Transcript

Even Chuck Schumer Was Disgusted By Haley Stevens' Betrayal of Abdul El-Sayed

From Pod Save America · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 28 min · 5,386 words · 59 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Even Chuck Schumer Was Disgusted By Haley Stevens' Betrayal of Abdul El-Sayed", an episode of Pod Save America published November 2, 2026 (28 min, about 5,386 words). It mentions 52 people, works and ideas, including Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed, Abdul's Campaign, Mike Rogers, Michigan.

What this episode is about

A Michigan Democrat, Haley Stevens, rescinds her endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed for Senate and endorses Mike Rogers, arguing for party unity, condemning extremism, and prioritizing national interest over internal disagreements. The move highlights intra-party tension, with Stevens describing El-Sayed as divisive and supporting Rogers to align with the broader Democratic goal of keeping the Senate amid concerns about election integrity and policy direction.

Key takeaways

  • Stevens’ pivot exposes the peril of personal vendetta overpowering policy, turning primary fights into party-brand fireworks.
  • Her endorsement flip reveals how loyalty signals can collapse when ego clashes meet electoral calculus and optics.
  • This saga undercuts credibility: claims against Rogers collide with Stevens’ past alliances, eroding trust in both.
  • The Michigan drama underscores how election rhetoric—abortion, rights, money—drifts from policy to theater.
  • Surprise endorsement shocks voters, but it also spotlights the durability of party infrastructure beyond single-issue loyalties.

Who speaks in this episode?

  • Dan (Guest) · 3 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Mike Rogers, Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, Israel
  2. – 10:00: Democratic Party, Mike Rogers, Michigan, Donald Trump
  3. – 15:00: Israel, Michigan, PDS Debt, Abdul El-Sayed
  4. – 20:00: Haley Stevens, Mike Rogers, Donald Trump, Democratic Party
  5. – 25:00: Michigan, Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic Party
  6. – 27:47: Haley Stevens, Michigan, Senate, Democratic Party

Notable quotes from "Even Chuck Schumer Was Disgusted By Haley Stevens' Betrayal of Abdul El-Sayed"

