Final U.S. Senate debate between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers

[0:00] They are debating, live from WXYZ in Detroit, confronting the issues shaping your life, your family, and your vote. [0:09] I would like to see a change in gas prices. [0:11] I want it to be safer. [0:12] Healthcare. [0:13] I would like to see term limits. [0:15] I am tired of the high prices. [0:18] For me, education. [0:20] Each candidate will have 90 seconds for opening statements, one minute to answer questions with a 30-second rebuttal, and 90 seconds for closing statements. [0:31] One hour, one stage, one opportunity to make their case to Michigan voters. [0:38] We need to be at those polls. [0:39] I believe it's our civic duty to vote. [0:41] Airing live for voters from Monroe to Marquette, WXYZ's U.S. Senate debate begins right now. [0:50] Live from the Channel 7 studio in Southfield, Michigan, this is the Michigan U.S. Senate debate. [0:57] Good evening and welcome to WXYZ's Michigan U.S. Senate debate. [1:04] I am 7 News Detroit anchor, Carolyn Clifford. [1:07] And I'm WXYZ editorial and public affairs director, Chuck Stokes. [1:11] And I'm 7 News Detroit anchor, Alicia Smith. [1:13] We have been listening to people across Metro Detroit and the great state of Michigan, compiling questions that matter most to you. [1:21] The people who call Michigan home. [1:23] Tonight is about those voters. [1:25] The questions we will be asking will be very direct, and we will be looking for direct answers. [1:31] And we will also expect both candidates to follow the rules previously agreed upon with both of their campaigns. [1:38] But first, thank you to our guests for agreeing to be here tonight. [1:43] Republican candidate, former Congressman Mike Rogers, and Democratic candidate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. [1:50] Earlier, we held a drawing with both campaigns to decide who gets to go first with their 90-second opening statement. [1:57] We'll start with Congressman Rogers, followed by Dr. El-Sayed. [2:01] Congressman Rogers, your opening statement. [2:04] Well, thank you very much for hosting us this evening. [2:06] Welcome, viewers at home. [2:08] Mike Rogers, former Army officer and special agent with the FBI, used to handling hard and difficult challenges. [2:17] You know, my wife and I got into this race because Michigan is in trouble. [2:22] Our people are hurting. [2:24] When you think about what's happened just in the last eight years, 27,000 manufacturing jobs lost. [2:30] Highest utilities in the Midwest. [2:33] We have the highest auto insurance rates in the nation. [2:37] We have our education system has plummeted. [2:39] We're now 45th in the country. [2:41] Overall economics, we're 46th. [2:44] And I think what you're going to hear tonight is a very different view of how we fix these problems, [2:50] how we get Michigan back up and running again. [2:53] One, a candidate who's aligned with the Democrat Socialists of America, bigger government, more taxes. [2:59] Matter of fact, has a carbon tax that he wants to put on that would give you the highest utility rates, [3:06] over $2,000 in new costs. [3:09] You know, the fact that gasoline would go up about 20 cents a gallon. [3:15] So what you think about bigger government, more taxes, more regulation, is just not the way we get this done. [3:22] And my opponent's going to try to make this about me versus him. [3:25] But I'm going to tell you this is about you and Michigan's future. [3:28] And I look forward to that conversation. [3:30] Thank you, Congressman. [3:31] Dr. El-Sayed, you have 90 seconds for your opening statement. [3:35] First of all, thank you so much for hosting this. [3:36] We're honored to be here. [3:37] My name is Abdul El-Sayed. [3:39] I'm a doctor. [3:40] I'm a dad. [3:41] I rebuilt Detroit's health department, Ledwayne County's Department of Health, Human, and Veteran Services. [3:45] We put glasses on kids, took on corporate polluters, eliminated medical debt. [3:50] And I'm running because it just shouldn't be this hard. [3:51] It shouldn't be this hard to afford a second bag of groceries. [3:55] It shouldn't be this hard to pay your rent or your mortgage. [3:56] It shouldn't be this hard to fill up your tank. [3:58] It shouldn't be this hard to see a doctor. [4:00] It shouldn't be this hard to pay your taxes and know that that money is going to be spent for you and your kids [4:03] rather than dropping bombs on somebody else and their kids. [4:07] You know, Mike is right. [4:08] You're going to hear two very different visions. [4:10] You're going to hear the MAGA vision where you stand hip to hip with Donald Trump on all of his worst policies, [4:17] the policies that are raising the price of your gas, making it impossible to afford your groceries. [4:22] And you're going to hear a form of MAGA bingo, because the thing about MAGA is whenever they're talking, [4:28] they are trying to distract you. [4:29] They're going to use buzzwords. [4:31] And I'm hoping that you all can play at home every time you hear one of those buzzwords. [4:34] Just remember, when they're distracting you, they're also trying to pick your pocket. [4:38] It's a form of corporatized bribery. [4:42] And in the end, I don't take money from corporations. [4:44] I'm looking to fight for you. [4:46] So while Mike wants to spend a lot of time talking about me, I'm going to be talking about you and your family. [4:51] What can we do to bring down the prices that are just destroying families right now? [4:55] How do we make sure the folks who look forward and believe in the life that they're building