New York Times Retracts Claims That 'Intent Doesn't Matter' Sun Feb 14, 2021 How much of a mess is the New York Times? This much of a mess. New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet on Thursday rolled back a controversial standard regarding the use of racial epithets at the newspaper. In a staff meeting, Baquet retracted the guidance that the paper does not “tolerate racist language regardless of intent.” He explained that the memo with the standard was written on “deadline” and that critics “rightly saw this as a threat to our journalism,” said sources present at the meeting. The background here is a New York Times science reporter who was purged for explaining to teens that they shouldn't use racial slurs, while repeating the slur in question. Considering our cultural revolution, you can guess which one and all the other relevant details, including the New York Times retracting its lighter punishment of the reporter and then purging him while insisting that intent doesn't matter.