
25 Save $100+ Amazon Prime Day Deals 2025
The 2nd Gen AirPods Pro for 40% off (that's $100 off, an all-new lowest price ever!). With active noise cancellation, spatial audio, three silicone tips for customized fit, and over 24 hours of listening time with the included case, the AirPods Pro 2 give you a *ton* of bang for your buck.
Promising review: "I bought these going into it 'I'm going to hate them.' But these have surpassed every expectation I had. My friend was talking about the noise in a call one day and it made me annoyed and these have something weird with Apple phones where they can block out almost all noises while making calls for the person you're calling and for you. Everyone knows Apple has their own technology work better with their phones or whatever it's no hidden thing, but let me tell you, these sound so crystal clear when listening to music, social media, and on calls. The quality alone is so nice! And the features, immerse (you can listen around you) adaptive (it'll block out white noise and annoying sounds) and noise cancellation (you can't hear just about anything around you) it's so wild. These things aren't even that tight in my ears but it's like you put noise cancellation on and it shuts off the outside world. I have this as a mechanic and it's just white noise everywhere with these in it's so comfortable walking around the shop having like ear plugs in essentially. Also, the battery life is great. I charged it fully when I got them and it's lasted me like a week on the case? I have my headphones in around 6 hours at work listening to social media. I probably take them out to charge them walking around the shop or going on break and I've never seen the buds really go below 80% after hours of listing tbh which is kinda wild. For the price it's worth every dollar and more. And to connect to your phone it's as easy as just opening the case and done." —Ethan ScottPrice: $149 (originally $249 (and currently $249 at Apple); typically $189.99 at Amazon)AirPods 4 are also a new lowest price ever — 34% off with noise cancellation (down to $119), 31% off without (down to $89)
A Philips Sonicare ~ExpertClean~ toothbrush for 50% off (at its best price, and the first time it's been this price since *October 2022*) for a *far* better clean than you get with manual brushes — with less work, too. It comes with a charging case for traveling, and it even has a SENSOR THAT TELLS YOU IF YOU'RE BRUSHING TOO HARD. The technology we have!!
Promising review: "I've been flying through a few of the cheapest sonicares for years, and after frustration, I caved and paid for this high-end one. It's really a treat to have a cadillac of a toothbrush! So many options. It's so nice to have a simple on and off button instead of one button controlling all the settings and taking forever to turn the brush off. This brush has one simple power button. A separate button to change the various modes to brush with and when the brush is on you can adjust power level. The brush comes with some really fancy brush heads, and they are a game changer. I might have to buy brand name brush heads after this. They're longer and curve to hit your teeth just right. You will instantly feel the difference after brushing with a sonicare, treat yourself to a higher end one. Your dental hygiene is worth it. You're worth it." —CharlottePrice: $99.95 (originally $199.95; available in three colors) — and shop all the Philips Sonicare deals here. The Sonicare Protective Clean toothbrush is 36% off, bringing it down to $69.95.
A pair of Beats Solo 4 headphones for 51% off (the lowest price they go for!) for anyone who woke up today and thought, "Gee, I could use some new headphones." These wireless Bluetooth headphones are Apple and Android compatible, have up to 50 hours of battery life, and boast clearer acoustics and a more balanced bass than the previous generation.
Promising review: 'Impressive sound, stylish and sophisticated headphones. I personally like how it's not complete noise cancellation since I like to be aware of the environment around me. So this headphone is amazing for the right reasons. Quality, style, sound, and safety. Not to mention how sleek it is. Finally, headphones that are not bulky or heavy. I appreciate the smooth texture feel and the cushioned headband part. It's also easy to pair with my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. The blue slate color is classy, too! Excellent product!' —Diane Price: $97.99 (originally $199.95; available in four colors)
A 230-piece Craftsman tool set for 50% off (which is the *best* price it's ever listed at!) that'll make you look wildly competent, even if you just need to tighten a wobbly chair. It comes in a stackable, locking case with every socket, wrench, and speciality bit you could dream of, plus a low-profile ratchet that fits into the kind of spaces your hand definitely doesn't.