for their kids and their grandkids? [5:01] And I'm looking forward to a good, serious, honest, and fair debate. [5:04] Thank you very much, gentlemen, for your opening statements. [5:07] Carolyn. [5:07] Thank you much, Alicia, and thank you, gentlemen. [5:10] Now let's get to the first question of the evening. [5:12] It is about the economy. [5:14] We're going to start with you, Dr. El-Sayed. [5:16] One of the top concerns we've heard from our viewers is, of course, the cost of living. [5:22] Families are struggling with the cost of groceries, with the cost of gas, and other essentials. [5:26] What specific legislation would you support in the Senate to bring down the cost and put more money into the pockets of Michiganders? [5:35] You have 60 seconds, sir. [5:36] Well, look, when I led Wayne County's Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services, we were working specifically to make life more affordable, folks. [5:45] It's the reason we built a program to provide free health insurance for new small businesses, to help them. [5:50] And we led and provided small business health insurance for over 1,000 Wayne County businesses. [5:55] But here's the thing about it. [5:57] Right now, the cost of gas, the cost of groceries, it all really goes back to this war in Iran. [6:01] We need a war powers resolution rather than a senator who is going to stand hip to hip with Donald Trump on this war that made no sense when it started and certainly makes no sense now. [6:11] I'm looking forward to standing with my colleagues in the United States Senate to hold Donald Trump accountable for this war. [6:15] The other thing that we're going to need to do is take on the corporations who've bought and sold politicians for a very long time, [6:19] whether it's DTE, who spent $64,000 helping to support my opponent, or it's Blue Cross Blue Shield, or it's Big Tech, or it's Big Pharma, [6:27] all corporations who've bought them off, we've got to stand up to them, make sure that they are being held accountable [6:32] and that you don't get raked over the coals for the kind of politicians that they buy to rig the system against us. [6:37] That is your time, Dr. El-Sayed. Thank you so much. [6:40] Congressman Rogers, same question for you. [6:43] Families are struggling with the cost of groceries, gas, and other essentials. [6:46] What specific legislation would you support in the Senate to bring down the cost and put more money into the pockets of Michiganders? [6:54] We need to continue to explore American energy and get American energy into the market. [6:59] That's going to go a long way in lowering prices and lowering gas prices and diesel prices and other things. [7:06] I'm going to make permanent the tax cuts on overtime and tips and Social Security. [7:11] Those have had huge impacts on people who are actually getting up, going, kissing their kids, putting them on the bus, and going to work every day. [7:19] Those become really, really important. [7:22] And an overall tax environment that encourages business to start. [7:27] My opponent, unfortunately, has this massive tax increase that he wants to put on every Michigan family and every American family. [7:35] We've seen this before, and it has dragged the economy down. [7:39] And just quickly, it's a little bit rich to me that my opponent talks about corporate donations. [7:45] He snuck into Chuck Schumer's office and asked and begged for corporate money, and you see it on TV today, $35 million of corporate PAC money flowing all over this state. [7:56] It's hypocritical. [7:56] That is your time, Congressman. [7:57] Thank you. [7:58] Dr. El-Sayed, you now have 30 seconds for rebuttal. [8:01] Yeah, what's curious is that he does not want to talk about the $64,000 he took from DTE, the million dollars, more than 95% of Congress that he took from Big Pharma, and then voted 19 times to keep your prescription drug prices high. [8:14] He doesn't want to talk about the $14 million he made on the back of advising the same corporations he was regulating when he was in Congress. [8:20] He does not want to talk about his own record when it comes to bowing down to the corporations who make your life harder and charge you more for the things that you need in your life. [8:28] That is MAGA politics. [8:28] Again, you could have knocked off one of the words right on MAGA-B-Mill right there. [8:32] Doctor, that is your time, Congressman. [8:33] You now have 30 seconds for rebuttal. [8:36] Yeah, I mean, this is just so rich. [8:39] Everything that he said, A, is not accurate, not correct. [8:42] But, you know, when you ask somebody, a new investigator, about how you figure out if somebody is honest and willing to tell you the truth, you go through a series of questions. [8:51] Did you lie on your resume? [8:52] Yep, did. [8:53] He lied about being a physician. [8:54] Did he lie about his relationships with an organization that should give us all pause? [8:59] Yep, he did. [9:00] He lied about being an Egyptian dual citizen. [9:03] He lied about some of his stances on these positions as he's flipped again. [9:09] This is a pattern that we need to understand. [9:12] Thank you very much. [9:12] Chuck, you have the next question. [9:15] Thank you, Carolyn. [9:16] Candidates, we'll continue along the economic theme but drill down on a specific area. [9:22] The Trump administration has used tariffs as a major trade policy tool. [9:27] In your view, have those tariffs helped or hurt American workers, consumers, and manufacturers? [9:35] Congressman, you have one minute. [9:37] I think it's a mixed bag. [9:39] But here's what I will tell