Extended Interview: Republican Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers

You were in Congress for 14 years. You retired. You spent eight years in. the private sector. And then you got back into politics in. 2024. >> Yeah. >> At this moment, why do you want to be a United States. Senator? >> Our state's in trouble. We've lost. 200,000 manufacturing jobs since the. 2000. We have the highest utility rates in the. Midwest. We have the highest auto. insurance in the country. We have our.

overall economic rating that you is 46. And this is the one that really got us. off the couch and into the game. 2/3 of our fourth graders can't read at. the fourth grade level. If you can't. read at the fourth grade level by the. fourth grade, you have a 70% chance of. going to prison or being on welfare. If we don't fix that, this country is in. serious trouble. And it's not just here, but I have the solution for this based. on things that we've done. So when you. looked at all of those things, can we.

help on the. bring back manufacturing? Yes. Can we. help lower utility rates? Absolutely. Can we help housing here? The average. new homeowner is 40 years old. Can we. fix that? Yep, you bet. Can we fix this. education problem? Can we put shop back. in schools? Can we get kids connected to. the skilled trades? The answer on all of. that is yes. And so we thought, you know. what? We've done well in the private. sector. I've been a cyber security guy. for the last decade. And I think we can. take what I learned in Congress, what I. learned in the private sector, and fix.

these big important problems. >> So that's an answer that's about. Michigan. But you're running in a national. environment, right? Politics is local, but politics is very national these. days. And midterms are always tough for. the incumbent party. This midterm is shaping up to be. especially tough for Republicans. nationwide. So as a Republican. candidate, why do you think Republicans. have an uphill battle in 2026? >> Well, I'm not worried about any other. Republican right now. I'm worried about.

Michigan. I got in for Michigan. We've. talked about local issues. We've had. lots of national reporters come here and. want to talk about everything else other. than Michigan and I think they missed. something. This is a change election in Michigan. So the last 8 years have been the. Democrats have been in charge of our. state in Lansing and the last quarter. century two Democrat US Senators. In all. of that time, all of those negative. trends that I just talked about being. $10,000 below the median wage, they're. feeling it here in a different way. And.

so when you talk about other states that. have had you know that are more red, this is purple. We're I think. Michiganders are looking at this saying. who is the best choice to make my life. easier going forward and keep my kids. with the option of staying in Michigan. That's what we talk about. We talk about. it every day. We talk about it. everywhere. And we've gotten into coalitions that no. Republican. certainly in my time in the state has. gotten into and that that part is a. dynamic change and it's all about.

opportunity and hope and prosperity. That's why this is so different and. that's why I don't really care what's. happening around the country. I need to. fix Michigan. >> But you are running to join a existing. Republican Senate majority in Washington. that's really unpopular. And I feel like. part of your pitch has to be to answer. the question. what's going to be different. for a Republican majority if Mike Rogers. is part of it. What is going to be different? >> Well, I'll get things done. So again, I'm going to be a broken record on this.

because this is what we're focused on. If we don't get our kids reading, we are. in serious serious trouble. So there. were five different companies around. that I bumped into early on in the. campaign. where and these are fabrication shops, tool and die shops, that that kind of. thing. So they're not huge, they're. smaller. telling me they're taking the measuring. tape question off of the interview. process to get kids interested in. getting in there and getting their. getting their hands dirty building some. amazing things. And I asked why would. you do that? And they said because we.

can't find a high school graduate that. understands fractions on a tape. measure.". And my dad was a shop teacher. He made. sure all five of us boys took shop. That's a huge problem. Uh here in the. city of Detroit, where we're filming. this, 15% of eighth graders can read in. the eighth grade. About 12% can do math. at the eighth grade level. You are. punishing those kids and sending them on. a path to poverty. Uh and I'm just not. willing to do that. And so, when I get.

back, I'm going to use the skills that I. developed when I was there, my private. sector skills in the last decade or so. in the private sector cybersecurity. business, uh and I'm going to put those coalitions. together to start fixing this. I don't. care who's there. Honestly, I don't care. if we're. if we're not. >> you Why do you think those coalitions. aren't getting put together right now? >> I think it takes two people. It It's. hard. It was hard when I did it. And. when I was chairman of the House. Intelligence Committee, uh. I we sat down with my I call him my. partner in the project, not my vice. chairman or ranking member. We said,

"Listen, if this is national security is. important, can we set aside differences. to make sure that the national security. of the United States is protected?" Uh. we came to the conclusion we have to do. it. He was a former prosecutor. I'm a. former FBI special agent. Uh that I think uh went a long way, and. we were able to get amazing things done. when we were doing it together. It does. take some skill. It takes some time. It. takes some effort. I have relationships. of people I know that went from the. House to the Senate. I know where to. start those conversations, uh and I know.

how to have those conversations. I think. Americans want us to get together on. things like kids reading. I think they. want us to get together on making sure. that if you're in your 20s, you have the. capability to buy a new home. Uh I I just passionately believe it. And. here, defense industrial base work that. helps America should happen in Michigan. They're going to have an advocate right. here to make sure that we do that. Shipbuilding, drone building, other. things can happen right here. That's how. I know it's going to get done. >> So, what's the number one piece of.

legislation you'd want to work on on a. bipartisan basis if you were in the. Senate? >> Reading. >> Literacy. You know, we got onto this. based on the fact that. so many people who are taking the. military test as I said, I'm a big. military family, my father, my brother, me, our son is fourth generation, my. wife served in Iraq, her father was a retired lieutenant. colonel. So, I you know, pay attention. to these things. Service is important. to us protecting America, those kinds of. things. Patriotism runs deep in our. family.

One of the big reasons they were missing. recruiting during COVID and other places. was they kids weren't reading well. enough to pass the test. in America in 2026. If we don't change that, we are all in. trouble. So, I have a plan to do it. That's going to be the first effort that. I do. We're going to follow it up with. housing. I'd love to put shop back in. every high school. I'd love to get. skilled trades ramped up here so that. kids can go for a job that AI won't. won't replace and China can't steal. I.

think those are the kinds of things that. I can get done soon because of the way I. can. build these coalitions to get it done. >> What are you hearing on the campaign. trail? What's the number one issue for. voters? >> Cost. I mean, you know, fuel costs are. are it's just a heavy burden. And of. course, that raises food costs, which is. also a heavy burden. And so, we talk. about the you know, we're I've called. for an end to the Iran conflict. I. believe it needs to end. They did their. original objective, which I did support, making sure they don't have a nuclear.

capability to build a nuclear weapon. Army, Navy, and Air Force is diminished. where they can't hurt their neighbors. My argument is time to wrap it up. Don't. keep this thing going. >> Is that the biggest driver of inflation, the Iran war? >> I think well, when you have prices that. fuel prices that have raised raised this. high, it definitely has an impact on. food prices and everything you buy. So, I think it has been a major driver in. that. And I think the the the president's. actually done a good job getting costs.

under control where he can and where he. can influence, making sure we have. American energy, the deregulation of it. So, when the conflict ends, I think. you're going to see a very quick. turnaround on prices. Uh you know, fuel is coming down. Uh. diesel is a problem here. That's why. I've called for a temporary export ban. to make sure we're dealing uh with the. heavy costs that's happening in. agriculture primarily, right? In in. September and October, two very very. important months in the state of. Michigan, second most diverse.

