Any of those friends who aren't marriage friendly, or the hard core "single" person putting their business causing us to jump around like a hot potato, or to get dumped, or the be cheated on. We don't like those friends. But our spouse did not have to listen, and like you said, perhaps the spouse aligned themself with this person because they wanted to do precisely that.
I have no doubt that my Wife, or people in general on pretty much any topic, tend to seek out council of people who will play to their present mindset, even if it is subconsciously.
Heck, I've helped a lot of folks come to grips with various problems in their lives. To put myself "outside" this situation, my advice to "parallel-universe-Bummedout"s wife would be to ask her if maybe she is taking some stress or aggression out on him. I'd ask "well is he even looking for a job? Is he doing anything to bring in what he can? Is he mean to you? Does show you respect?"
When people have come to me, I pretty much always try to 'err on the side of healing" a relationship, be it friends, family, or even relative strangers. Heck, before we even dated, I coaxed her into calling one of her sisters she hadn't in a few years. Unfortunately, I'm not 'parallel universe Bummedout" I'm just . . . bummed out.
Life may be short, but . . . well . . . it actually IS short, now that I think about it . . . . particularly when compared to planetary formation and stuff.