  • Mike Rogers can keep rubber-stamping Donald Trump's ridiculous agenda, higher prices, 1,000 manufacturing jobs lost nationwide, corruption and abuses of power galore. They want to keep the.
    about Mike Rogers · at
  • We can't stand with hate. We can't stand with Hasan I think that Chuck Schumer is going to become the majority leader.
    about Chuck Schumer · at
  • Erratic I'm for him, I'm not for him, I've pulled down this ad, condemned this ad, all of that. But to actually go to a predominantly black church in Detroit on the Sunday before election with Mike Rogers and endorse him is truly one of the.
    about Haley Stevens · at
  • In Michigan. It was just like an online ad to just get attention, which congratulations it did. so Abdul's campaign is asked about the ad and they say that's not our ad. We…
    about Abdul's Campaign · at
  • I'm here to keep a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States Senator. Any Jewish person that support this guy should be ashamed of themselves. I'll.
    about Donald Trump · at
  • And so, look, if you're somebody who believes that we ought to have more rights, not less, then I would think you would support me in this race. If you are somebody who.
    about Abdul El-Sayed · at
  • The one thing I'd add to that, and I agree with all of it, is I would just say if you are a Democrat, a Democrat-leaning independent in Michigan, and you like you said, you…
    about Michigan · at
  • Michigan matters. If you believe the Republicans should not control Senate, the only way to do that is to make sure the Democrat in your state, whether you live in Michigan or elsewhere, wins.
    about Senate · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Haley Stevens — Person · Former primary challenger / recent rescinded endorser of Abdul; endorsed opponent (Mike Rogers) · 16 mentions · first at
    Her election-eve decision to endorse Mike Rogers (the Republican) and withdraw support from Abdul is the episode's news hook and prompted analysis and criticism from hosts.
  • Abdul El-Sayed — Person · Main subject / Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate (mentioned candidate) · 8 mentions · first at
    Central figure in the episode's discussion; hosts debate his campaign, responses to attacks, policy positions, and Haley Stevens' rescinded endorsement.
  • Mike Rogers — Person · Republican opponent; endorsed by Haley Stevens · 19 mentions · first at
    The Republican Senate candidate whom Haley Stevens endorsed; hosts criticize Rogers' positions and his alignment with Trump.
  • Donald Trump — Person · Political antagonist / referenced influence · 9 mentions · first at
    Hosts discuss Trump's attacks on Abdul, his rhetoric about 'jihadist' claims, and how Mike Rogers aligns with Trump's messaging.
  • Chuck Schumer — Person · Senate leadership referenced / defender of party unity · 4 mentions · first at
    Cited as publicly condemning Haley Stevens' action and reaffirming support for Abdul; his reaction signals national Democratic leadership's view.
  • Dan Pfeiffer — Person · Host / analyst · 2 mentions · first at
    Co-host on the episode providing analysis and historical/political context for the Stevens/El-Sayed controversy.
    It's mind-blowing, right? Elly Schlein is not Joe Manchin, she's not John Fetterman. Like she Yes, she has a more conservative position on Israel than your standard Democrat, but she is.
  • Mallory McMorrow — Person · Referenced Democratic elected official and commentator · 4 mentions · first at
    Mentioned as someone who ran in Michigan, who supported unity post-primary, and as a voice urging support for Abdul.
    Mallory McMorrow was out there criticizing her. So, you're right. I do think it like sort of unified people in a way that they hadn't been unified before. At least on the like the elite.
  • John Favreau — Person · Host · 1 mention · first at
    One of the Pod Save America hosts participating in the discussion and commentary on the Stevens/El-Sayed news.
    All right, Dan. we are here because in a November surprise, soon-to-be ex-Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens has chosen to rescind her endorsement of Abdul.
  • Jim Clyburn — Person · Referenced senior Democrat involved in reconciliation attempts · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned as someone who was to be involved in an attempted joint event between Stevens and Abdul and part of efforts to reconcile differences.
    So, Abdul was also at a church when the news broke. He was actually at the event with Jim Clyburn that Stevens was originally going to attend. And here's how he responded when asked about the.
  • John Lovett — Person · Host · 1 mention · first at
    One of the Pod Save America hosts; present as part of the conversation and commentary on the news item.
    Let's just start what with your reaction to this news.
  • Hasan Piker — Person · Referenced commentator whose past statements complicated campaign optics · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as a figure whose prior statements were used in attack narratives against Abdul; hosts note Hasan is not active in Michigan campaign.
    Listen to the guy, and I look, he has made a lot of strides since the primary, right? Like for all the Hasan stuff, Hasan hasn't been anywhere near him or Michigan since that primary. He has condemned multiple Hasan statements.
  • Nancy Pelosi — Person · Senior Democratic leader who condemned Stevens · 1 mention · first at
    Quoted as calling Haley Stevens' act a 'dangerous betrayal' and urging support for Abdul.
    His support for Abdul. Nancy Pelosi called it a dangerous betrayal what Haley Stevens did. She had been supportive in the past. She came out very strongly for Abdul.
  • Tommy Vietor — Person · Host · 4 mentions · first at
    Pod Save America co-host; part of the hosting team credited in episode context.
    Thanks everyone. Please subscribe to Pod Save America on YouTube and we'll we'll see you tomorrow.
  • Barack Obama — Person · Referenced political figure / point of comparison · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as part of Abdul's background and as someone Stevens' campaign was accused of invoking during the primary.
    Than your standard Democrat, but she is someone who voted with Joe Biden like 90% or 100% of the time. She is a died-in-the-wool Democrat who worked for Barack Obama, who ran…
  • Jamie Raskin — Person · Referenced congressman who spoke with Stevens · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as someone who reportedly spoke with Stevens the night before her endorsement flip and was cited in discussions about her intent.
    For the high cost of groceries. that is what she said last night. She talked to like Jamie Raskin, Congressman Jamie Raskin said he talked to her last night. Others other…
  • Elissa Slotkin — Person · Referenced Michigan Democrat who reaffirmed support for Abdul · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as a Michigan Democrat who publicly restated support for Abdul, countering Stevens' actions.
    [snorts] Then does several interviews with the New York Times where she continues to suggest she's supporting Abdul.
  • Tucker Carlson — Person · Referenced media figure / clip used in ad · 1 mention · first at
    A short Tucker Carlson clip was repurposed in an ad that became part of the controversy; hosts discuss how that clip was framed in advertising.
    Children, right? So that's the ad and then it says that Mike Rogers is not for you. He's for they them and it has a picture of BB Netanyahu, right?
  • Gretchen Whitmer — Person · Michigan Governor / referenced ally · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as part of a group of Michigan Democrats who had previously united after the primary; cited to show prior party unity.
    Of Hillary Scholten were like great team players after the primary, came together. Mallory McMorrow, Gretchen Whitmer, all of them. And Haley Stevens.
  • Benjamin Netanyahu — Person · Referenced foreign leader used in ad imagery · 1 mention · first at
    His image was used in an ad that criticized U.S. spending and was part of the controversy prompting calls for condemnation.
    Children, right? So that's the ad and then it says that Mike Rogers is not for you. He's for they them and it has a picture of BB Netanyahu, right?
  • Curtis Hertel — Person · Michigan Democratic Party Chair (referenced) · 1 mention · first at
    Quoted saying Haley Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, emphasizing organizational condemnation.
    The Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel says, quote, That Haley Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future. So, that's quite a statement. Nearly every other Michigan.
  • Joe Manchin — Person · Comparative reference for ideological positioning · 1 mention · first at
    Referenced as a point of comparison to describe where El-Sayed stands ideologically compared to more conservative Democrats.
    Than your standard Democrat, but she is someone who voted with Joe Biden like 90% or 100% of the time. She is a died-in-the-wool Democrat who worked for Barack Obama, who ran…
  • John Fetterman — Person · Referenced politician · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as a comparative example of a Democratic senator with different profile than Elly Schlein in a discussion about candidates' ideological positions.
    It's mind-blowing, right? Elly Schlein is not Joe Manchin, she's not John Fetterman. Like she Yes, she has a more conservative position on Israel than your standard Democrat, but she is.
  • Joe Biden — Person · Referenced comparison for voting alignment · 1 mention · first at
    Used as a benchmark for El-Sayed's voting alignment; hosts note other candidates' alignment with Biden as a point of contrast.
    Than your standard Democrat, but she is someone who voted with Joe Biden like 90% or 100% of the time. She is a died-in-the-wool Democrat who worked for Barack Obama, who ran…
  • Dave Portnoy — Person · Media figure referenced for inflammatory language · 1 mention · first at
    Referenced for calling Abdul a 'terrorist' on Twitter and for Mike Rogers' agreement with such language, illustrating the heated rhetoric in the race.
    Have. And when Dave Portnoy called him a terrorist on Twitter, Mike Rogers says, Yeah, I agree. so, what Donald Trump said there, Haley Stevens said, I'm endorsing Mike Rogers.
  • Joan Kennedy — Person · Republican senator referenced for derogatory remark · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned for having said a derogatory remark ('Abdul sleeps in a bin Laden jersey') as an example of hostile rhetoric from opposing politicians.
    Mike Rogers who stood next to John Kennedy, the senator from Louisiana, when he said, Abdul sleeps in a bin Laden jersey. Is that I guess Haley Stevens doesn't think that's hate. She.
  • J.D. Vance — Person · Referenced Republican figure for comparison · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned by Abdul as part of a list of Republicans whose agenda he contrasts with (used rhetorically to emphasize GOP alignment).
    And so, look, if you're somebody who believes that we ought to have more rights, not less, then I would think you would support me in this race. If you are somebody who.

