SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s final U.S. Senate debate Wednesday night featured a little bit of everything: MAGA Bingo, Disney’s Fantasia, repeated references to “my guy” when Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed referred to Republican Mike Rogers – and a revealing admission from El-Sayed that he wants to expand the U.S. Supreme Court.
Former U.S. Congressman Rogers and “doctor” El-Sayed traded political punches during the one-hour WXYZ-TV debate, covering everything from Social Security and immigration to health care, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, education and election security.
And unlike some political debates, this one actually moved along. Moderators enforced the clock, repeatedly cutting off candidates when their time expired.
MAGA Bingo, Anyone?
El-Sayed introduced his own twist on a political drinking game, encouraging viewers to play “MAGA Bingo” whenever Rogers used what he characterized as Republican buzzwords to distract voters – although he never mentioned what those words were. He returned to the Bingo theme throughout the evening, repeatedly accusing Rogers of using political talking points rather than addressing substantive issues. Rogers eventually fired back with his own suggested Bingo game: Count how many times El-Sayed mentions Donald Trump.
El-Sayed also repeatedly referred to Rogers as “my guy,” occasionally sounding more like he was addressing a buddy at the neighborhood bar than his Republican opponent. Similarly on X, El-Sayed has repeatedly called Rogers the Arabic word “habibi” which means “my dear” or “my beloved” or more casually “my friend” or “my guy.”
Things became considerably less friendly though when El-Sayed repeatedly declared, “I’m talking,” three times during a heated exchange over national security and allegations involving the Muslim Brotherhood.
Supreme Court Expansion Gets a Yes From Democrat Candidate
One of the evening’s biggest revelations came during rapid-fire questioning at the end of the debate. Asked whether he supported expanding the U.S. Supreme Court, Rogers was quick to answer “no.” El-Sayed answered “yes, but fairly.”
The Supreme Court currently has nine justices. Expanding it would require congressional legislation, potentially allowing a president to appoint additional justices and change the court’s ideological balance. Many Democrats support expansion because they believe the current conservative majority has undermined abortion rights, voting protections and other liberal priorities. Republicans generally oppose the idea, arguing that adding seats for political advantage would undermine judicial independence.
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El-Sayed’s campaign website also supports ending lifetime appointments, establishing term limits and allowing an equal number of appointments during each presidential term.
ICE, Voter ID and Union Politics
On immigration, El-Sayed declared, “I believe that we don’t need [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] ICE,” proposing a return to the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Rogers defended ICE and emphasized border security and deporting dangerous criminals.
The candidates also clashed over the SAVE Act, which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration. El-Sayed called it “voter suppression,” arguing that married women who changed their names could face documentation difficulties. Rogers defended voter identification requirements as reasonable safeguards that strengthen election confidence.
El-Sayed also wore a big UAW button during the debate and pointed to the union’s endorsement. Rogers countered by promoting “UAW for Rogers,” a coalition of union members supporting his campaign. The distinction matters: The UAW organization officially endorsed El-Sayed, but individual members are free to support Rogers.
From Social Security to Fantasia
On Social Security, Rogers called for bipartisan solutions and combating fraud, while El-Sayed proposed eliminating the payroll-tax earnings cap.
On artificial intelligence, El-Sayed compared the technology’s potential to multiply itself to the multiplying broomsticks in Disney’s Fantasia, warning about uncontrolled AI development. Rogers favored national-security safeguards and industry cooperation.
Rogers repeatedly emphasized Michigan manufacturing, American energy production, tax relief, public safety and keeping Chinese automakers from threatening domestic jobs. He portrayed El- Sayed’s Medicare for All proposal and other policies as costly government expansion. El-Sayed focused on getting money out of politics, affordability, health care and opposition to Trump’s policies.
By the end of the night, viewers had plenty of policy differences to consider – and with both candidates delivering their own carefully rehearsed talking points, there were likely enough political buzzwords to fill Bingo cards on both sides of the aisle.
