The layering of controversy about "global warming" over and around the salamander study has obfuscated and prevented popular and scientific understanding of the phenomena and results studied.

The shrill calling out of "It's caused by global warming" when mudslides and torrential rains and droughts occur in the Western US Coast prevents understanding or discussion of basic regional weather, climate and meteorology, specifically the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.

The hinting, alluding of AGW as causative with the Katrina hurricane covered up bribes and corruption in the construction of the dikes.

Any time you put one thing in the news or in the scientific literature it pushes something else out of those media.  Nearly complete disinformation is the normal condition.