Super El Niño, Measles, Iran War Stalemate

August 29, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Super El Niño, Measles Deaths, Iran War Stalemate

An unusually powerful El Niño this year has shattered records for air and sea surface temperatures, already causing crop failures and droughts before it has even peaked. Meanwhile, two deaths linked to measles in Pennsylvania have triggered a public conflict between state officials and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and six months into what President Trump called a "major combat operation" in Iran, none of the stated objectives have been met.

The Super El Niño

El Niño is a natural climate cycle that occurs when a massive amount of warm water accumulates in the Pacific Ocean around the equator, releasing heat into the atmosphere and triggering far-reaching ripple effects. This year's event is being called a "super El Niño" — or as some put it, a "Godzilla El Niño." Federal forecasters classify it as a very strong event.

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What you'll learn

1 (02:07) **Super El Niño Shatters Records** - NPR climate correspondent Lauren Sommer explains the record-breaking El Niño and its global impacts.
2 (03:48) **US Impacts: Heat and Flooding Risks** - Sommer details the specific threats the super El Niño poses to the United States.
3 (04:42) **Climate Change Fuels Stronger El Niños** - A new study using coral skeletons shows modern El Niños are significantly stronger than pre-industrial ones.
4 (06:28) **Measles Deaths in Pennsylvania Spark Conflict** - Health Secretary RFK Jr. questions the legitimacy of two measles deaths, clashing with state officials.
5 (09:38) **Criticism of Both Kennedy and Governor Shapiro** - Experts say both federal and state officials have handled the measles crisis poorly.
6 (10:36) **Kennedy Faces Calls to Resign Over Samoa Trip** - New reports detail Kennedy's work with an anti-vaccine group during a deadly measles outbreak, leading to accusations he lied to Congress.
7 (11:23) **Iran War Stalemate: Six Months In** - President Trump’s promised quick war in Iran has become a prolonged conflict with none of the stated objectives met.

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Show Notes

An unusually strong El Niño is disrupting the weather around the globe, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr's anti-vaccination crusade is muddled after two deaths from measles complications, and it's been six ugly months since the U.S. and Israel launched a war with Iran. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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