Promising review: "I love the quality and strength of these tools. It has been a major upgrade from what I had before. I love that it doesn't weigh much; I can throw it on the back of the truck and go. It has slip resistance so it won't slide around, and you can lock the drawers so they won't pop out either. The design stores the three different drive sizes, which is super convenient. It's also modular, so you can add it to your tool case, which is very functional in my case." —David Price: $99 (originally $199.99)
The latest model of Blink outdoor security cameras for 62% off (the cheapest they ever go for, and the first time they've been this price in 2025) offering 1080p HD day and infrared night footage so you can watch over your property right from your phone. The kit is easy to install (even if you're not tech savvy), you can save and send video, and there's two-way talk so you can scream at the squirrels stealing your bird food.
Squirrels need to eat, too, but I get it. These wire-free security cameras come with two-year batteries and a free 30-day Blink trial. The subscription is not necessary, but it offers extra features like video storage and person detection. Promising review: "I've never owned a home camera before so I asked around and did my research…The app alone is AMAZING! The quality of the video is great and you can adjust it how you want as far as motion detection. The night vision...WILD! And the fact that I can talk to my dog and hear him if he barks…I would definitely recommend both indoor and outdoor cameras. THEY ARE AMAZING!!!"—Jomyra MalavePrice: $99.99 (originally $259.99)
A Y0140 iRobot Roomba for 49% off (bringing it to $10 cheaper than its last lowest price) because if robots are gonna steal our jobs, it might as well be the bad ones. This bagless machine vacuums AND mops at the same time with a special brush, meaning you might actually have clean floors for once.
Promising review: "I love this robot. We got this because our baby is constantly on the floor, so we just wanted a little extra help with keeping the floors clean. We run it every night, and seeing how much it picks up blows our mind. We have two dogs, so dog hair and Cheerios are mainly what we get, but it has definitely made a difference with our floors on top of what we already do to keep our floors clean. Highly recommend. We have vinyl wood floors, so it runs fine on it, but it can go on carpet as well. We just leave the room doors closed because it is very loud when it runs and we don't want it to come into the rooms." —MakaylaPrice: $139.99 (originally $274; also available in two other styles for a different or no discount)
Or a Shark robot vacuum for 50% off — an affordable but powerful machine with a self-emptying base, HEPA filtration, and 360-degree home mapping tech so it *won't* repeatedly run into the leg of your coffee table or get stuck under your couch. And the self-cleaning brushroll?? Genius!
Promising review: "If I could give this vacuum 10 stars I would!!! I have four dogs and a long haired cat. My house always felt dirty and hair was always everywhere. I dreaded vacuuming because I would have to repeat areas so much, it took forever!! I bought this months ago but for reasons I won't go into I just started using it a week ago. I ran it 3 times for the first few days and every time it picked up sooooo much!! I've been running it two to three times a day for a week now. I did not map anything because I am changing the room soon and will map it then. But just going on its own it gets everywhere thoroughly! Because I don't have it mapped it does areas multiple times sometimes and sometimes it makes it rounds and then docks itself. Did I mention it's amazing! It knows how to get itself unstuck (I've had it happen once where it got so stuck it died trying to get out) other than that it always gets out. It goes around places and objects. Its suction is great! I have carpet and hard floors and it has NO trouble getting to and from each flooring. I LOVE THIS VACUUM! Everyone needs one! It's great quality!" —Jessica RichouxPrice: $299.99 (originally $599.99)
A Dyson Airwrap Origin for $100 off — if you don't need all the attachments that come with the original Airwrap, then this is the way to go. You'll get the Coanda smoothing dryer as well as the 1.2-inch long barrel and volumizing round brush attachments for iconic blowouts and bouncy curls.
Promising review: "The Dyson Airwrap Origin set is awesome! From what I understand, it's the full AirWrap base, with a limited selection of accessories. The reduced selection is not a problem! The volumizing brush, the curling wrap wand, and the flyaway smoother are all so useful. I have fine hair that is very prone to breakage, so a gentle styling tool is ideal, and this set really seems kind to my hair. It has a nice, long cord at 8.5' and swivels well, so you can really move around while using it. The volumizing barrel is very handy to smooth and lift. The bristles are sturdy and a match for thicker hair, though I do take care not to tug or tangle while using it with my very fine hair. My hair is a bit longer than shoulder length, and I find the Airwrap tool makes it so, so easy to curl. You can literally let the Airwrap pull your entire lock of hair around the barrel with minimal hand wrapping. The curls are beautiful and versatile, depending on direction and placement, and your haircut, so you can use this to create a lot of different looks. The flyaway smoother, which also serves as a decent blow drying attachment by twisting the knob around, is amazing. Seriously so, so easy. I was stunned at how well it calmed my flyaways, of which I have many. I don't know how it works, but I love it. This hair dryer makes styling so much less irritating, and it makes so much sense once you get the hang of it. It is a great high high-quality tool and I strongly recommend it for folks looking for low-stress styling with consistent results." —jssnyderPrice: $399.99 (originally $499.99)
A Dyson Purifier Cool for $100 off — it's a 2-in-1 smart air purifier and fan that'll help keep you cool and hopefully sneeze-free this month. The high-powered purifier pulls particles and pollutants from the air, reports on air quality, and offers a gentle breeze, oscillating 360 degrees.
