Tim Cook Named to California's Economic Recovery Task Force

California Governor Gavin Newsom today unveiled a new business recovery task force intended to guide the state as it gets its economy back up and running as coronavirus shutdowns begin to ease in the coming weeks and months, reports CNBC.

timcooktokyonikkei
The task force will be co-chaired by philanthropist Tom Steyer and Newsom's chief of staff Ann O'Leary, and it will be composed of more than 70 members including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger.

The task force will reportedly meet twice a month through the end of the year.

Cook's participation on the task force comes just after a virtual company-wide meeting for Apple employees where Cook outlined some details on the current situation and how things will likely evolve going forward. Cook reiterated that Apple is in a strong financial position and that it will keep investing in its research and development efforts "in a really significant way" as it seeks to maintain as much momentum as possible coming out of the crisis.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Popular Stories

Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday November 19, 2025 4:00 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
hikawa phone grip stand apple%402x

Apple Launches Second Limited-Edition iPhone Accessory in a Month

Friday November 21, 2025 3:53 am PST by
Apple has begun selling the Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand, a new limited-edition iPhone accessory designed with accessibility in mind. Designed by LA-based Bailey Hikawa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of accessibility at Apple, the grip uses magnets to securely snap onto any iPhone with MagSafe. Apple says it can be removed with ease, and doubles as a stand with two different viewing...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:50 am PST by
Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is highly likely to arrive next year, offering a significant refresh of the device with at least four major new features. OLED Display The next-generation version of the iPad mini could feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, ...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
watchos 26 workout app

Apple Watch Users Claim Workout App Is Now Worse in Every Way

Thursday November 20, 2025 7:01 am PST by
Apple Watch owners have been voicing their frustration online over changes to the Workout app that Apple introduced in watchOS 26, with many finding the redesigned interface makes starting exercises difficult and exasperating. When Apple launched watchOS 26 in September, the Workout app went from large, easily tapped workout tiles to a scrolling, corner-button interface. Instead of tapping a ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Two More U.S. States Commit to Offering iPhone Driver's Licenses in Apple Wallet App

Thursday November 20, 2025 8:21 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Earlier this week, Illinois became the 13th state in the U.S. to offer the feature. Subsequently, we shared a list of additional states that are committed...
android iphone airdrop quickshare

iPhone Users Can Now AirDrop Files to Android Devices

Thursday November 20, 2025 9:47 am PST by
Google today announced a new cross-platform feature that allows for file sharing between iPhone and Android users. With AirDrop on the iPhone and QuickShare on Pixel 10 devices, there is a new file transfer function available. The file sharing option works on Apple devices that include iPhone, iPad, and Mac, along with the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Fold....
ipad black friday 2025

The Best Early Black Friday iPad Deals

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:20 am PST by
Black Friday is just over a week away, and iPad deals have finally started to flood in at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Below we're tracking discounts on every current generation iPad, including lowest-ever prices on M3 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro, plus steep markdowns on iPad and iPad mini. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a ...

Top Rated Comments

Z400Racer37 Avatar
73 months ago
"Business recovery task force?" You need a task force to figure out the best way to improve your economy is to get the hell out of its way? Stop strangling people with absurdly high taxes, and ridiculous regulations and regulatory agencies? Is it that difficult to figure out after all that history?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Duane Martin Avatar
73 months ago

Hopefully Cook tells Newsom that he recommends ALL public companies in CA should be Forced to Pay Off ALL their Long Term Debt BEFORE buying Back any more Shares, OR paying out any more Dividends !

And that Apple will lead the way by paying-off its $100B+ (USD) of Long Term Debt !
And all Californians can be thankful that someone with your complete lack of knowledge of economics and money management is not on the task force. The world is a little more complex than you perceive it to be. "Debt is bad" is an ideology, not a practical rationale for managing finances.


"Business recovery task force?" You need a task force to figure out the best way to improve your economy is to get the hell out of its way? Stop strangling people with absurdly high taxes, and ridiculous regulations and regulatory agencies? Is it that difficult to figure out after all that history?
Speaking of history how did the U.S. deregulation of the banking industry work out for the entire world in 2008? And why do tax breaks always seem to benefit those who least need them and not the most vulnerable? If only it was all as simple as you imagine it to be.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
73 months ago

Good. Now leave Apple and stay in politics... It's what you've stuck your nose into for the past decade plus anyway.
I'm guessing you are not aware that Apple has around 37,000 employees in California. And that Tim Cook, being the CEO of Apple and responsible for those 37,000 employees, thus has a large stake in how California's recovery is handled.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPack Avatar
73 months ago
Let's hope there are also epidemiologists and doctors on this task force.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
konqerror Avatar
73 months ago

Hopefully Cook tells Newsom that he recommends ALL public companies in CA should be Forced to Pay Off ALL their Long Term Debt BEFORE buying Back any more Shares, OR paying out any more Dividends !

And that Apple will lead the way by paying-off its $100B+ (USD) of Long Term Debt !
You're saying Apple needs to spend their money to reduce debt with the lowest interest rates, instead of reducing higher effective interest rates, or investing in their business. Right.

Do you also pay off your mortgage before your credit cards?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
73 months ago

Ideal job for Tim, not that we'd like you to leave Apple Timmey, but if you can let someone with a bit of product innovation ambition lead, consumers would benefit a bit more.
No worries, mate. Mr. Cook is doing a fine job leading Apple, as evidenced by the hundreds of millions of repeat customers who after considering competing products, open their wallets and pay premium prices for Apple computers and devices. Year after year after year.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)