What a great opportunity to talk 1:1 with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for the Democratic nomination for Michigan’s open US Senate seat. This is a must-hold seat in November, as Democrats attempt to take over the Senate majority.
The contrast between Dr. El-Sayed and his opponent in the Democratic primary, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, is sharp. El-Sayed is a progressive candidate whose three overarching priorities are: Money Out of Politics, Money In Your Pocket, and Medicare for All. Stevens is a centrist supported by the Democratic establishment and buoyed by millions of dollars in outside spending — the majority of it by AIPAC-affiliated groups.
Israel-Palestine is a major point of difference between the candidates. Stevens rhetorically supports a two-state solution. In reality, however, she has been a reliable supporter of AIPAC’s efforts to thwart changes to US policy that could advance Palestinian statehood. I saw this first-hand when working with Congressman Andy Levin on his 2021 Two-State Solution Act. Stevens opposed it and AIPAC poured millions of dollars into her successful effort to defeat him in 2022. As for Dr. El-Sayed, you’ll hear him articulate his view in this podcast!
Abdul and I focused on the following topics:
On Israel-Palestine, El-Sayed spoke about:
Pursuing a policy rooted in international law and equal rights for Jewish Israelis and Palestinians
Treating Israel as the US would treat any other country engaging in “rogue state behavior,” including occupation, apartheid, genocide, and offensive wars; he noted that as an Egyptian American, “I am just as harsh on the Egyptian government in terms of not wanting to send them unconditional military aid”
Keeping Americans taxpayers’ dollars at home
Ending American “hubris” in dictating “how other people should end long-term conflicts and reach an ultimate peace”
Why reporters should stop asking ‘Does Israel have a right to exist?’
AIPAC’s vast spending to defeat El-Sayed and support Stevens
Democrats and Trump’s war against Iran: While Senate Democrats just blocked the $1.15 billion National Defense Authorization Act from moving forward in protest of the illegal and once-again-escalating Iran war, El-Sayed argued that Democrats can and must do much more to work for an end to the war
Muslim-Jewish solidarity: Here’s a quote from Abdul:
I look forward to serving my Jewish Michigander sisters and brothers. Because it's when we come together in the ways that people tell us we can't, that we continue to emphasize what America can do. And as I've said to my sisters and brothers of the Jewish faith in Michigan, you open the door for me and you welcome me, I'll walk through. You invite me, I'm gonna come. We may not agree on situations 6,000 miles away, but we will agree that you have a right to live peaceably as a Jewish American. That your dignity ought to always be protected. And you will not find somebody who's going to be more of a lion against antisemitism who doesn't share your faith. As somebody who understands what it's like to share a faith that is disfavored by some people. Because we have to live in an America where there are no disfavored people. And I'm looking forward to building that together.
Why El-Sayed believes Michigan will be the first state to elect a Muslim American to the US Senate, how this is significant, and why he believes he is best placed to defeat Republican Mike Rogers in the general election in November
One logistical note — I was able to confirm this podcast only hours before going live, so I couldn’t notify you all about it in my previous emails. Sorry about that! I do hope that if you weren’t able to join live, you’ll find the recording worthwhile.
I’m very interested to hear what you think — let me know in the comments!
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Much More to Come This Week!
TOMORROW (Wed, July 15) at 11:30am Eastern ←← New date/time
Andrew Miller: US aid to Israel and Resetting the US-Israel Relationship
Andrew Miller served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli-Palestinian affairs from 2022 to 2024. Prior to that, he served as a senior policy adviser to US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield. During the Obama Administration, Andrew served as the director for Egypt and Israel military issues on President Barack Obama’s National Security Council and was involved in deliberations regarding US security assistance to Egypt and Israel and regarding Middle East peace. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.
Andrew had to reschedule due to a family illness. Thanks for your patience!
Thursday, July 16, at 11am Eastern ← ← Just Added!
Nadav Weiman: “I Joined Ro Khanna on His West Bank Visit. Here’s What I Saw”
Nadav Weiman, Executive Director of Breaking the Silence, accompanied Ro Khanna during the Congressman’s recent trip to the West Bank. Nadav was there when armed settlers and Israeli soldiers detained Rep. Khanna. While Prime Minister Netanyahu and numerous propagandists who weren’t there are spinning the event, Nadav will tell us what happened from his eyewitness perspective. He’ll also put the event in the wider context of state-backed settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Thursday, July 16, at 12:30pm Eastern:
Rabbis Amelia Wolf & Andy Kahn: The Next Generation of American Rabbis
For some time, I’ve been wanting to do a podcast on the future of the US rabbinate. The Atra Center for Rabbinic Innovation released a study in late 2025 that included some findings that surprised me — and made me want to learn more. Among them were the demographics of current rabbinical students, only 30% of whom identify as men, while 58% identify as women and 12% as nonbinary. Further, 51% identify as LGBTQ, a huge jump from 15% among rabbis ordained 10-20 years ago. Last but not least, 16% of rabbinical students converted to Judaism and 12% identify as a race other than white.
To discuss that and what implications it might have, as well as the topic of where the next generation of American rabbis stands on Israel-Palestine, I’ll welcome Rabbi Amelia Wolf of Congregation Etz Hayim in Arlington, Virginia and Rabbi Andy Kahn of the American Council for Judaism to The Debrief.
What a week! From Israeli election analysis to a conversation with Abdul El-Sayed and with much more to come as the week continues, it’s my pleasure to bring you a wealth of great content on The Debrief.
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Many thanks!
Warm regards,
Debra
