Abdul El-Sayed, the Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed tried to distance himself from Hasan Piker on Monday after he suggested last week to Twitch users that American Jews supporting Israel would make antisemitism and violence worse.
El-Sayed has been seen with Piker on several occasions during the election campaign. He told reporters that he was trying to reach out to Piker’s large, young audience, even though some of his views were not in line with his own. They walked together into an event at Detroit on the day before El-Sayed narrowly won the primary over Rep. Haley Stevens. The next day, they were pictured together in a Detroit pool party.
El-Sayed, who has spent months campaigning with Piker in the same way as him, said specifically in response to Piker’s remarks that “nobody else speaks for my campaign except me and my spokespeople.”
I believe that all Americans should be able to express their beliefs without being afraid of violence. El-Sayed stated that this is especially true for those communities who have faced intimidation for their religious beliefs.
He added that his commitment to Jewish security was the same as the commitment he made to ensure the safety of his own daughters, a sentiment which he has often expressed on the campaign trail. Antisemitism in any form is an evil, and it must be addressed. “I am against all rhetoric which puts our community in danger.”
El-Sayed tried to minimize the importance of the pro-Palestinian YouTuber in his campaign. He accused politicians and pundits of “trying to make this race all about a Twitch streaminger”.
Piker received bipartisan criticism after saying last week: “If Jews keep spreading the idea that they’re singularly committed to Israel, someone will eventually take action, not against Israel but against American Jews.”
His remarks made on X Sunday night were defended as a criticism of the conflation between support for Israel and American Jews. He said that falsely linking Israel with Jewish people increases antisemitism.
El-Sayed, who is a vocal critic of Israel’s government, has tried to dissociate himself from Piker as he tries to expand his base after an arduous Democratic primary. Rogers also aims to win over Stevens supporters.
Rogers, in a post on social media that described Piker as El-Sayed’s “running mate,” characterized the streamer’s comments as being “more violent calls coming from the El-Sayed Campaign.”
He said, “If Abdul El-Sayed was at all courageous he’d call out this and publicly disavow Hasan Piker,” “We’re waiting, Abdul…”
Hillary Scholten of Michigan, a Democratic Representative who backed Stevens during the primaries but hasn’t endorsed El Sayed, condemned Piker’s comments.
She said: “Piker lacks substance and is just a hack that thrives off of hate, shock, and awe. It’s dangerous to everyone. “We should call out this disgusting language so that it can lose its grip on politics forever.”
Left-wing influencer, Jeremy Moss refused to support El-Sayed during a recent livestream. He was discussing the state senator’s refusal to back Stevens.
Piker seemed to refer to an audio clip which has been circulated on the internet in the past few weeks. The clip purportedly featured Moss who is Jewish. Moss is said by Piker, that his House campaign is solely focused on ensuring that the US supports Israel. In a press release, the lawmaker denied saying the comments. He said that the audio clip was “manipulated and without source with things I would never say or do.”
Piker stated: “I can’t understand how the world doesn’t realize how dangerous and dangerous for Jews this situation is.”
He said: “You are running around basically tying up your whole identity with a country which will inevitably be seen as basically Jewish ISIS. And you say, as Jews this is what we care about.” You’re worsening antisemitism.
Moss stated in a Monday statement that while El-Sayed and he have had a conversation on Jewish and Arab security in the US, and elsewhere, more work needs to be done in order to unify the Democratic ticket of Michigan.
He warned that “provocateurs are using this opportunity to further divide the community.” I will not listen to a Californian podcaster tell me what the Jewish community in Oakland County, Michigan should or shouldn’t think. We won’t accept being told that our antisemitism is to blame.
Piker’s opinions reflect a growing anti-US support of Israel among progressives in response to Israel’s war in Gaza, and the humanitarian crisis that followed Hamas’ October 2023 terrorist attack in Gaza.
The streamer has also made a number of offensive remarks, including declaring in 2019, that the United States had “deserved” 9/11. He later retracted this comment.
