The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle Trump faces 60-day war powers deadline
May 1, 2026
Ron Insana, financial journalist and market watcher; Peter Baker, NYT White House correspondent; Miles Taylor, former DHS chief of staff and founder of Defiance.org; Mark Hertling, retired lieutenant general. They discuss the 60-day War Powers deadline, legal and congressional options, military risks of strikes in the Middle East, market reactions to geopolitical risk, and high-stakes AI and legal battles.
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War Powers Deadline Hinges On Ceasefire Interpretation
- The War Powers Act 60-day deadline forces the president to seek congressional authorization or end military action, but the administration argues a ceasefire pauses the clock.
- Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed the ceasefire “pauses or stops” the 60-day clock, creating a novel legal contention under scrutiny.
Seizing The Strait Would Be High Risk And Messy
- Any escalation to seize islands or control the Strait of Hormuz would be complex, risky, and likely face mines, drones, and missile threats.
- Retired LTG Mark Hertling warned such offensive operations along the coast would be “rough going” and require well-thought plans.
War Powers Enforcement Is Political Not Automatic
- The War Powers Act lacks enforcement teeth so noncompliance often becomes a political battle, not an automatic military withdrawal.
- Peter Baker said courts are reluctant to resolve this executive-legislative fight and Congress' real leverage is funding cuts.