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Zelenskyy says Starshield speed limits returned in Ukraine

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 15 outlets across the spectrum.

19 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that speed limits on SpaceX’s Starshield military network had returned in Ukraine, disrupting military operations for several days. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said it had reached out to SpaceX and the U.S. Defense Department to seek an explanation and resolve the situation. SpaceX denied the claim, according to the Washington Examiner. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, in a statement obtained by The Hill, urged Congress to pursue oversight of the disruptions and of the companies and Pentagon involved. The reports came as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. Editors read every story. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Zelenskyy said speed limits on Starshield had returned in Ukraine, disrupting military operations.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left2Left3Center5Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast, MeidasTouch
    Left
    The Washington Post, Business Insider, CBS News
    Center
    Semafor, The Hill, United Press International, Financial Times, CNBC
    Right
    New York Post, Washington Examiner

  2. SpaceX denied the claim that Starshield was being throttled again.

    One outletWashington Examiner· Right

  3. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said it had contacted SpaceX and the U.S. Defense Department to seek an explanation.

    One outletThe Washington Post· Left

  4. Zelenskyy said the speed limit is about 100 mph and that interceptor drones could not stay connected at higher speeds.

    One outletBusiness Insider· Left

  5. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis urged Congress to pursue oversight of the disruptions and the companies and Pentagon involved.

    One outletThe Hill· Center

  6. The reports came as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin.

    Reported byFar Left1Left2Center3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    MeidasTouch
    Left
    The Washington Post, CBS News
    Center
    United Press International, Financial Times, CNBC

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Questions the coverage answers differently, and who says what.

  • Were Starshield speed limits reimposed in Ukraine?

    Zelenskyy says they were and Ukraine’s Defense Ministry sought an explanation from SpaceX and the Pentagon. SpaceX denied the claim, according to the Washington Examiner.

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side present reports Zelenskyy’s claim that Starshield speed limits returned in Ukraine. The left links it to the Trump envoys’ Moscow talks and Russian strikes, the center stresses Ukraine’s attribution and congressional calls for oversight, and the right adds SpaceX’s denial.

  • the left

    8 outlets

    Left headlines tie the claim to the US envoys’ Moscow talks and to Russian drones getting through, and the far-left outlets blame Trump’s envoys directly.

    Zelensky says Starlink limits continued in the middle of his talks with U.S., Russia
    The Washington PostLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    5 outlets

    Center headlines attribute the claim to Ukraine with “Ukraine says” and lead with its timing against the US envoys’ Moscow trip or with the senators’ call for oversight.

    Ukraine says Starlink restrictions are back as US envoys land in Moscow
    Financial TimesCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    2 outlets

    Right headlines report Zelensky’s claim as a restriction Ukraine’s military faces, and the Washington Examiner headline leads with SpaceX’s denial instead.

    SpaceX denies latest Zelensky Starshield claims
    Washington ExaminerRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left10

    severely hinderingShames TrumpSneaky Giftmessing with

  • Center1

    outraged

  • Right0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    severely hinderingMore neutral: hindering

    Severely states the scale of the effect in the outlet’s own voice, while other outlets describe the effect as hampering without that intensity.

    …disruptions” to Starshield’s operations over the past several days, severely hindering Ukraine’s ability to fight off the Russian invasion on the front lines.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    Shames TrumpMore neutral: Criticizes Trump

    Shames adds a moral verdict on Trump that the report does not establish, since the story is Zelenskyy’s statement about the restrictions.

    World Leader Shames Trump for Handing Putin Sneaky Gift

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    Sneaky GiftMore neutral: Starshield service provided by SpaceX

    Sneaky asserts a motive and a concealment that the coverage does not establish about the restrictions or the US role in them.

    World Leader Shames Trump for Handing Putin Sneaky Gift

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    messing withMore neutral: Did Elon Musk restrict Ukraine’s Starlink access again?

    The informal phrase implies Musk is deliberately interfering, which the article does not establish.

    Is Elon Musk messing with Ukraine’s Starlink access again?

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

Show 7 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Absolutist framing

    Let Russian Drones ThroughMore neutral: Zelensky Says Starshield Limits Hamper Ukrainian Interceptors

    The headline states as settled fact that the limits let drones through, which is Zelensky’s contested claim rather than an established finding.

    Trump Envoys Meet Putin as Starshield Limits Let Russian Drones Through

    Used byMeidasTouch (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    outragedMore neutral: critical of

    It describes the senators’ emotional state in the outlet’s own voice, beyond what their statement is reported to say.

    Outgoing bipartisan senators outraged over Ukrainian reports of interruptions to military-grade satellite access are…

    Used byThe Hill (Center)

  • Sensational language

    crippling disruptionsMore neutral: disruptions

    The adjective goes beyond the reported description of significant disruptions.

    …has attacked Donald Trump as Ukraine presses his administration to explain crippling disruptions to a military version of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    unleashed onMore neutral: criticized

    The verb presents a written editorial as an aggressive attack.

    The Wall Street Journal editorial board unleashed on the president, 80, and his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner after Ukrainian…

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    ShredsMore neutral: criticizes

    The verb presents the editorial as destroying its target rather than criticizing it.

