Why does YC’s president and CEO ignore this research and claim otherwise in his persistent campaigns online and irl?

Lots of the “elites” read and hold in high regard extremely shoddy right-wing writing by lazy-opportunist or outright fraudster “intellectuals” that pushes crap like this. You’ve probably seen some books of this sort given glowing recommendations by posters on this very site. See: If Books Could Kill

[edit] the apparent appeal of these is that they tend to push a “you’re already doing great by Doing Capitalism, and the best thing you can do is keep doing what you were inclined to do anyway, which was more of that, because other solutions don’t work” message to their readers, which has obvious conscience-assuaging appeal and utility as PR/cover for future actions for the rich & powerful. These books happen to also surprisingly-often launder other right wing stuff like bigotry or anti-criminal-justice-reform positions alongside the straightforward flattery.

I am so right wing I sympathize with sovereign citizens and push for anti-overreach reforms on that basis.