El-Sayed, on NBC’s “Meet the Press” earlier this month, called Piker’s 9/11 comment “dumb” but also criticized the current attention to it as “gotcha political.”
El-Sayed stated in the interview that he wanted to be accountable for his words and actions, not this notion that we were so stuck on cancelling culture, which we all agreed to in 2020 was a bad thing, but that we now want to reinstate.

From the Politics Desk is NBC News Politics’ daily newsletter, which brings to you the latest news and analysis on Capitol Hill, the White House and the campaign trails.
Sahil Kapur examines a major challenge facing Sen. Darline G. Graham, ahead of South Carolina’s runoff election. Allan Smith also breaks down how the political landscape has changed around data centres.
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— Adam Wollner
News flash: the Supreme Court has handed a first victory to the Trump Administration in their effort to implement a executive order that limits who is eligible to receive mail-in votes ahead of midterm elections. Click here to read more.
Darline Graham is not a favorite among some Trump supporters
Sahil Kapur’s Analysis
MYRTLE BEACH (S.C.) — A South Carolina Republican named Roger attended a Donald Trump rally with Darline Graham on Friday wearing a dark MAGA T-shirt. He was early to the rally and had waited for hours before he could see Trump speak.
Trump’s support wasn’t sufficient to get him to back Graham during the high-stakes GOP race on Tuesday. Graham’s performance in the recent debate affected his perceptions. She said, “National security isn’t my thing,” when asked whether Taiwan and South China Sea were U.S. security concerns.
He said that her people had to have informed her more. You’re a rookie senator and you have to get used to learning about foreign policy.
Glenda Clinkscales didn’t feel the same way about Graham as she did for Trump. She said that Graham was her “favorite” candidate. She was also undecided, like Roger.
When asked about Graham’s performance in the debate, she replied: “There were some good and not so good responses.” I’m not sure of her at the moment.
Graham faces a five-term incumbent, Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who has expressed hesitation about Graham running for another six-year-term.
Norman was chosen by Daniel Musick, a voter from Myrtle Beach. He made his decision before he even saw Trump or Graham speak at the rally.
It’s only that she hasn’t been tested. He said he didn’t have enough information about Graham, and that her performance in the debate was “part” of his objection. Her answer to foreign affairs when she was asked about China and Taiwan was unclear. To me, that was the most important issue.
Norman is trying to take advantage of her mistake in the debate, but it doesn’t seem like he will win. Norman, who is 73 years old, is accused of not being loyal enough to Trump, as he is part of the House Freedom Caucus, which seeks to move his agenda right.
Graham, who is 62 years old, has claimed that voters in South Carolina don’t ask her questions about China or Taiwan.
Now the critics are saying I should not run for Senate. “They say that I am not a political figure.” What do I say to you? Graham told Trump at the rally on Friday that he was guilty as charged. Graham said, “President Trump has never held an elected position before and I believe he did a good job.”
Trump said Graham “was being honest” during the debate.
Trump said to reporters before Friday’s rally, “She will do exactly what she wants and what President Trump wants.”
For other GOP supporters who attended the event on Friday, Trump’s backing was sufficient.
Lynn Spivey wore a Darline Graham stickers. She said, “Honestly, although I’m not familiar with the platform, if Trump backs her I will too.”
Patrick Maguire has contributed.
Bridget Bowman reports that MAGA Inc. (the super-PAC linked to Trump) has spent over $830,000 to send text messages to voters and make phone calls in order to support Graham.
Trump touts benefits of data centers, but Republicans are battling backlash
Allan Smith
Even as recently last month, Republicans running in the most important races of this fall publicly voiced their skepticism over the increasing backlash against data center construction.
Since then, a lot has happened. Mike Rogers announced on Thursday that he supports a moratorium of one year for data centers. In Wisconsin and Pennsylvania the Republican candidates for governor ran ads criticizing their Democratic opponents for being open-minded about these projects.