you. [9:40] The reshoring of manufacturing is underway. [9:44] I completely support that. [9:45] I'm in line with the UAW on those issues. [9:48] The Chevy Silverado is built in Mexico today. [9:51] Guess what? [9:51] By 2027, it's coming back, going to the Orion plant. [9:55] Chevy is also bringing manufacturing back from China. [9:59] This is huge. [10:01] Detroit Diesel adding a third shift. [10:03] Some of these small fabrication shops adding second shifts and or third shifts for the first time in decades. [10:09] Those are a positive development for the great state of Michigan. [10:13] I have stepped back and said maybe these Canadian tariffs were not well thought through, [10:18] mainly because of the interaction between our automobile companies in Canada when it comes just-in-time manufacturing. [10:24] So I'll go back, and you might want to send the guy back who can actually get the meeting to get these things worked out. [10:30] If it's good for Michigan, I'm going to be for it. [10:33] If it's bad for Michigan, I'm going to be against it. [10:35] Congressman, thank you. [10:36] Dr. Sayah, the same question. [10:38] I'll repeat it for clarification. [10:40] The Trump administration has used tariffs as a major trade tool. [10:44] In your view, have those tariffs helped or hurt American workers, consumers, and manufacturers? [10:49] You have one minute. [10:50] Clearly, these tariffs have hurt American manufacturers. [10:54] Clearly, they have hurt the American worker. [10:55] Clearly, they have hurt our pocketbooks. [10:58] $5,600 on average. [10:59] We're paying for this. [11:01] He cheer-led this. [11:02] Now, he said he was in line with the UAW. [11:03] I'll tell you, the UAW is not in line with him. [11:05] They've endorsed me, and they are dead set against the policies that he is backing. [11:09] In fact, GM just posted the single biggest stock buyback in automotive history, [11:15] something he's backed for a very long time, a corporate politician. [11:19] Now, let's talk exactly about how this could work. [11:22] NAFTA, which he supported, was a terrible cancer on the American economy. [11:25] If we want to treat cancer, maybe there's a kind of tariff you could use as chemotherapy. [11:29] But you don't give all the chemo all at once, all at the same time. [11:32] Instead, you have to be real clear about what you want to do. [11:35] I think we need to use tariffs specifically around how we can protect certain automotive opportunities, [11:41] the opportunities for growth in jobs that we actually need, [11:44] rather than this haphazard approach, which he has backed, just like he backed NAFTA. [11:48] All right. Thank you very much. [11:50] Congressman, you now have 30 seconds for a rebuttal. [11:52] Yeah. Again, just this pattern of deception misleading. [11:56] By the way, NAFTA was passed about 10 years before I got into Congress. [12:00] This is really kind of a ridiculous argument. [12:02] But here's what we need to understand. [12:05] What my opponent is actually calling for is the largest tax increase in the nation's history. [12:12] The largest. And why UAW members, UAW for Rogers, is our fast-growing coalition for us? [12:19] They understand that he wants to take away private health insurance that they've collectively bargained, [12:24] and he's going to take it away and give it to the government. [12:26] Thank you, Congressman. [12:27] Dr. LCA, your rebuttal. [12:29] For those playing MAGA bingo at home, you just heard like three of the buzzwords. [12:32] I just want to be clear. [12:33] He literally is on record having said that in the long term, NAFTA would be good for the American worker. [12:37] Sorry, what year was that? [12:38] He said that NAFTA would be good for the American worker. [12:41] I did not. I think everybody could have told you NAFTA was going to be a disaster for the American worker. [12:46] He has this long history of just being wrong on all of these issues, [12:49] and then comes in and tries to tell you that somehow I'm being deceptive. [12:52] It's your record, my guy. Just own your record. That's all you've got to do. [12:55] You should be honest about the record. That would help. [12:57] All right, gentlemen, that's time. Alicia, you have the next question. [13:00] We turn now to the war with Iran, and I'll direct this question to you first, Dr. El-Sayed. [13:06] The United States has used military force against Iran, a decision that has divided Americans. [13:14] Do you believe that Iran poses a significant threat to U.S. national security, [13:20] and what should America's strategy be moving forward? [13:23] Dr. El-Sayed, you have 60 seconds. [13:26] There's no doubt that Iran has posed a threat. [13:29] Here's the problem with it, though, is that that threat had been contained back during the Obama administration [13:34] when he used diplomacy and not war to contain the threat. [13:38] It was called the JCPOA. [13:40] And Donald Trump, when he came in his first term, decided to rip that agreement up, [13:45] and then in his second term decided to make war. [13:47] Now, mind you, Mike Rogers has been promoting this war since before he was in Congress. [13:53] He's got a war for everything, and he won't back off the war now. [13:57] He supports this war, and I want you to understand exactly what happened now. [14:01] The consequences of this war are that you are paying nearly $5 in gas. [14:05] You're paying more in groceries because of the price of diesel. [14:08] He has cheer-led this war all along because he stands hip-to-hip with Donald Trump. [14:12] And if you don't believe me, I want you to pay attention on