Companies & orgs

  • Abdul's Campaign — Company · Political campaign (candidate organization) · 2 mentions · first at
    Central actor in the episode: campaign of Abdul El-Sayed is discussed throughout, including responses to ads, endorsements, and strategy in the Michigan Senate race.
  • Violent Rebellion PAC — Company · Source of controversial ad referenced · 1 mention · first at
    Sponsor of an ad criticized during the episode which triggered demands for condemnation and became part of the controversy around Abdul's positions.
    Claimed Israel and Jews were to blame for the high cost of groceries. that is what she said last night. She talked to like Jamie Raskin, Congressman Jamie Raskin said he talked to her last night. Others other Democrats and other influencers.
  • AIPAC — Company · Referenced donor / influential organization in primary · 3 mentions · first at
    Cited as a source of substantial funding/support that bolstered Haley Stevens' primary campaign.
    Whole bunch of volunteers, couldn't raise grassroots money. She was propped up by two things.
  • Crooked Media — Company · Producer / parent company · 2 mentions · first at
    Owner of Pod Save America; referenced in episode context and show description.
    Crooked is a company dedicated to providing.
  • Michigan Democratic Party — Company · State party organization referenced · 1 mention · first at
    Reacted to Haley Stevens' endorsement by distancing her from the party; cited by hosts as part of the political fallout.
    The Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel says, quote, That Haley Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future. So, that's quite a statement. Nearly every other Michigan.
  • CNN — Company · Media outlet referenced for interviews / coverage · 2 mentions · first at
    Referenced as the outlet where Stevens appeared in a roundtable and where Elissa Slotkin restated support for Abdul.
    [sighs] Elissa Slotkin goes on CNN restates that she's still supporting Abdul.
  • Twitter — Company · Platform referenced for announcements and reactions · 2 mentions · first at
    Referenced as a place where Stevens' endorsement was discovered and where campaign messages circulated; used to illustrate modern political communications.
    They found out that she was endorsing Mike Rogers at a different church across town through Twitter.
  • New York Times — Company · Media outlet referenced · 1 mention · first at
    Cited as one of the outlets that interviewed or published pieces related to Haley Stevens and campaign developments.
    [snorts] Then does several interviews with the New York Times where she continues to suggest she's supporting Abdul.
  • TMZ — Company · Media outlet referenced · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as a place where Haley Stevens' fiance made an appearance during the controversy, illustrating media attention and the unusual public profile of involved parties.
    Is goes to a Rogers for a Democrats for Rogers event and then he basically does a full media tour. He's on TMZ at one point.
  • BBB — Company · Referenced consumer-rating organization · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in sponsor ad read (PDS Debt ad) as part of trust signals (A+ rating on the BBB) during the episode's advertisement segment.
    On your credit card, it's costing you money every single day. No minimum credit score required. PDS is the top-rated company in the industry with thousands of five-star reviews…
  • Big Insurance — Company · Collective industry reference · 1 mention · first at
    Referenced in a critique of Mike Rogers' policy positions and funding sources — part of broader discussion about health care and corporate influence.
    And so, look, if you're somebody who believes that we ought to have more rights, not less, then I would think you would support me in this race. If you are somebody who.

Concepts & topics

  • Democratic Party — Concept · Organizational context / party politics · 11 mentions · first at
    Frames the intra-party conflict, endorsements, and the stakes of the Senate majority discussed throughout the episode.
    The one thing I'd add to that, and I agree with all of it, is I would just say if you are a Democrat, a Democrat-leaning independent in Michigan, and you like you said, you…
  • Senate — Concept · Central institutional stake · 9 mentions · first at
    The fight for control of the U.S. Senate underlies the urgency of the discussion; hosts stress how Michigan's race could affect majority control and consequential appointments.
  • Congress — Concept · Governing institution referenced · 1 mention · first at
    Referenced implicitly in discussion of Senate control, majority leader, and consequences of election outcomes on federal law and court appointments.
    Higher prices, 1,000 manufacturing jobs lost nationwide, corruption and abuses of power galore. They want to keep the Senate red so Mike Rogers can go to Washington again and…
  • Big Pharma — Concept · Collective industry reference · 1 mention · first at
    Used in Abdul's campaign criticism of Mike Rogers — Rogers is accused of taking money from 'Big Pharma' as part of broader policy criticisms.
    And so, look, if you're somebody who believes that we ought to have more rights, not less, then I would think you would support me in this race. If you are somebody who.