In the beginning of this month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that he would be running for re-election in November. Greg Abbott, who welcomed these developments in his state, and is up for reelection next fall, has ordered an audit before more data centers can be built. In Ohio, GOP nominee Vivek RAMASWAMY released a proposal that states that future data centers built in Ohio must cover the property tax and electricity costs for the residents in close proximity. He also said that he would sign an executive order halting development until the plan was enacted.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee sent a memo to data center leaders last week, detailing that the issue in Ohio’s Senate Race is tearing down Republican Senator Jon Husted, while his Democratic opponent, former Senator Sherrodbrown, spent millions of dollars on anti-datacenter ads.
The issue of data centers is one of few in American politics which does not fall neatly into ideological categories. The two parties are frantically trying to determine which approach is best at national, state and even local level. Democrats, some of whom had previously embraced the data centers industry, now want to position themselves as advocates for accountability in this sector and for tightly controlled growth, while progressives push for state or federal moratoriums.
The challenge for Republicans is just as daunting, if they are not even more so, because Republicans have been working to strengthen relationships with technology leaders, after many of them gravitated towards President Donald Trump in his previous presidential campaign. They’re also campaigning at a time when Trump has emphasized the importance of building data centers to support the development of AI.
Click here to read more
For now, that’s it from the Politics Desk. Adam Wollner compiled today’s newsletter.
If you have feedback — likes or dislikes — email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com

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Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, is trying to distance himself from Hasan Piker. The controversial streamer has sparked another firestorm.
El-Sayed said in a Monday statement that he and his campaign spokespersons were the only ones who could speak for their campaign. They are facing former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, in Michigan, a battleground state, in an important Senate showdown.
El-Sayed made the statement after Piker featured on his Twitter stream an image of Michigan state senator Jeremy Moss who is running as the Democratic candidate in Michigan’s eleventh Congressional District. Moss has claimed that a fake audio recording of him saying that he is running for Congress to ensure that America supports Israel is being shared by people. Moss is Jewish.
Piker said that if Jews continue to promote the idea of being solely committed to Israel, someone will eventually take action. Not against Israel but against American Jews.
This GOP Senate nominee is supported by a group of Democrats who voted Republican but never before.
Piker has consistently stood behind his past criticisms of Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas, including at a party held in Detroit on the night of the primary.
Since Piker made his latest remarks over the weekend, a number of Republicans as well as Democrats have condemned them. Hillary Scholten, a Democratic Representative from Michigan, called Piker “a hack that thrives off hate.”
In a post on social media made Sunday, Rogers took aim both at Piker and El Sayed.
Rogers stated that the El-Sayed Campaign was generating more calls for violence. Rogers said, “Here’s his running mate Hasan Piker saying that if AMERICAN JEWS SUPPORT ISRAEL, they will face violent targets because of it.”
Rogers continued, “Absolutely disgusting.” Abdul El-Sayed, if he had the courage to do so, would have called this out. He’d disavow Hasan Piker. We’re waiting, Abdul…”
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El-Sayed wrote in his statement: “I think all Americans deserve to be able to express their beliefs without fear of violent reprisals.” It is especially true of communities who have previously been threatened for their religious beliefs.
“I am as committed to Jewish safety as I am to my daughters’ safety. Antisemitism in its many forms is a serious problem, which we must address. “I am against all rhetoric which puts our community in danger,” said he.
The Democratic candidate wrote, in an apparent dig at Rogers, as well as other Republicans, who had repeatedly linked El-Sayed with Piker. “While politicians and pundits attempt to make this election about a Twitch streaming, we will be discussing gas, groceries and good schools. It’s because that’s the question Michiganders are always asking.
Rogers responded on Monday, saying, “Abdul’s attempts to distance himself from violent and hateful speech now that Hasan and he have won the primary are the epitome what a conman will do — say one thing when it suits him, and another when it does not.” He is spreading fear among Michigan residents, his rhetoric is anti-American and he is not fit to represent Michigan.
El-Sayed is a former Wayne County Health Department Director who, if elected as senator in November, will become the first Muslim Senator of America. In 2018, the epidemiologist, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in an insurgent campaign, made Medicare for All a key part of his campaign. He also called for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Check out the latest FOX News poll in Michigan’s blockbuster Senate race
El-Sayed’s comments and stance on Israel have infuriated some Jewish residents of Michigan. The state also contains a significant Arab and Muslim community.
