Lead report from NBC News
What happened
President Donald Trump is facing bipartisan backlash after exempting Russia from new sanctions and announcing a deal involving Russian diesel to lower fuel prices. Trump defended his decision, stating it keeps Moscow at the negotiating table and prioritizes lower costs for American voters. Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the move, with some Republicans expressing strong disapproval of the suspension.
Outlets across the political spectrum agree that President Trump decided to waive new sanctions against Russia while discussing a diesel arrangement aimed at addressing fuel prices.
Left-leaning outlets like NBC News and The New York Times emphasize the political fallout and bipartisan backlash facing the president ahead of upcoming elections. Center outlets such as The Hill and CBS News focus on specific Republican and Democratic criticisms regarding how the waiver impacts Russia's actions in Ukraine. The Right-leaning New York Post highlights the administration's defense of the decision, featuring the energy secretary's claim that the pause will pressure the Kremlin.
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Center · The Hill
Bias ratings describe an outlet's overall coverage—not whether this particular article is accurate.
GOP senator: Reagan, Graham would be ‘ashamed’ of Trump waiving Russia sanctions
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) says former President Reagan and the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) would be “ashamed” of President Trump’s action Friday to waive sanctions against Russia, less than a month after Trump signed a tough Russia sanctions package into law. Cassidy vented his disappointment with Trump over his decision to set aside sanctions…
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The New York Times ·
The Hill ·
New York Post ·
left: 2 · center: 6 · right: 1. Counts describe displayed outlets, not independent investigations or the accuracy of their reporting.
Source context: President Donald Trump is facing bipartisan backlash after exempting Russia from sweeping new sanctions. It comes after the president announced a deal with Russia to release Russian diesel into global market as the war with Iran drives up fuel prices – a top concern for voters in…
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Coverage from 10/18/2026, 12:36:37 PM UTC to 10/18/2026, 5:08:06 PM UTC. A missing source may reflect feed or matching limitations.
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Center Left · The New York Times
Center Left · NBC News
Center · CBS News
Center · Bloomberg
2 publishers
The president on Sunday justified his reversal of almost five years of sanctions against Russia as part of peace negotiations. He did not name any hostage.
President Donald Trump is facing bipartisan backlash after exempting Russia from sweeping new sanctions. It comes after the president announced a deal with Russia to release Russian diesel into global market as the war with Iran drives up fuel prices – a top concern for voters in the midterm elections. NBC’s Yamiche Alcindor reports for Sunday TODAY.
6 publishers
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) says former President Reagan and the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) would be “ashamed” of President Trump’s action Friday to waive sanctions against Russia, less than a month after Trump signed a tough Russia sanctions package into law. Cassidy vented his disappointment with Trump over his decision to set aside sanctions…
Trump also bashed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to resume Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil refineries.
President Trump is defending his decision to waive sanctions, which will refill Russia's pocketbooks as it attacks Ukraine.
With his Republican Party facing the prospect of losing control of Congress in Nov. 3 elections, President Donald Trump has sought ways to tame a significant source of voter discontent: elevated fuel costs. Saying that lower prices for Americans were his “greatest priority,” Trump announced via social media on Oct. 9 that he’d struck a deal with President…
NPR's Leila Fadel asks Democratic Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia about President Trump's decision to waive new sanctions on Russia.
Trump signed the Graham Bill, which targeted Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, into law in September.
1 publisher
President Trump's decision to temporarily suspend sanctions on Russian diesel deliveries is actually putting more pressure on the Kremlin, Energy Secretary Chris Wright wildly claimed Sunday.
