Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed was caught on a livestream asking his campaign aide to separate conservative reporters — whom he referred to as "bogeys" — from the rest of the press following a campaign event with progressive podcaster Hasan Piker last week.
The hot-mic moment occurred when El-Sayed's communications director Roxie Richner told him and Piker, "We're going to do the quick scrum with Fox, the Free Beacon and those folks," prompting El-Sayed to ask, "Could you separate, like, the bogeys, from everyone else?" After Richner responded affirmatively, El-Sayed fist-bumped her before Piker informed them they were being filmed.
The incident took place backstage during a campaign event featuring Piker, who has faced criticism for past comments about 9/11, Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel, and suggestions about using drones for terrorism. El-Sayed has faced ongoing backlash since entering the race for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat, which is being vacated by Democrat Debbie Stabenow.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive supporters and some Democratic strategists have argued that El-Sayed's approach reflects an attempt to engage broader audiences beyond traditional party lines. During an interview with Fox News' Bill Hemmer, El-Sayed defended his decision to engage with media outlets he frequently disagrees with.
"When I said I'll talk to anyone, I meant it. "I'll be on Fox News at 9:15am with Bill Hemmer," El-Sayed said, noting his commitment to reaching voters across the political spectrum.
El-Sayed's campaign staff emphasized that questions were taken from a "broad scrum" after both events, including all press who attended — local news outlets, student reporters, and national outlets spanning various ideologies. Communications director Roxie Richner stated, "We go everywhere and talk to everyone."
Some progressive commentators have noted that engaging with conservative media is a legitimate campaign strategy, pointing to El-Sayed's willingness to appear on Fox News as evidence of his commitment to dialogue across political divides.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives have criticized El-Sayed's use of the term "bogeys" to describe conservative reporters, calling it dismissive and indicative of a broader pattern of progressive hostility toward mainstream right-leaning media. Critics have also pointed to El-Sayed's association with Piker as evidence of his embrace of far-left positions.
The incident has fueled Republican attacks on El-Sayed's candidacy. Michigan Republicans have highlighted his past positions supporting the defund the police movement, calling for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and his characterization of Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide."
Conservative commentators have argued that the episode reveals what they describe as progressive hypocrisy — publicly claiming to engage with all perspectives while privately expressing contempt for conservative media. The use of the term "bogeys" to describe Fox News and Free Beacon reporters has been particularly criticized as revealing underlying attitudes.
Republican strategists have also pointed to El-Sayed's decision not to disavow Piker's controversial comments at their joint campaign event as further evidence of his progressive alignment. Piker has faced significant criticism for past statements justifying the 9/11 attacks and Hamas' October 7 assault on Israel.
What the Numbers Show
El-Sayed is one of multiple Democratic candidates vying for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat in 2026. The race is expected to be highly competitive in a swing state that will likely attract significant national attention and campaign spending.
Piker's online platform reaches millions of young viewers, with his Twitch streams regularly drawing audiences in the hundreds of thousands. His political commentary has made him a significant figure among progressive voters, particularly younger demographics that campaigns seek to engage.
El-Sayed's campaign has faced scrutiny over deleted social media posts from 2020-2021 supporting the "defund the police" movement, as well as recent audio revealing he was reluctant to publicly comment on the death of Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei because some Michiganders might be "sad" following the terror regime leader's death.
The Bottom Line
The video of El-Sayed asking to separate conservative reporters from the press pool has become a campaign issue less than two weeks into his Senate candidacy. The incident highlights the tension between progressive candidates' public commitments to engaging with all perspectives and reactions to media figures they view as adversarial.
El-Sayed's campaign has maintained that he speaks to audiences across the political spectrum, pointing to his appearances on Fox News as evidence. However, the use of the term "bogeys" and the apparent desire to limit conservative media access has provided ammunition for Republican critics.
The race for Michigan's open Senate seat is expected to draw significant national attention, with both parties viewing the seat as potentially competitive. El-Sayed will need to navigate questions about his associations and media strategy as the primary season progresses.