Extended Interview: Abdul El-Sayed

Nov 2, 2026 | Ross Douthat sat down with Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on October 22 at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. This video is an extended version of the interview that was broadcast on 60 Minutes on Sunday, November 1, 2026. This version was lightly condensed for clarity.

In this conversation, Abdul El-Sayed makes claims about the utility DTE Energy and his opponent, Mike Rogers, that require context. El-Sayed says DTE “buy[s] off almost every politician in our state.” DTE and its political action committee have made extensive, publicly reported contributions to Michigan politicians, including a large majority of state legislators, but 60 Minutes found no evidence that DTE made improper payments in exchange for votes or regulatory decisions. El-Sayed says Rogers “made 14 million bucks” after leaving Congress. Financial disclosures show Rogers’ household net worth rose substantially after he left office in 2015, to an estimated $7 million to $14 million or more, but those figures reflect net worth, not earnings, and 60 Minutes was unable to verify that Rogers made $14 million.



ALSO READ:

Abdul El-Sayed stands up for trans people & their rights in “hostile” 60 Minutes interview: “The folks who want to make this a topic of conversation don’t want to be talking about the real issues that we face in our lives,” he said. »

Planted GOP Heckler Backfires: Abdul El-Sayed Exposes Dark-Money Operative in Viral Town Hall Moment

Oct 21, 2026 | When Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed took the stage at a town hall in Caro, Michigan, an audience member calling himself "Tommy" attempted a staged political ambush, demanding El-Sayed "disavow the Muslim Brotherhood." Instead of taking the bait, Dr. El-Sayed turned the tables—delivering a masterclass in shutting down anti-Muslim smears and using the U.S. Constitution to dismantle the heckler’s assumptions. Reporting later revealed "Tommy" was Thomas Teepell, a far-right activist and former operations director for GOP Senator Josh Hawley. He is the son of Timmy Teepell, whose firm was paid $250,000 by a dark-money GOP group funded to orchestrate opposition against El-Sayed

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »

NYC Mayor Mamdani Reacts to Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan Victory | Full Remarks

August 5, 2026 | New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reacts to Dr. Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan's Democratic U.S. Senate primary, congratulating the progressive candidate while pushing back against criticism from Republican leaders.

Speaking during a press conference, Mamdani praised El-Sayed's campaign message of "money out of politics, money in your pocket, Medicare for All," saying it resonated with working-class Americans despite tens of millions of dollars in outside spending. He also dismissed comparisons labeling El-Sayed a "Mini Mamdani," joking, "He can lift a lot more than I can," while arguing Republicans are out of touch with voters' real concerns.