[free_rms]

It's concerning that that's the lever, though.

Break every rule of your profession and publish a bunch of BS? We'll give you another chance. Gave an inappropriate backrub 10 years ago? You're out!

He should have been fired for Caliphate and expressly for Caliphate.

[ogre_codes]

Look at the title here.

Look at the author of this piece.

Do you think a journalist who has no journalistic integrity is going to admit he got fired because he has no journalistic integrity?

Easier to get a sympathy by claiming it was about back rubs.

[free_rms]

Absolutely right, and I should have written that :)

That said, seems like the easier narrative for the NYT to go with as well -- they don't have to own up to their editorial failures up the chain that way.

[gabereiser]

agreed