Promising review: "We have been looking into Dyson bladeless fans for quite some time. The price has always been like we didn't want to spend. We got our bladeless fan for an absolute steal. I was still hesitant about spending that much. We truly wish we had bought it sooner than we did. It's absolutely amazing. I don't cough nearly as much in the mornings. My husband's breathing is better as well. He has asthma. It keeps the air clean. Easy to work." —GiannaPrice: $349.99 (originally $449.99 — and shop the rest of Dyson's deals here)
A Breville Barista Touch espresso machine for 20% off — matching its best price — that is deceptively easy to use, offers lots of customization options, and makes a damn good coffee.
My partner and I had been on the fence about upgrading our coffee setup to include an espresso machine, but were always a bit leery about the price. Would we use it enough to make it worth it? Would it be a hassle to use? Would it take up a good chunk of our kitchen counters? Let me say that we are kicking ourselves for not getting one sooner! While this was a very thoughtful gift for my partner's birthday from his family, it is truly worth the price tag and is something I would totally repurchase with my own money if I ever needed to. We've used it pretty much every day since we got it, which means that the amount we've saved on espresso drinks at NYC coffee shops has pretty much covered the price of the machine. TBH, I don't even want to go get coffee elsewhere unless it's a super fancy, seasonal latte that I can't make at home.Using the machine is incredibly easy: It turns on with the push of a button and is ready to use in seconds — no waiting 20 minutes for the machine to warm up! The touchscreen, which I didn't think I needed initially, is a huge reason that I would recommend splurging on this model over its cheaper cousin, the Breville Barista Express (which is also on sale and a fan favorite, so still a solid option!). It's nice to toggle through the menu to select the drink you want. And the touchscreen walks you through each step, so the process doesn't seem so intimidating. You can even save custom drinks once you find the settings you like. We haven't had the machine long enough to have to descale it, but given how easy every other part of using and cleaning this machine is, I'm not super concerned.This has been a truly delightful addition to my kitchen, and if you're on the fence like I was, do it, do it, do it! You will not regret it!Price: $795.99 (originally $999.95; available in two colors)
A Vitamix Propel 750 blender for 40% off (a new lowest-ever price!) with all the reviewer-beloved Vitamix features (quality build, super-fast and thorough blending, easy cleanup) with *five* preset options — smoothie, hot soup, frozen dessert, dips and spreads, and self-cleaning — to make whipping up meals and treats even easier.
Promising review: "Bought this product on sale, and it was worth the investment. It blends better than any other blender that I have had. Its multiple options allow for anything from smoothies to purees. I love that I can make soup with this blender. It has plenty of power and a large enough volume to make plenty for a small household. It is also easy to clean! If it is on sale, and you need a better blender, I definitely recommend it. Otherwise, it is very expensive at full price." —Daniel & AmandaPrice: $379.95 (originally $629.95; typically $578.84 from a third-party seller; available in four colors) — and shop all the Vitamix deals here!
A 65-inch Samsung Frame TV for 40% off (matching its best-ever price), because if you don't want to waste wall space on a regular TV, this is a must. You can display classical paintings, photographs, and modern art with the click of a button on the anti-reflective matte screen — and then turn on your favorite show when you're ready to watch!