agricultural busi-. crops in the United States. People don't. realize that about Michigan. And. September and October is important. Those high diesel prices, we had to do. something about. So, I called for. uh you know, a export ban and a. agricultural rebate. So, when I get. elected, I'm going to work on making. sure those uh farmers are are held. harmless on those fuel prices. >> What do you say to a voter who says, "I. hated inflation under Joe Biden. I voted for Donald Trump and the. Republicans to bring down inflation. They didn't bring it down. It's still.

bad.". >> What do I say to. >> What do you What do you What do you say. to that? You're asking that You're. asking that voter to to send you to the. Senate as a member of a Republican. majority. And that voter says, "Hey, I. just voted for Republicans and inflation. is still high.". >> Yep. We I talk about getting out of the. war. That's going to start the first. pressure. The second part is listening to what. Democrats are offering you. for their solution. The green new deal, which will raise. property uh excuse me, utility rates.

here $2,000 per house. $2,000. It'll. increase gas prices by 20 cents a. gallon. If you remember what happened. during the Biden administration, that 9%. huge amounts of spending, and also they. mounted this huge regulatory and mandate. regime on car companies, on you, and. everything. That drove rates up. It's. going to take time to peel out of some. of that. Um and yes, I do think the Iran. conflict added to some of the increases.

in these fuel costs that are hurting. families. That's why we've got to. unravel this thing and find creative. ways to get to them, which is why I. called for a tax [snorts] holiday on. fuel for commuters. I mean, that commute. is getting rough. That's 70 cents a. gallon that Democrats in Lansing just. raised just raised gas tax 20 cents a. gallon. So, it's up to 52 cents here in. the state of Michigan. We said, let's. get a gas. holiday until the conflict is done to. try to give a little relief. Democrats. said, "No." We said, "Yes." To me, it's. a great example.

of what you're going to get if the. Democrats take over control again. They're going to raise those regulatory. requirements, raise the cost of utility. rates and gasoline. And it won't have anything to do with. the Iran war. And that's what I keep. telling people. This is we we have a. plan. We're going to get it done. You. know, let's work through this when I get. there. And I'm not there now, but when I. get there, we're going to make sure that. all of our prices start to come down. when this conflict is over for sure. >> How do you think President Trump's. second term has gone. overall so far? >> Well, if you're Michigan and you're.

thinking about what happened here, you. know, the Chevy Silverado is built in. Mexico. They. General Motors just announced it's. coming back to Michigan. Um and it is. that's huge for us. It's a multi-billion. dollar investments at that it's plant. called the Orion plant. Detroit Diesel is adding a third shift. for the first time. These small. manufacturers I was telling you about. are now getting extra work, extra shifts. because there's reshoring happening. I. think that's great. I do believe if you.

had an Iran with a nuclear weapon and. you know, what I knew in 2014 as the. chairman of the House Intelligence. Committee, they were the big debate in. the intelligence business was is it 6. months, 8 months, or a year, is it less? Iran gets a nuclear weapon, you're. paying $8 a gallon gas if you're lucky. because they do control the straits if. that happens. And so, I do believe that. had to happen. Now, they just got to. wrap it up a little sooner than I think. they had anticipated, but they've got to. get that done. I've called them to get. it done. When I go back to the Senate, I'll work to make sure that gets done.

But I do believe that there are good. things that happened. We have cherry. farmers that were getting ready to go. out of business. in because the Turks were sending. cherries to Brazil, sprinkling some. water on it, sending it to uh uh this. the uh the rest of the country, and it. really hurt our cherry farmers. They. couldn't even put cherries in a carton. for what they were charging for those. cherries because they were subsidized by. the Turkish government. >> So that's So that's a case. That's a. case. So you think the Trump tariffs. overall, which is clearly one of the.

administration's signature economic. policies, has been good for Michigan? >> Uh I I do. I don't I don't like the. Canadian tariffs. I've said so. I've you. know, raised my concerns to the. Secretary of. uh Commerce. >> And what did he say? >> Uh I'll get back to you. >> Uh-huh. Why do Why do you think that. there's a wave of tariffs. on Canada? Why do you think we have this. trade war? >> Canada is not innocent in this. They. have Some of Some of these tariffs are. 400%. They really hurt our dairy farmers.

here in Michigan and other industries. There has to be a fairer trade. Uh I'm. just saying the way they did it. I think. they forgot about how integrated we are. in the automobile business here. Uh when uh you know, the the Jeep uh. Cherokee, it goes over that bridge. probably a dozen times between Detroit. and Windsor. uh on its manufacturing journey. That's. really hard to unravel. What does that. mean for tariffs and other things? And I. think that was a kind of a hurdle at our. car companies that they probably didn't.

need. So, here's the thing I tell people. on this. Do you want to send somebody back that. can actually sit down and have a. conversation and get it fixed? If it's. good for Michigan, I'm for it. If it's. bad for Michigan, I'm against it. Or do. you want to send somebody back that's. trying to build a movement that's. separate from what's happening right. here in the state of Michigan? I I argue. that's why the numbers are moving our. way. Our coalitions are moving our way. People are ready for a senator who pays. attention to Michigan and can actually. fix and get things done. >> Why can't other Republican senators fix.

it, though? Right? Like right now, there's a Republican Senate majority. Right? Obviously, I would guess that there's a lot of. Republicans in the Senate. They don't. represent Michigan, but they represent. other states affected by the trade war. I'm sure they would agree with most of. what you've just said. Why can't they get the White House to. change course? >> Well, you need one more Republican. senator there. That's how you do it. >> Okay. >> And I'm not I'm absolutely willing to. have those conversations with the. president. As a matter of fact, the.

Gordie Howe Bridge, which is not far. from where we're filming right now, got. shut down because of this conflict. between the Canadian government and uh. the White House. I was able to call, work through it, we got it open. Right? To me, that's exactly what you want in a. US senator from Michigan. As a matter of. fact, there was some FEMA money up. north. We had a horrible ice storm. uh that did a ton of damage up there. that uh families were having a hard time. getting through. We had FEMA money. snagged up because there was a dispute.

between the governor uh and the White. House. I was able to get that worked. out, free up that FEMA money. I'm not. even a US senator yet. So, give me the. opportunity. When I go back, I'm going. to get these things fixed. I'm pretty. practical. I'm not going back to be a. senator. I'm going back to be a Michigan. guy who helps Michigan move forward and. stop this decline that we've been on for. the last 8 years. >> How about Iran? You've said you've called for the war to. end. >> Mhm. >> You said you supported the war in the. beginning. >> Supported the objectives, yes, I did. >> What What has gone wrong between.

the beginning and where we are right. now? >> Not sure what the I don't have access to. the intelligence. Um. my you know, when they told us originally it was. whatever it was 6 and then it was it. started creeping up. I knew there was. some some issues, but they did accomplish their original. objectives, at least from what I can. glean, which was that you know, getting. rid of their nuclear program. Army, Navy, Air Force is diminished because. they were causing harm.

