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Far-left Michigan Senate candidate faces 'champagne socialism' accusations
'Outnumbered' discusses far-left Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and his 'champagne socialism' accusations. His reported 2025 household income, $686,069, is significantly higher than Michigan's median income. The segment also highlights his controversial association with streamer Hasan Piker, known for his 9/11 comments.
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Apple News and Google News displayed no negatively framed headlines about progressive Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in the top 20 morning stories reviewed after Feb. 10, according to a Media Research Center study published Friday as voters prepared for next month's primary.
MRC President David Bozell warned that the feeds' selections could leave voters without a complete picture of a candidate.
"Most Americans don't search dozens of news websites every day," Bozell said. "They open Apple News or Google News and read what’s presented to them."
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed was the subject of a Media Research Center study examining Apple News and Google News coverage. (Sarah Rice/Getty Images)
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The conservative media watchdog said it identified at least 104 stories from right-leaning outlets about El-Sayed's record, statements and policies that did not appear in the feeds it reviewed. Apple News and Google News each featured only one headline about Michigan's Senate race, MRC found, and neither headline focused on controversies involving El-Sayed.
MRC said its researchers tracked the top 20 Google News stories each morning from Nov. 1 through July 21 and Apple News from Nov. 3 through July 21. Researchers searched for "Michigan," "Abdul" and "El-Sayed," then used sentiment analysis to classify relevant headlines as negative, neutral and positive.
The methodology examined one morning snapshot rather than every story available throughout the day. It did not specify the time or location of the reviews, whether researchers were signed in or how personalization was controlled. The report also cited 13 stories from left-leaning and other outlets in one section but placed the total at 16 later in the report.
Apple News and Google News displayed no negatively framed headlines about El-Sayed in the top 20 morning stories reviewed after Feb. 10, according to MRC. (Sarah Rice/Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, MRC President David Bozell connected the latest findings to the group’s previous investigation of Google News coverage involving former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. Platner was forced to exit the race after a rape accusation from a former girlfriend that was the latest of numerous scandals and controversies during his candidacy.
"MRC’s investigation found that Google News did not feature more than 250 stories covering controversies involving Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner," Bozell said. "During the same period, 69% of the outlets featured in Google News’ top news selections were left-leaning, compared with just 3% that were right-leaning."
Bozell said the findings raised questions about whether the platform was giving users a comprehensive view of major political stories.
"Google News presents itself as a comprehensive news product, but Google News consumers should not have to wonder whether major, newsworthy reporting about candidates is being left out of what they see," Bozell said.
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"Our findings raise serious questions about whether Google News is providing users with the complete picture they expect," he said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Apple, Google and El-Sayed for further comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Stories identified by MRC addressed questions about El-Sayed's use of the physician title, his campaigning with far-left streamer Hasan Piker, his acceptance of an endorsement from Arab American Political Action Committee leader Osama Siblani and his support for Medicare for All, abolishing ICE and shifting funding away from police departments.
El-Sayed also faced scrutiny after CNN's Manu Raju asked him in April whether he considered the Israeli government to be as evil as Hamas.
"Yes, killing tens of thousands of people makes you pretty damn evil," El-Sayed said. "Hamas: Evil, Israeli government: Evil. We can say both."
The findings followed an earlier MRC study alleging the platforms suppressed negative coverage of former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. (Sarah Rice/Getty Images)
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The Aug. 4 primary narrowed to El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens after state Sen. Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Stevens on Friday.
The findings concerning El-Sayed followed an earlier MRC study alleging Apple News and Google News failed to promote at least 112 stories scrutinizing Platner between November and May.
Google disputed that analysis, saying it relied on a single daily snapshot from one account and failed to account for updates, interests and location.
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"These claims are totally false and based on a completely flawed methodology," a Google spokesperson told Fox News Digital in reference to coverage of Platner.
Apple said its Top Stories are selected by editors and appear the same for every user, while other portions of its Today feed can be personalized.
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CJ Womack is an associate editor at Fox News.
CJ joined Fox News Digital's team in 2026, which highlights the vital role journalism plays in shaping politics and culture. He has years of experience analyzing and reporting on the news media.
CJ graduated from Long Beach State University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Journalism.
You can send news tips to cj.womack@fox.com and follow CJ on Twitter.
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