Promising review: "This TV is incredible, I would definitely recommend a professional installation if you don't know your way around cutting through a wall and installing a box to hide the wiring box for the frame, that is, if you want the authentic picture look with no wires. The frame adjusts to level like you would adjust a traditional framed photo, which was really convenient. The frame sound bar is definitely the way to go, and the remote to the frame has a solar charger and USB-C charging port, which begs the question: why aren't all TV remotes rechargeable?? Samsung really hit it out of the park with the frame TV, and the pairing with the frame soundbar, it's the best!" —Meghan RunnelsPrice: $1,199.99 (originally $1,997.99 — available in other sizes and shop the rest of Samsung's deals here)
A coveted 13-inch 2025 MacBook Air for $150 off (the lowest price it ever goes for) with the ultra-fast and ultra-powerful M4 chip, so you can expect waaaay less lagging and more fluidity working between several apps. It's surprisingly lightweight, so you can tote this to class and the library easily. Oh, and if you have an iPhone, get ready for iPhone Mirroring; now you can copy something on your phone and paste it on your Mac!
Promising review: "As a lifelong PC and Windows user — and an engineer who relies on access to specific applications — I've always stayed away from Macs. The lack of support for some key software had kept me firmly in the Windows camp. But after seeing the value and performance of the MacBook Air M4, I decided to take the leap, and I haven't looked back since."The battery life is simply outstanding, easily lasting all day with regular use. Its lightweight design and premium build quality are unmatched at this price point. Whether I'm commuting, traveling, or just working from a coffee shop, it's the perfect blend of portability and performance. The M4 chip handles everything from multitasking to light engineering tasks without breaking a sweat."The seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, especially with my iPhone, has been a game-changer. AirDrop, iMessage, Handoff, and Universal Clipboard all work effortlessly, creating a smooth and connected workflow I didn't know I was missing. Even as an engineer with complex needs, I'm impressed. It's not just a great Mac — it's a great laptop, period." —Anik RahmanPrice: $849 (originally $999 (and currently $999 at Apple); available in four colors) — and shop the rest of Apple's deals here. The AirPods Pro 2 are at an all-time low price of $149 and AirPods 4 are $89 (no noise cancellation) and $119 (with noise cancellation).
A self-cleaning automatic litter box for 30% off that'll clean up after your kitty so you don't have to (because scooping gets real old, REAL fast). It'll help keep your home smelling fresh *and* keep your cat happy, because (like us humans) they prefer to use a clean "toilet." Reviewers vouch for this as a nice alternative to the much pricier Litter Robot!
Promising review: "I'm absolutely loving this litter box. I've had THE Litter Robot for 4 years and I purchased this item a month ago. This one is so quiet and it takes up about half the space. My cats love it. I love that it's so much easier to remove the bag. Since the entry is so much lower to the ground the cats don't 'grab' when they jump out like with the other box so there's less mess around the opening of the box. Also this has a lifetime warranty and my other box only had a year. I've purchased a new globe for the old box which was almost the cost of the new box. Oh yeah, and the cost is a lot less than the Litter Robot! I've already recommended this item to my other cat parent friends." —Christine S.Price: $251.99 (originally $359.99)
Up to 43% off a Casper Original Hybrid Mattress that won't creak or send you rolling directly into the middle like a deflating air mattress.
BuzzFeed editor Chelsea Stuart says, "I've been sleeping on a Queen-size Casper Hybrid mattress for two years now and WOW did I not know what I was missing!!! I previously opted for cheaper bed-in-a-box options that were fine, but just didn't even compare to Casper. I am a stomach sleeper, and I prefer my bed to be super squishy, but I also know that's terrible for my spine. The Casper Hybrid has a combination of springs and foam (with three ergonomic zones that alleviate spinal pressure) so it's extremely comfortable *and* supportive. I also love the extra edge support because my cats are bed hogs and I often end up pushed to the side, so at least I'm not rolling off!"Price: $682+ (typically $1,095+ (and currently $1,095+ at Casper); available in sizes twin XL–California king)
The Peloton Bike+ for 20% off if you've been tempted for years to invest in one — this is a great time to do so! This upgraded model has a 23.8-inch anti-reflective rotating screen so you can switch from cycling to a strength workout or yoga flow without missing a beat.
Another neat upgrade the Bike+ adds: an auto-resistance option that changes your resistance to match instructors' cues. Promising review: "I have wanted a Peloton bike for several years. The features of the Bike+ are amazing, so I'd highly recommend spending the extra $ to upgrade. It so quiet and the Peloton seat is quite comfortable. I bought over a month ago and I've ridden every single day!! Wish I'd gotten it a long time ago. We assembled on our own and it was very easy to follow the instructions. Is well worth the investment and monthly fee. If you're considering whether it's worth the money — IT IS!!!" —CathybCPAPrice: $1,999.99 (originally $2,495 (and currently $2,495 at Peloton))
A Jackery Explorer portable power station (that's as low as the price goes) — a camping/RVing essential as it has enough juice to power multiple appliances, including AC units and fridges. We all have different definitions of "roughing it," and yours certainly doesn't mean going without your Keurig.