El-Sayed called Israel’s Gaza military offensive “bloodthirsty,” in an interview with MS NOW this month, and accused the Israeli leadership of committing genocide on Palestinians. As have many progressive politicians, he has opposed unconditional U.S. Military Aid to Israel. El-Sayed, meanwhile, has refused to answer directly whether Israel is entitled to exist.
El-Sayed also stated on numerous occasions that he is “in solidarity” with his Jewish brothers and sisters to “condemn the antisemitism”.
Rogers, who fell just 20,000 ballots short of winning Michigan’s U.S. Senate race two years ago is asking Democrats to vote for him despite their party affiliations as he runs in a second consecutive Senate campaign.
What the latest FOX News power rankings in midterm races show
Rogers has been courting Democrats who are dissatisfied with the leftist nominee they chose.
Rogers’ main pitch targets Jewish Democrats who feel uncomfortable with El-Sayed for his vocal critique of Israel’s conflict with Hamas and are offended by El-Sayed’s association with Piker.
Asher Lopatin, a Rabbi from Detroit’s West Side said: “I’m a Democrat by default but will be voting for Mike Rogers.” Rogers was introducing his Democrats for Mike Coalition at a Detroit campaign event late last week.
Lopatin is a suburban Detroit rabbi who’s made several trips to the Middle East seeking peace between Israel, and its Arab neighboring countries. He argues that El-Sayed has “shown contempt for American values and the Jewish community by choosing Hasan Piker as his surrogate for campaigning and a racist and vicious antisemite.”
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In the meantime, Jewish leaders are encouraging Jewish Democrats and Independents to support Rogers by signing an open letter. This news was reported by Jewish Insider this week and confirmed by Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital reported that a source involved in the letter, who requested anonymity to be able to express themselves more freely, said: “This is a kind of do-or die moment.” Many lifelong Democrats are now feeling like homeless. “It’s no longer just a leftward trend, but also an anti-Jewish one.”
Joan Lowenstein is the endorsement chair for the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus. She told Fox News Digital that her group will not be endorsed by the letter.
She said, “We’re a member of the Michigan Democratic Party and we won’t advocate anyone voting for a Republican.”
Lowenstein said that those who wrote the letter were “passionate about it and felt this was an existential question, which I believe represents many people.” They have no choice but to act.
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Roxie Richardner, El-Sayed Communications director told Fox News Digital last week that Abdul has “always stressed the importance to distinguish between criticizing Israel’s state and antisemitism.”
El-Sayed, she said, “continues to have regular conversations with Jewish leaders in all parts of New York State while building a broadest coalition possible in order to defeat Rogers and restore Democratic control in the U.S. Senate.” She also added that Trump would be slowed down by the fact that El-Sayed was in constant dialogue.

First on FOX, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested over 1,000 illegal immigrants quietly in Washington, D.C. in a successful operation that federal sources deemed to be one of the most successful ever conducted by the agency.
Fox News reported that multiple ICE officials told them the agency had arrested 1,328 undocumented immigrants in Washington, D.C. suburbs over a 14-day period. These arrests were made in Virginia and Maryland. Both have policies of sanctuary.
Nearly 400 of those arrested were illegal immigrants with criminal convictions, or criminal charges pending, including an Salvadoran wanted by Richmond, Virginia on a murder charge. Rape, kidnapping and sexual assault were also crimes, as well as DUI, robbery, attempted murder, and rape.
ICE agents also arrested foreign terrorist groups MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and 18th Street Gang.
DHS: ABIGAIL Spanberger’s Virginia is a ‘hoobed’ for illegal immigrant crime, after the latest rape charge
Maryland and Virginia have experienced a significant increase in crime, especially violent and sexual crimes, involving illegal aliens.
Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C. took place between August 1-14.
