A CNN panel criticized partisan figures who immediately seized on Texas’s flash‐flooding disaster for political objectives, urging focus on prevention and response, not point‑scoring. Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha, NOTUS reporter Evan McMorris-Santoro, and former Bush administration official Ashley Davis warned that partisan attacks distract from solving real deficiencies in forecasting and warning systems.
The panel emphasized that politicizing sudden tragedies, like the Texas floods that claimed over 100 lives, including children at Camp Mystic, detracts from addressing systemic failures in emergency preparedness.
“And partisans like me and others, we like to throw mud at each other, and say, ‘It’s your fault. It’s your fault.’ But there’s real things at risk here. And things that I think could have been done. And I think there will be a reckoning when it’s over because of the mass loss of children,” Rocha shared.
This condemnation followed an ongoing broader clash. Democrats and the media have drawn links between federal budget and staffing cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) during President Trump’s administration and the delayed forecasting that may have worsened today’s disaster. Critics argue NWS cuts undermined flood warnings—claims refuted by local meteorologists who point out timely flash flood watches and warnings were issued hours in advance.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt lashed out at these “shameful” narratives, calling them “depraved lies” and insisting the NWS fulfilled its duties. She affirmed alerts issued more than 12 hours in advance, countering claims that Trump-era neglect hindered disaster response.
This dispute unfolds amid mounting scrutiny of disaster readiness. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has urged installation of river‑valley sirens along the Guadalupe River, with backing from Governor Greg Abbott, aiming for a 2026 launch. Meanwhile, local officials highlight long‑standing warning deficiencies in Kerr County, citing delays in implementing siren systems despite flood‑prone conditions.
For once, CNN may have gotten it right. Now is not the time for finger-pointing or political games. The priority must be action: supporting rescue efforts, finding the missing, and lifting up the families in prayer during this heartbreaking time.