Promising review: "I have several Jackery products, and this one is my newest. I had a chance to use it camping, where it powered my portable fridge and diesel heater, and it worked really well. I recently used it during a random power outage to keep my home fridge running for four hours (when the power came back on). After nearly four hours, the unit still had 80% power remaining. It should be noted that Jackery changed the charging port design slightly from the last generation of solar generators, and my older solar saga 100W panels would not pair with the unit to charge it. Really happy with the newer tech in the unit and its functionality. For its capabilities, it's not too heavy and packs easily into my vehicle without taking up needed space. Will be purchasing more Jackery equipment in the future." —Jeff M.Price: $399.99 (originally $799.99)
A Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra Upright Vacuum Cleaner for 43% off if you've got multiple pets and/or a LOT of area to cover.
Promising review: "I have 3 dogs and I had one of the early Dyson ball vacuums years ago and had to clean the brush constantly, like most vacuums, it just couldn't handle the dog hair. We just bought this new version and I'm so pleased with the result! is so much better for dog hair!! My carpets look clean, smell clean, and we don't have dog hair on our socks anymore! Totally worth the purchase! Nice feature is the dog brush that sucks the excess hair right up." —TouaregPrice: $329.99 (originally $578.90)
An automatic robot pool vacuum that's $119 off and can clean a variety of pool surfaces — gunite, vinyl, concrete, and fiberglass. It can even climb pool walls to make sure every inch of your pool gets scrubbed! Set the cleaning schedule via your phone so your pool is ready for an impromptu dip.
Price: $679.15 (originally $799.99)
A Frigidaire window AC and dehumidifier for 25% off (its cheapest price yet) suited for a 250 square feet, so it's perfect for a small apartment or dorm room. Plus! It has a remote control, programmable timer, and sleep mode.
Promising review: "Don't waste your money going with a cheaper unit, Frigidaire I have found to be the best. When it's in 100 degree weather I don't want to worry about our unit working. Would recommend." —Amazon Customer Price: $187 (originally $249)
A self-propelled cordless lawn mower for 34% off so mowing the lawn feels less like a game of tug-of-war and more like a leisurely stroll around your backyard. It can cut up to three-quarters of an acre on a single charge, has a 60-minute runtime, and recharges in just 80 minutes.
Promising review: "This review is from someone who cares quite a bit about their lawn. I had wanted an electric mower for two years, but felt like I had no reason to switch as my gas mower worked (mostly) just fine. Finally decided to make the switch, and so glad I did. The main things I was looking for were 1) quiet operation that didn't require AirPods to be full volume 2) ease of use (not having to choke or worry about starting, no gas) 3) good battery life and quick charging. First, the sound level is fantastic. I can easily hear things without needing volume at full and thanks to iPhone voice isolation can actually carry a phone conversation without the other person being inconvenienced. Second, it's so nice not having to worry about gas or transporting gas cans in my vehicle. Just pushing a button and having the mower start is wonderful. I love the dual charger, and it charges both batteries to full in less than 90 minutes. Cut quality is good, and when using the high lift blade and turbo mode, I power right through tall grass. The only thing I haven't liked is when I have bumped into something a bit hard, the mower stops and won't start back up unless I release and re-insert the batteries. Not sure what that's all about. But overall, I love this mower and am so happy with my purchase." —Alex SmithPrice: $395.99 (originally $599)
A Cuisinart vertical smoker for 29% off that'll impress everyone you invite over for a backyard barbecue this summer. (I'm invited, right?) It's got four spacious 14-inch by 14-inch racks — plenty of room for brisket, ribs, jerky, etc. You'll also be able to more precisely control the heat via the 15,000 BTU propane burner and rear vent versus a wood smoker.
