Georgia Congressional Candidate Faces Backlash for Claiming Texas Flash Floods Are 'Fake Weather'

thedailybeast.com/maga-congressional-candidate-kandiss-taylor-calls-texas-floods-f...

Revised Article

Congressional candidate Kandiss Taylor sparked widespread criticism after posting conspiracy theories about the deadly Texas flash floods that killed at least 30 people, including nine children. Taylor, who is running for Georgia's House of Representatives in 2026, claimed on social media that the flooding was 'fake weather' caused by 'cloud seeding, geoengineering, & manipulation,' calling it 'murder' if artificial weather caused real tragedy.

The floods along the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet on Friday, destroying homes and vehicles while killing dozens. Twenty-seven girls remain missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian camp in Hunt, Texas. Rescue workers have saved at least 850 people in 36 hours, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott reporting people were found 'clinging to trees to save their lives.'

Taylor's claims about weather manipulation lack scientific basis. While cloud seeding is a real but limited technique for encouraging precipitation in small areas, it cannot create massive weather systems or flash floods. Contrails from aircraft are normal water vapor condensation, not chemical spraying. Flash floods in Texas river basins like the Guadalupe are natural phenomena caused by heavy upstream rainfall, steep terrain, and rapid runoff - a recurring pattern in the region's geography and climate.

Political figures and commentators condemned Taylor's statements during the active disaster. Former Representative Adam Kinzinger questioned Texas Republicans about her candidacy, while others criticized promoting conspiracy theories while families searched for missing children. President Trump called the deaths 'shocking' and announced that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would visit the area. Taylor, whose previous campaigns for Georgia governor and U.S. Senate were unsuccessful, defended her posts and accused critics of being 'brainwashed zombies.'

Missing Context & Misinformation 4

  • Chemtrail and weather manipulation conspiracy theories are scientifically unfounded. Contrails (condensation trails) from aircraft are normal water vapor condensation, not deliberate chemical spraying. The aviation industry and atmospheric scientists have extensively documented that these trails are simply condensation formed when hot jet exhaust meets cold air at high altitudes.
  • Cloud seeding is a real but limited weather modification technique that involves introducing particles into clouds to encourage precipitation. However, it cannot create massive weather systems or flash floods, and requires specific atmospheric conditions to have any effect. It is used primarily for drought mitigation and hail suppression in small areas.
  • Flash floods along rivers like the Guadalupe are natural phenomena caused by heavy rainfall upstream, steep terrain, and rapid water runoff. Texas has a long history of deadly flash floods due to its geography and climate patterns, with the Guadalupe River basin particularly susceptible to sudden water level rises.
  • Taylor is running for Congress in Georgia's 1st Congressional District in 2026, not representing Texas. She previously ran unsuccessful campaigns for Georgia governor and U.S. Senate, consistently promoting conspiracy theories and far-right positions throughout her political career.

Disinformation & Lies 2

  • The article correctly identifies Taylor as running for Georgia's House seat, not Texas, so her comments about Texas weather are from an out-of-state candidate.
  • The casualty figures and rescue numbers cited appear consistent with initial disaster reporting, though final counts often change as rescue operations continue.

Bias 3

The article shows clear bias against Kandiss Taylor through loaded language ('bizarre post', 'clown') and selective quote presentation. However, this bias is largely fair and useful - Taylor's claims that deadly floods killing children are 'fake' during an active tragedy genuinely warrant strong criticism. The emotional tone is proportional to the severity of promoting conspiracy theories during a disaster with confirmed deaths. The bias serves readers by highlighting the real-world harm of spreading misinformation during emergencies. While the language could be more neutral, the criticism is warranted by the facts and helps readers understand why such statements are problematic during active rescue operations.