Places & events

  • Michigan — Place · Primary battleground state / setting · 18 mentions · first at
    The state where the Senate race is taking place; hosts reference Michigan voting patterns, early voting, and local political actors.
  • Israel — Place · Policy flashpoint / referenced foreign policy topic · 10 mentions · first at
    Discussion of candidates' positions on aid to Israel, ads referencing Israel/Netanyahu, and accusations around anti-Semitism inform much of the intra-party conflict.
    And he said, This is not what I want to be talking about. And by the way, I don't think we should be giving military aid to repressive governments. I believe that also about Egypt, about UAE, about Saudi Arabia. He lists out the other.
  • Detroit — Place · Setting for endorsement event referenced · 2 mentions · first at
    Location where Haley Stevens reportedly endorsed Mike Rogers at a predominantly Black church; part of the controversy over venue and optics.
    Erratic I'm for him, I'm not for him, I've pulled down this ad, condemned this ad, all of that. But to actually go to a predominantly black church in Detroit on the Sunday before election with Mike Rogers and endorse him is truly one of the.
  • Gaza — Place · Referenced foreign territory · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in discussion of U.S. foreign policy and humanitarian concerns that formed part of Abdul El-Sayed's critiques of foreign military aid, and a reason some voters focus on his statements about Israel/Palestine.
    Middle East. He cares deeply about Gaza and Israel and what's going on there, but he has worked really hard to spend the entire general election talking about prices in Michigan and the danger of Donald Trump's presidency and what it.
  • Washington — Place · Referenced city / seat of government · 1 mention · first at
    Used when criticizing Mike Rogers as someone who would 'go to Washington again and sell us out to the highest bidder' — referencing the federal capital and national politics.
    Lost nationwide, corruption and abuses of power galore. They want to keep the Senate red so Mike Rogers can go to Washington again and sell us out to the highest bidder and make himself even wealthier.
  • Egypt — Place · Referenced foreign country · 1 mention · first at
    Listed by Abdul (as reported) among other countries he believes the U.S. should reconsider military aid to, in the context of his position on foreign assistance to repressive governments.
    And he said, This is not what I want to be talking about. And by the way, I don't think we should be giving military aid to repressive governments. I believe that also about Egypt, about UAE, about Saudi Arabia. He lists out the other.
  • Saudi Arabia — Place · Referenced foreign country · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned alongside Egypt and UAE as examples Abdul referenced when discussing opposition to certain foreign military aid.
    And he said, This is not what I want to be talking about. And by the way, I don't think we should be giving military aid to repressive governments. I believe that also about Egypt, about UAE, about Saudi Arabia. He lists out the other.
  • South Carolina — Place · Referenced U.S. state · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in passing when speakers note Jim Clyburn being in South Carolina, to underscore oddities around who was involved in attempted reconciliation events in Michigan.
    Debbie Dingell the has brokered this event. Jim Clyburn's coming. I don't know why Jim Clyburn's in South Carolina, but that's neither here nor there. Then they Then she puts out a We're great,.
  • Louisiana — Place · Referenced U.S. state · 1 mention · first at
    Referenced when discussing senator John Kennedy from Louisiana and a quote attributed to him during a criticism of Mike Rogers' allies and rhetoric.
    Mike Rogers who stood next to John Kennedy, the senator from Louisiana, when he said, Abdul sleeps in a bin Laden jersey. Is that I guess Haley Stevens doesn't think that's hate. She.

Media & podcasts

  • Pod Save America — Media · Program / source · 1 mention · first at
    The podcast producing this episode; hosts use it as platform to analyze and inform listeners about the political developments.
    Thanks everyone. Please subscribe to Pod Save America on YouTube and we'll we'll see you tomorrow.

Sponsors

  • PDS Debt — Sponsor · Episode sponsor (ad read) · 3 mentions · first at
    Sponsor whose ad is read during the episode; includes explicit call to action and promotional language.
    Brought to you by PDS debt. Are you tired of making monthly payments without seeing your balance go down? PDS debt can help you break free. Minimum payments aren't designed to…

Full transcript with timestamps

All right, Dan. Uh we are here because in a November surprise, uh soon-to-be ex-Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens has chosen to rescind her endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed for Senate and publicly endorse Mike Rogers instead. Uh just to refresh everyone's memory, um here's what Haley Stevens said when the primary ended uh back in August, which was just 2 months ago.

Mike Rogers can keep rubber-stamping Donald Trump's ridiculous agenda, higher prices, 1,000 manufacturing jobs lost nationwide, corruption and abuses of power galore. They want to keep the Senate red so Mike Rogers can go to Washington again and sell us out to the highest bidder and make himself even wealthier. They want to keep Yeah. They want to keep the Senate red so Mike Rogers can ban abortion, gut healthcare, and roll back workers' rights and voting rights.

No. Friends, we are not going to let that happen. Uh she's also called him an election denier, a fraud, um but here's what she said about Mike Rogers this morning.

Hey Michigan. As you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for US Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away. And he's right. And that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today. Uh I don't belong in Abdul's campaign. Who we are as Michiganders is not hate and is not um what we are getting out from our Democratic nominee right now. So, you know, Abdul has been running his campaign. He's been working really hard. I don't want to undermine that. My vote for Senate, I mean just one vote, as is every Michigander, my vote for Senate is going to be with Mike Rogers, and I will tell you why.

