Transcript: Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Sept. 13, 2026

TL;DR

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan, was a focus of Republican speakers at the RNC, who criticized him and his association with streamer Hasan Piker.
El-Sayed countered that Republicans are using him as a distraction from their own policies on gas prices, tariffs, and healthcare, and that "the barbarian is in the White House."
He defended his focus on issues affecting Michigan families, such as affordability and healthcare, over cultural talking points.
El-Sayed proposed Medicare for All as a solution to high healthcare costs and medical debt, suggesting funding through wealth taxes on billionaires.
He outlined a plan to address the "existential crisis" of artificial intelligence by turning AI companies into public trusts with democratic oversight and establishing AI "no-go" zones, calling for a pause on frontier AI research.
He also expressed a willingness to work with Republicans on common ground issues and to engage in broad public persuasion.

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