The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle Conflicting Signals on the "peace process" between the U.S. and Iran
Mar 24, 2026
Jake Ward, veteran tech journalist on AI policy, and Stephanie Link, CIO at Hightower and market strategist. They debate competing U.S.-Iran peace claims and how markets and oil react. They discuss homeland security moves like ICE at airports and DHS confirmation. They also cover a high-stakes Supreme Court mail-in ballot case and federal AI guidance and its real-world risks.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump Prioritizes Market Signals Over Politics
- The president prioritizes calming financial markets and the stock market over traditional political pressures during crises.
- Panelists noted Trump's CNBC interview targeted investors first, reflecting his sensitivity to market volatility and gas prices.
Limited Troop Increases Won't Produce A Clear End State
- Reported deployments of a few Marine Expeditionary Units (about 5,000 troops) are small relative to the geographic scale and complexity of operations in the region.
- Lieutenant General Mark Hertling warned such forces can't achieve a clear military end state and would be vulnerable to Iranian drones and missile attacks.
Threats May Be Rising Even Without Immediate Attacks
- Despite elevated tensions, significant proxy attacks or homeland incidents had not materialized in the immediate days after initial strikes.
- Hertling expressed surprise but warned threat levels could still rise, including cyber attacks or disruption of services.