Because we have to stand with country. We can't stand with hate. We can't stand with Hasan I think that Chuck Schumer is going to become the majority leader. You know, and I think that there are incredible Democrats and incredible activity taking place across this country. I stood with my party, and I was booed off the stage. And, you know, it was violently shouted down. You know, I was up there with other Democrats. Those people who are on that stage with me, they were going to make their choice. The ballot box is still very personal and and private.

Not that private. Looney Tunes. Uh Let's just start what with your reaction to this news.

It's mind-blowing, right? Elly Schlein is not Joe Manchin, she's not John Fetterman. Like she Yes, she has a more conservative position on Israel than your standard Democrat, but she is someone who voted with Joe Biden like 90% or 100% of the time. She is a died-in-the-wool Democrat who worked for Barack Obama, who ran her entire campaign trying to trick people into thinking Barack Obama supported her. And now she's not just It's like one thing to decide, for whatever reasons, bitterness over the primary, differences over Israel, whatever it is, anger over this ad, which we can discuss or not discuss, I don't really care, and say, you know, "I'm not going to campaign for Abdul.

I'm not going to go out of my way to help him win." But to I to go out and 2 days before the election to endorse someone who you said would ban abortion, rubber stamp an agenda of authoritarianism and corruption, to who's going to roll back workers' rights, civil rights, voting rights, is just truly It's a I thought she would not help Abdul at the end here as we were going back and forth with all the sort of erratic I'm for him, I'm not for him, I've pulled down this ad, condemned this ad, all of that. But to actually go to a predominantly black church in Detroit on the Sunday before election with Mike Rogers and endorse him is truly one of the most stunning, most divisive, most self-destructive things I've ever seen someone who lost the primary do.

I mean, it's completely insane. It makes zero sense. It make There's no logic to what she said even by her own crazy standards. So, you heard her say all that stuff about Mike Rogers. She endorsed Abdul. Her pinned tweet as of like even after she made the announcement was still an endorsement of Abdul. She put out a statement last night. I was glad to see our Senate nominee say he does not agree with the content of the Violent Rebellion PAC ad which claimed Israel and Jews were to blame for the high cost of groceries. Like, that is what she said last night. She talked to like Jamie Raskin, Congressman Jamie Raskin said he talked to her last night. Others other Democrats and other influencers said they talked to her last night, said she had no intention of doing this whatsoever.

She told her staff that? She told her staff that? And basically what she says in that video is I'm doing Abdul said I'm no longer welcome in his campaign which again, like so many

Did not say Which again, like so many of the things that have come out of the Stevens camp and the anti-Abdul camp in Michigan, just a lie. Just a lie. They either strip something of context or they just flat out lie, which is what they're doing now. Abdul never said that. He said that she clearly wants to relitigate the primary and which clearly she does from all of her comments and that he wants to talk about the price of groceries and and money out of politics. And so, he thinks that you know, he doesn't want any distractions from that. He thinks that she would be a distraction from that.

About this event that they were going to do, not about her in the campaign. So, she lied about that. But, then she said, "So, because he says he doesn't want me in the campaign, I'm going to vote for the guy that I think is going to ban abortion, rubber stamp Donald Trump, uh is there to make himself rich. Um All the All the as an election denier So, because of dual because she was personally hurt about an invitation, she she decided that all of her values and everything she has said about Mike Rogers don't matter anymore and that she's going to cast a vote for him? It's It's preposterous.

You sound like a The it is her behavior over the last week has been so erratic, right? It starts with the CNN interview where she's at the round table and she refuses to restate her endorsement of Abdul, although does suggest she's voting for the whole Democratic sticking with the whole Democratic ticket. She's for the ticket. She has it over again. But it's it's very a notable admission. Then, uh she her fiance comes out and announces not only that he is a voting for Mike Rogers, he uh is goes to a Rogers for a Democrats for Rogers event and then he basically does a full media tour. He's on TMZ at one point.

[sighs] Elissa Slotkin goes on CNN restates that she's still supporting Abdul. [snorts]

Then does several interviews with the New York Times where she continues to suggest she's supporting Abdul. Then there is an announcement that they are agreeing to do an event together. Which great, we're making progress. Debbie Dingell the has brokered this event. Jim Clyburn's coming. I don't know why Jim Clyburn's in South Carolina, but that's neither here nor there. Then they Then she puts out a We're like, great, problem solved. Then she puts out this statement that demands that Abdul condemn this ad. Also, as you have pointed out, this does not get her attention, demands that he retracts most of what he has ever said about Israel and especially involving reasons why he opposes aid to Israel.

Says that an ad he's running that has a image a very short video clip of Tucker Carlson saying he wouldn't vote for Mike Rogers at gunpoint is racist and offensive to black people. He has to pull that ad, too.

Which Which is offensive to black people. Yes. And like and unbelievably condescending.

Yes. That you think people are dumb enough that they see Tucker Carlson saying in a clip, I wouldn't vote for Mike Rogers with a gun to my head. And then, oh, that means that Abdul is being racist towards black people. What the are you talking about? And it's not just her. There's like a bunch of idiots who have now decided, well, because we're trying to scare Jewish Democrats in Michigan and Jewish Michiganders to say that Abdul is anti-Semitic and that's not working, we've got to tell black Michiganders that he also is racist against them as well. Is basically what's happened in the last couple weeks.

