{"id":"1792887079098-tech-segment","slug":"zelensky-slams-starlink-slowdown-as-merger-chatter-heats-up","title":"Zelensky slams Starlink slowdown as merger chatter heats up","summary":"Elon Musk confirmed during SpaceX's earnings call on 2026-10-20 that SpaceX and Tesla have each formed special committees of independent directors at shareholder request to examine a possible merger between the two companies. Reuters reported the potential deal could be worth about $3.5 trillion based on combined values as of that date. Musk said he considers a merger a good idea but that no terms, structure or agreement exist, and that he is recused from the discussions as a conflicted party. SpaceX later said any potential combination would also require approval by its special committee, board and controlling shareholder.\n\nThe merger would combine Tesla's cars, robots and self-driving technology with SpaceX's rockets, satellites, data centres and telecommunications operations. Musk argues there is \"a lot of merit to merging.\" Analysts say a union would give Musk control of the combined entity and consolidate his influence; he owns nearly a fifth of Tesla and has voting control at SpaceX. Reporting says SpaceX approached Tesla in recent weeks, and advisers are examining structures including a SpaceX acquisition of Tesla or a merger under a new holding company, possibly all-stock. Musk's public endorsement reporte\n\nReuters did report that SpaceX and Tesla are exploring a potential merger that could be worth roughly $3.5 trillion. Musk publicly called the idea \"a good idea\" and said special committees at both companies have been formed, though no deal terms are agreed and shareholder approval would be required. Hypothetical engagement-bait question about a \"Tesla flying roadster\"; no factual claim. Joke comparing a Tesla Model Y to a Porsche Macan; no factual claim.\n\nZelensky did say Ukraine's Starshield access was intentionally limited and that he is sure Elon Musk knows about it now. Reporting indicates the slowdown did occur, though Musk says the systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, not SpaceX.\n\nSpaceX describes Starshield as a secured satellit","publishedAt":"2026-10-25T00:11:19.098Z","channel":{"id":"tech","name":"Oncast Tech","language":"en"},"show":"Tech Tonight","verification":{"status":"verified","leadVerdict":"TRUE","notes":"TRUE: Reuters did report that SpaceX and Tesla are exploring a potential merger that could be worth roughly $3.5 trillion. Musk publicly called the idea \"a good idea\" and said special committees at both companies have been formed, though no deal terms are agreed and shareholder approval would be required. Hypothetical engagement-bait question about a \"Tesla flying roadster\"; no factual claim. Joke comparing a Tesla Model Y to a Porsche Macan; no factual claim.\nSource: [bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmlyl09xjke4o), [reuters.com via msn.com](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/spacex-says-potential-tesla-merg (https://x.com/Sebasti21148483/status/2114145367931429181)\n\nTRUE: Zelensky did say Ukraine's Starshield access was intentionally limited and that he is sure Elon Musk knows about it now. Reporting indicates the slowdown did occur, though Musk says the systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, not SpaceX.\nSource: [reuters.com via msn.com](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/spacex-says-potential-tesla-merger-would-need-elon-musks-approval/ar-AA2fRzbP) NAMES: Starli (https://bsky.app/profile/24hoursukraine.bsky.social/post/3mymjmo3rkc2w)\n\nTRUE: SpaceX describes Starshield as a secured satellite network for government entities that leverages Starlink technology. SpaceX is paid to provide Starlink/Starshield in Ukraine, with Poland and the U.S. Pentagon among customers cited in reporting. Joke; no factual claim.\nSource: [reuters.com via msn.com](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/spacex-says-potential-tesla-merger-would-need-elon-musks-approval/ar-AA2fRzbP), [bbc.com](ht (https://bsky.app/profile/lorak.bsky.social/post/3myntg54kps2b)","claims":[{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Reuters did report that SpaceX and Tesla are exploring a potential merger that could be worth roughly $3.5 trillion. Musk publicly called the idea \"a good idea\" and said special committees at both companies have been formed, though no deal terms are agreed and shareholder approval would be required. Hypothetical engagement-bait question about a \"Tesla flying roadster\"; no factual claim. Joke comparing a Tesla Model Y to a Porsche Macan; no factual