The Daily BS • Bo Snerdley Cuts Through It!
The Daily BS • Bo Snerdley Cuts Through It!

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Take his rockets: Musk critics push to nationalize SpaceX and Starlink amid Ukraine dispute

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THE DAILY BS: HOW MUCH CAN YOU HANDLE?

SPARE ME THE BS (I’ve got things to do).

  • Critics are calling for government ownership of SpaceX as restrictions on Ukraine’s satellite services draw scrutiny.
  • Sarah Longwell discussed nationalizing SpaceX and Starlink while acknowledging her discomfort with government takeovers.
  • Senators have demanded answers from SpaceX, while Musk and administration officials have offered conflicting accounts of who controls the restrictions.

LAY IT ON ME (I’ve got time).

Some Elon Musk critics have arrived at a remarkably convenient solution to their concerns about his power: Have Washington take the company. Why compete with the rocket billionaire when you can propose acquiring his rockets through government intervention?

Calls to nationalize SpaceX have resurfaced amid the dispute over restrictions on satellite services used by Ukraine’s military. The controversy has also produced congressional demands for records and sharply conflicting explanations of who ordered what.

“We’ve got to nationalize SpaceX. We have no choice,” investigative journalist and In These Times staff writer Lindsay Beyerstein wrote on Bluesky.

Her argument is that America’s military dependence on the company makes private control unacceptable. SpaceX’s usefulness, in other words, has become part of the case for taking it over. Quite the incentive program for the next ambitious American entrepreneur.

The idea also surfaced during Sarah Longwell’s October 12 appearance on Raging Moderates with Jessica Tarlov.

“Elon is turning me into a communist,” Longwell said while discussing his wealth and political influence. She then described Bulwark colleague Jonathan V. Last’s theory that SpaceX and Starlink should be nationalized.

Longwell acknowledged that she generally dislikes nationalizing private companies, but questioned whether Musk should wield so much power while benefiting from taxpayer support. Apparently, opposition to government takeovers comes with an Elon-sized exception under consideration.

These are arguments from commentators, rather than an adopted Democratic takeover plan. The concrete action in Washington so far involves investigations and demands for information.

On Monday, Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon Whitehouse and Chris Coons sent SpaceX’s legal chief a letter seeking answers about restrictions affecting Ukraine’s Starlink and Starshield services. They requested a response by November 2.

The senators cited Ukrainian reports that connections were restricted for devices traveling faster than 100 mph, impairing military drone operations. A separate bipartisan group has sought an inspector general investigation.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk personally ordered the slowdown, citing officials and people familiar with the matter. Musk previously said Starshield systems were controlled by the U.S. government and that usage restrictions were government decisions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a different account Wednesday, saying access decisions rested with SpaceX and Musk under commercial arrangements. President Donald Trump said, “I don’t know who did it, but I was not involved.”

DBS WIRE SOURCES (I’ve got all day).

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