The LRB Podcast On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
Feb 11, 2026
Ethan Shone, an investigations reporter at openDemocracy focused on influence operations, and Peter Geoghegan, founder of Democracy for Sale and investigative journalist, dissect newly released documents on Mandelson and Epstein. They trace informal influence networks, press failures, libel chill, lobbying firms built on favours, tech‑political links, and proposed rules to curb post‑government profiteering.
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Private Influence Trumps Public Duty
- The Epstein files reveal a private influence network trading power, money and access outside democratic oversight.
- Peter Mandelson passed confidential government information to Jeffrey Epstein to protect concentrated wealth during the financial crisis.
Lawfare As A Chilling Tool
- The Epstein archive unusually exposes candid email trails that show how lawfare and legal threats chill journalism.
- London functions as a libel-capital enabling wealthy actors to shut down reporting via major law firms.
From Personal Club To Corporate Lobbying
- Epstein's network worked as an informal personal club trading favours, introductions and exclusive information.
- That model mirrors formalised corporate advisory and lobbying industries which buy privileged intelligence from ex-officials.