And then by some reports, she had staff waiting at the church where Abdul was today cuz they thought she was going to show up. They found out that she was endorsing Mike Rogers at a different church across town through Twitter. It's It is There is It is just bananas what is hap- like the most banana thing. And she like I would I really thought after like I It was She was not my candidate in the primary. I supported Mallory McMorrow when she was out. If I was a Michigan voter, I would have picked Abdul. Disagree with but at least he was on a on Israel and her campaign, APAC, all those things.

But the way she endorsed Abdul, she was a like jumped on the team, on the ticket. You would have said she had an incredibly bright future and could have run statewide in Michigan the next time a seat came open. And would have been a favorite. Like she had I think she had proven herself a lot of ways. And she let all of that on fire. She is now out. She is a pariah in the Democratic Party. You have Donald Trump doing interviews suggesting she should become a Republican. He wants to call her and thank her.

I also like as I get past my anger in all of this, I I'm really just trying to figure out like like what happened? Like it's it's a it's real confusion and bewilderment too because it's not like her endorsement of Abdul was one of those like she came to it kicking and screaming and it was barely an endorsement. Like I I remember praising her as well. She did a great job. She was a total team player. Everyone in Michigan politics, all the Michigan Democrats were with maybe the exception of Hillary Scholten were like great team players after the primary, came together. Mallory McMorrow, Gretchen Whitmer, all of them. And Haley Stevens.

And then, you know, there was the scuttlebutt over the last couple weeks and we've talked about it, which is like, uh, you know, should should have dual have done more to reach out and and and talk to her and they should be campaigning together and it's not the biggest thing, but maybe and then you hear Okay, well, they're going to try to get this event like wonderful great everything and then the fiance her fiance comes out and is like endorsing Mike Rogers and is and is really angry and

Which is fine. Right like that's whatever. I don't care about that guy. He's just like one voter in Michigan. Okay, and she said she's like we're a divided household. I'm going to vote for Abdul. He's not like fine. Whatever. I thought it was like getting too much attention. I don't really care. But then then there's the statement about the the Rebellion PAC ad, right? And everyone took that statement to me like oh, Abdul must denounce the ad, right? Now, what does the ad say? The ad says it has people at a grocery store who are saying like oh, we can't afford this because we have to set the money aside because our government is spending tax dollars to kill Palestinian children, right? So that's the ad and then it says that Mike Rogers is not for you. He's for they them and it has a picture of BB Netanyahu, right?

Now, this ad is certainly incorrect and stupid. Right like yeah, well, okay. Politically dumb. dumb. But like the contents of the ad are just wrong, right? Like the price of groceries is not you can't not afford bananas because of the money that we've spent on foreign aid to Israel and military aid to Israel. That's just not true. Abdul when asked about the ad, which is not his ad, which is by Chank and was an is a recycled ad that had run a couple like in 2024 when Chank ran for president. They recycled the ad, spent like a thousand dollars on it, didn't even run in Michigan. It was just like an online ad to just get attention, which congratulations it did. Um so Abdul's campaign is asked about the ad and they say that's not our ad. We have nothing to do with it. We only speak for ourselves, which is the state with the answer they're giving to every single ad because you can't spend time condemning

every single thing that happens on your path, right? So whatever. Everyone's like it's not strong enough, needs a stronger condemnation, right? He gets asked about it. This did gets very little attention. He gets asked about it last Wednesday. And he said, "This is not what I want to be talking about. And by the way, I don't think we should be giving military aid to repressive governments. I believe that also about Egypt, about UAE, about Saudi Arabia." He lists out the other countries that he believes we should not be giving foreign aid to or military aid because they are repressive, because they have violated human rights, and in the case of Israel, they have violated international law. That's his statement.

That is not a good enough for Haley Stevens. So, she asked him to condemn the ad in that weird statement. Then in the statement, as you pointed out, she says, "But the ad did not invent its argument. It dramatized one Dr. El-Sayed has made in his own words throughout his campaign, that Israel is the reason Michigan cannot afford schools, health care, and child care. I therefore expect him to apologize for those statements as well." Guess what? Of course, he's not going to apologize for those statements. Number one, he never said that Israel is the reason Michigan cannot afford schools, health care, and child care.

What he has said is, "I think we should be spending our tax dollars at home and not on a government that is killing children and civilians, which is what Israel is doing." You can disagree with him there, but it is his position. He made that position clear during the primary. She then lost the primary, he won it. She then endorsed him. So, now she's asking him to apologize for statements he made before she endorsed him? When she was running against him? It makes no sense. So, then everyone's like, "Why isn't Abdul condemning this ad? Why isn't he doing more in the statement? Why what's wrong with him?"

It's like, "Well, a condition of her appearing at this event was that he apologize for statements that he made before she endorsed him? What are you talking about?"

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Let me ask you this question, John. What conditions do you think she put on Mike Rogers for her to get for him to get her endorsement?

Zero conditions because she's crazy. And then, she talks about So, it's all about hate. It's about hate. Well, we talked about this in the show a couple weeks ago, but um let's talk about how uh let's talk about the the group of people um that she has now thrown her lot in with um in the name of trying to stop hate. Here's Donald Trump a couple weeks ago.

I'm here to keep a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States Senator. Any Jewish person that support this guy should be ashamed of themselves. I'll tell you right now. If Abdul and the Democrats win, they will open the floodgates and invite hordes of jihadists to our shores creating a nightmare of violence and terror until you cannot even have a Christmas. Anyone with that record of support for jihadists would be screened and unable to get a seat on an airplane. He would be the only Senator that will have to go through a metal detector before he's allowed to go into the Senate. And I want him to have a metal detector.