Uh and remember, it was Iran that. sponsored Hamas to go to this October. 7th attack that slaughtered brutally. 1,200 people. Killed Killed and raped. They cut breasts off of women. I mean, this thing was horrific. And we. sometimes in America, I think we're so. desensitized to violence that we didn't. understand what happened on that day. And so they support Hamas, they support. Hezbollah, they support the Houthis. So. all of that problem is all coming out of. Iran. I tell people who tell me that I.

don't want to send money to Israel. Okay, here's how we do that. We get rid. of uh make sure that Iran is now part of. the uh league of of nations that respect. their borders and other people. They're. not the leading sponsor of terror. And. guess what? The Hamas, the Houthis, the. uh Hezbollah lose their funding, which. they should. Guess what? Those go away. We don't have to do anything for Israel. That place will be a boom in the a whole. corridor of the Middle East. They have. been the leading sponsor of terrorism in.

the world. All of those deaths, all of. the chaos, and that's where they live. And so. >> Okay, but that's So that's a good case. for the United States being in a. conflict with Iran. But you say you want. the conflict to end. And as far as I can. see, and you were chairman of the House. Intelligence Committee, you're not read. in now, but I assume you have a good. sense of the landscape in the Middle. East. Right now, Iran the Iranian regime. is still in power. They're battered, but. not, you know, there hasn't been regime.

change. You mentioned the Houthi. >> Mhm. >> with Iranian support have become more. powerful, threatening Saudi Arabia, right? Uh and. the key issue. Strait of Hormuz. we had do have oil and gas moving. through there, but only because of a. massive US naval presence. So if that's the context, what does it. mean to say we should end the war? >> So there was a very strong containment. strategy uh actually under the first.

administration for for the Trump. administration that I thought was really. good. You take that same containment. strategy and you lay over it Iran under. its current condition. I think that. thing starts to uh heal itself on the. inside, meaning uh we know that there. are people there who want to this regime. to end. Um I think that helps empower. people to be able to do that themselves. We just don't need three carrier groups. there. >> But what if you if you take two carrier. groups away, and then.

then then you then it's harder to move. oil and gas through, then Michigan or. gas prices go up, right? It doesn't seem. as easy to get out of it. >> Well, I'm going to disagree with your. premise of your question. I do think we. can get back to the fact that we can use. that containment policy. When we had it, we didn't have three carrier groups. there. >> So what's in the. >> still do a lot. >> What's in the containment policy? >> Well, it is sanctions. Really, really. important. You got to have sanctions. that are almost crippling for them and.

is crippling. You have to have enough. firepower that if they stick a shovel in. the ground in one of those nuclear sites. that they don't ever do that again. And. so we can do that with a less presence. in Iran and the presence is going to. have to wrap it up. >> It just seems like though that strategy. given the willingness that they have. shown to attack our Gulf allies, to. attack energy infrastructure, that just. doesn't sound like a strategy.

that. is compatible with simply withdrawing a. lot of American forces. It It doesn't. seem like a war-ending strategy right. now. >> That's your opinion. >> Okay. You would not be happy if the president. after the midterm election decided to. escalate against Iran. >> I'm not even going to speculate on that. I I don't have access to what they have. Um I know that we got to wrap this thing. up. Uh I think it would be best. if the current regime was so fragile. that the people of Iran had the.

capability to kind of vote their own way. and their own future. I think that would. be the best thing for national security. for the United States. Oh, and by the. way, the rest of the world and the rest. of the region. I think that would be. more for peace than we possibly could. imagine. >> Is there one thing that you think the. administration isn't doing right now on. that front or any other that they should. be doing that would be more likely to. bring about regime change or any other. good outcome? >> I mean, listen, they have certain. capabilities. I don't know if they're. using them or not.

to help empower people of Iran. to stand up for themselves. Now, I do. think there's a reason that the Iranians. slaughtered 50,000 people within the. first month. I don't think they were. random killings. I think those were. killings of people that their. intelligence services identified as a. possible threat to their regime. I think. that was very orchestrated and that. slaughter was horrific and unfortunate. But they did that for self-preservation. So, I think whatever they're doing next. on that side of that equation, I think.

they it's going to be a a little bit. more challenging to get those people in. the right place at the right time with. the right equipment. But I think that's. absolutely doable. Again, from what I saw back you know, a. decade ago. There's obviously a lot of. things change. >> On both of these issues, foreign policy. and war and tariffs, the Senate has ceded a fair amount of. power to the president. President has. tariff power that's been granted to him. by Congress. Congress has war powers.

that are exercised less and less these. days. Tariffs first. Would you support as a United States. Senator, as a Republican Senator, trying. to override the president on tariffs. that you disagree with like the Canadian. tariffs? >> Yeah, if the opportunity were if I can't. work it out and it came to that, yeah, absolutely. And I'll tell you why. Listen, the Senate has an important. role. Every state has its own unique. equities. And sometimes that. one-size-fits-all just doesn't work in. America. So, you want somebody that's.

going to go back to the United States. Senate and represent my state of. Michigan. As I told you, if it's good for Michigan, I'm going to. be for it. If it doesn't work for. Michigan, I'm going to be against it. At. least I have someone there that can have. that conversation and try to get this. thing unentwined. So, absolutely. Well, I'll use the tools. of the Senate. to help Michigan. And that doesn't mean. you have to walk in with a club and an. angry voice to get it done. >> Same kind of question on Iran. You want. the Iran war to end?

Let's say you're in the Senate, 6 months. go by, the US is still in some kind of. quagmire, would you support Senator. congressional action to bring the war to. an end? >> Hypothetical, I'm not going to go there. What I can tell you is and this is what. people they want a very binary answer on. a very complicated set of issues set and. and so. >> That's the the weakness of journalists, yes. >> it sure is. And so once I get there, I'll guarantee you what I'm doing is. doing all my homework on what is the. facts on the ground, where are we, where's the status of our military, where's the status of our intelligence.

services on and their assessments on. what's happening on the ground. I will. take all of that information. I don't. have access to any of it. I'll take all. that information to try to get this. thing wrapped up. I'll offer. suggestions, I'll do what I can do. I. can Again, it's better to have somebody. in the room with having that discussion. with that outcome in mind versus not. having anyone in and they're just. lobbing rocks and want America to fail. I think that's maybe the worst place. that they could be just wanting to.

have America not not come out of there. with a with the best outcome possible. >> Let's stay with foreign policy. You. mentioned Israel. >> And by the way, which hardly gets talked. about here, but let's talk about it. >> Well, it get it. It doesn't get talked about here except. in the context of gas prices, inflation, right? Like clearly you yourself are. making the argument that there's a. strong connection between the Middle. East, what's going on in the Middle East. and the concerns of voters here. And one. of the issues that's I think a big deal. for your opponent's campaign.

in terms of his ability to hold together. the the Democratic coalition is the. relationship between the US and Israel. And your opponent is a fierce critic of. that relationship and the way the US and. Israel have sort of done business and. what we have been getting out of that. alliance. Tell me what you think the US gets out. of its alliance with Israel. >> Well, and and I passionately defend. Israel's right to defend itself and to.

exist as a Jewish state. That sets me at. odds with my opponent right off the bat. He refuses to even acknowledge that. Israel has the right to exist. He. equates Iran. with Israel. The leading state sponsor of terror in. the world with Israel. I I think that's. unqualifying to go into the United. States Senate. If you don't know who. your friends and enemies are around the. world, that's trouble. And so I start. there. I think he's wrong on it. His. language is wrong. They use terms like. genocide, chanting from the river to the.

