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

Updated on: September 13, 2026 / 12:58 PM EDT / CBS News

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.