Markwayne Mullin, Homeland Security Secretary at Fox News said that the “brave men and women” of ICE work hard every day to get these dangerous illegal immigrants out of this country.
Mullin stated that in just two weeks, Virginia and Maryland had arrested gangs members, sexual assaulters, drunken drivers, kidnappers and other criminals.
Mullin said that, “while sanctuary politicians continue to put the needs of illegal immigrants over the safety and security of Americans in Virginia and Maryland, the Trump Administration always puts American citizens first.”
The Trump Administration’s immigration push fuels ICE’s biggest arrest month in agency history
Mullin stated that “by arresting illegal aliens and removing them from our community, we can make America safer again.”
Rowan Andrew Brown was arrested in Alexandria, Virginia, an affluent suburb of Washington, D.C., and has a criminal record that includes identity theft, illegal entry, and kidnapping. He also had been arrested for fraud. ICE agents arrested Brown in Alexandria Virginia, a suburb that is particularly wealthy of Washington D.C.
Angel Gabriel Ortiz-Hernandez was arrested in Alexandria by ICE. He is a Guatemalan national with a criminal record that includes arrests of rape and sexual assault of ill-informed victims.
ICE said that officers conducted immigration enforcement in Virginia and Maryland.
In Harrisonburg Virginia, ICE detained a Honduran named Estrella Reyes Fuentez. Her criminal record includes a conviction of felony hit and run, arrests for threats to blow up or burn things, as well as assault and battery against a member of the family and a violation of a protection order.
While in Richmond, ICE detained Eygner Huezo Moran from El Salvador who had a murder warrant and used a gun in the commission.
ICE has arrested a second MS-13-member and Salvadoran named German Mejia Baires, in Manassas Virginia. He has a criminal record that includes convictions and an arrest for malicious wounding.
DHS stated that these arrested individuals will be held in ICE custody pending their removal from the U.S.
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Patricia Hyde, Acting Assistant director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations commented: “Our officers are among the best around the globe at finding those who don’t want to be found.”
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Hyde said, “This is exactly what we’ve done throughout this entire operation.” The men and women at ICE are working hard to make our nation safer by removing criminal aliens from Virginia and Maryland communities.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who had threatened the Islamic Republic of Iran with an “economic D-Day,” announced Monday plans to impose a new wave of sanctions aimed at further isolating Iran.
Sanctions will be imposed on international companies that facilitate Iranian trade in shipping, oil and crypto. They also target gold, aviation, gold, and cryptocurrency.
Donald Trump said he was calling world leaders to “specifically request” that they stop trading with Iran’s regime.
Bessent stated that the U.S. launched an “economic assault” on Iran’s “global financial links” to “sever any economic pipelines” Iran uses “until Tehran is alone.”
Treasury announced on Monday that they are sanctioning almost 60 companies, individuals, and vessels across multiple jurisdictions for enabling the Iranian regime to “recklessly” act. This list includes several Chinese nationals.
China says it’s illegal for citizens of China to follow unilateral U.S. Sanctions
Bessent stated that the U.S. engaged in “quiet diplomatic” activities with Iranian trading partners, warning them about the possible consequences of continuing trade with Tehran. He said that any entity involved in money laundering for Iran would be excluded from the U.S. Dollar system.
Bessent added that there is now a “cure” period for countries to stop their targeted relationship with Iran.
Bessent has not yet taken any concrete action against another country. Bessent’s comments had little impact on the markets.
Iranian officials have downplayed economic threats.
According to Fars, the semi-official news agency of Iran, Ali Madanizadeh, Iranian Economy minister, said, “You’ll fail again this time,” in response to Bessent. “The government is prepared for this war on economics.”
Madanizadeh told the ISNA semi-official news agency that Iran will retaliate if it is cut off from the global economy.
According to ISNA, he stated that “if they do anything, then they can expect a response from us.”
Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, said separately that Iran must not be bullied by America.
According to Tasnim, he stated that the US must change its approach and tone when dealing with Iran. Relying on bullying and force will only make the situation worse. Our nation will be able to overcome all pressures and threats if we rely on our solidarity.