sea. I I will tell you there are Jewish. students at University of Michigan that. my wife and I talked to who have to hide. their star of David to walk across. campus because the harassment is so bad. Think of that. I I was actually in a. with students earlier today where one of. the questions was, "I'm not sure I. understand this APAC thing or Jewish or. whatever or Israel." They don't know. But by way all of their information. they're getting is very anti-Israel. And. when leaders who are saying things like.

genocide, saying they have blood lust, saying that they don't have the right to. exist, you're ramping up this language. and it's not him, but it's the. supporters that we worry about because. we see that in action. When Jewish. members of Michigan walking across that. campus have to hide who they are, we're. in trouble. That is anti-American. That's not just anti-Jewish and it is, it's anti-American. That language he does he should not get. a pass on his language on this. It is.

causing fear, anger, division, which is. why Jewish Democrats for Rogers fast. growing. coalition for us because they're worried. about their kids and what kind of. America they get to grow up in. And this. is becoming part of the Democrat. socialist agenda. that you have to be anti-Israel. Right. down the road here they were having a. huge 7,000 delegate meeting in. for. the Democrats and one of the things is. you had to be you had to say it's a.

genocide to get in the room. What? This is becoming really dangerous. and really fast. And I will guarantee. you when I go back to the United States. Senate, we're going to get we're going. to make plans to make sure that this. isn't baked into America in the future. If you can imagine taking two 2% of our. population and demonizing them, when. that's done, where do they go next? This this is is that serious. We see it. on the ground here in Michigan. >> What do you when you say. you'll make sure that this isn't the.

future? What does that mean? What can. the US Senate do about anti-Semitism? >> We're going to make sure we start at our. universities. They're going to have real. anti-Semitic programs with teeth. Uh and. we have ways that we can encourage them. to do the right thing. I've already. talked to people on. uh regents at the University of Michigan. and said I'm coming as soon as I am. elected before I'm sworn in, we're going. to start having these conversations. They just had indictments for students. for part of the pro-Palestinian movement. in our University of Michigan. Eight.

indictments. Matter of fact, one of them. worked for Abdul El-Sayed. Right? And that language, that anger, that divisiveness got translated into. things like throwing a chemical device. into the. uh. window of one of the Jewish regents. there in in Michigan, we have regents. that run the university. And and all of. them got things like their tires. slashed, graffiti, all of these things. And it whips these young folks into. doing things they ought not to be doing.

And it's angry and it's divisive. And so. that's one way we think we can do it. I. don't think Qataris should be sending. money to our universities. I think we. have to relook at that very seriously uh. to make sure that they're not. influencing. uh these colleges to take a stance. against uh anti-Semitism. And it it. believe me, it's blown past it here in. Michigan to being anti-Jewish. If you. can't condemn a terrorist who tried to. kill 130 children right here in Michigan. uh. by a put explosives in the back and.

gasoline, drove through the door trying. to set it off. You can't condemn that. You don't. understand how serious that is. Man, you. have no business being in the United. States Senate. >> I think what your opponent said in that. case was that he condemned. the. attempted terror attack, but he said. something like hurt people hurt people. Right? That basically a lot of the. animus towards Israel, the rage you're. describing, comes out of Israel's own. policies in the region.

What do you think of how Israel has. prosecuted the war in Gaza? >> So, we we believe that the terrorist who. tried to kill 130 kids has the right to. do that because he disagreed with policy. 5,000 mi away? That's what he said. And he said, "I'm. sorry. >> He didn't say the context. He did To to. be clear, I don't He did not say he had. the right to do that. I think he was he. was offering. >> You and I are interpreting this. language. And And the good news And the. good news is you don't vote here because. these Jewish Democrats are coming.

forward like crazy. >> Because they heard exactly what he did, which was say it's contextual. I don't. You can't This is how we get to violence. on campuses and and chemical weapons. thrown through people's doors because. they're Jewish. We have to stop this and stop it now. And I don't know why the press wants to. play games with how he very carefully. words his condemnation, but this thing. has grown out of control. >> I guess I'm just interested in where you. think.

the rage and anger. and anti-Israel sentiment that you're. describing. comes from. Because you also see Okay, because you also see it on the political. right. There are people in the Republican. coalition who have become very, very. harshly critical of Israel. And it has. surged at a time when Israel has been. making war in Gaza. So, that's why I. asked about. >> Are we going to talk about what's going. on in Michigan, by the way? We've spent. a lot of time on foreign policy.

I'm running for Michigan. I know you guys are out of town, but. what's happening here in Michigan is why. I'm doing as well as I am. >> Okay. So, we'll just keep it to. Michigan. You were just describing what. you see as the rise of anti-Semitism. and anti-Israel sentiment in Michigan. >> Yep. It's happening. >> think that that has anything to do with. events in the Middle East? >> Well, I certainly think that on October. 7th. when terrorists funded by Iran came. across the border, raped, murdered,

killed whole families, put babies in. ovens, literally tore women's cut women's. breasts off. Yeah, you bet. As a former army officer and a special. agent, that gets my blood going. That. that kind of terrorist activity gets a. kind of a pass because they don't like. the fact that Israel decided, "I'm not. going to let that happen to my people. again.". Think about that. And you know, that's. equivalent of if if the Mexicans decided. to come over the border and do the same. exact thing, that would be 40,000.

Americans raped, murdered, kidnapped. back across the border, what would we. do? I would hope we'd have the courage. to do what we needed to do. So, yeah, this this. >> So, is that is is. >> But but the language is important. You I. I hear you giving them a pass for the. language. I hear a lot of press giving. them a pass for the language, which is. why this thing continues to spiral out. of the ground. We need to call it what. it is. And they have created language that is. angry and divisive, which is why the you.

very unique coalitions that are forming. around my campaign are going to allow us. to win in November. You can't disregard those people or. their feelings or the feelings of the. safety of their children when they walk. on a campus because they're Jewish. We. can't let this happen. I don't care if. it's right or left. I don't care who it. is. It's wrong, and I'm going to do. something about it when I become a US. senator. >> I want to promise you that my next. question after we leave this topic is. going to be about that coalition and. what you're building in Michigan. But I.

I promise. But I want to just stay with. the topic of Israel for a moment and. just get your view on. the the nature of the US-Israel. alliance, what we get out of it, and you suggested. that basically they. did what they needed to do in Gaza. Is. that just Is that your assessment of. Israel's war in Gaza? >> You You'll never get to a solution if. Hamas is in charge of anything. They are. a terrorist organization, and you saw. what they're capable of on October 7th.

Uh. you know, could one thing or two things be done. differently? I'm again, I don't have. access to all that you know, on the. ground information. Maybe. But think about what they They just got. attacked. 1,200 people. And no, America seems to forget have. forgotten about it. They just walk past. it. And now all the language is all. forgiving. Oh, he he said it's okay. No, that's not what's happening. And I see. it. because I see it on campuses here, where.

the rhetoric is causing huge problem. The next generation of kids thinks it's. really cool. to be against the Jews. What are we. doing? This sounds like 1933. It doesn't. sound like today. And that's not the. America I wore the uniform to defend, and that's not the America I want to. live in. So we're going to have to have. conversations, and some of them are. going to be really hard. >> But if you have those conversations, and. one of those kids says, "You're a senator Let's say you're a. senator at this point." And they say, "Look, Senator Rogers, I'm not an anti-Semite.