Mike Rogers was there, never condemned it, was asked about it. All he said was, "Well, I haven't called him a terrorist."

Though he did. His ads have, basically. have. And when Dave Portnoy called him a terrorist on Twitter, Mike Rogers says, "Yeah, I agree." Um so, what Donald Trump said there, Haley Stevens said, "I'm endorsing Mike Rogers because we have to stand for country and we have to stand against hate." So, she's she's endorsing Mike Rogers, who is a rubber stamp for Donald Trump, and hasn't condemned a thing he said. Mike Rogers who stood next to John Kennedy, the senator from Louisiana, when he said, "Abdul sleeps in a bin Laden jersey." Is that I guess Haley Stevens doesn't think that's hate. She just doesn't think that's hate.

Yeah, doesn't count. Unless it comes from a streamer, she doesn't care about the hate.

So, Abdul was also at a church when the news broke. He was actually at the event with Jim Clyburn that Stevens was originally going to attend. And here's how he responded when asked about the Rogers endorsement.

At the end of the day, I actually don't think about Haley Stevens. See what I'm saying? Like I I think about the Like I said, the 9,999,998 people who are not those two. Cuz you know what? I'm just less interested in the politics of it all than I am in the policy of it all. And so, look, if you're somebody who believes that we ought to have more rights, not less, then I would think you would support me in this race. If you are somebody who believes that we should stand up to hate, and you have watched this last campaign,

[clears throat] I think we probably would not want to support Mike Rogers and Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. If you're somebody who believes that we need more health care, not less, then you probably don't want to vote for the guy who voted to raise prescription drug prices or keep them high 19 times, and takes money from Big Pharma and Big Insurance. If you're somebody who believes that we need funding for infrastructure, you probably don't want to support the guy who is more interested in sending your money or passing tax cuts for billionaires than funding infrastructure. If you're somebody who believes in public education, you probably do not want to support the guy who architected the initial legislation in 1999 that ended up stripping local control from Detroit public schools and the local community.

If you're somebody who believes that you should have a right to a union, you probably don't want to support the guy who busts unions. So, I'm just saying that the principles that we believe in as Democrats are really quite clear. I stand for all of them.

What do you think of Abdul's response and you know, do you think he's he he went on to say that you know, most people aren't thinking about this. Do you think he's he's right?

I do. So, let's start with this response. I have been critical of Abdul at times during his campaign cuz I think he takes the bait too often. He has been remarkably disciplined in his public remarks as Haley Stevens has gone through this massive narcissistic megalomaniacal journey over the last week. And he handled it very well and he put it went right back to message. That was an excellent answer. I think that look, in a very very close race, everything matters. This is the last thing that Abdul wants to deal with in the final stretch. He wants to be making his closing argument.

You want your party totally united. But I think that this is going to have less of an impact than probably people think for a couple reasons. One, Haley Stevens does not have some sort of like super loyal base of supporters. This is not Bernie Sanders 2016, Hillary Clinton 2008. She her campaign had essentially zero grassroots support. She couldn't hold rallies. She didn't really have a whole bunch of volunteers, couldn't raise grassroots money. She was propped up by two things. Millions and millions of dollars in money super PAC money from AIPAC and allies of the Senate Democratic leadership who were supporting her and concerns about Abdul.

Electability concerns and other concerns about him and that is what fueled her campaign. So, there isn't like this group of people in Michigan just waiting for some sort of smoke signal to come out of the chimney of Haley Stevens' house to see who she's supporting. So, I don't think like she does see that brings a lot of people with her. Does it get does it does it help on the margins? Maybe. The other thing that's important remembering is too many people have already voted in Michigan already. If you look at the 2018-2022 numbers, that suggests about 45% of the state has voted.

And then there I think there is also this other effect that someone pointed out to me just a minute ago, which is the she has caused the entire party in Michigan and nationally frankly to more loudly call on people to vote for Abdul El-Sayed than they have at any point in this primary. Every single person, even people who have been more skeptical of him within the Michigan Democratic delegation are out there saying, "We must vote for Abdul. We must vote for Abdul. This is why we must vote for Abdul." And I think she hit she has sort of like in an attempt to divide the party, she may have unified the party around Abdul in a way that could be helpful down the stretch.

I think that's a really important point. I mean, I'll just list some of the people in no particular order. Chuck Schumer was out with a statement. Obviously not from Michigan, but you know, the one who recruited in and backed Haley Stevens, he called what she did despicable in a statement and reiterated his support for Abdul. Nancy Pelosi called it a dangerous betrayal what Haley Stevens did. She had been supportive in the past. She you know, came out very strongly for Abdul. Suddenly Trump came out very strongly.

The the Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel says, quote, "That Haley Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future." So, that that's quite a statement. Nearly every other Michigan Democrat was out there like you said today condemning and defending condemning Stevens, defending Abdul. Even the ones who were in really tight races in Trump districts. Haley Stevens' entire staff it seemed like quit. They've all quit today in mass. Mallory McMorrow was out there criticizing her. So, you're right. I do think it like sort of unified people in a way that that they hadn't been unified before. At least on the like the elite elected level.

Yeah. And I think also just if your argument is and that not that she that Haley Stevens has a coherent argument, she does not, but sort of the way people are interpreting that argument and I think in a in a they're sand washing her argument as we use as we say about Trump sometimes that you know, she's she's doing this because she's concerned about you know, his approach to this anti-Semitic ad or anti-Semitism or all of that stuff. Now you have Chuck Schumer coming out here and reminding you that you should vote for Abdul, right? You have people like it just I really think this could I don't like I don't know what's going to happen. None of us knows what's going to happen, but I don't think this is the game changer the quote-unquote November surprise that Mike Rogers and Donald Trump hope it is.

