Appearing on CBS News program Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan on October 18, 2026, Ohio Republican Congressman Mike Turner addressed congressional oversight, military communications in Ukraine, and the political friction surrounding the presidential administration ahead of the midterms.
Congressional Scrutiny Over Starlink Restrictions in Ukraine
The discussion centered heavily on operational disruptions involving SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service used by Ukrainian forces. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated during a prior appearance that the White House did not order connection speeds to be slowed down, maintaining that the restriction sort of happened
before service was eventually restored.
Rep. Mike Turner says Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s explanation about Ukraine’s loss of Starlink access as something that “sort of happened” was “absolutely not” sufficient.“This is something where there needs to be an investigation, there needs to be a congressional… pic.twitter.com/Ysq2IlHDcN”
Congressman Turner rejected that explanation as insufficient for the House Armed Services Committee. He called for a formal congressional investigation to identify individuals within the Pentagon or related agencies who may have disrupted critical weapon systems, intelligence flows, or funding streams. Turner emphasized that Ukrainian troops rely on the technology to defend against Russian territorial aggression and warned that compromised communications directly endanger lives.
While Brennan noted that SpaceX owner Elon Musk publicly opposes President Zelenskyy and posted on social media against using Starlink for offensive military action, Turner emphasized that Starlink is essential for Ukraine in defending against aggression within Ukraine.
Sanctions Waivers and Legislative Pushback
The interview also addressed executive action regarding foreign energy purchases. A statutory deadline arrived for the administration to either impose or waive sanctions mandated under legislation sponsored by Lindsey Graham, which targets individuals, the Russian government, and international buyers of Russian oil.
The administration elected to waive the penalties while retaining the authority to apply them partially on a rolling daily basis. Turner stated he would encourage the president to implement the sanctions, describing the underlying legislation as a vital legacy of Senator Graham’s tenure.
Turner also pointed to international trade figures, arguing that European allies, specifically France and other European Union nations, must curtail ongoing energy purchases from Russia.
