Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate from Michigan, has come under scrutiny for accusations of ‘champagne socialism’ due to his reported household income of $686,069 in 2025. This figure considerably exceeds Michigan’s median income. The accusations tie in with his known association with streamer Hasan Piker, notorious for comments on 9/11.
An assessment by the Media Research Center (MRC) showcased that top 20 headlines on Apple News and Google News failed to present negatively framed stories about El-Sayed in the lead-up to the primary elections. According to MRC President David Bozell, this representation might prevent voters from receiving a full impression of the candidate. He cautioned that the algorithms and editorial choices of these news platforms often shape public opinion by selecting what news to highlight.
The MRC tracked Google News up until July 21, using keywords like ‘Michigan’, ‘Abdul’, and ‘El-Sayed’. Researchers concluded that the snapshot method employed in their study might not fully capture the range of available stories; however, it did highlight a bias in favor of left-leaning outlets. The report pointed out inconsistencies in the total count of stories with 13 reported from left-leaning outlets in one section and 16 in another.
In connection with the study, David Bozell related the findings to a similar investigation of Graham Platner, a Maine Senate candidate who faced multiple controversies. The study suggested that Google News neglected to feature over 250 articles about controversies involving both El-Sayed and Platner, while 69% of Google News selections came from left-leaning outlets.
MRC argued this bias offers a skewed view of political narratives, questioning if users get a comprehensive overview of candidates via Google News. Furthermore, the investigation claimed that Google News methodology might skew perceptions by not addressing story updates, user interests, and location influences.
Fox News Digital sought responses from Apple, Google, and El-Sayed but did not receive immediate comments. Stories identified by MRC discussed El-Sayed’s use of the physician title, his collaborations with Hasan Piker, endorsements from leaders like Osama Siblani, and his policy stands on topics such as Medicare for All.
El-Sayed also garnered criticism after CNN’s Manu Raju queried him about the Israeli government’s actions compared to Hamas. El-Sayed replied by labeling both as evil due to the acts they have committed.
The upcoming primary on August 4 will now feature El-Sayed opposing Rep. Haley Stevens, following the suspension of state Sen. Mallory McMorrow’s campaign. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has endorsed Stevens, creating a charged atmosphere for the Michigan Senate race.
In response to the MRC study, Google disputed its methodology highlighting its inadequacy in accounting for various dynamic factors like updates and interests. Apple noted that while its Top Stories are curated uniformly across users, personalization affects other aspects of the feed.