Garry Tan, the CEO of YC, accused me of unethical reporting

Perceptions of the reporting and “misrepresentations” doc

• Some call the piece exemplary reporting: transparent, sourced, and a needed correction of misinformation about a public official.
• Others see it as partisan “intra-party squabbling” among factions of the same party, not “great journalism.”
• The DA office’s “misrepresentations” memo on a TV reporter is read very differently:
  • One side finds it weak and borderline “Trumpian,” accusing the reporter of legal violations without solid grounding.
  • Another side thinks it largely supports the article’s claims that the reporter overreached and argued aggressively without strong evidence.
• Debate over a HIPAA-related passage:
  • Some say it falsely implies the reporter broke HIPAA, which usually constrains covered entities.
  • Others argue the memo clearly targets whoever leaked medical records, not the reporter, and note inducement to violate HIPAA can also be criminal.

Politics, journalism, and objectivity

• Disagreement over whether this is “politics” or “journalism”:
  • Several argue journalism is inherently political; “apolitical reporting” is mostly a market-era myth.
  • Others lament the fusion of reporting and advocacy, saying you can now predict coverage from a writer’s politics.
• Broader “everything is political” debate: some insist all choices (food, parks, work) have political implications; others find that framing exhausting and think everyday life can be non-political.

Progressive prosecutors and governance competence

• Multiple comments describe a pattern where progressive prosecutors win on reform platforms but then falter on management basics: staff exodus, poor communication, chaotic prioritization.
• Chicago and New York examples are cited: good intentions but weak execution and inability to manage hostile or misaligned bureaucracies and police.
• Others counter that entrenched law-enforcement resistance and structural issues (e.g., mental health, bail reform backlash) make success extremely hard.

Wealth, power, and behavior of the ultra-rich

• Strong criticism of billionaires using money to influence politics, spread misinformation, and shape recalls.
• Disagreement on whether extreme wealth causes sociopathy or simply selects for people with those traits.
• Some highlight philanthropic work by prominent billionaires; others argue net impact remains exploitative or socially harmful.

Silicon Valley, free speech, and media attacks

• Several see tech elites as having a distorted view of free speech: they want broad latitude for themselves while attacking critical journalism as corrupt or “hit pieces.”
• The DA’s office sharing background with a reporter is framed by some as routine, necessary sourcing; portraying this as an “orchestrated media hit” is seen as an attack on legitimate reporting.

Other side threads

• HN moderators note this story is being manually kept on the front page due to YC relevance despite flags.
• Brief debate over a publisher focused on Asian-American authors: some question legality or fairness; others point to civil-rights law and affirmative action history, with no clear consensus.