More and more voices, including politicians, say that cloud seeding — or man-made ways of increasing precipitation — caused the deadly floods in Texas. Experts say this is damaging public trust.

In better times, such a natural disaster would be met with a serious newsgathering effort and sober analysis. Not so today.

Texans often draw on the idea of their own self-reliance during times of adversity. Gov. Greg Abbott has used it to deflect ...