Sunday [14:14] when Donald Trump comes here at the invitation of Mike Rogers [14:17] to remind you that, in fact, Donald Trump is on the ballot through Mike Rogers. [14:21] They are hip-to-hip on this war, and you are paying the cost. [14:24] Thank you, Dr. El-Sayed. [14:26] Congressman Rogers, I'll repeat the question for you. [14:28] Do you believe Iran poses a significant threat to U.S. national security? [14:34] And what should America's strategy be moving forward? [14:36] You have 60 seconds. [14:38] Yeah, absolutely. [14:38] It's a threat. [14:39] My opponent can't even condemn the IRGC, which is the terrorist enforcement arm of Iran, [14:45] and doesn't believe Iran is any more dangerous than Israel. [14:49] This is an absolute non-starter if you're going to send somebody back to the United States Senate. [14:54] They had the capability – I left Congress in 2014. [14:58] At that time, they had all three components of a nuclear program. [15:02] The big debate was, how do you put those things together, and how long would it take them to do that? [15:07] Obviously, something triggered that, where they needed to stop them from developing [15:12] and putting those three pieces together to get a nuclear weapon. [15:15] I absolutely believe. [15:16] You want to pay $8 a gallon of gas? [15:19] Let Iran get a nuclear weapon. [15:20] You lose control of that whole region. [15:22] They have also created Hamas, financed it, trained it. [15:26] Same with Hezbollah. [15:28] Same with the Houthis. [15:29] Hamas is the one that went across the border on October 7th. [15:32] That operation was funded by Iran. [15:35] They are still a threat to the United States of America. [15:38] Congressman Rogers, thank you. [15:39] Do you have the first 30-second rebuttal, Dr. Al-Sahad? [15:42] He just had an opportunity to make clear what he thought about this war, [15:46] and he's still cheerleading the war that you are paying for, [15:50] a war we never should have fought in the first place. [15:53] You send this man to the U.S. Senate. [15:54] Do not be surprised when we fight more wars. [15:56] We accrue more national debt, and he does not stand up for you [16:01] or the price of your gas or the price of your groceries. [16:03] Why? [16:04] He's bought off by the same weapons manufacturers. [16:06] AIPAC, we just heard, is going to put, what, $9 million into this campaign [16:09] in the next two weeks alone. [16:10] Well, that's what you get when you have an AIPAC-backed politician. [16:13] Thank you, Dr. Al-Sahad. [16:14] Congressman Rogers, second rebuttal, 30 seconds. [16:16] Yeah, so being bought off by the Muslim Brotherhood, [16:19] having donors to his campaign from Hamas, [16:22] that support Hezbollah, is not a problem. [16:25] If you are going to go to the United States Senate, [16:28] we need to know, are you for America [16:30] or are you for these terrorist groups overseas? [16:34] You can grin and you can smile and you can talk real pretty, [16:37] but I'm going to tell you what, [16:38] that is a risk to our national security. [16:42] Matter of fact, the New York Times gave him an option [16:44] to condemn his comments supporting the Morrissey and the... [16:47] Time, thank you, Congressman Rogers. [16:48] We're going to have to leave it there so we can get other topics in. [16:51] And he said no comment. [16:51] Thank you so much for your answers, gentlemen. [16:52] Can I have an opportunity about that? [16:53] Apologies. [16:54] We do need to move on. [16:55] Carolyn. [16:56] I'm going to do it in the next question in your time, Dr. El-Sayed. [16:59] This next question is about immigration and border security. [17:04] Congressman Rogers, [17:05] what changes, if any, [17:06] would you make to current immigration and border policies? [17:09] And how would you balance enforcement, [17:12] legal immigration, and asylum claims? [17:15] 60 seconds. [17:16] So we have to actually make sure the border stays secure. [17:20] What has happened in the last two years is amazing. [17:24] We've had a 20 percent drop nationally in murders. [17:29] The enforcement, ICE enforcement, [17:32] has gone after rapists and murderers and gangbangers [17:35] and drug dealers and human traffickers, [17:38] and it has had a tremendous impact on crime. [17:41] My argument, we should continue to do that. [17:43] Find those folks who are committing crimes [17:45] and get them the heck out of the country, [17:48] but you also have to maintain that border. [17:51] My opponent is, on record, in his own words, [17:55] talking about open borders. [17:57] Matter of fact, he wants to give them driver's license, [18:00] and he also wants to give them Medicare when they get here. [18:03] I mean, you want to talk about two stark differences. [18:06] This may be that issue. [18:07] Well, there's a whole bunch, [18:08] but this is a big one [18:09] because we have got to continue to secure the border, [18:12] get the illegal criminals who are committing crimes [18:15] out of the country to keep communities safe. [18:16] Congressman, that is your time. [18:18] Thank you so much. [18:19] Dr. El-Sayed, same question for you. [18:20] What changes, if any, would you make [18:22] to current immigration and border policies, [18:24] and how would you balance enforcement, [18:27] legal immigration, and asylum claims? [18:30] So let's be clear. [18:31] We've got to keep the border secure, [18:33] all of our borders secure. [18:35] He voted to defund border security when he was in Congress. [18:38] He conveniently likes to forget that. [18:40] And he says, it's your record, my guy. [18:42] It's your record. [18:42] Just