That is actually the key phrase. HN can provide the API, no problem. People can consume the API, no problem.. But I'd ask an attorney if API consumers can then re-release the data for purposes not related to YC. By my reading, they cannot.
In particular, if someone releases something that is only a dataset along with an MIT license file, the most reasonable interpretation is that the rights holder intended to release the data under the terms of that license.
I looked for copyright cases involving this specific distinction, whether "data" versus "software" makes a legal difference, but didn’t find anything.
So the question remains open (for you, for me it's pretty clear the dataset is released under MIT).
You might want to sue and find out. It sounds like an interesting experiment.
is zX41ZdbW either?
I didn't consider you might now know about:
It's right there, you just have to click the link I shared ...
'use'...arguably the sole purpose of the API is to fetch the data.
You are grasping at straws.