Comedy Central’s all-out effort to drag Abdul El-Sayed across the finish line in Michigan’s Senate race continued on Thursday when The Daily Show host Ronny Chieng mocked Republican Mike Rogers for asking El-Sayed about his affinity for terrorist organizations.
Chieng introduced a clip of ABC’s Jay O’Brien by declaring, “And with control of the Senate hanging in the balance, the debates are starting to get a little heated.”
After a clip of ABC's Jay O'Brien falsely saying Mike Rogers "without providing evidence" attempted "to link El-Sayed to Islamic extremists," The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng mocked Rogers, "It’s a brilliant move. 'You got me. I am a terrorist. I wasn't going to admit it unless… pic.twitter.com/hKNh5Y0kPf
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) October 23, 2026
In the clip, O’Brien also went to bat for El-Sayed, “A fiery debate in Michigan in a race that could determine control of the Senate. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed facing off against former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers. Rogers, without providing evidence, attempting to link El-Sayed to Islamic extremists.”
Rogers was then seen asking, “Are you for America or are you for these terrorist groups overseas?”
Instead of mocking O’Brien for ignoring El-Sayed’s praise for the Muslim Brotherhood or his “hurt people, hurt people” response to the Hezbollah-inspired Temple Israel attack—both of which he is now trying to run away from—or his belief that he couldn’t speak out too harshly against the ayatollah after he was killed because Dearborn residents were sad after his death, Chieng decided to mock Rogers.
Chieng responded by sarcastically asserting, “It’s a brilliant move. ‘You got me. I am a terrorist. I wasn't going to admit it unless someone asked me, for I am the one terrorist who also cannot tell a lie. I'm the George Washington of al-Qaeda.’"
Abdul El-Sayed is the type of politician who, in a normal world, would be a comedian’s dream come true, but for Comedy Central, the joke is on Rogers for simply pointing out El-Sayed’s radicalness because in the realm of late night, Democrats come first and comedy comes second.
Here is a transcript for the October 22 show:
Comedy Central The Daily Show
10/22/2026
11:01 PM ET
RONNY CHIENG: And with control of the Senate hanging in the balance, the debates are starting to get a little heated.
JAY O’BRIEN: A fiery debate in Michigan in a race that could determine control of the Senate. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed facing off against former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers. Rogers, without providing evidence, attempting to link El-Sayed to Islamic extremists.
MIKE ROGERS: Are you for America or are you for these terrorist groups overseas?
CHIENG: It’s a brilliant move. "You got me. I am a terrorist. I wasn't going to admit it unless someone asked me, for I am the one terrorist who also cannot tell a lie. I'm the George Washington of al-Qaeda."
