You can’t retract the facts
Episode description
In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) responds to a recent request by a crypto unicorn founder / bank CEO to retract his essay Debanking (and debunking?). Come for the note about editorial standards and independence, stay for the diss track.
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Full transcript available here: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/editorial-standards-and-independence/
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Recommended in this episode:
- Debanking (and debunking?): https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/debanking-and-debunking/
- CEO: Retract your debanking article? Me: No. https://www.kalzumeus.com/2025/02/10/retraction-request-denied/
- Geekiest rap single in history https://suno.com/song/c5ac7441-4a0b-4e5e-9c85-480e3ba63fc1
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Twitter:
@patio11
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(03:04) Musical interlude
(04:56) Return to commentary
(06:35) You can’t please everyone
(08:06) The bar for retraction is high
(10:07) Our review of the retraction request
(10:37) “A few areas were incorrect or misleading”
(16:12) “Lots of omission of key facts”
(18:57) “Missing the point about what we mean by debunking”
(20:40) Sponsors: Safebase | Check
(25:00) Our response to McCauley’s testimony
(28:24) McCauley’s concluding remarks and our response
(30:21) Bank CEOs do not often ask writers for retractions
(34:20) Some context regarding custodial banks
(40:50) Returning to our regularly scheduled programming