And again, I just want you know, for people who may listen to this who may be still undecided on Abdul, who may have friends or relatives in Michigan who are undecided. Like I don't want to suggest that all concerns about Abdul are in some way like illegitimate, right? Like you're not Islamophobic if you have concerns about Abdul, right? You necessarily you might be, but you're not like you're not a bad person. You don't want Republicans to win, right? Like I get that people probably have genuine concerns out there. I would just say like I have rarely seen this much misinformation about a person, about a candidate pumped into the system in such a way that for so many people it is like warped the perception of him and who he is in a way that like I I don't recognize the caricature that they have of Abdul. And I would just say like if you are you know, if you're like I don't want to hear from Abdul supporters and I don't

want to hear from hear from you know, Haley supporters or Rogers supporters, just like go watch the guy. You know, like honestly watch some of Abdul's some of the closing ads and videos he's done. It's a beautiful ad about his daughters that they ran the other day. Just you know, the clip that we played when he was on the church steps. Like just listen to the guy, you know, and I look, he has made a lot of strides since the primary, right? Like for all the Hasan stuff, Hasan hasn't been anywhere near him or Michigan since that primary. He has condemned multiple Hasan statements uh in the general election. He has been very All he wants to do he doesn't want to talk about he cares deeply about the Middle East. He cares deeply about Gaza and Israel and what's going on there, but he has worked really hard to spend the entire general election talking about prices in Michigan and the danger of

Donald Trump's presidency and what it would have be if Mike Rogers was a rubber stamp. Like, the guy has worked really hard on this. And like, maybe at the end of the day, he hasn't worked quite hard enough for you. Like, again, I I do not think anyone is under any obligation to vote for uh like Abdul El-Sayed. For anyone. For anyone. For anyone. No one is, right? But, I would just say like just I promise you that a lot of the stuff that you have heard about him has gone through the funhouse mirror of politics in 2026 and like and clearly like Haley Stevens is spouting it now, even though she didn't believe it 2 months ago. So, just like go watch the guy. Do some do do some research that is a little deeper than just like Googling what's going on online because I I the guy that we have come to know, again, he's got flaws, he can be cocky sometimes, I get it, but like he's worked really hard on improving himself

and he is like again, the the stakes are pretty high here. The stakes are really high.

The the one thing I'd add to that, and I agree with all of it, is I would just say if you if you are a Democrat, a Democrat-leaning independent in Michigan, and you like you said, you certainly don't want to listen to Haley Stevens, you have some skepticism about Abdul, go listen to Mallory McMorrow. She ran against both of them.

Yeah. Right? She is She knows She has run against them. She knows them. She understands the concerns about both of them. Listen to her talk about Abdul and what the stakes are here. Because one thing Haley Stevens said, she said many things that weren't true, this idea she tried to absolve herself of the true moral crime here by suggesting oh, Chuck Schumer's definitely going to be the majority leader, so therefore my vote doesn't matter. That is not true. This is a very Every single one of these Senate races is within the margin of error. It could very, very well come down to the fact that we do not get the majority. Donald Trump gets to replace Alito, replace Thomas, stack the court, do all of the things he wants to do because Abdul doesn't win Michigan, because Haley Stevens decided to make this truly mind-boggling choice.

Michigan matters. If you believe the Republicans should not control Senate, the only way to do that is to make sure the Democrat in your state, whether you live in Michigan or elsewhere, wins.

Thank you for bringing that up because the only reason I put that part in the clip is because I actually thought it's the most dangerous thing she said in terms of her like Abdul's chances because she is trying to give Michigan Democrats who are wavering on Abdul a permission structure to either vote for Rogers or just leave it blank thinking that like it's okay, we got the Senate. We're going to be fine.

We do not. do not. We do not have the Senate. Like you you could be in Michigan whether you vote for Rogers or just leave it blank, you could be the reason that we have a Republican Senate. If you are comfortable with that, then you are comfortable with that again. But just know that that that is the stakes of what's going to happen on Tuesday. Just just be aware of that. So. All right, Dan. Two more days.

Back to our Sundays. Thanks everyone. Please subscribe to Pod Save America on YouTube and we'll we'll see you tomorrow.

Bye everyone.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Even Chuck Schumer Was Disgusted By Haley Stevens' Betrayal of Abdul El-Sayed"?

Dan (Guest).

What is "Even Chuck Schumer Was Disgusted By Haley Stevens' Betrayal of Abdul El-Sayed" about?

A Michigan Democrat, Haley Stevens, rescinds her endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed for Senate and endorses Mike Rogers, arguing for party unity, condemning extremism, and prioritizing national interest over internal disagreements. The move highlights intra-party tension, with Stevens describing El-Sayed as divisive and supporting Rogers to align with the broader Democratic goal of keeping the Senate…

What is mentioned in this Pod Save America episode?

52 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed, Abdul's Campaign, Mike Rogers, Michigan, Democratic Party. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Even Chuck Schumer Was Disgusted By Haley Stevens' Betrayal of Abdul El-Sayed"?

The episode runs 28 min; the transcript is about 5,386 words in 59 timestamped sections.

More from Pod Save America

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated November 8, 2026.