Brian Stelter suggests media partly to blame for 'warning fatigue' amid tragic flood deaths



The Texas flooding tragedy that has claimed so many lives has also become a battleground for partisans attempting to place blame on their opponents for the catastrophe.

Many critics on the left are trying to blame cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration made by the Trump administration for the deaths of at least 95 people from disastrous flooding, according to NBC News. Twenty-seven of the deaths were counted among campers and counselors from Camp Mystic.

'When everything is labeled "extreme weather," nothing seems extreme any more.'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt forcefully denied the allegations during Monday's media briefing.

"Ninety-one innocent souls have now perished," she said.

"President Trump swiftly signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure our heroic first responders have every resource they need in the relief and recovery efforts," Leavitt added.

"Unfortunately, in the wake of this once-in-a-generation national disaster, we have seen many falsehoods pushed by Democrats such as Sen. Chuck Schumer [D-N.Y.] and some members of the media," she said. "Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning."

On Monday, Leavitt may have found an unlikely ally as she pushed back on those reports. In his daily "Reliable Sources" newsletter, CNN media analyst Brian Stelter appeared to put some of the blame on the media for constantly tossing weather emergency warnings at the public.

Stelter cited reporting from the CNN team that warnings were sent out ahead of the flooding, but the question was whether those warnings reached "who they needed to reach."

He went on to say that "warning fatigue" was being cited by more experts as one of the causes of the disaster.

"When everything is labeled 'extreme weather,' nothing seems extreme any more," Stelter explained.

RELATED: Horror and heroism in Texas as search for flood survivors continues

In addition to CNN's reporting, a separate Politico report documented that warnings were sent as early as 12 hours ahead of the flooding but said that they may not have been interpreted well enough by local law enforcement to prevent the death and destruction.

“The crux of this disaster is a failure of the last mile of communication,” said Tom Fahy of a National Weather Service union. “The forecasts went out, they communicated the forecasts, they disseminated the watches and warnings. And the dilemma we have is there was nobody listening at 4 o’clock in the morning for these watches and warnings.”

On Sunday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said that more than 36 people continued to be unaccounted for, and there may be other casualties not yet discovered.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Scythe Draws Near: CNN’s Overpaid ‘Talent’ Brace for Deep Cuts Amid Corporate Shakeup

Liberal television networks are increasingly viewed as declining assets nobody wants to own. Their audiences are getting smaller, older, and deader. Viewership rates among Americans who don't currently reside in an assisted living facility are plummeting to zero. Nobody wants to invest. Media companies are desperate to get these failing networks, and the exorbitant paychecks of their vainglorious anchors, off their books as soon as possible. MSNBC parent company Comcast announced last year it was spinning off the left-wing network into a separate entity. Joy Reid was (finally) fired earlier this year, as corporate cost-cutters took aim at the impossible-to-justify salaries of network "talent" such as Rachel Maddow ($30 million), Joe Scarborough (eight figures), and Chris Hayes ($4-5 million).

The post The Scythe Draws Near: CNN’s Overpaid ‘Talent’ Brace for Deep Cuts Amid Corporate Shakeup appeared first on .

How The L.A. Riots Demonstrate Democrat-Media Complex’s Loss Of Narrative Control

All of the media narratives shoved down America's throat in 2020 to justify rioting are falling flat this time around — but they're still trying to deceive you.

Brian Stelter Says 'Most Angelenos Are Having a Perfectly Normal Day'—Right Before LA Declares Curfew

CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter claimed Tuesday that "most Angelenos are having a perfectly normal day," less than an hour before Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass (D.) declared a curfew in response to escalating unrest.

The post Brian Stelter Says 'Most Angelenos Are Having a Perfectly Normal Day'—Right Before LA Declares Curfew appeared first on .

Brian Stelter Dismisses Videos of LA Riots as 'Seeking Clicks, Clout, and Chaos'

CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter on Tuesday lashed out at social media users sharing videos of anti-ICE riots across Los Angeles, accusing them of "seeking clicks, clout and chaos" and "preying on fears."

The post Brian Stelter Dismisses Videos of LA Riots as 'Seeking Clicks, Clout, and Chaos' appeared first on .

Videos of LA Riots 'Can Give People a False Impression of What's Actually Happening,' Says Brian Stelter

CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter said Monday that videos of anti-ICE riots across Los Angeles "can give people a false impression of what's actually happening" because the videos could be "hours old, or even days old."

The post Videos of LA Riots 'Can Give People a False Impression of What's Actually Happening,' Says Brian Stelter appeared first on .

Corporate Media Can’t Defend LA Deportation Riot, So They Downplay And Deny It Instead

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-09-at-9.44.18 AM-e1749480597994-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-09-at-9.44.18%5Cu202fAM-e1749480597994-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]The media have failed to learn their lesson over the last five years.