U.S.TOP STORY

Abdul El-Sayed defends campaigning with Obama after past criticism

El-Sayed, who criticized Obama while the former president was in office, invoked his late father as he defended appearing at a campaign rally with him.

On air: Hank Ledger, Kenji Moonfield and Dale Bearman on BBN Tonight
Published 10:08 PM ET, Sunday, October 11, 2026

Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger, Kenji Moonfield and Dale Bearman on this story, from BBN Tonight at 10:08 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Daily Caller's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Barack Obama — Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by The Daily Caller: “‘Think Of My Dad’: Abdul El-Sayed Defends Campaigning With Obama After Criticizing Him During Presidency”.
Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 10:08 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger, Kenji Moonfield and Dale Bearman.
Topics: El-Sayed, Obama.
BBN covered this story before: Rubio Deputy Calls Out Obama Ambassador's 'Smug' Dismissal of Travel (October 10).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The Daily Caller‘Think Of My Dad’: Abdul El-Sayed Defends Campaigning With Obama After Criticizing Him During Presidency

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHere it is, the story we hinted at: Michigan candidate Abdul El-Sayed is campaigning with Barack Obama, a man he criticized during the Obama presidency, and tonight he is defending it.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHis answer, as the Daily Caller reports it, is to think of his dad, and he says his campaign will push in different ways than the Obama administration led.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the old criticism is still out there, and the photo op is now the newest thing on the timeline.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorA man shares a stage with the person he used to criticize. I give the awkward handshake about four seconds.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFour seconds?
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorGenerous, Hank. Politics runs on the awkward handshake, and this one has history.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSomebody will clip the old interview and the new rally side by side by breakfast. That's just the weather report of politics.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSpeaking of weather, Brock, what's the sky doing, and does it have any old criticisms of you?

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