Remember when 2020 Democratic candidate Tulsi Gabbard went on an “unhinged” “outrageous tweet storm” after Hillary Clinton suggested in a podcast that Gabbard was being groomed by the Russians for a third-party run to split the Democratic vote? Well now Hillary Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill is claiming that the New York Times got it wrong, and Clinton had actually said Republicans, not Russians, were grooming her as a third-party candidate.

That’s kind of a big mistake.

On Friday, the NYT did a piece about a podcast Secretary Clinton did with David Plouffe. They incorrectly quoted her saying that the “Russians” were “grooming” a candidate running in the Democratic primary. They rightfully fixed it to reflect that she was taking about the GOP. pic.twitter.com/iFCphQhZcU — Nick Merrill (@NickMerrill) October 22, 2019

In yesterday’s paper, @superwuster wrote an opinion piece accusing Secretary Clinton of trading in conspiracy theories, based off of comments that she didn’t make. pic.twitter.com/TXCXTk6fjk — Nick Merrill (@NickMerrill) October 22, 2019

Merrill’s thread goes on a bit, but we’re most concerned with the New York Times’ conflation of Russian and Republican.

There is no correction appended to the story online? (I am not arguing with you, I can see in the Wayback Machine that it was changed between 18 Oct and 19 Oct.) Has the NYT acknowledged the change? — Maryn McKenna (@marynmck) October 22, 2019

They already got out the message they wanted. No one who believed it will know of the change. — Adzter (@Adzter1996) October 22, 2019

…so in the end, what can be derived from this entire debacle is @nytimes serves nothing-burgers. — …melanintary, my dear. (@dlnodots) October 22, 2019

Uhhhhhhhhhh that’s one hell of an edit — d_mcc (@d_mccarthy37) October 23, 2019

What about your “if the nesting doll fits” quote? P.s. get a blue check mark please — Tom Matzzie (@tommatzzie) October 22, 2019

that confirmed Gabbard was referenced, not that Russians were her groomers ? — SH (@sweethegemony) October 22, 2019

How? Nesting dolls are Russian, right? — Mark? (@Makotano7x) October 22, 2019

Yeah, what about that “If the nesting doll fits” comment?

Hillary Clinton appears to suggest Russians are 'grooming' Tulsi Gabbard for third-party run. Clinton spox @NickMerrill, when asked if HRC was referring to Gabbard: “If the nesting doll fits.” More here: https://t.co/MfnW3HAmCI — Dan Merica (@merica) October 18, 2019

Hillary had time to tweet that gif at Booker and that boomer-ass JFK meme but not to correct this misquote that everyone was talking about? — Armagordon (@dertwerst) October 22, 2019

Good point.

OMFG. The NYT got the details wrong and everyone freaked out over something approaching a transcription error? https://t.co/kQ6QDeLQBj — Bill Fitzgerald (@funnymonkey) October 23, 2019

I wonder if Bernie and others are going to issue new statements now. I'm guessing not. https://t.co/TOvY0ZqCoA — Dan (@DKinMN) October 23, 2019

Is this real life? Who is running the @nytimes and why have they not lost their jobs yet? https://t.co/45a8fDO2Ab — ???? ????? (@miketheidealist) October 23, 2019

Wow, that entire controversy about Hillary criticizing Tulsi Gabbard was a lie based on shoddy reporting by the NYT. Hillary never said what they claimed she said. Unbelievable. https://t.co/AUbJpIS2rh — John Scare-avosis?? (@aravosis) October 22, 2019

Another bang-up job by the NYT. https://t.co/NHGFcNBeu6 — Dean Barker (@deanbarker) October 22, 2019

Hmm …

Clinton spox and Harvey Weinstein toady Nick Merrill tries to dig Hillary out of a hole after smearing Tulsi Reminder that after Clinton's comment's he had no problem relishing and giving further comment to journos https://t.co/eHFnX0RdD2 — Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) October 22, 2019

True: He told CNN, “This is not some outlandish claim. This is reality. If the Russian propaganda machine, both their state media and their bot and troll operations, is backing a candidate aligned with their interests, that is just a reality, it is not speculation.”

So… there’s audio. And you with the whole ‘nesting doll’ thing. And HRC on The View. You’re so used to lying but this is DAYS ago!! — louisejohnston? (@louise_anne67) October 22, 2019