I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed—public health expert, proud Michigander, and now Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
Michigan is hurting. Not because of its people, but because of the policies of Donald Trump and his billionaire cronies like Elon Musk. From phony union photo ops during the 2024 election to devastating tariffs that are wrecking local businesses, Trump’s chaos-first agenda is slamming working families in the heartland. And the suffering isn’t abstract—it’s real. I played clips in the interview from local mechanics, business owners, and even a car shop worker who simply said, “We don’t know what’s going to happen.” That’s not leadership. That’s fear.
And it gets worse. Trump’s immigration crackdown is targeting legal, hard-working families and sending people—without due process—to what amount to extermination camps in El Salvador. Thirty thousand federal workers in Michigan now find themselves under siege. Students are being deported without explanation. Critical weather research labs are being gutted. This isn’t policy—it’s cruelty, chaos, and corruption masquerading as governance.
Enter Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.
Dr. El-Sayed joined me fresh off earning a major endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders. As he put told me, from his experience as a doctor, “You see pain, and you ask: What’s wrong? How can I help?” That’s the mindset of someone who actually gives a damn. Abdul understands that Trump’s playbook is simple: exploit people’s pain, stoke division, and use it to hoard more power for himself and his billionaire buddies. But Abdul’s mission is the exact opposite—to take that pain, speak to it truthfully, and transform it into hope through real solutions.
He talked about Medicare for All, about building an economy where one job is enough to support a family, about standing up to Fortune 500 corruption, and about restoring dignity to public service. And yes, he’s got receipts—as the former health director for Michigan’s largest city, he gave kids free eyeglasses, expanded healthcare access, and walked the walk.
Dr. El-Sayed also pulled no punches when it came to his likely opponent: MAGA Republican Mike Rogers. “He served,” Abdul said. “But he served himself. And the dude’s from Florida.” Enough said.
Look, Trump wants people to believe their suffering is normal. That there’s nothing we can do. But that’s exactly when we have to rise up and remind ourselves—and each other—of our worth.
This race isn’t just about Michigan. It’s about what kind of country we want to be. Abdul isn’t taking corporate PAC money. If you want to learn more about his candidacy, visit AbdulForSenate.com.
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