    Murdoch Paper Shreds Trump and His Goons With Brutal Question

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Dehumanizing label

    His GoonsMore neutral: his envoys

    The label reduces the president’s aides to a contemptible category of thugs without evidence.

    Murdoch Paper Shreds Trump and His Goons With Brutal Question

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    Brutal QuestionMore neutral: question

    The adjective adds drama and judgement to a question that can be described neutrally.

    Murdoch Paper Shreds Trump and His Goons With Brutal Question

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

8 outlets

Leads with

  • Trump envoys’ Moscow talks
  • Russian drones and strikes getting through
  • Ukraine’s request for an explanation

Leaves out

  • SpaceX’s denial

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 8 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The Washington PostLeft

    Zelensky says Starlink limits continued in the middle of his talks with U.S., Russia

    Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said it had reached out to SpaceX and the U.S. Defense Department to seek an explanation and resolve the situation.

    Read at The Washington Post (opens in a new tab)
  • Business InsiderLeft

    Ukraine says the Starshield speed limit is back and Russian 'strikes have already gone through'

    Zelenskyy said Ukraine is trying to get more information from the US, but so far said his staff "know very little."

    Read at Business Insider (opens in a new tab)
  • CBS NewsLeft

    Zelenskyy says Ukraine's Starshield use limited again amid meeting with U.S. envoys

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that the country's Starshield defense system has been limited again as President Trump's senior envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, hold separate talks with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. …

    Read at CBS News (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from CBS News
  • MeidasTouchFar Left

    Trump Envoys Meet Putin as Starshield Limits Absolutist framing“Let Russian Drones Through”The headline states as settled fact that the limits let drones through, which is Zelensky’s contested claim rather than an established finding.More neutral: Zelensky Says Starshield Limits Hamper Ukrainian InterceptorsDisagree with this highlight?

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy says renewed speed caps prevent Ukrainian interceptor drones from catching jet-powered Shaheds, leaving civilians exposed as Washington presses its diplomacy with Moscow.

    Read at MeidasTouch (opens in a new tab)
  • The New RepublicFar Left

    Ukraine Loses Starlink Access Again as Jared Kushner Heads to Russia

    Is Elon Musk Loaded verb“messing with”The informal phrase implies Musk is deliberately interfering, which the article does not establish.More neutral: Did Elon Musk restrict Ukraine’s Starlink access again?Disagree with this highlight? Ukraine’s Starlink access again? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed Thursday that the country’s Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink communication systems, had once again experienced “significant disruptions” over …

    Read at The New Republic (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    World Leader Loaded verb“Shames Trump”Shames adds a moral verdict on Trump that the report does not establish, since the story is Zelenskyy’s statement about the restrictions.More neutral: Criticizes TrumpDisagree with this highlight? for Handing Putin Loaded modifier“Sneaky Gift”Sneaky asserts a motive and a concealment that the coverage does not establish about the restrictions or the US role in them.More neutral: Starshield service provided by SpaceXDisagree with this highlight?

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that restrictions on a military-grade version of the Starlink network, provided by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, have returned. …

    Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from The Daily Beast
  • BloombergLeft

    Ukraine Says Starshield Limitations Resumed for Frontline Troops

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said restrictions have reappeared on Starshield internet terminals used by frontline troops to deter Russian attacks.

    Read at Bloomberg (opens in a new tab)
  • NBC NewsLeft

    Ukraine says Starshield is being limited again, hampering its defenses against Russia

    The Ukrainian military has experienced a renewed wave of “significant disruptions” to the Starshield satellite internet service, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday, hampering its ability to defend against Russia.

    Read at NBC News (opens in a new tab)

From the center

5 outlets

Leads with

  • Ukraine’s attribution of the claim
  • Timing with US envoys in Moscow
  • Senators’ call for congressional oversight

Leaves out

  • SpaceX’s denial

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 5 headlines from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

2 outlets

Leads with

  • SpaceX’s denial
  • Zelensky’s claim that service was throttled again
  • Earlier restrictions Kyiv said had been resolved

Leaves out

  • US envoys’ Moscow talks

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 2 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    NBC News, Nov 12, 4:53 AM EST

  • Center

    22 min later

    Its first report, Nov 12, 5:15 AM EST

  • Right

    8 hr 20 min later

    Its first report, Nov 12, 1:12 PM EST

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. NBC NewsLeftNov 12, 4:53 AM EST
  2. BloombergLeftNov 12, 5:03 AM EST
  3. CNBCCenterNov 12, 5:15 AM EST
  4. Financial TimesCenterNov 12, 5:59 AM EST
  5. The Daily BeastFar LeftNov 12, 8:56 AM EST
  6. United Press InternationalCenterNov 12, 9:35 AM EST
  7. The HillCenterNov 12, 10:04 AM EST
  8. The New RepublicFar LeftNov 12, 10:24 AM EST
  9. CBS NewsLeftNov 12, 11:56 AM EST
  10. Washington ExaminerRightNov 12, 1:12 PM EST
  11. MeidasTouchFar LeftNov 12, 2:37 PM EST
  12. New York PostRightNov 12, 3:24 PM EST
  13. SemaforCenterNov 12, 5:33 PM EST
  14. Business InsiderLeftNov 13, 12:56 AM EST
  15. The Washington PostLeftNov 13, 11:20 AM EST

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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