{
  "id": 13012370,
  "title": "El-Sayed says Israel, Iran have both proven 'dangerous' to US in Michigan Senate debate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/el-sayed-says-israel-iran-have-both-proven-dangerous-to-us-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T03:02:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/international/article-911134"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During the Michigan Senate debate between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers, a heated discussion took place over Israel, Iran, and US policy in the Middle East. Moderator Rick Albin asked El-Sayed which country posed a greater threat to the United States, Israel or Iran. El-Sayed refused to pick between the two and argued that both have proven dangerous in their own ways, with Israel pushing the US into wars and Iran causing conflict and energy shortages in the region.\n\nEl-Sayed emphasized that he doesn't consider a country an ally if it pulls the United States into unnecessary wars. He further accused Israel of being responsible for the current war with Iran, stating that Israel's war aims were to annex southern Lebanon, which he questioned the safety of the US after such a war. El-Sayed firmly stated that he doesn't want to be pushed into war by Israel or Iran and doesn't consider any country an ally if it takes the US to wars it shouldn't be fighting.\n\nWhen asked about arming Israel after an Iranian attack, El-Sayed firmly said no, emphasizing that he wants American tax dollars spent at home for schools, healthcare, and other needs. Rogers disagreed and said he would provide defensive weapons to Israel if attacked. The debate became increasingly contentious, with Rogers accusing El-Sayed of failing to condemn Hamas, Hezbollah, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Muslim Brotherhood, while El-Sayed accused Rogers of turning the issue into political theater.",
  "summary": "Abdul El-Sayed repeatedly declined to say whether Iran poses a greater threat to the United States than Israel, arguing that \"both of them have proven dangerous in their own way.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Michigan, Georgia holding high-stakes Senate debates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/michigan-georgia-holding-high-stakes-senate-debates",
        "published": "2026-10-08T21:57:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Michigan Republican faces pressure during heated debate on Trump’s Canada tariffs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/michigan-republican-faces-pressure-during-heated-debate-on-trumps",
        "published": "2026-10-08T23:29:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Rogers accuses El-Sayed of Hamas and Hezbollah ties during bitter Michigan Senate debate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/rogers-accuses-el-sayed-of-hamas-and-hezbollah-ties-during-bitter",
        "published": "2026-10-09T01:08:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Fiery Georgia Senate debate gets personal: 4 takeaways",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/fiery-georgia-senate-debate-gets-personal-4-takeaways",
        "published": "2026-10-09T01:37:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Newsweek",
        "title": "Michigan Senate Debate Takeaways: Rogers, El-Sayed Clash in Fiery Showdown",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/michigan-senate-debate-takeaways-rogers-el-sayed-clash-in-fiery",
        "published": "2026-10-09T02:03:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The New York Times",
        "title": "Fiery Senate Debates in Maine, Michigan and Georgia: Five Takeaways",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/fiery-senate-debates-in-maine-michigan-and-georgia-five-takeaways",
        "published": "2026-10-09T04:01:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}