I support Israel's right to exist. I. just think they went too far and. committed war crimes in Gaza. I'm. curious what you say to that.". >> Fair conversation, but that's That's not. who we're talking about. We're talking. about a guy who does not believe Israel. has the right to exist. Don't I wouldn't lose sight of that. He. just said it again. He just came out the. other day and said Israel is our enemy. Doesn't have the right to exist. It's. not about Netanyahu. It's about Israel. I don't know how much clearer it can be, and then I don't know why people are. willing to give this guy a pass on any.

of that. We've talked a lot about. everything other than the great state of. Michigan and how I'm going to win. >> But isn't this I think this is part of I. I'm going to ask it again. You can say. You can say whatever you want, and then. we'll move on. But, when I look at polls, if you look at just again, among. Republican voters, younger Republican voters are less. supportive of Israel than older. Republican voters. And I feel like if you got in a. conversation with. whether it's younger Republicans or.

younger progressives on college. campuses, they would say to you. something like, "I'm not an anti-Semite. I'm not anti-Israel, but I think Israel. committed war crimes or went too far in. the war in Gaza." And I'm just curious. what you, as someone running to help. conduct US foreign policy, says to that. complaint or critique. >> You You have to separate criticism of. Israel. from criticism. of being Jewish. They have not mastered that. The all of. the information pouring in on these.

kids' phones. is decidedly It's not just anti- It's It. is out and out anti-Jewish. And I can. tell you as a cyber guy, there's outside. influences pouring into those inboxes of. those kids trying to convince them of. something that isn't true. I had that. question today. Was horrifically. uninformed. He just didn't understand. Once I have. an opportunity to sit down and talk to. him, I'm you know, we let's work through. this. Let's see, do you think this or. this or this? We get to a good place. And that's how.

we have to do this. We're going to have. to have better language about it. Uh and now you have a entire political. party trying to make this a plank in. their platform going forward. I think. that's wrong, and I think that. divisiveness is bad. You want to talk. about having I know I talked to a lot of. Jewish voters who don't like Netanyahu. This is okay. You're allowed to have. that difference. And let's talk about. it. What would be different? How could. we do it different? That's a very. different conversation than a campaign. who is basically trying to say, "Israel.

is our problem. If you're Jewish, you're. our problem." We did this once in. history, and it was disastrous. My. argument is let's stop it right now. >> So, tell me about the kind of coalition. that you're trying to build around some. of these issues, which is why we've been. talking about them in Michigan. What. does that coalition look like? Why is it. different from a traditional Republican. coalition? >> So, we have several. And think about. this, the the state party Democrat state. party chairman came out last week and.

said I I can't support Abdul El-Sayed. He's too extreme. Uh one of the finance chairs of Alyssa. Slotkin, the new senator who was elected. 2 years ago, came out and said I cannot. support Abdul El-Sayed. He's too. extreme. Uh that theme, if you have a. former Democrat chair saying, "Wait a. minute, something's wrong." When Senator. Cory Booker from New Jersey met him, he. came out and said this guy is a {quote}. fringe candidate. When uh Van Jones, who's a CNN liberal.

commentator, comes out and said his. policies are insane, {quote} {unquote}. When people around you are starting to. talk like that, maybe we ought to be. paying attention. And what that has. allowed us to do is have conversations. in Detroit with the African-American. community, and it has been really. productive. They care they want to know. that someone's going to care about their. housing issues, their education issues, uh affordable housing issues. We have a. food desert that happens in Detroit that.

I think I have a plan that I can get uh. get get grocery stores down here run by. the community and run by people that you. go to church with on Sunday, so that. they can be feel a part of the solution. of these things. Not a government-run. one, by the way. We're just going to. have lots of uh uh. commercial enterprise teaching people. how to run I mean, I I'm pretty excited. about all of this, which is why we're. doing so well in the African-American. community need, not only here in. Detroit, but Flint uh and Pontiac.

>> Say a little bit more about why you. think African-American voters in. particular are more open to your pitch. Because I think, again, we've been. talking about why Jewish Democrats might. be open to your argument, but what about. African-Americans? >> So, a couple of things. A, um. candidly, Abdul when he comes to town is. very dismissive. He told a group of. pastors that. um. you know what? I don't know. If you get. on board, don't need your votes. I'll. make them up somewhere else. Maybe about the worst thing you can say.

as a candidate that's trying to grow. your grow your coalition. We don't have. those conversations. We come down, we've. had. great pastor meetings across a very. diverse set of of pastors around this. city who are engaged in different things. in the community. I've talked to the law. enforcement. I've talked to the city. council members who are eager to get us. here to talk about skilled trades, to. talk about getting education. We are. here talking to them about their. problems and how we're going to fix it. together as a senator.

When somebody comes in and talks about. Democrat socialism and a bigger. government and we're going to go back. and worry about being a president in. 2028, guess what? Completely turns them. off. And that's exactly what's happened. We took that as an opportunity to come. have real conversations. I mean, I went. into one uh pastor's church maybe 2. weeks ago who said uh you know, I did a. little work. Uh haven't found a. Republican in here in 76 years. Uh and so, what we're doing is having. conversations in a way we just didn't. have before. And they're welcome to.

hearing it. And we're striking up real. and lasting relationships. This isn't. about a fly-by-night, you know, which I think has been happening in. cities like Detroit. They get your vote, and you don't ever hear from them again. We're here, we're committed to this. They get it. They get a sense of it. You. know, I had a pastor call me after one. of the meetings. I thought it was the. greatest compliment you get. He said, "You know, I listen to you. I've talked. I've watched what you're doing." He. said, "You know what? You don't have a. hole in your heart. I want you to I'm. going to help you down here in the. city.". Huge I mean, for a pastor who is, you.

know, admittedly a lot lifelong Democrat. to say that and invite us in, huge for us. And so, that's why this. coalition is getting bigger. The fastest. growing one is Democrats for Rogers. Happens to be in Detroit. And we sell uh. sell out we hand out, but uh those the. Democrats for Rogers yard signs is the. fastest thing we got flying out the door. right now. People are ready to make that. commitment and invest in their future. and they're not worried about somebody.

who wants to create a socialist movement. either here or around the country. I mean, it was pretty amazing. Now, I'll just tell you one quick story. why one one of the folks is helping me. here. It's a elected Democrat. Invited my wife and I down and said, "I. think we're ready to have a. conversation." Getting through all of. our issue lists, you know, education and. skilled trades and shopping school and. how we get our, you know, get our kids. better opportunity here. And I When it's. all done, she said, "This is great. I'm. going to tell people that I think you're. good for the city and you're, you know.".

