Transcript: Sen. John Barrasso on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Oct. 11, 2026
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Updated on: October 11, 2026 / 4:20 PM EDT / CBS News
The following is the transcript of the interview with Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, Republican of Wyoming, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Oct. 11, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we turn now to Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso, who joins us from Casper, Wyoming. Good morning to you, Senator.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Well, it's great to be here in Wyoming. I'll be hitting the trail again tomorrow. It was interesting listening to Chris Murphy ignoring the craziness of the Democrat candidates for the Senate, and that's why I'm going to be out talking about the difference between the common sense Republicans who I'm supporting and our party is.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: And the crazy Democrats who've been nominated and are now causing the direction of their party to go way to the left.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, I understand you are headed to Midwest and the West. Of the 10 Senate battleground races CBS is tracking, six are Republican held seats. How challenging is this midterm going to be for your party?
SEN. BARRASSO: Well, I'm optimistic with opportunities to pick up seats. New Hampshire, Michigan, Minnesota- you talk about corruption, that's what we're seeing in Minnesota in their state run by the- the Democrats. In Michigan, I don't know if you saw the debate this past week. El-Sayed was on, the Democrat nominee for the Senate in Michigan against Mike Rogers. He was asked, "Who's more of a threat to the United States, Iran or Israel?" He could not answer and refused to answer the question. Everyone in the world knows that Iran is much more of a threat to the United States. They chant, "Death to America." Israel is our friend and ally. He would not admit it. Iran is at war with the United States. They've been killing Americans for 50 years, and the candidate in Michigan is so extreme that he will not even admit the reality of what the American people see.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the Republican candidate in Michigan has tried to distance himself from the very war you're talking about though. Mike Rogers has talked about the Iran war has got to end. He's acknowledging that the high fuel prices related to it are a problem for him. How do you explain that?
SEN. BARRASSO: Well, everyone wants the war to end. Everyone wants fuel prices to come down who's a Republican. Democrats don't seem to want fuel prices to come down. They like high fuel prices. They were a lot higher when Biden was in office than they are today. And when you look about the lawsuits that the Democrats are bringing, you look about the fact that in- in California this past year they shut down two refineries. They are against fossil fuels.
SEN. BARRASSO: Last week at the Supreme Court, there was a lawsuit to say--
SEN. BARRASSO: --we want to sue. They do- the Democrats sue oil companies for making gasoline because they say it contributes to climate change.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, it's- Colorado--
SEN. BARRASSO: Democrats want high gas prices. They want us in electric vehicles, and that's- that's the difference.
SEN. BARRASSO: That's the difference between common sense--
SEN. BARRASSO: --Republicans and these crazy Democrats who've been nominated all around the country.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, Senator, I don't- I don't mean to cut you off. I want to let you finish this in a minute when we have more time. So, stay with us while we take the commercial break, and we'll talk on the other side.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to Face the Nation. We return now to our conversation with Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming. Senator, we're talking about those upcoming midterm races and the pressure of higher fuel prices. We saw President Trump on Friday announce he's going to start importing Russian diesel fuel to help American farmers, ranchers, and truckers, as he put it. Congress banned Russian energy imports back in 2022. And even more recently, they put in place more possible financial penalties to the buyers of Russian oil. Doesn't the president's action violate the laws? And- and how do you justify giving Vladimir Putin a lifeline?
SEN. BARRASSO: Well, the president is focused on getting down the cost of energy. He's focused on ranchers, farmers, truckers, as you said. I'm right in the middle of that here in Wyoming. This is cattle country. I heard it last night in an event that I was at- the high diesel prices that are impacting everyone. The president is balancing and has to make tough decisions. He's balancing his effort to stop and end the war of- Putin's war in Ukraine and lowering prices for American families. What we really need to do long-term is produce more American energy, but we're running into a problem with the Democrats who want us to produce less American energy and want high energy prices. So, I know what the president is trying to do. I agree, we need to lower the prices and the problem is the Democrats are blocking us long-term from doing what's going to be best for the American people.
SEN. BARRASSO: We all want this war to end. We want to do it as quickly as possible in a way that Ukraine is protected with long-term peace and that energy prices come down. And the sooner that happens, the safer America will be--
SEN. BARRASSO: --and the lower prices will be for American consumers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But letting Russia sell oil would seem to put money and more mobility to Vladimir Putin and not necessarily make a dent in diesel prices, according to most energy analysts that I've read. Former Vice President Pence said the decision to lift sanctions on Russian fuel makes no sense and is a betrayal to the legacy and leadership of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. He's talking about that Graham Law you voted for. And I know you've got to make a decision by October 18, at least the president does, about putting in place the powers you helped to give him to punish buyers of Russian oil. Doesn't the president's action make a mockery…
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