I think it's possible that Derek Thompson is just doing the same thing he is calling out.

4. Derek Thompson interpreted a short conversation with the author the way he wanted to hear it.

The author might have said a bunch of "nuanced details" in that conversation, and he took it as: "I knew it, author thinks their claims are bogus."

If I recall, I don't remember seeing any part of their conversation quoted word for word, or even the name of the author he contacted in the article. (though I might have just missed it)