And I said, "This is great, but why are. you doing this?". She said, "Over the weekend, somebody. knocked on my door. uh, and handed her a pamphlet and basically. said, 'Help us make Detroit a Democrat. Socialists of America city.'". She closed the door and said, "I'll be. damned if that's going to happen on my. watch.". Nobody wants to travel down that road. I. mean, there are some, obviously, or they. wouldn't be here and they wouldn't be. campaigning and they wouldn't be trying. to get Abdul El-Sayed elected, but. people who are here and know the.

community are not interested in this big. Democrat Socialist agenda that they're. pushing. Uh, and that has been an. opening for us all across this city and. all across Pontiac and Flint in. non-traditional Republican coalitions. >> One thing that I've heard, and I think. maybe a couple of the examples you cited. involve this, is Democrats, lifelong. Democrats, saying. they don't feel like they can vote for. the Democratic nominee, but they can't. vote for you because it's a vote to.

empower. the Trump administration and the. Republican Party, and so they're just. leaving their ballot blank or staying. home. What is the pitch that you are. trying to make to those voters to get. them from staying home to actually. saying, "It's okay to add another. Republican in the Senate?". >> You know, when I was in Congress, of. TARP, if you remember TARP was the the. bailout. Wall Street came came with. their hands out and were asking for. money. That's probably the most pressure I've.

ever had on a vote with that I was in in. Congress to vote for it and it would. have been bailed out Wall Street. Including heavy weight in from the. president. I said no because I didn't. think that was the right thing to do and. it didn't help the state of Michigan. Not an easy thing to do. There was a lot. of pressure around that. There was a lot. of panic about what was going to happen. I just couldn't get there and I couldn't. get there on the math and I didn't think. it was right that people in Michigan. were struggling to pay their mortgages. because of this but we were going to.

send money to Wall Street. Didn't like. it. I did vote for the auto bailout. I think. if you look at who I am and how I've. handled myself back in Congress and what. we're trying to accomplish now when I. need to stand up for Michigan, I will. I. don't care who the president is. And. don't you want somebody that can go back. and push a little bit when when we need. a little pushing to happen. You need. that. You need that reputation. You need. that gravitas to walk in to do that. I. think I have earned that. And then I go down our list. Are you for.

kids reading? Are you for Are you for homeowners. trying to get homes in their 20s versus. 40s? Are you willing to. go after these advanced manufacturing. jobs to bring it back to Michigan in. shipbuilding, in submarine components, in. drones, and the aerospace industry. that's going to need a lot of support. and effort and jobs? That's where we're going. That's what I. talk about. That's what I've talked. about for 2 years. People are drawn to this to know that,

"Okay, I'm I am a Democrat. I don't like. Donald Trump but I know that this guy. wants to get my kids reading again. I. can get there." And so we're not going. to get them all. We get people who say, "You know, I can't vote for you but I'm. not voting for Abdul." Great, we'll take. that. We're getting a lot of people and. why that is is we're spending time, lots. of time, with people, individuals, small. meetings. We've done thousands of these. things across the state, and it's. working. And so, we have this tradition,

and when you say you look at polls, how. do you poll the fact that our Jewish. Democrat Jewish coalition, which is. about 70,000 voters, thinks that we're. going to get 35,000 of those votes. How. do you poll that? Can't poll it. How do you poll that we're going to have. African-Americans. in the city of Detroit that are going to. vote for us. I mean, we were at an event. late last night talking to a lot of, you. know, people who said I've never voted. for a Republican. We had long. conversations. We had a little fun along. the way.

And they're saying we're we're going to. do this. We're going to trust you. And that you can't poll. Those people. aren't aren't answering polls. >> One thing you saw throughout the Trump. era. is that there's lots of groups of people. who don't answer polls, right? Including. people who are Trump voters and MAGA. voters and so on. It's part of what. makes. the landscape so challenging. One of the. really interesting things about this. race is that you're here talking about. going unconventional places, adding. voters who usually vote for a Democrat.

And the Saeed campaign is doing the same. thing. They're saying, "We're going to. get a lot of people who voted for Trump. in 2024, who've been Republicans, who. are disillusioned with the Iran war, who're disillusioned with inflation, the. issues we've been talking about." And. they're even, you know, they're taking. bus tours up into more rural parts of. the state, which traditionally lean. Republican. What do you think about. their play for. you know, a new coalition? >> Part of the reason they have to go up. north is they're losing the coalition.

battle right here in Southeast Michigan, where the majority of the votes are. And. so, yep, they're going to get some help. and support as they go to colleges and. universities, and they whip that all up, and that's, you know, good for them. That's it's certainly a strategy. We're. not seeing it on the doors. And here's. what another thing I think the national. folks just don't see. We've crossed 6. million doors knocked since we started. So, while the Democrats were fighting it. out in their primary for a very long. time, we built the largest ground game.

it certainly in the history of Michigan. and I'm going to put it up against any. state. Uh it is so well organized. It's. tech tech enabled. Uh we are just. ramping up our contacts with doors and. so here's what we're hearing on those. doors and you get those assessments. They're fired up. They're not going. away. Yes, there's some things they. don't like, but they're going to stick. with the team where they think is not. going to increase their utility rates or. their 20 cents a gallon gas rates or.

make their lives a little more expensive. through this green new deal, higher. taxes, which is what they're talking. about. Well, let me rephrase it. They're. not talking about that. They don't want. to talk about that. They just say gas. prices are high, vote for me. Well, what. are you going to do about it? Well, the. problem is that they their plan raises. all of those costs. So, what we're. getting off the doors, that's just not. true. That we're not seeing this trend. of Trump voters saying they're not going. to vote. They're going to vote Democrat. in this election. We don't see it. >> turnout though? Are you worried about. people who turn out for Donald Trump who.

don't turn out for down ballot races cuz. that's been a problem for Republicans? >> Yeah, in red states they're finding they. have an intensity problem. This is a. purple state. Democrats have been in. charge since for the last 8 years in. Lansing, last 26. years. here they have had two Democrat US. senators. Every metric has gone down. We're almost. at the bottom. We can't go much lower. And so, what people know is okay, Democrats are in charge, all my rates. went up, my utility rates went up, they.

raised gas prices, they raised 20 cents. a gallon under the Democrats. The. utility they passed their own green new. deal bill. They've raised utility rates. since 2023. nine times. Just did one last week. People are tired of having the. government impose high costs on purpose. We're just not seeing that at the doors. and that's what people you know, you can. take a poll and try to get sentiment and. all of that nonsense. We're here We're actually talking to.

people. Right? And they're telling us. now you. >> Pollsters do talk to people, too, in. fairness. >> Well. >> at least. >> This Do you see how bad they were? They. had Abdul winning 15 points going into. the primary. He won by 9/10 of 1%. He. had more Democrats vote for him than. vote for him. He lost the city of. Detroit by like 61 something to 30. something. Well, guess what? We're in. the city of Detroit. We're talking to. people who are a little bit hesitant to. vote for the guy. And we're out on the. doors getting traditional Republicans to.

show up. You can't If you can get that. on a poll, I think you're a genius, honestly. I I don't know how they do it. Uh they've been wrong and under-polled. Republicans in the last few races by. about four points. So, even if we go. tied with these individual polls that. are flying around out there, we think. we're in great shape. >> You mentioned that you're selling. yourself to people who are wavering or. who might be. traditional Democratic voters as someone. who will be independent in DC. >> Well, let me let me Plus, I've known. that. >> And well, let me ask you about a couple.

a couple of issues where that could be. put to the test. The first is and I am. going to cite those polls that are. flying around, but one of the issues. that voters keep citing in this election. is corruption. And there are a lot of allegations of. corruption around the Trump White House. Do you think that the Trump. administration has a corruption problem? >> Well, I can tell you this. I'm a I'm an. FBI agent by training. >> And what did you work on as an FBI. agent? >> Organized crime and public corruption. >> And public corruption, yes.

