The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle Has Iran found Trump's pressure point to end the war?
Mar 11, 2026
Ken Vogel, NYT investigative reporter on the rising "pardon industry." Ali Velshi, TV journalist and election analyst breaking down Georgia and Mississippi results. Dave Weigel, political reporter on voter reactions and campaign impacts. Alex Ward, WSJ national security reporter on U.S. policy and Iran developments. They discuss U.S.–Iran strikes, advisers urging an exit ramp, Strait of Hormuz risks, market and oil volatility, and Georgia’s runoff outcome.
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U.S. Intensifies Strikes While Saying It's Not Nation Building
- U.S. officials report roughly 140 service members wounded and are escalating strikes deeper into Iran's military and industrial sites.
- Alex Ward and Stephanie Ruhle explain this ramp-up aims to prevent Iran projecting power abroad while avoiding 'nation building' claims.
Mines In The Strait Of Hormuz Create Outsized Global Risk
- Reports indicate Iran has laid fewer than 10 mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital choke point for global oil and trade.
- Alex Ward and Brendan Greeley warn even limited mining raises insurance, transit time, and global energy prices sharply.
Advisers Pushing For An Exit Ramp To Calm Markets
- Trump's advisers are pushing for an 'exit ramp' amid rising U.S. casualties, high munitions usage, and market anxieties.
- Alex Ward and Daniela Diaz link this pressure to gas prices, polling, and the political calendar before midterms.