I think you're correct.

This may be an excuse to fold up NYT, or it may be blip or a hurdle.

The "bad press" publicity works on many levels too.

People may find hope in this and the resistance and be more courageous and thus out themselves and be more easily picked off.

And/or people may find hope in the establishment system, thus forgetting yet again that it's all rigged.

And/or it may simply be useful to foment more discord among the masses. I expect this summer to be worse than the last.

And/or it may push more people into the open arms of YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, Twitch, Twitter, etc.