>> Yes. >> So, I'm going to act as the United. States Senator with the best interest of. Michigan. I can tell you that right now. >> Can you tell me a little bit more about. what that would mean? >> Well, I I always take the facts as that. as I see them. And I'll take the facts as I see them. and I'll make a decision based on that. >> Okay, what do you. >> There's this speculation I I don't know. It's all speculation. >> Okay, well, let's let's just be. let's be very concrete. Um the President of the United States. accepted a jet.

from a Middle Eastern nation. Do you think he should have done that? >> I mean, that's not what I would have. done. Uh. but that's uh I don't think it's illegal. for the president to do that. But I I. it's not the tact I would have gone on. that. I I would like to to make sure. that we. make sure that there isn't any question. of uh of uh. impropriety on those kinds of things. You know, or they should have gone. through Congress. I think there's a way. that of I I understand that there's a. way to do that. I I assume that's what. they did, but I don't know.

>> Do you think. >> And again, this is all speculation. That's what I don't like these. conversations. You want me to speculate. on something I just don't know the. answer or the details of. >> Do you think that it is reasonable for. the US Senate to examine the conduct of. family members of people who hold high. office, whether they are related to the. president himself or related to cabinet. officials? Because we have a lot of. examples This is very concrete. It's not. speculative of. people with family connections to the. administration doing business deals in.

areas that are connected to US foreign. policy. Should the Senate be concerned. about that? >> If it if it is against the interests of. the United States, absolutely. I I think. that's a pretty. clear thing. But again, lots of. speculation, lots of uh that I don't. have the details. When I get back, I'll. get my hands around the details. I. promise you that. >> Right. But even if it means. having the president of the United. States call you up and say, you know, leave this alone, right? >> I've had the president of the United.

States call me before, and I did what. was right for Michigan. I don't I This. I have a track record from you people. can say things. I have a track record. And that track record is pretty good. It's both uh. Matter of fact, we were. shouted out as the most bipartisan group. in the House at the time working on. intelligence budgets and other things. Uh and uh certainly the the TARP issue. was the probably the biggest. And most. people probably don't remember it. It. was a real significant issue. I did what. I did. To me, the best way to determine.

who's going to go back to the United. States Senate, what did they do then? Well, I was independent then. I'm going to be. independent when I get there. >> Talk to me about Ukraine and Russia. >> Mhm. >> This is an area, as with Iran, where you. have had a hawkish perspective. You've. been supportive. of Ukraine. You've said uh in the past, quote, "I don't think we can give Putin. an inch.". Right now, the president is giving Putin. sanctions relief. Whose side do you think the president is.

on in that war. >> right now? >> I I don't know if what side he's on. Uh I have come out and said I didn't. like the diesel deal, and I would have. voted for this the sanctions. And here's. the difference. I'd be down at the White. House talking through all this right. now. That's the difference. Uh. you know, again, I don't think. everything has to be a poke in the eye, run to the microphones. I got more work. done when I didn't do that. I worked. under the Biden administration as the. chairman. Uh and when we had differences, trust.

me, I went down and made uh made our. differences known with the goal of. getting it fixed, not necessarily. getting a press release. I think that's. the difference. >> But on that issue, like Iran, like. tariffs, right? The Senate has been unwilling to. take the next step when those kind of. conversations don't seem to go anywhere. and actually try and. >> Well, that's why you need another. Republican back there. >> Right. >> And is this. also coming back to why we.

why we're we're running in Michigan to. >> Yeah. >> make Michigan different? I mean, those are a lot of issues, honestly, I don't even hear about on the. campaign trail. I just don't. I do hear about kids can't. read. I do hear about costs. I do hear. about what you're going to do on gas. prices. I hear all of that. Don't hear a. lot of these issues on the on the. campaign trail because they I hey, they. know who I am. >> So, these are these are questions now. that are, as identical as we can make. them, to your questions that we'll be asking. your opponent. And I'm going to start.

with what's the biggest thing that's. different about American politics if you. win this election? >> Well, I'm not sure about American. politics, but I'm going to change the. politics of Michigan for sure. Uh we just really haven't had in a. quarter century uh US senators who are. caring about the kinds of things we need. to do here. Increase our defense. industrial base work. Uh I mean, look at our education system. Look at our economic picture. I have a. way to do that. So, I can tell you. Michigan politics is going to change cuz. you're going to have somebody who's an.

advocate for the state of Michigan. >> What should be the first economic. priority. of the next US Congress? >> Uh. to continue to make sure we have low. energy costs. So, increase and unleash. continuing to do that uh for American. energy is the best way to get us up off. our feet. Now, that also relates to. utility bills, gasoline prices. Um. adding more bureaucratic nonsense, the. green new deal, more government mandates.

is a will be a disaster for the state of. Michigan. We'll be bumping along 50 here. pretty soon if they get their way. >> What, if anything, should the next. Congress do to address the risks of. artificial intelligence? >> So, I have a plan. There's a framework. national security framework that I see. working its through way through. Congress. I think that has to happen. Uh. and that will put guardrails to make. sure that these things don't get ahead. of us. Uh and secondly, and this is more. unique, uh I think we ought to have uh.

look at antitrust laws to make sure that. these AI companies can cooperate on. safety. uh of their products. Right now, they. can't do it because of antitrust. I. argue get a very narrowly crafted piece. of legislation that where they can talk. about safety. Where one company might. say, "Ooh, that's bad, and we already. figured it out. Maybe we should share. that with the other company so they. don't make the mistake and something bad. happens." We should be allowing that. kind of uh cooperation. So, uh.

guardrails on the on from a national. security perspective and a safety. cooperation, I think would be the right. way to do this. >> Are you worried about the potential. economic impacts of AI in terms of the. kinds of job losses that have not. materialized, to be clear, but that AI. tycoons keep predicting? >> Yeah. Um clearly, yes. And so, we've got to. make sure we're going to be we have to. take uh you know, kind of a a. month-by-month look at the I've never. seen a technology change so rapidly.

uh in in American uh history as fast as. this AI thing has developed. Like it. used to be 18 months, now they're saying. 9 months. It just doubles over again. So, yes. I mean, obviously, we're. concerned. We have to be smart about it. We don't want to lose to China or Russia. in the AI. uh or race, if you will. Uh but we also need to make sure that. people are protected here at home. >> What do we win. if we win the race? >> Well, Shoigu, who was at that time the. the uh Russian defense minister, came.

out and said, this was probably a decade. ago, "Whoever wins the AI race wins the. next war." And so, what that does is. tells you what their thinking is. They. have a more weaponized automated weapon. system idea of this. We have a more. productivity uh uh uh. approach here in America. Like, how do. we make things more appro- uh. productivity uh. more productive, excuse me. Um and so, that that's just a different world view. We have to make sure.

uh that they don't come up with weapon. systems that are uh you know, AI-driven. uh that could cause us harm and put us. behind the eight ball on those. We must. must must. uh take a look at all of those. uh those capabilities, and you can't. lose. You have to continue to innovate. to make sure you can beat them on a. battlefield, number one. Uh and then, what does it do for our economics, number two? >> Two more. Describe your opponent in the most. fair-minded possible terms.

