In the final stretch of the Michigan Senate race, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed on the “On Brand” podcast. Host Donny Deutsch said El-Sayed and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani had declined to affirm Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state; Pelosi said their comments were “wrong” and not representative of congressional Democrats. Her spokesperson later said she still urged Michigan voters to support El-Sayed.
El-Sayed's Israel positions and a Rebellion PAC ad had already caused public friction with defeated Democratic primary rival Rep. Haley Stevens. Pelosi was navigating a close battleground race while trying to distance the party from accusations of antisemitism.
Nancy Pelosi did criticize Abdul El-Sayed shortly before the election, calling his and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's past comments on Israel “wrong” and not reflective of congressional Democrats. The post's 1975 trade-surplus/debt line is not the explanation for Pelosi's remarks and was not the verified reason. Self-promotional post about being interviewed; no public-interest factual claim that needs checking. “World leaders have done NOTHING to stop Putin” is opinion/rhetoric, not a checkable factual claim. Prediction/opinion about tariffs, Middle East policy, prices, and Trump taking credit.
BPelosi went after her own party's Senate nominee, days before Michigan votes.
BA post on X from mad milker asks why now.
BShe called his comments on Israel 'wrong' on a podcast?
BDonny Deutsch asked if Abdul El-Sayed affirms Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. No clear yes.
BAnd she said his comments don't represent congressional Democrats.
BThen her spokesperson turned around and said she still wants Michigan to vote for him.
BThat's exactly the problem. You can't say his comments are wrong and then tell people to vote for him anyway.
BSure you can. She's saying the alternative is worse. Politics isn't a purity test.
BBut this is about whether Israel has a right to exist. That's not some policy disagreement. If he can't say that, he shouldn't be the nominee.
BHe didn't say Israel shouldn't exist; he declined to affirm a specific framing. And she still condemned the comments. What more do you want?
BI want the party not to put someone in that position in the first place. And don't tell me she's being brave for saying it three days before the election.
BThree days before? That's a strategic move to distance herself from antisemitism accusations. She's trying to protect other Democrats.
BOh, come on. If she really believed it, she'd pull her endorsement. This is just covering herself.
BShe's not endorsing his comments; she's endorsing his opponent's defeat. That's how it works in a two-party system.
BAnd that's how you get leaders who won't even say Israel has a right to exist. Because the party stands by them anyway.
BMeanwhile, the post said she did it because of a 1975 trade surplus and debt. That's false. The trade surplus thing isn't why she criticized him.
BYeah, that part was a stretch. But it doesn't change the core problem.
BAnyway, the race is tight. We'll see if this helps or hurts.
BIt won't help in Dearborn, I'll tell you that.
BDifferent world entirely: J. Sittler on X says world leaders have done NOTHING to stop Putin, and points to a headline that Putin warns Russia is ready for war with Europe.
BThat's a claim, not confirmed yet. But if Putin is saying that publicly, it's a serious escalation.
BHe's been rattling that saber for years. This could just be more of the same.
BMaybe, but the context matters. He's under pressure, and Europe is moving closer to direct involvement in Ukraine.
BRight, but we've seen these warnings before and he hasn't gone to war with NATO.
BHe's already at war with Ukraine, and he keeps pushing boundaries. Dismissing it as bluster is exactly how surprises happen.
BFair point. I still think it's more about posturing than an actual plan, but it's worth taking seriously.
BThe account says world leaders have done nothing. That's too broad. Europe has sent billions, sanctioned Russia, trained troops. But 'nothing' is hyperbole.
BAgreed. The real question is whether that's enough to deter him.
BThat's the question. And if this report is accurate, the answer might be no.
BWe'll keep an eye on that.