own the record. [18:43] And on that note, [18:45] let's also talk about immigration enforcement. [18:47] He supports ICE running through your streets. [18:49] They don't have to tell you who they are. [18:51] They don't have to tell you why they're there. [18:52] He supports them walking into your kid's preschool [18:54] or your Home Depot [18:55] or your place of worship for detentions. [18:58] And I just think that that's illegal [19:01] because we have a constitution in this country [19:02] that guarantees basic rights to people. [19:05] That is his approach. [19:06] He wants to stand arm in arm with Donald Trump [19:09] around what ICE has been doing. [19:11] I believe that we don't need ICE. [19:13] In fact, we can go back to INS, [19:15] back when we were a lot more safe and secure [19:16] when it came to immigration. [19:18] And then we need to make sure [19:19] we have a clear pathway to citizenship [19:20] so that people can come here [19:22] and take opportunities that are legal for them. [19:24] I talked to a farmer who can't find people [19:26] to actually pick their crop [19:28] because they're too afraid to come. [19:30] That is the kind of economy [19:30] that Mike Rogers' policies would create. [19:32] I thank you so much. [19:34] Congressman Rogers, [19:35] you now have 30 seconds for rebuttal. [19:37] This is, again, [19:38] that whole pattern of deception [19:39] is just really incredible. [19:41] He wants to abolish ICE. [19:44] He wants to open the border. [19:45] He wants to decriminalize people [19:47] who cross the border. [19:49] All of the things we know [19:50] got us tens of millions of people [19:52] running across the border. [19:54] He wants to defund the police. [19:56] This is somebody who does not understand. [19:58] He is so married to that [19:59] Democrat socialist agenda [20:01] that he can't get out in front of it now. [20:04] And what he's saying now [20:05] is not what he's been saying [20:06] for the last 18 months. [20:07] That is your time, Congressman. [20:09] Dr. El-Sayed, [20:09] you have 30 seconds for rebuttal. [20:11] I'm sure somebody at home [20:12] has won MAGA bingo right now [20:13] because it's all the buzzwords [20:14] because he does not want [20:15] to actually talk about substance, [20:16] does not want to own his own record. [20:19] Literally voted to defund border security. [20:21] That is your record. [20:22] You don't want to own it. [20:23] You don't want to talk about it [20:24] because you are embarrassed of it. [20:26] And you are also embarrassed [20:27] of the fact that you cannot win this race [20:29] without Donald Trump coming here [20:30] and stumping for you. [20:31] That's why you begged him to come. [20:33] This is what you're going to get. [20:34] Donald Trump policies. [20:35] If you like the way things have been [20:36] for the last two years, [20:37] this is what he wants. [20:38] It's not working for any of us. [20:40] This kind of chaos just doesn't work. [20:42] Thank you both. [20:42] Gentlemen, Chuck, [20:43] you have the next question. [20:44] Thank you, Carolyn. [20:45] This next question, [20:46] we're going to turn to [20:47] a completely different topic, [20:49] but it's certainly one [20:50] we've been getting [20:51] just dozens of letters on. [20:54] Health care. [20:55] Health care costs in America [20:57] continue to rise, [20:58] outpacing U.S. inflation [21:00] and placing a growing burden [21:03] on individuals and families. [21:05] If elected, [21:06] would you work to expand, [21:08] modify, or roll back [21:10] policies of the Affordable Care Act? [21:13] And please be very specific. [21:15] Dr. El-Sayed, you begin. [21:17] I think, as everybody knows by now, [21:19] money out of politics, [21:19] money in your pocket, [21:20] and Medicare for all. [21:21] That's building on [21:22] the incredible success [21:23] of the Affordable Care Act. [21:25] A bill, by the way, [21:26] that my opponent [21:27] absolutely voted against. [21:29] That, and I think we need [21:31] to be serious [21:31] about prescription drug prices. [21:33] Look, my background [21:34] is in getting people health care. [21:36] I rebuilt Detroit's [21:36] health department, [21:37] led Wayne County's [21:38] Department of Health, [21:38] Human, and Veteran Services. [21:39] We led a health insurance program [21:41] that provided small businesses [21:43] high-quality health insurance. [21:45] We expanded access [21:46] to prescription drugs [21:47] for seniors. [21:48] That is the work I know. [21:49] It's also the work [21:50] that we need to take [21:51] to the United States Senate. [21:52] We cannot afford [21:53] to have a United States Senator [21:54] who is in bed with Big Pharma. [21:56] Took a million dollars [21:57] to run his previous campaign, [21:58] voted 19 times [21:59] to keep prescription drug prices high. [22:01] That ad you've seen [22:02] of him standing [22:03] in front of Canada [22:04] and talking about [22:04] how much more expensive [22:05] prescription drug prices are here, [22:07] he literally voted [22:08] four times [22:08] against you being able [22:09] to buy prescription drug prices [22:11] in Canada. [22:11] I know, he's about to deny it, [22:13] but that's his record, [22:14] and he probably should [22:15] own up to you. [22:16] All right, very good. [22:16] Just clarification. [22:18] Expanding the fourth war. [22:20] Expanding, certainly. [22:20] All right, Congressman, [22:21] you now have one minute. [22:23] Yeah, this is absolutely rich to me. [22:25] This is, again, [22:25] this pattern of deception [22:27] that this candidate [22:29] has done [22:29] for