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▼ Bad look for El-SayedForeign PolicyEthics / Corruption

Democrats try to divorce themselves from a toxic Hasan Piker

El-Sayed condemned antisemitism but said his campaign should focus on issues beyond the controversy over Piker.

Democrats try to divorce themselves from a toxic Hasan Piker
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This article1 analysis · Sep 28, 2026
tl;dr

Joe Concha argues that Democrats’ engagement with Hasan Piker is becoming a political liability, focusing on Ro Khanna’s defense of appearing on Piker’s show and Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign association with him. The column also cites Democratic concerns about antisemitism and FBI hate-crime data.

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Michigan Senate candidate criticized for campaigning with Hasan Piker and responding to criticism of the association.

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ro Khanna
D · CA-17

Defends his decision to appear on Hasan Piker’s show and argues Democrats should engage with Piker’s audience.

Khanna's version of this story ↗
Rick Scott
R · FL · SEN

Senator identified as the target of a call for assassination attributed to Piker.

Representative and former primary opponent of El-Sayed.

Representative quoted objecting to reporters’ questions about Piker.

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States
Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator mentioned for appearing on Piker’s show, campaigning with him, and being defended by Khanna.

Republican Michigan Senate candidate described as El-Sayed’s opponent in polling.

Kamala Harris
Former U.S. Senator (D-CA)

Former presidential candidate named in the author’s criticism of Democrats’ past election losses.

Ilhan Omar
D · MN-5

Representative mentioned as having appeared on Piker’s show.

Democratic representative mentioned for appearing on Piker’s show and campaigning with him.

ALSO MENTIONED  Hasan Piker, Political streamer whose statements and relationships with Democratic politicians are the subject of the column.; Ben Shapiro, Conservative commentator used by Khanna as a comparison to Piker.; Hillary Clinton, Former presidential candidate named in the author’s criticism of Democrats’ past election losses.; Joe Rogan, Podcaster mentioned as another comparison to Piker.; Zohran Mamdani, New York mayor mentioned as a Democrat who has appeared on Piker’s show.

Part of a bigger story

9 OUTLETS
Abdul El-Sayed Responds to Hasan Piker's Comments

Center outlets and right-leaning outlets agree that Hasan Piker's comments drew criticism and made El-Sayed's association with him a focus of his Michigan Senate campaign. Center outlets mostly recount El-Sayed's response and statements about future campaigning with Piker, alongside reactions from other Democrats. Right-leaning outlets emphasize the association's possible political costs and, in some columns, use it to question El-Sayed's broader political positioning.

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