Pezeshkian said this during a Monday meeting with the Pakistani army chief, Field Marshal Asim Muniz, who is a major mediator between Iran and the U.S., reports Tasnim.
The Trump administration is left with few levers to use after six months of combat, including a U.S. Navy blockade of Strait of Hormuz. This will make it difficult to persuade Iran’s main trading partners to reduce economic ties. Alan Eyre said this, as a Middle East Institute distinguished diplomat fellow.
Eyre, NBC News’ Eyre said that the White House seems to believe “that this announcement will in itself cause countries to sever their relations with Iran without any follow-up.”
Since decades, the U.S. has imposed sanctions directly on Iran as well as businesses that are involved in forbidden activities such a weapons procurement. Iran, however, has often been able to evade the sanctions through new front companies.
Bessent, in an opinion piece in Sunday’s Financial Times, promised to launch the “single greatest financial offensive in history.”
He wrote that the world must understand our goal, which is to cut off every financial lifeline supporting Tehran’s tyrannical government until it stands alone. Any country that partners with Iran will also become financially isolated.
The Monday actions were designed to hit “secondary countries” whose business and trade relations benefit Iran. The United Arab Emirates announced its decision to end all business relations with Iran before the announcement. This close U.S. partner, with a leadership that has developed close relationships with Trump’s administration, is a U.S. close ally.
The success of Bessent’s announcement depends on the decision made by Iran’s three most important trading partners – China, India and Russia – as to whether the U.S. threat is credible.
Andrew Gawthrope is a lecturer in U.S. Foreign Policy at Leiden University. He specializes in Russian foreign policy.
He said that the U.S. could not do much to convince these countries of this.
Nearly six months have passed since Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran to prevent it from getting a nuclear bomb.
It is the U.S. that has accrued its own costs. Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the U.S. war had cost $37.5 billion. However, estimates place the total economic impact as high as $150 billion. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, told NBC News that the war cost an average U.S. family more than $1200 just in increased energy and groceries costs.
Trump’s approval rating has dropped to the lowest of any of his two presidential terms due to his war. The war, according to economists, has contributed to current bond market turmoil that led the Treasury Department to take extraordinary measures. This is in addition to increased gas prices.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf took to the X while Bessent spoke. He was the former leader of Iran’s war-ending negotiation team.
He wrote: “Americans are aware that their rhetoric isn’t taken seriously; they know the United States cannot afford to restrict further its relationships with other nations.” Iran’s trading partner, through the media as well as messages that were sent to us have clearly stated they do not take into consideration these statements.
Before the speech, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs had posted on X asking whether Bessent’s plan is “an acknowledgement of America’s victory?”
He referred to previous American claims that Iran’s military capability had been destroyed. “Dealing this Iran required the ‘largest economic offensive in history’ and mobilization of all of America’s institutions and authorities.”
Abdolnaser Hemmati told Tasnim, a semi-official news agency, that Iran’s Central Bank head, Abdolnaser Hemmati said the U.S. has “done all it can in terms of sanctions so far and the recent allegations do not add any additional restrictions or pressure.”
He said that Iran began to stockpile foreign currency before Bessent announced the announcement. Since February, when war broke out, Iran has been expecting “difficult circumstances”.
He said that this had allowed the country to “give a firm promise” about providing the necessary foreign currency for goods and medicines.
The Grand Bazaar in Tehran, which has been a long-time center for conservatism within Iranian politics, and is still a major economic force, was heavily policed and many expressed their frustration with the current value of the Iranian currency, the Rial.
Authorities in the United States are concerned about the possibility of protests due to the rising gas prices and the long queues reported at certain gas stations.
After protesters took to the street to demand an end to their country’s strict theocracy, the hardline regime arrested thousands of people.
Iran’s autocratic government has tightened their grip since the beginning of the war.
Mojtaba, the son of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ayatollah Khamenei who was also killed in the first war with other officials appears to be just as hardline.
Since he became president, he’s elevated a number of hardliners who had served in the security and military institutions.