove it
The tariff landscape is constantly shifting, but one thing has remained consistent: the Trump administration's claim that tariffs will protect American industry and reshore manufacturing. So, tariffs should be good for our iconic Pacific Northwest industries, right?
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Microsoft turns 50: A look back at everything from the Altair to the Zune
The company helped launch the software industry and bring a computer to every desktop. Hit products like Windows and the Xbox became household names – but does anyone remember the Zune?
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Microsoft at 50: AI, job security, and the future of the tech industry
In light of the big 50-milestone, KUOW labor and economy reporter Monica Nickelsburg recently sat down with Microsoft’s vice chair and president Brad Smith to discuss the past, and the future, of the company.