>> He's a very gifted Democrat Socialist of. America. Uh his rhetoric is he's clearly. a very gifted speaker. He talks real. pretty. Problem is, the outcome of what he's. trying to do. >> I don't know if that was completely in. the spirit of the question. >> You're not going to get much better from. me. >> Fair enough. Finally, what's the most. important question that Michigan voters. specifically are weighing as they go to. the polls? >> You know, I think they're just looking. for somebody that pays attention to them.

and and has their best interests at. heart. If you go back thinking you're. going to create a movement, you've. already got your domain names for. president, that person isn't going to care about. the kinds of things we need to do in. Michigan. I think they're looking for. someone like me who worked on a car. factory floor, worked my way through. college, served in the United States. military, served as a special agent with. the FBI. I think they're looking for. somebody who says, "I'm going to put. America first. I'm going to put Michigan. first, uh and I'm the right guy to do.

that." I think that is very different. than where my opponent is, and I think. that's what's going to be the big. difference maker uh come November. >> You've called your opponent the most. extreme, dangerous candidate to ever run. for the United States Senate in the. history of our country. That is a pretty strong statement. Could. you defend it, please? >> Mhm. Absolutely. Two for two reasons. Uh the Democratic Socialist candidate. who's been supported, who's raised money. for them, uh certainly he has all of.

those proclivities. If you look at his. issue set, defund the police, give me. let uh let people out of prison, all of. the things that are associated with that. Democratic Socialist, big government, government taking over private. healthcare, you lose your private health. insurance. That's all DSA. He also has. an extra. uh close relationship with organizations. I think that are probably not uh in in. the best interests of of uh the United. States. One of his uh donors is the.

former spokesman for the Muslim. Brotherhood. I think that's of concern. He wrote a letter in support for the. Muslim Brotherhood uh in when they uh. took over Egypt in 20 uh whatever that. was, 2012 and 2013, uh that I think is. very, very concerning. And again, it's. not about how he prays, it is his. ideology, it's the way he thinks. And if. those are the kind of organizations that. you support, and by the way, at that. time, said that he that the Muslim. Brotherhood should purge the police and.

purge the press. So, I don't know, you. press guys should be getting worked up. over this. He is uh talked about it, that's exactly what they did, he. supported it, then he lied to. Michiganders when he looked them in the. eye and said, "My family has no relation. with this." My argument is that's a. pattern of deception. that is really, really concerning. Uh. like I said, he's very good on his feet, he's an Oxford-trained debater, all of. that is really important. The problem is. you got to peel it back a little bit. What is he trying to do? More taxes,

higher utility rates, uh he believes. that he wanted to be 100% renewables in. 10 years, which would absolutely. devastate uh our auto insurance. >> But. >> But there's a there's a little bit of a. mis-. >> match there between. >> Is there? >> it between just between the examples of. things you're afraid that he'll do. Like. higher you higher utility rates may be a. bad thing, but they're not the most. dangerous thing in the history of the. United States. So, what what is the. thing that he would do as a United. States Senator. that you're most.

afraid of? >> Well, he says he wants to serve on the. Foreign Affairs Committee. He has lied about his relationship with. the Muslim Brotherhood. Remember, he. supported it through an op-ed, sent it. in, we have him on his own words. uh supporting them. Uh he has taken money from organizations. that finance the Muslim Brotherhood. He. has donors uh including the former. spokesman of the Muslim Brotherhood. Uh. he has the only he has the.

the only Senate candidate, or actually. of any candidate in the United States, who got a congratulations on the front. page of the Muslim Brotherhood said. "Congratulations, this is an exciting. day." was Abdul El Sayed. That. relationship as a former FBI guy is. concerning. When you take money from people who. support Hamas and Hezbollah, when you. take money from an organization that's. directly supporting the Muslim. Brotherhood, uh when you have uh family.

members that have been very openly. supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood, but you won't talk about it, you won't. deny it, and then you add on top can't. condemn a terrorist uh. Hezbollah-sponsored terrorist who tried. to kill 130 schoolchildren right here in. the state of Michigan. I'm sorry, that. is something we should be concerned. about. And as a former FBI agent with that. relationship, with those financial uh. connections, with you saying I support. the Muslim Brotherhood, who went in and.

treated like treated women like. second-class citizens, yeah, I'm sorry, that is something that people need to. understand, and he either needs to. clarify, and he never quite does it. He. needs to either clarify so people can. feel comfortable, or uh or that should. be a concern when you walk into the. ballot box. >> Completely different kind of question. If you had to give the second Trump. administration a grade, what would it. be? >> Oh, I. I'm an easy grader, so you don't want to. do that. Listen, I I I I I.

>> I know, then I definitely do. >> [laughter]. >> I definitely do. >> I I Here's the thing. I mean, that I get. the whole thing. There are things that I know are. working. A second shift, excuse me, a third shift. at Detroit Diesel, huge. The Chevrolet. Silverado here is a multi-billion dollar. investment in Michigan. Those are I. can't tell you how important they are. Remember, we are the only state that. lost 27,000 manufacturing jobs in the. last 8 years. The rest of the country. gained 100,000.

We are we are on a. >> How many manufacturing How many How many. manufacturing jobs has Michigan gained. under President Trump in the last 18. months? >> Well, with these announcements, you'll. get them. They haven't started yet. The. second shift with Detroit Diesel will be. in more manufacturing jobs. These small. um fabrication shops are getting calls. right now for orders. I mean, I just I. know that because we're talking to them. So, it's happening. That part of the. reshoring is happening. General Motors. is bringing back Um they'll build. 500,000 more cars when they're done and.

it'll probably be through 2027 from. China and Mexico. It's coming back. >> I still want the grade though. >> I can't Well, for that I give you an A. If you're If you got If you have jobs. for for Michigan workers, huge. That's. That's an A+++. >> So, you got an A+++ on that. And then. you've got. um the. Canadian trade war that you've. criticized. >> Yeah. >> The Iran war that you think should end. right now. Maybe throw in a couple other. things. It's pulling the average down,

too. >> Well, I don't look at that way. Can I go back and have a conversation to. fix it? I think the answer is yes. So, I'm not sure. When I get back there, that's the time to ask me what the grade. is. If I can't get these things changed. around, I might have a very different. opinion. I think I can based on my. example of getting the bridge. Gordie Howe bridge issue solved, getting. the FEMA money up north solved. I'm in contact with them right now about. Canada. Like let's go. We got to get You.

either got to get it done or you don't. want to see me when I get back. I'll be. a little ornery about it. >> When was the last time you talked to the. president? >> Gosh, month ago. But I talked to his. people a lot. So, the Secretary of. Commerce office and the secretary. himself talked to talked to somebody. yesterday on Canada. Uh and so, we're. having those productive conversations. You It's hard to give a grade when you. know that they're they're at least. listening to you and they are trying to. get things right. Uh and they know I think they want me. They definitely know I'm coming back. Uh.

and so, I think they're trying to work. with me. I think that's great. It's. great for Michigan. It's great for our. employment base. And you have to. remember, we're down at 46 46 in the. nation on economic opportunity. We This is not sustainable. Not sustainable. And so, we have to have. someone that goes back to try to fix. things, not to be you know, you you want. to make it very binary. I just don't. think it's that binary. I think I've got. to go back. I'm going to fight the. things that aren't good for Michigan. I.

am going to applaud the things that are. and I'm going to try to get these things. done. So when I'm done, people can say. we're better off than when he got. elected in the economy, in education, in. skilled trades, food deserts in in Detroit. If we still. have food deserts in 6 years, I may not. you know I told folks get rid of me. Don't do it. We've got to get this done.