Is America’s Drinking Water the Next Front in the Iran War?

About this episode

<p>Over the past week, a growing number of municipalities across the United States have reported that their water systems were hacked. The Times has found that the attacks were most likely perpetrated by Iran.</p> <p>Today, Dustin Volz, a cybersecurity and intelligence correspondent for The New York Times, explains how the hacking exposes yearslong failed efforts to shore up vulnerabilities in U.S. infrastructure, and how Iran may be seeking a new kind of leverage that could extend the war’s reach to within U.S. borders and affect something as elemental as the water we drink.</p> <p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/dustin-volz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Dustin Volz</strong></a>, a cybersecurity and intelligence correspondent for The New York Times.</p> <p>Background reading: </p> <ul> <li>Federal and state officials are racing to address an assault on the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/us/politics/water-supply-warnings.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">nation’s water supply</a>.</li> <li>Cyberattacks on water systems nationwide that affected Michigan and Minnesota <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/us/politics/iran-cyberattack-water-systems.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">also included at least five more states</a>. Evidence points to Iranian involvement.</li> </ul> <p>Photo: Jenn Ackerman 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>