CNN Asks Michigan Dem Why She Does Not Want to Talk About Hasan Piker

Nicholas Spinnato
August 28th, 2026 10:35 AM

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On Thursday’s CNN News Central, after Michigan Democratic Representative Debbie Dingell crashed out on Wednesday in response to a reporter asking her about far-left terrorist sympathizer streamer Hasan Piker at a rally for Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el-Sayed, CNN host John Berman briefly asked her why reporters, including himself, could not ask about Piker. In an earlier hour of the show, a guest panelist agreed with Dingell and said there should be a bigger focus on topics like Canadian tariffs in the Michigan Senate race instead el-Sayed's connection to Piker.

Berman began, ”Congresswoman, you're certainly in the epicenter of a whole bunch of hot-button issues right now, both internationally, domestically, politically, right? With the Senate campaign happening in your state. And you at a rally - again, you don't like to hide, I think, your emotions here. You at a rally, we're talking about what you don't want to talk about. Let's listen”

A video clip then played of Dingell at an event for El-Sayed where he was mad about media questions over the candidate’s connection to Piker:

I'm done. This election is about what's going to happen when we elect Abdul to the United States Senate. I am done. So, don't any reporter ask me again about Hassan Piker. It's not what November is about.

 

 

Berman followed: “So, I'm a reporter. Why can't I ask you about Hasan Piker when he has campaigned with Senate candidate Abdul el-Sayed?”

Dingell went into long answers as she listed issues like health care and affordability. She then complained about the question she had received, as a Democrat, about Piker: 

And quite frankly, everywhere I've gone for the last ten days, someone throws a camera in my face or a phone in my face and asks me questions. I don't agree with him. I've made it very clear. And not only do I agree Israel's got a right to exist, but as I got more into them, it just, you know, looking at things, he said. There are a lot of things that deeply disturb me. But he's not on the ballot. And I think people are trying to distract about what's at stake and what happens and what the consequences are after November.

On an earlier hour of Thursday morning’s News Central, Berman mentioned Dingell’s remarks to a panel that included The Boston Globe’s Washington Bureau Chief Jackie Kucinich.

 

 

On an earlier hour of Thursday morning’s News Central, Berman mentioned Dingell’s remarks to a panel that included The Boston Globe’s Washington Bureau Chief Jackie Kucinich.

Kucinich responded and said, “I think whenever a politician says, don't ask me about something, just because we're just natural contrarians, we want to ask them more about it. Uh, so no, I don't think she's going to get what she wants.”

But she then seemed to agree with Dingell and wanted the focus to be on new Canadian tariffs: “However, I do think on some level she is right. I mean, look at these tariffs. Uh, the president is implementing on Canada and … ensuing tariffs that they are implementing on the United States.”

Kucinich continued, while stumbling through her answer, and said the Piker and other el-Sayed controversies “will continue to be an issue, particularly when you're talking about Mike Rogers making them an issue.”

She then admitted ” The Hasan Piker scandals aren't going to go away. And Republicans are going to make sure that they're in the forefront.”

Kucinich seemed to want to move away from Piker and placed blame on Republicans for making his connections to el-Sayed a campaign issue. It must be the Republicans' fault for highlighting that el-Sayed campaigned with a terrorist sympathy streamer, not the reality that he literally campaigned with a streamer that said America deserved 9/11.

The transcript is below. Click "expand":

CNN News Central

August 27, 2026

7:32:07 AM Eastern

(...)

JOHN BERMAN: On the subject of states that are held by Democratic senators right now that are a source of concern for Democrats. Debbie Dingell, a member of Congress from Michigan, who we're going to have on a little bit later in the show, was at a rally in Michigan where she told people there, you know, basically, I don't want to talk about Hasan Piker anymore. 

She literally said, “So, don't any reporter ask me again about Hasan Piker. It's not what November is about.”

Um, is she going to get what she wants there, Jackie?

JACKIE KUCINICH: I think whenever a politician says, don't ask me about something, just because we're just natural contrarians, we want to ask them more about it. Uh, so no, I don't think she's going to get what she wants. 

However, I do think on some level she is right. I mean, look at these tariffs. Uh, the president is implementing on Canada and … ensuing tariffs that they are implementing on the United States. It's going to have a huge impact in Michigan. Michigan already, the affordability issue is top on voters' lists. 

Now, however, you know, some of the past statements – forgive me –  of the Democratic candidate will continue to be an issue, particularly when you're talking about Mike Rogers making them an issue. But I think at the end of the day, Michigan voters are going to be voting on affordability, but the Hasan Piker scandals aren't going to go away. And Republicans are going to make sure that they're in the forefront

(...)

9:15:48 AM Eastern

BERMAN: Congresswoman, you're certainly in the epicenter of a whole bunch of hot-button issues right now, both internationally, domestically, politically, right? With the Senate campaign happening in your state. And you at a rally - again, you don't like to hide, I think, your emotions hear. You at a rally, we're talking about what you don't want to talk about. Let's listen.

[Cuts to video]

REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): I'm done. This election is about what's going to happen when we elect Abdul to the United States Senate. [Crowd cheers]

I am done. So, don't any reporter ask me again about Hassan Piker. It's not what November is about.

[Cuts back to live]

BERMAN: So, I'm a reporter. Why can't I ask you about Hasan Piker when he has campaigned with Senate candidate Abdul el-Sayed

DINGELL: Look, I'm going to - I'll tell you what I'm tired of. I'm really worried about health care. I'm worried about reversing the SNAP cuts. I'm worried about hunger. I'm worried about affordability of groceries and gasoline and housing and a broken health care system. 

And quite frankly, everywhere I've gone for the last ten days, someone throws a camera in my face or a phone in my face and asks me questions. I don't agree with him. I've made it very clear. And not only do I agree Israel's got a right to exist, but as I got more into them, it just, you know, looking at things, he said. There are a lot of things that deeply disturb me. But he's not on the ballot. And I think people are trying to distract about what's at stake and what happens and what the consequences are after November. 

And we have a lot of other candidates in Michigan who are running in very competitive seats. People need to be able to talk about the issues that are at stake in November, and a streamer who I don't understand why he's got so many followers, is not on the ballot, is not what is at stake. The person that we elect and what they're going to do in Congress, and whether they're going to rubber stamp what comes out of the White House or reverse the health care cuts that have cost millions of Americans their health insurance, is what matters to me.

BERMAN: Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, like I said, in the middle of a lot of different things right now, we always appreciate you coming on. And no swears - no swear words this morning.

DINGELL: I know I'm behaving. But I do tell it is as it is, John. I'm tired of people measuring each word and not just - I tell it as it is. People know where I stand.

(...)

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