Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed joined MeidasTouch co-founder Ben Meiselas as the race against Republican Mike Rogers heats up. El-Sayed and Rogers are scheduled for two statewide debates in October, while El-Sayed has also agreed to a September 15 debate that Rogers has not committed to attending.
During the interview, El-Sayed took aim at Rogers’ relationship with Donald Trump and contrasted Rogers’ planned appearance at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas with the debate dispute. The Dallas gathering is heavily centered around Trump and his political agenda, and many Republican lawmakers are trying to stay as far away from the event as possible.
El-Sayed focused much of the conversation on Michigan’s economy, noting that Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war are increasing costs for families. He also slammed Trump’s trade war with Canada, a particularly significant issue for a border state whose economy is deeply connected to its northern neighbor.
“If you’re picking a trade war with Canada, it’s because you’re the asshole,” El-Sayed said, before mentioning that Rogers has supported Trump’s tariff policies.
But El-Sayed’s sharpest criticism came when Meiselas asked about the spectacle surrounding Trump’s presidency.
“He’s never been a serious person. He’s a carnival barker,” El-Sayed said. “What’s ironic is that there are a lot of people around him who pretend to be serious people and then take their orders from a carnival barker.”
El-Sayed specifically named Vice President JD Vance and Rogers, arguing that politicians who know better nevertheless defend Trump because “he has power and you want power.”
“Our politics should not be a sideshow and run by a clown,” El-Sayed said. “Our politics really are about life and death issues.”
El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health director, is running on proposals including Medicare for All, stronger unions, action against corporate concentration and restrictions on corporate money in politics. His economic-populist platform has become a defining feature of his general-election campaign.
Watch Ben’s full conversation with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed above as they discuss Michigan’s Senate race, Mike Rogers, Trump’s tariffs, the Iran war and the escalating fight over the cost of living.
Listen to more interviews and reports from MeidasTouch on the MeidasTouch Podcast.
Become a paid subscriber now if you haven’t yet to support our work.
