It isn’t, though. That’s a dishonest argument. There are myriad cases of the media (incl. NYT) or the general public misinterpreting findings, usually by way of generalisation or misattributed cause. I empathise with any specialist with this much public attention on them, because everywhere you turn there’s a bone-headed journalist willing to either by way of malice or ignorance misrepresent your findings.

I’m not a US resident and have the privilege of being able to care very little about what US government agencies have to say, so I don’t really care in the end, but at least be honest with yourself.