U.S.THE BBN INTERVIEW

Michigan Senate debate: Rogers invokes Muslim Brotherhood five times

Republican nominee Mike Rogers accused Democrat Abdul El-Sayed of taking money from people who back Hamas, Hezbollah and al Qaeda; El-Sayed's side disputes it.

On air: Hank Ledger on BBN Tonight
Published 9:16 PM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Tonight at 9:16 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Washington Times's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by The Washington Times: “Abdul El-Sayed's Senate run dogged by alleged ties to Islamic extremists”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 9:16 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger.
Topics: Islamic, El-Sayed Senate, Muslim Brotherhood, Abdul El-Sayed, Rogers, Michigan Senate.
BBN covered this story before: Ocasio-Cortez gives $1M to El-Sayed Senate bid; NBA bans some player… (October 16).

The real story

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

The Washington TimesAbdul El-Sayed's Senate run dogged by alleged ties to Islamic extremists

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorMike Rogers said Muslim Brotherhood five times in one debate, and Abdul El-Sayed's side says the accusation doesn't hold up.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWhat do you make of that?
Prudence Okafor-LindqvistThree key takeaways. One, he said it. Two, he said it again, and that is repetition, which is the heart of messaging.
Prudence Okafor-LindqvistThree, I'm squeezing a stress ball, would you like one?
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFive times. That's the number. Is repetition a strategy or a tic?
Prudence Okafor-LindqvistOur research shows voters remember things said more than once. That insight is normally invoiced separately, but tonight it's on the house.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTonight. Right. So you charge for the obvious and call the free part a gift.
Prudence Okafor-LindqvistTwo takeaways, actually. Rogers accused El-Sayed of taking money from people who support extremist groups, which is alleged, and El-Sayed's people say it's false.
Prudence Okafor-LindqvistBoth sides sound very sure.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat's two. You said three.
Prudence Okafor-LindqvistThe third is billable separately. Here, take a stress ball.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorI counted to five myself, for free. Send the invoice to the stress ball.

▶ Watch BBN liveMore U.S. →

More Shorts

All videos →

▶ As it aired · U.S.California congressman got envelope with suspicious powder; FBI probesRead the story
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
▶ As it aired · U.S.Tourist torches paper to scare spider, burns down $112,000 Bali villaRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Penn State vs Michigan: Hot Takes on a Buffering DefenseAbout this segment
▶ As it aired · U.S.CNN's Talarico debate ambushed by young Republican starRead the story
Photo: Don Miller · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · U.S.Masked Florida man accused of bizarre bank robberiesRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Luka Dončić Voted Best Small Forward: He's a GuardAbout this segment
Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · U.S.Measles tops 4,400 cases as Obama endorsement and Texas voter…Read the story
Photo: Spicypepper999 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · U.S.Kohberger fights to remove judge who called him 'worst of the worst'Read the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Seahawks Offense Stalls: Fourteen Points Is Not a Lol, It's a SeenAbout this segment
▶ As it aired · U.S.Trump's new press secretary out after less than weekRead the story