Promising review: "I waited many months before posting this review so that I could get a better understanding of the product and to build up a history of smoking with it. In short, I do love it a lot. I bought this to replace a Masterbuilt GS30 that did a good job of smoking but was nigh impossible to keep clean. It turned into a rust bucket in far too short a time. By contrast, the Cuisinart was designed in such a way as to be easy to clean. The grease from whatever you smoke runs into the bottom pan, which is easy to remove and clean. The racks are stainless steel and also easy to clean. As with any smoker, you have to take the time to work with it to figure out how it heats and produces smoke. Some criticisms have been aimed at the bottom pan, which also makes it easy to clean. It is true that it needs more tending in terms of keeping the water in it and your wood for smoke replenished according to your cook. The additional water pan that sits on the bottom rack also augments your water supply. It is not set-and-forget, so if you are looking for that, go buy something else, but I'm not sure what that might be. The propane burner does a good job of heating and maintaining the temperature. I've done briskets in it as well as salmon. Mouth-watering results. This propane smoker is a great buy at an excellent price." —Rusty BoltPrice: $284.99 (originally $399.99)
A Garmin Forerunner® 255 smartwatch for 38% off to upgrade your smartwatch setup with in-depth fitness and health tracking, 14 days of battery life, GPS tracking, music capabilities, suggested workouts, contactless payment, and more.
Promising review: "I'm a Type 1 diabetic, and I upgraded to this 255 Music during Prime Day. This right here is why (pictures)....I no longer have to stop my workout/run/swim, etc., to pull out my phone to check my blood sugars. It's now conveniently at the look down to my wrist. And even a little buzz notification when I'm in full focus mode and not realizing I'm going high or low (like it's showing me in the picture where it's highlighted red). I have it also set up to be my main watch face with the time (second picture). If I ever want to change my watch face to a more traditional look, I have the Dexcom widget set up as my first scroll-down widget. It connects to my Peloton and shows me my heart rate and Dexcom, which is all I need because my Peloton screen shows me everything else. Thank you for some great technology. I couldn't be happier!!!!" —HaleLizJPrice: $248.95+ (originally $399.99; available in whitestone and black colorways)
A 49-inch Samsung ultrawide monitor for 38% off that'll significantly expand your screen space so you can stop painstakingly switching between tabs all the time — a productivity game-changer.
Promising review: "Hands-down the best thing ever to happen to my productivity working from home. My favorite thing about this monitor — besides the incredible amount of screen space I now have to display and organize everything I need — is the sheer number of cables it has cut out and the amount of desk space it has freed up. My dual monitor setup required two power cables and three HDMI/displayport connector cables. Using my laptop required the laptop charger and AND required the laptop to be open on my desk. Now I only have one cable to power the monitor, 2 HDMIs to my PCs and a single USB-C that both powers and connects my laptop, which means I can leave it closed on a stand behind my monitor. I am so, SO happy I bought this monitor and am kicking myself for not doing it sooner." —KellyPrice: $799.99 (originally $1,199.99; also available in a 34-inch size)
A wireless, cartridge-free Epson printer for 33% off (matching its lowest-ever price) — yeah, it's weird how printing is still somehow important in the year 2025, but with this high-quality printer (that can also scan, copy, and fax), you won't have to traipse to your local print shop and shell out too-many cents per page for several return labels (sorry none of those dresses looked like they did online).
