NYT retracts main story in hit 'Caliphate' podcast, citing failures
New York Times reporter Rukmini Callimachi is being taken off the terrorism beat after an inquiry found missteps in verifying claims that the podcast's main subject had been an IS fighter.
The New York Times retracted the central story in its smash hit podcast "Caliphate" on Friday after an internal inquiry found missteps by its reporters in verifying the account of a self-proclaimed former Islamic State member.
Released in 2018, the podcast follows Times reporter Rukmini Callimachi as she tracks developments in the crumbling Islamic State.
The narrative comes to center on a man living openly in Canada named Abu Huzaifa al-Kanadi, who told the podcast he had participated in executions after joining the jihadist proto-state.
Al-Kanadi, whose real name is Shehroze Chaudry, was arrested by Canadian police in September for fabricating his alleged history with IS. The arrest prompted public criticism of the podcast, forcing the newspaper to address the concerns.
