This was addressed by NPR's public editor. It was not "made up."

https://www.npr.org/sections/publiceditor/2022/01/20/1074540...

This explanation is super weird.

> No one has challenged the broader focus of Totenberg's original story, which asserts that the justices in general are not getting along well. The controversy over the anecdotal lead, which was intended to be illustrative, has overwhelmed the uncontested premise of the story.

Gorsuch and Sotomayor issued a joint statement that they are warm friends. Doesn’t that challenge the broader focus of the story? How are we supposed to take them seriously unless we want to believe what they’re saying uncritically?

You may choose to believe the press release. The NPR article is more than the mask anecdote, that is just the intro. The reporter cites sources familiar and her editors stand by the sourcing. I imagine the truth is somewhat messier than the statement that they are "warm colleagues and friends" implies.

Ahhh it was all a big misunderstanding! How convenient for them to not have to accept any blame for sloppy reporting and pushing a narrative.