Promising review: "It holds so much ink without the bother and added expense of frequently replacing cartridges. I will never go back to a cartridge machine. I don't care who makes it! I've used my printer several times so far, and each time it has done a great job by giving me the colors and clarity that I expected." —TayPrice: $199.99 (originally $299.99)
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Geek Wire
3 minutes ago
- Geek Wire
Seattle leaders pass tax hike for big companies, cuts for small biz – but voters get final word
View of Seattle's downtown and Harbor Island, the city's maritime shipping hub, from the Smith Tower. (GeekWire Photo / Lisa Stiffler) With a mix of hand-wringing and can-do enthusiasm, Seattle City Council members this afternoon unanimously passed a tax overhaul that would eliminate business taxes for thousands of small companies while significantly raising rates on the city's biggest revenue generators, including Amazon. The measure now goes to voters to decide its fate. The Seattle Shield Initiative would nix the city's business and occupation (B&O) tax for companies earning up to $2 million annually, while boosting rates on receipts above that threshold. City officials project the restructured tax would generate an additional $80 million per year, with funds designated for human services programs such as support for food insecurity, services for immigrants, drug abuse funding and other programming. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck proposed the legislation on June 25, and needed its approval by today so that it could be included on the Nov. 4 ballot. The measure was originally intended to help plug a $250 million projected budget shortfall for Seattle and to aid in backfilling federal funding that's being cut by the Trump administration. On Monday, councilmembers received a more favorable forecast, learning that the two-year budget deficit is expected to be $150 million. Seattle has struggled for years to find politically viable funding solutions for city services, affordable housing, and downtown recovery efforts following the COVID pandemic. In November, the council narrowly rejected a 2% capital gains tax on stock and bond sale profits exceeding $262,000 as a partial solution to the revenue challenges. A comparison of business and occupation taxes in Seattle and surrounding cities, as produced by Seattle's Office of Economic and Revenue Forecasts and City Budget Office Chart and shared on Aug. 4, 2025. Some city leaders expressed concerns about Seattle's B&O taxes outpacing those collected elsewhere. Jon Scholes, president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, previously called the B&O tax overhaul 'a boneheaded proposal of epic proportions' that would put 'big risks to the fragile commercial tax base.' GeekWire reached out to Amazon for comment on the proposal. A service business company with $20 million in gross revenue that currently pays $85,400 in B&O taxes would see that number rise to $117,720 if voters approve the changes. A corporation earning $100 million would go from $427,000 up to $640,920. The rates are lower for big businesses in retail, wholesale and manufacturing. City staff earlier noted that the legislation would shrink the B&O tax base from 21,000 taxpayers to just 5,000, potentially creating less predictable revenue collections. Among those sharing reservations on the measure — while still voting in favor of it — was City Council President Sara Nelson. 'This was a rushed process,' Nelson said. 'We are talking about completely restructuring the way we charge B&O taxes, which makes up about a third of our general fund revenue, and could have pretty profound impacts on our economy and — most importantly — jobs.' The council rejected tax exemptions targeting the maritime industry, while adding B&O breaks for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and Seattle Children's. Rinck framed the bill as smart, progressive policy for safeguarding city services and expressed optimism that voters would agree. 'Once the voters provide us with this tool, we can ensure that critical city services are maintained despite the challenges … our budget or the Trump administration presents,' she said. 'We will also be giving Seattle voters a choice on shielding our small businesses — the heartbeat of our neighborhoods — from economic uncertainty.' Key details Under the Seattle Shield Initiative: The B&O tax threshold exemption increases from $100,000 to $2 million in gross revenue. Businesses that exceed that threshold would not pay tax on the first $2 million. An estimated 76% of small- and medium-sized businesses would no longer pay the tax. About 90% of all businesses would pay less than they do currently. Retail, wholesale and manufacturing businesses above the $2 million exemption would pay 34 cents per $100, up from 22 cents. Service companies would see a jump from 43 cents per $100 up to 65 cents. RELATED:


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- CNBC
Jim Cramer attributes market resilience to Big Tech's earnings success
CNBC's Jim Cramer reviewed Monday's market action and told investors that stocks' rebound from last week was lead by positive news from the Magnificent Seven Tech stocks — Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, Nvidia and Tesla. "Now, some of that may be because…the Fed has to cut, maybe even before September — I mean, that's how weak the employment numbers are," he said. "But at the heart of the market's resilience is, well…the Magnificent Seven." The indexes closed in the red on Friday as investors worried about a much weaker-than-expected labor report and President Donald Trump's modification of "reciprocal" tariffs on a number of countries. But stocks reversed course on Monday, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.34%, the S&P 500 added 1.47% and the Nasdaq Composite surged 1.95%. The market doesn't seem to be concerned that Trump suddenly fired the Bureau of Labor and Statistics Commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, and accused her of manipulating jobs data, Cramer said. Many of stocks that had been strong on Thursday but sank on Friday proceeded to recoup their losses during Monday's session, he pointed out. Cramer reviewed recent earnings from the tech titans, starting with Microsoft. He called the quarter "flawless," saying the company seems to be doing well in every segment of business. He noted that its cloud infrastructure division, Azure, saw a huge acceleration in growth. Cramer was also impressed with some figures from Meta's recent report, especially management's claim that 3.5 billion people use at least one Meta product a day. Alphabet is seeing success throughout the company, Cramer said, including its Google search business, Youtube and AI product, Gemini. He also said the Waymo business is building a nice lead over the rest of the autonomous vehicle space. Apple had a "tremendous" report, Cramer continued, emphasizing its better-than-expected growth. He was encouraged by management's comments on artificial intelligence innovations in the future. Amazon also did well, Cramer continued, with good results from retail sales and advertising revenue, as well as decent numbers from the web services division. While Cramer said Tesla's vehicle business is poor, he said it's doing very well as a tech company. He suggested it's worth owning for its autonomous driving and robots. Although Nvidia has yet to report, Cramer expressed optimism about the chipmaker and demand for its products. "Even though the Mag Seven has one hand tied behind its back with Tesla, we had tepid reactions to Apple and Amazon's numbers," he said. "The fact is that these companies, loaded with cash, not outrageously expensive — nation states, I call them — with multiple revenue streams and tight expenses, just can't be beat by any stretch of the numbers or the imagination." Click here to download Jim Cramer's Guide to Investing at no cost to help you build long-term wealth and invest The CNBC Investing Club Charitable Trust owns shares of Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Alphabet.


