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Abdul El-Sayed Is a Test for Democrats | The Ezra Klein Show

The Ezra Klein Show

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Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan, has been one of the most argued-over candidates this election cycle.

If he wins, he’d be the first-ever Muslim senator, and he’s faced a torrent of attacks about his faith. The race has also become a proving ground for a lot of questions about the Democratic Party and its future: What should U.S. policy toward Israel and the Palestinians be? Is the future of health care reform Medicare for all? Can a left-wing populist win in a state that twice voted for Donald Trump?

There’s been so much more heat than light in this race, so I wanted to invite El-Sayed on the show for a longer conversation. We talked about his upbringing, his views on U.S. foreign policy, his work on health care reform and what he would actually do if elected in November.

00:00 Intro
01:01 Abdul El-Sayed’s Family Roots
06:15 What It Means to Be American
16:11 How 9/11 Impacted His Identity
24:55 From Medicine to Public Health
26:44 Witnessing Systemic Failures
36:45 The Case for Medicare for All
40:53 Why Markets Fail in Healthcare
43:07 Insurance Deductibles and Incentives
45:34 Medicare Bargaining Power
46:32 The Innovation Tradeoffs Debate
47:44 Why Pharma Should Be Like Costco
52:01 Provider Rates And Choice
53:27 The Path Toward Medicare For More
56:18 Fix Medicare First
01:04:55 Attacks on El-Sayed’s Campaign
01:07:31 Why Islamophobia Is Surging
01:12:00 Israel Gaza Policy Framework
01:29:00 Book Recommendations

Read the full transcript here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/op...

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You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-...

20 Comments

@rcnotes 6 days ago

Money out of politics. Money in your pocket. Medicare for all.

@siarez 5 days ago

WOW, I don't think I have seen any politician in many many years as level headed, calm, and eloquent as this guy. Super impressed!

@Iayas-y2h 5 days ago

Michigan you have to elect this person

@sergduchini7299 5 days ago

Smart, ethical, moral. Exactly what the US needs. These ethics will frighten the establishment. It won’t tolerate it.

@danisaur6487 6 days ago

Jewish Michigander from Grand Rapids here. I voted for Abdul in the primary and ready to go vote for him to be my senator!

@Deedeemegadoodoo-t9r 5 days ago

Great guy, great candidate. He’s got this.

@literacyyoga 5 days ago

Thanks Ezra for giving Abdul the chance to speak and show who he is…

@srvrrdg 6 days ago

As a country, we have to work hard to deserve Abdul. He is a treasure.

@cemangan 5 days ago

I've been an Abdul supporter for a while, but I'm still regularly surprised at the strength of his ideas, his energy and his awareness. I hope to goodness Michigan doesn't blow its chance to have a game-changer as their next US Senator.

@Sherlock-x8h 5 days ago

I'm not American but I have been hearing about this muslim guy in Michigan running for the Senate in Michigan making waves. This is my first glimpse into who he is and what he stands for. All I can say is that I think that he is going places and he is going to be a positive force in US and global politics. I would vote for him if I lived in Michigan.

@shantydown 5 days ago

Hearing this guy talk makes me realize how low the bar is for our politicians. He has an answer for every single policy question. He’s written a book on his prominent issue. This is the type of credibility people need to be looking for. I want working class candidates and/or those who know what the hell they’re talking about, not some weird combination of well off people who have connections and lobbying capacity.

@WillowLucey-s8r 4 days ago

As a Michigander who went into healthcare and then left after realizing that there are huge roadblocks to actually getting people the help they need, I am more determined than ever to vote for this man. You can't fix the system unless you understand the problems and he's the first politician I've ever heard who has described exactly why our system is so broken

@Pamie286 6 days ago

Wow, He’s super smart and knowledgeable. I hope he will win. This is great listening.

@yogigrayhair8607 5 days ago

Wow! As a retired bilingual doctor of clinical psychology who worked 33+ years for two California counties and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, I was deeply touched when I heard Dr. Abdul El-Sayed talk about his experience working in the U. S. health care system. It is rare that someone of his caliber articulates clearly and compassionionately what I saw occurring repeatedly in that dysfunctional system. I really hope that the voters in Michigan realize what a stellar human being he is, and then elect him to represent them in the U. S. Senate!

@ccchikw 6 days ago

imagine if all politicians were as thoughtful as Abdul El-Sayed.

@ErinAynes 5 days ago

Wow! Incredible interview! Abdul gives me so much hope!!

@JonnyZye 4 days ago

This guy is a force of nature. All the best to him.

@NofOne2318 5 days ago

The biggest savings of Medicare for All is that when you can go to the doctor without cost (beyond what you're paying in taxes anyway), you go more often and you go as soon as the problem is noticed (and often it's addressed before it even becomes a problem) and correcting everything early is FAR FAR cheaper than doing it later when it's become debilitating. Regular doctor visits create a much healthier society for a lot less money.

@GibbonInAmerica 5 days ago

I had reservations about him. After seeing him here, they're gone and I'm convinced. If a self made guy like this who understands American democracy as well as anyone can't get elected, we have some big problems in this country.

@HelenMcinerney-o3c1h 5 days ago

My sister was an alcholic, yesterday was the third anniversary of her death. She was treated with the utmost kindness by the medical staff throughout her life, and we fought hard for her recovery. . Many of those nurses and doctors are immigrants to my country. Our system gives free healthcare to people like her, their humanity is acknowledged and im grateful to that system ❤ She was never less than anyone else.