This episode examines the surge of AI-justified layoffs and argues that managerial short-termism—not technology alone—is driving premature workforce cuts that erode demand and organizational capacity. Drawing on history and economic theory, it proposes a pragmatic policy path: graduated reductions in the standard workweek, income protections, and employer incentives to preserve employment and translate AI gains into broadly shared prosperity. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.