Ten years ago, WaMu’s failure crushed Seattle’s last banking giant | Jon Talton
The collapse of WaMu wasn't a sideshow to the financial panic of a decade ago. It contained almost all the elements that brought on the...
Columnist
Jon Talton
Jon Talton comments on economic news, issues and trends, with an emphasis on Seattle and the Northwest.
No good deed goes unpunished — Bezos’ gift and its discontents | Jon Talton
Not everyone was celebrating the philanthropy plunge of the world's richest man. Is it him or the times? Both.
Washington state’s first bust was staggering, with lessons for today | Jon Talton
Only four years after achieving statehood, Washington was caught up in one of the worst economic collapses in U.S. history.
A trillion-dollar milestone, but questions loom for Amazon | Jon Talton
The stock value is one thing. Seattle's largest employer will have to make many right moves to keep its special mojo going.
Jeff Skilling and a reminder that white-collar crime doesn’t have to pay | Jon Talton
Enron's CEO spent years in prison for fraud. The financial crisis moguls got away with it.
It’s a record bull market, but most workers aren’t invited to the party. | Jon Talton
Even with a strong economy, most American workers are struggling, writes economics columnist Jon Talton. Here are some modest proposals to address the headwinds.
Trump’s NAFTA facelift would mark an ugly ‘win’ for America | Jon Talton
The trade agreement needed a retooling, but the Trump administration's bullying is alienating allies. And a new NAFTA faces serious barriers, with big risks if...
Trump can’t revive coal, but he’s helping give us Coal Age air | Jon Talton
The "war on coal" has already been lost. The president's policies are helping us lose the war to slow climate change.
Behind the fight over Google’s China project, a battle for the company’s soul | Jon Talton
Google executives seem ready to bow to China's censorship rules. Hundreds of employees are fighting it.
How Seattle’s Showbox might have a valuable second act | Jon Talton
It's a heavy lift, but historic venues can be saved. And they improve the value of the properties around them.