The article investigates the complex relationship between academic experts and the political sphere, highlighting how scientific policy advice is often hindered by a lack of empirical consensus and a prevailing reproduction crisis in research. Moving beyond the ideal of objective guidance, the authors apply an economic lens to reveal that both politicians and advisors are frequently driven by self-interest, seeking to maximize their own power, prestige, and income rather than serving the public good. The text argues that modern social media has transformed researchers into communication instruments, where a scholar’s personal brand is used by officials to legitimize predetermined agendas rather than to foster genuine evidence-based reform. The podcast is explored through the German news article ‘Zwischen Eigennutz und Gemeinwohl’, written by Klaus Heine and Karsten Mause.

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