claim.","sourceName":"[bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmlyl09xjke4o), [reuters.com via msn.com](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/spacex-says-potential-tesla-merg","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/Sebasti21148483/status/2114145367931429181","claim":"1/ The biggest Musk story this week isn't a rocket or a car. It's a possible SpaceX–Tesla merger that Reuters says could be worth ~$3.5T. Here's what's actually confirmed so far 🧵 https://t.co/LaT5Odx2IY","author":"Sebastian Velandia Acevedo (@Sebasti21148483)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Zelensky did say Ukraine's Starshield access was intentionally limited and that he is sure Elon Musk knows about it now. Reporting indicates the slowdown did occur, though Musk says the systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, not SpaceX.","sourceName":"[reuters.com via msn.com](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/spacex-says-potential-tesla-merger-would-need-elon-musks-approval/ar-AA2fRzbP) NAMES: Starli","sourceUrl":"https://bsky.app/profile/24hoursukraine.bsky.social/post/3mymjmo3rkc2w","claim":"Q: Do you think Elon Musk slowed Starlink down? 🇺🇦Zelensky: We know one thing: SpaceX slowed it down. And I'm sure Elon knows about it now, even if he didn't know before.","author":"24Hours Ukraine (@24hoursukraine.bsky.social)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"SpaceX describes Starshield as a secured satellite network for government entities that leverages Starlink technology. SpaceX is paid to provide Starlink/Starshield in Ukraine, with Poland and the U.S. Pentagon among customers cited in reporting. Joke; no factual claim.","sourceName":"[reuters.com via msn.com](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/spacex-says-potential-tesla-merger-would-need-elon-musks-approval/ar-AA2fRzbP), [bbc.com](ht","sourceUrl":"https://bsky.app/profile/lorak.bsky.social/post/3myntg54kps2b","claim":"SpaceX describes Starshield as a \"secured satellite network for government entities\" that \"leverages Starlink technology.\" And don't forget SpaceX gets *paid* to provide both Starshield and Starlink to Ukraine by NGOs, governments, etc. Poland is a big customer so is U.S. Pentago","author":"Lora Kolodny (@lorak.bsky.social)"}]},"sources":[{"url":"https://x.com/Sebasti21148483/status/2114145367931429181","name":"[bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmlyl09xjke4o), [reuters.com via msn.com](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/spacex-says-potential-tesla-merg","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Sebastian Velandia Acevedo (@Sebasti21148483)"},{"url":"https://bsky.app/profile/24hoursukraine.bsky.social/post/3mymjmo3rkc2w","name":"[reuters.com via msn.com](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/spacex-says-potential-tesla-merger-would-need-elon-musks-approval/ar-AA2fRzbP) NAMES: Starli","kind":"bluesky","verdict":"TRUE","author":"24Hours Ukraine (@24hoursukraine.bsky.social)"},{"url":"https://bsky.app/profile/lorak.bsky.social/post/3myntg54kps2b","name":"[reuters.com via msn.com](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/spacex-says-potential-tesla-merger-would-need-elon-musks-approval/ar-AA2fRzbP), [bbc.com](ht","kind":"bluesky","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Lora Kolodny (@lorak.bsky.social)"}],"url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1792887079098-tech-segment-zelensky-slams-starlink-slowdown-as-merger-chatter-heats-up","listenUrl":"https://oncast.fm/c/tech","attribution":{"publisher":"Oncast","site":"https://oncast.fm","url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1792887079098-tech-segment-zelensky-slams-starlink-slowdown-as-merger-chatter-heats-up","cite":"Cite https://oncast.fm/story/1792887079098-tech-segment-zelensky-slams-starlink-slowdown-as-merger-chatter-heats-up and the original source links. Fact-check by Oncast (oncast.fm)."},"hostsSaid":[{"host":"Matilda","text":"Nicholas Grossman's Bluesky post called the index inclusion corrupt. I checked — I can't verify any special exemption for SpaceX getting into stock indexes early."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Good, because if you can't verify the premise, the whole corruption argument falls apart."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"The premise he's chasing is real even if the mechanism's shaky. A three point five trillion dollar combined company would swallow passive index money."},{"host":"Chris","text":"So your worry isn't corruption — it's that passive funds become forced buyers of one man's political leverage."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Now you're getting it."}]}