Is Abdul El-Sayed Bigger Than Mamdani? - with Mark Halperin

Why could the upcoming Michigan Democratic Senate primary signal a seismic shift about the Democratic party and U.S. policy on Israel?

As Michigan Democrats prepare to choose a nominee for the U.S. Senate, Dan Senor sits down with political journalist Mark Halperin to discuss why this race has become a flashpoint in the debate over Israel, progressive politics, and the future of the Democratic Party. They examine why progressives are demonizing Israel and AIPAC, the role of The New York Times and other media in shifting the debate, and why Abdul El‑Sayed’s campaign may have implications that extend to the 2028 presidential election.
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In this episode:

1. Why the Michigan Senate primary matters more than ever

2. How Israel became the defining issue in this race

3. Surprising changes inside the Democratic coalition

4. How The New York Times and social media impacts the narrative

5. Who is Abdul El‑Sayed and what’s behind his success

6. Why El-Sayed could be more influential than Mayor Mamdani

7. Implications of an El-Sayed victory for 2028 Democratic politics

Links mentioned in this episode:

-Mark Halperin’s recent article in the Free Press How Israel Became the Biggest Litmus Test in American Politics

-Halperin’s live video platform 2Way and 8 for 28 presidential picks

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo