The Indicator from Planet Money What an Epstein recording reveals about how elites get jobs
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Feb 25, 2026 
Matilda Bombardini, UC Berkeley economics professor who studies political economy and lobbying, analyzes an Epstein–Barak recording. She discusses how connections trump expertise. Short scenes explore advising former leaders to list favors, turning access into paid roles, evidence that tied lobbyists earn more, and when elite ties become liabilities.
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Networks Can Outvalue Expertise For Ex-Officials
- Elite networks can substitute for technical expertise when monetizing a former official's value.
- Epstein tells Ehud Barak that companies pay for access and reputational doors, not necessarily subject-matter skill.
Make A List Of People Who Owe You Favors
- Epstein records give a concrete example of advice to a departing leader: list people who owe you favors and use those IOUs commercially.
- In a 2013 tape Epstein and Ehud Barak explicitly discuss keeping a log of people who 'owe' you jobs or favors.
Personal Ties Pay A Quantifiable Premium
- Connected lobbyists command a measurable premium over topic experts in the market for influence.
- Matilda Bombardini's research finds lobbyists with personal ties earn about 9% more than other lobbyists.