Workers Pay First, Recover Last

This episode breaks down why the economy feels so bad for workers right now. Rising prices are only half the story—the real issue is wages aren’t keeping up. We explore how employer power in the labor market keeps pay down, creating a “squeeze economy” where workers absorb the hit.

We also connect the dots across falling job satisfaction, limited mobility, and instability in government leadership. From SNAP benefit cuts and their impact on mental health to the growing role of AI, workplace surveillance, and layoffs, the pattern is clear: workers are being asked to do more with less.

Finally, we take a closer look at burnout—often mislabeled as laziness—and what it says about a system pushing people past their limits.

We close with upcoming May Day actions and the broader fight to build an economy that works for workers, not billionaires.