Gizmodo
33 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Apple CEO Tim Cook Calls AI ‘Bigger Than the Internet' in Rare All-Hands Meeting
In a global all-hands meeting hosted from Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, CEO Tim Cook seemed to admit to what analysts and Apple enthusiasts around the world had been raising concerns about: that Apple has fallen behind competitors in the AI race. And Cook promised employees that the company will be doing everything to catch up. 'Apple must do this. Apple will do this. This is sort of ours to grab,' Cook said, according to Bloomberg, and called the AI revolution 'as big or bigger' than the internet. The meeting took place a day after Apple reported better than expected revenue in its quarterly earnings report, and that sent the company's stock soaring. The report came in a week already marked by great tech earnings results, partially driven by AI. But unlike Meta and Microsoft, Apple's rise in revenue was attributable to iPhone sales and not necessarily a strength in AI. In the earnings call following the report, Cook told investors that Apple was planning to 'significantly' increase its investments in AI and was open to acquisitions to do so. He also said that the company is actively 'reallocating a fair number of people to focus on AI features.' Cook echoed those sentiments in Friday's meeting, saying that the company will be making the necessary investments in AI to catch up to the moment. Apple has been working on integrating advanced AI into its product lineup for the past year or so under its Apple Intelligence initiative, which the company unveiled at the June 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference. The move was met by celebration and criticism even then: Apple's big bet on AI was coming a good year or so after competitors like OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Meta scaled up their offerings. Even so, the company's progress on Apple Intelligence has been slow. Apple was supposed to unveil an AI-enhanced Siri earlier this year, and even released ads for the new iPhone with AI-enhanced Siri capabilities, but the Cupertino giant pushed that reveal back at the last minute, reportedly to next spring, though nothing is officially confirmed. The switch-up caused major backlash from investors and customers, two major lawsuits, and a complete corporate overhaul. Cook said on Friday that 12,000 workers were hired in the last year, with 40% of them joining research and development teams. The leadership overhaul following the fallout of LLM Siri has 'supercharged' the company's work in AI development, senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi said at the meeting. According to Federighi, the main problem with the LLM Siri rollout was that Apple tried to build a 'hybrid architecture' that utilized two different software systems. That plan has now been scratched, and Federighi seemed confident in LLM Siri's future this time around, claiming that the new 'end-to-end revamp of Siri' will now be delivering 'a much bigger upgrade than we envisioned.' Also key to the new AI strategy, according to Cook, is chip development. Apple has been working on designing in-house AI chips for some time now, according to a Wall Street Journal report from last year, in a project internally code-named ACDC (standing for Apple Chips in Data Center). The tech giant has reportedly teamed up with Broadcom to develop its first AI chip code-named Baltra, according to a report last year in The Information, and Apple is expecting to begin mass production by 2026. Despite being a global leader in tech and a household name in consumer electronics, Apple is nowhere near the top when it comes to the AI race. But while that scares some Apple fans and investors, others think it's actually kind of on-brand. Tim Cook indicated Friday that he belongs to the latter camp. 'We've rarely been first,' Cook said at the meeting. 'There was a PC before the Mac; there was a smartphone before the iPhone; there were many tablets before the iPad; there was an MP3 player before iPod.' Cook has a point. Apple isn't necessarily known for spearheading new technology, but the company's strength comes from perfecting said technology and making products that become highly dominant in their respective markets. And if Apple makes the right moves in developing and scaling its AI product offerings, Cook could potentially add AI to that list as well.