I think it's because he's a Nobel winner that agrees with the sympathies of the readers of the New York Times. This way the readers can think they're smart, sin

I think it's because he's a Nobel winner that agrees with the sympathies of the readers of the New York Times. This way the readers can think they're smart, since they can understand the writing of a Nobel, while not being challenged to actually have to think about something they may not agree with.