The Iran War's Devastating Butterfly Effect

About this episode

<p>The war in Iran has had some visible consequences, like skyrocketing energy costs and higher gas prices, but the effects of this war are often far less obvious and much more serious for the world’s most vulnerable people.</p> <p>Today, Peter S. Goodman tells us what he learned on a recent trip to Somalia, and why the system of global aid is no longer in a position to help.</p> <p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/peter-s-goodman" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Peter S. Goodman</strong></a> covers the global economy for The New York Times.</p> <p>Background reading: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/business/iran-war-somalia-usaid.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Catastrophe is emerging in the world’s most vulnerable places</a> as the war in Iran causes soaring costs for food, fuel and fertilizer.</p> <p>Photo: Finbarr O'Reilly for The New York Times</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>