The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle Trump's big challenges ahead of his State of the Union
Feb 24, 2026
Susan Glasser, Staff writer at The New Yorker and political commentator, offers sharp analysis of presidential rhetoric and institutional clashes. She dissects Trump's fraught relationship with the Supreme Court and his struggle to present a coherent agenda. The conversation also probes messy policy choices on Iran and the fallout from sudden tariff moves.
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Trump Acknowledges Silent Support
- Trump acknowledged "silent support" amid protests, noting lack of visible cheering crowds.
- David Weigel interprets this as Trump seeing protests on TV and believing real America is silent, despite weaker public rallies.
Unclear Objectives Make Iran Strikes Risky
- Reporting shows uncertainty about the objective and feasibility of any Iran attack.
- Alex Ward notes no clear articulation of what 'victory' would look like and that even Trump seems unclear on end goals.
Military Buildup Suggests Possible Surprise Strike
- Trump has used misdirection and surprise in past strikes and has expanded interventionist actions.
- Luke Broadwater notes prior surprise strikes and says current Gulf buildup suggests higher likelihood of action.