In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes break down:Hiring in 2025 – Why the job market has changed, how AI is reshaping hiring, and why some candidates still show up unprepared.Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman – The OpenAI lawsuit, the drama behind its transition from nonprofit to for-profit, and the bigger picture in the AI war.Why UX wins the AI race – ChatGPT, Grok, Claude… which one is actually winning? Ian explains why UX plays a bigger role than most people think.USAID’s unhinged capital allocation – From funding LGBTQ festivals abroad to bizarre health initiatives, how government spending spirals into absurdity.The reality of government corruption – Pelosi’s insane net worth, politicians trading stocks, and how taxpayer money keeps disappearing.Can Europe have a “Doge” moment? – Will someone in the EU expose government inefficiencies the way Elon is doing in the U.S.?The pendulum swing in media control – Will mainstream media regain control of the narrative, or are we entering a new era of decentralized information?This episode is a mix of AI, politics, business, and a healthy dose of skepticism.Timestamps:(0:00) Intro & Valentine's Day discussion(3:20) Hiring challenges & workplace mentality(7:40) Job market shifts & the AI factor(12:20) Why work at Eli5? Company culture & roles(13:08) Best beat ever? Ian’s tweet & personal news(18:21) Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman feud(24:00) The AI race: competition & UX matters(27:00) X.AI employee quits over Grok 3 leak(31:45) The USAID spending scandal(36:40) Clown world & government corruption(40:00) Can Europe have its own “Doge” moment?(41:45) Media control & information monopoly(44:50) The pendulum swing: where are we headed?(47:20) Wrap-up & sign-offThe WORK IN PROGRESS podcast hosted by Ian Piepenbrock and Wes Botman, two founders who are scaling and refining their businesses every day.Wes Botman is founder and CEO at ⁠⁠Eli5⁠⁠ (https://eli5.io), a software studio making complex ideas simple and accessible.Ian Piepenbrock is CEO at ⁠⁠Noco⁠⁠ (https://noco.agency), an agency dedicated to helping B2B SaaS and tech companies grow through strategic web design and branding.Watch/listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cOqBRMjjgcXKSDDIboKrt?si=6990da66e09e4ef2Follow us on X for more raw insights, thoughts, and a good dose of founder reality:Wes: ⁠⁠@wesbotman⁠⁠ (https://x.com/wesbotman)Ian: ⁠⁠@lamswolprins (https://x.com/lamswolprins)