Americans Still Unhappy With Iran War as Other Big Stories Unfold

Six months into the war with Iran, most Americans say they are unhappy with how President Donald Trump is handling the conflict. Recent polls show his approval rating on the war ranges from just 25% to 35%. A Reuters poll found only 29% approved of his handling of Iran. That is a big drop from when the war began, when about 41% of voters approved.

Americans have also grown more opposed to the military action itself. In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, 62% of people disapproved of the U.S. taking military action against Iran, while only 35% approved. Even though most Republicans still support Trump and the war, the overall numbers show broad public doubt. The conflict remains deeply unpopular across the country.

Other political news also made headlines this week. CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a surprise trip to Moscow, where he asked Russia not to share intelligence with Iran. Trump also signed an order to rename Lake Ontario 'Lake America' as tensions with Canada grow. A federal judge blocked a new Postal Service rule that would have given the government more control over mail-in ballots.

In Nepal, a massive disaster has left communities in ruins. More than 500 people have been killed and over 1,000 are still missing after powerful floods tore through villages in the Himalayan mountains. Scientists believe a glacier collapsed and sent ice, rock, and rushing water into the towns below. Rescue teams are struggling to reach remote areas buried under thick mud.

Experts say climate change likely played a big role in the disaster. A frozen material called permafrost acts like glue that holds mountain slopes together, but it thaws as temperatures rise. When it melts, slopes can become unstable and collapse. Professor Wilfried Haeberli of the University of Zurich said the chance that permafrost was involved is 'almost 100%,' and warned that such events will get worse as the planet warms.

A federal judge is questioning a plan to add President Trump's name to the Kennedy Center, a famous performance hall in Washington, D.C. The Trump-appointed board voted to rename it 'President Donald J. Trump Plaza' by September 8. Judge Christopher Cooper asked government lawyers why that date mattered and whether the name change would break federal law. A Justice Department lawyer had suggested the building could be torn down if the name change is blocked.

In Pennsylvania, two deaths have been linked to measles, including the death of an infant. A local coroner said the baby died from internal bleeding and found measles virus in the baby's lung tissue, but said it was unclear if measles caused the death. The state's health secretary said the death was 'measles-associated,' meaning there was evidence of a measles infection. The disagreement has led to political arguments and confusion among parents.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested the measles deaths may have been 'fabricated,' while Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro criticized vaccine misinformation from the federal government. Local health officials worry that the back-and-forth could make parents unsure about whether to vaccinate their children. Experts say vaccines are the best tool to prevent measles, which has been making a comeback in the U.S. As cases continue to rise, health leaders are urging families to make sure their vaccinations are up to date.