the last 18 months. [22:31] So he was for all, [22:32] Medicare for all, [22:34] and, by the way, [22:35] which takes away [22:36] your private health insurance. [22:39] Five million Michiganders [22:41] will lose their health care, [22:43] and it will destroy [22:44] Medicare for seniors. [22:45] That's what he's talking about. [22:47] And that's why UAW for Rogers [22:49] are here. [22:50] That's why they're coming [22:51] to our campaign. [22:52] People understand [22:53] just how ridiculous this is. [22:55] There are other Democrats [22:56] that will not support this plan [22:58] because it's outrageously expensive. [23:00] It would be about [23:01] $7 trillion a year [23:03] in new expenses, [23:04] about $20,000 per family [23:07] in new taxes. [23:09] And, oh, by the way, [23:10] you have to go back [23:11] in the line of the government. [23:12] That's what he's proposing. [23:13] So all of this other nonsense [23:14] that he's talking about [23:15] is absolutely not true. [23:17] We've just called [23:18] to make sure [23:18] that more drugs [23:19] are into the pot [23:21] of drugs that you can get [23:22] that you don't have to worry [23:23] about going to Canada [23:24] to get them and paying [23:25] American prices. [23:27] All right. [23:27] And clarification, [23:28] not expanding, correct. [23:30] Oh, I think it needs reform. [23:31] Okay, very good. [23:33] Dr. El-Sayed, [23:33] your 30-second rebuttal. [23:35] Clearly he chose [23:35] not to answer the question [23:36] because nobody knows better [23:38] about denying people [23:39] health insurance [23:40] than Mike Rogers. [23:42] Voted against expanding [23:43] health insurance for kids. [23:45] For kids. [23:45] Voted against it. [23:46] Why? [23:46] Because he's in bed [23:47] with big insurance. [23:48] Took a million dollars [23:49] from big insurance. [23:49] He's about to deny it, [23:50] of course. [23:51] But this is his record. [23:52] He, in fact, [23:53] told an amputee, [23:55] a first responder [23:55] from 9-11, [23:57] who had lost a limb [23:58] that he did not want [23:59] to expand insurance [24:01] even for him. [24:02] Even for him. [24:03] Because it was, [24:04] quote unquote, [24:04] a New York problem. [24:05] Nobody knows more [24:06] about taking away [24:06] your health insurance [24:07] than he does. [24:07] All right. [24:07] Thank you. [24:08] Congressman, [24:09] your rebuttal. [24:10] 30 seconds, please. [24:11] Ridiculously outrageous. [24:13] The guy, [24:13] the FBI guy, [24:14] the military guy [24:15] is going to do that. [24:16] I actually put in [24:17] the $150 million [24:18] to make sure [24:19] our 9-11 heroes [24:21] are taken care of. [24:22] That was back then. [24:23] I left Congress in 2014. [24:25] So I know [24:25] they've plussed up [24:27] that pot. [24:28] But what he says, [24:29] listen, [24:29] you have to understand, [24:30] he is saying things [24:32] like it means it, [24:32] like it's factual. [24:33] It's not. [24:34] It is not even close. [24:36] He'll keep repeating it. [24:37] He'll keep saying [24:37] this is about Donald Trump. [24:39] This is really about America. [24:40] And who believes [24:41] that America [24:42] is going to be [24:42] a better place [24:43] with me as Senator? [24:44] Thank you very much. [24:45] Alicia? [24:45] Our next topic [24:46] is on Social Security. [24:48] Congressman Rogers [24:49] will begin with you. [24:50] Social Security's [24:51] Retirement Trust Fund [24:53] is projected [24:54] to be depleted [24:55] in 2032. [24:57] If Congress [24:58] does not act, [24:59] beneficiaries [25:00] could face [25:01] automatic reductions [25:02] in future payments. [25:04] What specific changes, [25:06] if any, [25:07] would you support [25:08] to strengthen [25:09] Social Security's [25:10] finances [25:11] and ensure [25:12] its long-term stability? [25:14] Congressman, [25:15] you have 60 seconds. [25:15] This is such [25:16] an important issue [25:16] for so many people. [25:18] And I think [25:18] a lot of people [25:19] don't realize [25:20] that by law [25:20] there would be [25:21] a cut in 2032. [25:23] My family [25:23] is on Social Security. [25:25] I have a brother [25:25] on disability. [25:27] My in-laws [25:28] are on Social Security. [25:30] It's an important part [25:31] of their financial picture [25:32] as they go forward. [25:33] We must fix this. [25:35] I think the best way [25:36] to do this [25:36] is put people [25:37] in a room. [25:38] It's got to be bipartisan [25:39] to get it done. [25:41] The first thing [25:41] I would do [25:42] is go after [25:43] this $500 billion, [25:46] half a trillion dollars [25:47] in fraud [25:48] that just came out [25:49] in the congressional [25:50] committees [25:51] that they haven't [25:51] got to yet. [25:52] If we're going [25:53] to solve [25:54] these problems [25:54] for Social Security [25:55] and Medicare, [25:56] by the way, [25:57] it's also going [25:57] to get a cut. [25:58] We have to get rid [25:59] of the fraud [26:00] that's built [26:01] into the system. [26:02] As a former [26:03] cybersecurity guy [26:04] for the last decade, [26:05] I can tell you [26:06] there are a lot [26:06] of things [26:07] that we can do [26:08] to make sure [26:08] that we get fraud [26:09] out of the system. [26:10] That's a $500 billion shot, [26:12] which is a long way. [26:14] Get a bipartisan solution [26:15] on what we do [26:16] to make sure [26:17] that Social Security [26:17] is there for the future. [26:19] I'll repeat the question [26:20] for you, [26:20] Dr. El-Sayed. [26:21] What specific changes, [26:22] if any, [26:23] would you support [26:24] to strengthen [26:25] Social Security's finances [26:27] and ensure [26:28] its long-term stability? [26:30] Dr. El-Sayed, [26:30] you have 60 seconds. [26:32] I think the answer [26:32] is very easy [26:33] and really quite simple. [26:34] I think we need [26:35] to scrap the cap, [26:36] meaning the cap [26:38] that makes sure [26:38] that rich people [26:39] like Mike [26:39] don't have to pay [26:40] their fair share [26:41] into the program. [26:41] I think we need [26:42] to get rid of that [26:43] so that the rich [26:43] pay their fair share [26:44] and the program [26:45] becomes sustainable. [26:46] I also think it's crazy [26:47] that we tax Social Security. [26:49] I mean, that's ridiculous. [26:49] It's basically a tax. [26:51] You pay into the system. [26:52] The idea that you get taxed [26:53] on the back end [26:54] is a problem [26:54] and it's made it [26:55] very difficult [26:55] for seniors to survive. [26:57] But I want you [26:58] to pay attention [26:58] to a word he just said, [27:00] which is cut [27:01] tax and fraud. [27:03] You know they're [27:04] coming for a program [27:05] just like he has [27:06] come for the program [27:06] when they start [27:07] talking about fraud [27:08] because what happens [27:09] is they run their audits [27:10] and then they say [27:10] there's so much fraud [27:11] in it and then [27:12] they privatize it, [27:13] which Mike is on record [27:14] as saying he wanted to do. [27:15] I also said he wanted [27:16] to raise the retirement [27:17] age to 67. [27:18] I'm so sorry, [27:19] but you don't work [27:19] this hard to be told [27:20] that you got to work [27:21] two more years. [27:22] You don't work this hard [27:23] to give your money [27:23] to Wall Street [27:24] like he wants to do. [27:26] So be careful [27:27] when they start [27:27] talking about fraud [27:28] because it means [27:28] that they're going [27:29] to cut the program [27:29] right out [27:30] from underneath you. [27:31] Thank you, Dr. El-Sayed. [27:33] 30-second first rebuttal [27:34] for Congressman Rogers. [27:34] You know the people [27:35] who know Abdul the best [27:37] are sending up [27:38] flares for caution. [27:40] The guy that worked [27:41] with him [27:41] in his gubernatorial campaign [27:43] and then his Senate campaign [27:44] said this guy [27:45] will go to one group [27:46] and tell him one thing [27:47] two hours later [27:48] and tell him another. [27:49] He said he's [27:50] a manufactured candidate. [27:52] He's no longer [27:52] with the campaign [27:53] because he couldn't take it. [27:55] Think of that. [27:55] And this is why people [27:56] like the Democrat senator [27:58] from New Jersey [27:59] described him [28:00] as a fringe candidate. [28:02] This is why Van Jones, [28:04] who a Democrat, [28:05] came out and said [28:06] his policies are insane. [28:08] Dr. El-Sayed, [28:09] your 30-second rebuttal. [28:11] Look, again, [28:13] MAGA bingo, [28:13] I'm sure like half [28:14] the family's won [28:14] by this point [28:15] because remember, [28:16] when they're distracting you, [28:18] it's because they're [28:18] picking your pocket. [28:20] This is who he is. [28:21] He doesn't actually [28:22] want to talk about the issue. [28:23] Didn't rebut the point [28:24] that I made. [28:24] You know exactly [28:25] where he's going. [28:25] I said that he wants [28:27] to privatize it. [28:28] I said that he wants [28:29] to raise the age. [28:30] He said nothing [28:30] except for pointing it at me. [28:31] Now, he said he wanted [28:32] to make this about your family. [28:33] Yeah, he wants to cut [28:34] your family's retirement budget. [28:35] So you want grandma [28:36] and grandpa working [28:36] until they're like 80-something. [28:38] Mike Rogers, your guy. [28:39] Thank you very much, [28:40] gentlemen. [28:41] Carolyn? [28:41] All right. [28:42] Thank you so much, Alicia. [28:43] Now let's turn [28:44] to public safety, shall we? [28:45] Dr. El-Sayed, [28:47] what federal laws [28:48] or funding priorities [28:49] would you pursue [28:50] in the Senate [28:51] to make Michigan [28:52] communities safer? [28:53] We all want to get [28:56] home safe at night. [28:57] That's true [28:57] if you're a member [28:58] of the community. [28:59] It's true [28:59] if you're law enforcement. [29:01] I believe that we need [29:02] to fund the police [29:03] when it comes to retirement, [29:05] retention, recruitment. [29:07] I believe that we also [29:08] need to fund the things [29:09] that Donald Trump [29:10] and Mike Rogers [29:10] have backed to defunding, [29:11] things like behavioral [29:12] health response, [29:13] things like community [29:14] violence intervention. [29:16] I also think [29:16] that we need to make sure [29:18] that we have invested [29:20] in the means of public safety [29:22] across our communities [29:23] by making sure [29:24] that folks who have been [29:25] in the system [29:25] get full access [29:26] to good education [29:28] so they don't wind [29:28] themselves back [29:29] into the system. [29:30] Now, Mike's going to talk [29:31] a good game [29:32] about his law enforcement [29:33] bona fides, [29:34] but here's the thing [29:35] I want you to remember, [29:36] and he's, again, [29:36] not going to own it. [29:37] It's his record, though. [29:38] He voted while he was [29:40] in Congress against funding [29:42] that would have invested [29:43] in Michigan State Police, [29:44] would have invested millions [29:45] in Michigan State Police. [29:46] That's his record. [29:47] Mine, working alongside [29:49] law enforcement, [29:49] improving the operations [29:52] of our medical examiner's office [29:56] to improve time on scene. [29:58] Thank you so much. [29:58] Congressman Rogers, [29:59] same question for you. [30:01] What federal laws [30:02] or funding priorities [30:03] would you pursue [30:04] in the Senate [30:05] to make Michigan [30:06] communities safer? [30:08] Yeah. [30:08] So as a law enforcement [30:09] folks who actually [30:11] worked the streets [30:12] in the FBI, [30:15] one of the things [30:16] that we can do, [30:17] there's a Memphis project [30:18] where they infused [30:19] several of the different [30:21] federal agencies [30:22] to work with locals [30:23] to go after guns, [30:24] gang crime, [30:25] and it's made [30:26] a tremendous difference. [30:27] I think that would be [30:28] a huge asset here [30:29] in the state. [30:31] The fact that we would [30:32] vote against something [30:33] that would fund [30:34] the state police, [30:35] I mean, this guy [30:35] has got new false information [30:39] about every 30 seconds. [30:40] I will tell you this. [30:41] He did call [30:42] for defunding the police. [30:44] And how we found it [30:45] is he deleted [30:46] all of this material. [30:48] Why would you do that? [30:49] Why would you go through [30:50] and take all of that time [30:51] to delete all of the material, [30:53] X, videos, comments, podcasts? [30:56] Why? [30:57] Because he was passionate [30:58] about defunding the police. [31:00] As a matter of fact, [31:01] he asked the new [31:03] Muslim Brotherhood, [31:06] excuse me, [31:07] head, Morrissey, [31:08] in Egypt [31:09] to defund the police there too. [31:12] I mean, it's unbelievable. [31:13] Let's talk about this. [31:15] Let's talk about this. [31:16] He keeps raising this question [31:18] about this association [31:19] with an organization [31:20] I've never been a part of [31:21] because my mom, [31:23] who's a nurse in Missouri, [31:25] it doesn't make any sense. [31:26] And it's actually really [31:27] quite beneath you, Mike. [31:28] It's really quite beneath you. [31:29] To call into question [31:31] my loyalty to the Constitution, [31:32] I'm talking. [31:33] I'm talking. [31:34] I'm talking. [31:35] Well, own up to it. [31:36] Excuse me. [31:37] Yeah, go ahead. [31:38] Can I have a few more seconds? [31:39] Yes, go ahead. [31:39] Thank you. [31:41] To bring into question [31:42] my commitment [31:43] to the Constitution [31:44] is really beneath you. [31:45] I am proud of America. [31:47] I'm proud to be an American. [31:48] I'm proud of our Constitution [31:49] that guarantees all of us [31:51] the right to pray [31:51] as we choose to pray. [31:53] And the question [31:53] that you would ask that [31:54] I think is actually [31:55] really quite shameful [31:56] as somebody who's actually [31:57] served under that Constitution. [31:58] It is shame. [31:59] Shameful in me. [32:00] Congressman Rogers, [32:00] you now have 30 seconds [32:01] for a rebuttal. [32:03] You know, I wore the uniform [32:04] of the United States [32:05] proudly, [32:06] as my son did, [32:07] my wife served, [32:08] my brother served, [32:09] my father served, [32:10] so you could pray [32:11] any way you want. [32:12] And I know you want [32:12] to make this about [32:13] you being a victim. [32:15] This is about an ideology, [32:17] an ideology that's banned [32:19] in five Muslim countries, [32:21] an ideology that's banned [32:22] in another six different countries, [32:25] an ideology that is [32:26] very concerning [32:27] to law enforcement [32:29] in the United States [32:30] because they use it [32:31] for funding overseas operations. [32:33] Congressman Rogers, [32:34] that is your time. [32:35] Chuck, you have [32:36] the next question. [32:36] Thank you, Carolyn. [32:37] Gentlemen, [32:38] let's turn our attention [32:39] to another very important issue, [32:41] artificial intelligence. [32:43] For better or worse, [32:44] the vast majority [32:45] of our electronic devices [32:47] contain some degree [32:48] of artificial intelligence. [32:51] Congress has the constitutional power [32:53] to regulate AI. [32:55] Are you in favor [32:56] of exercising that power [32:58] on a federal level [33:00] should it be up [33:02] to the individual states [33:03] or should government [33:05] not interfere [33:06] with this growing technology? [33:08] Congressman Rogers, [33:10] you have one minute. [33:11] Yeah. [33:11] So I've, again, [33:12] been in the cybersecurity business [33:13] for the last decade. [33:15] AI is a real concern. [33:18] And we've seen [33:19] where some of these algorithms [33:22] have escaped [33:23] out of their sandbox [33:23] and done some real damage [33:25] to companies. [33:26] I support [33:27] the national security framework [33:29] for AI [33:30] to make sure [33:31] that there's some oversight [33:33] on how these companies [33:34] are developing AI [33:35] that they would have [33:36] the opportunity [33:37] to control, [33:38] including an up to, [33:39] maybe even a kill switch, [33:40] to make sure [33:41] these things [33:41] don't go wrong on you. [33:43] The other part [33:43] of this, [33:45] there's a kind of [33:47] a thin bill [33:49] I'd like to be a part [33:50] of when I get there [33:51] that would allow [33:52] antitrust exemption [33:53] for companies [33:55] to work together [33:56] on safety. [33:58] I mean, [33:58] this is such a huge issue. [34:00] We need to make sure [34:01] these companies [34:01] are cooperating [34:02] on the safety of AI, [34:04] nothing else. [34:05] So it has to be [34:06] a narrow band. [34:07] I think if you do [34:07] both of those, [34:08] we'd have a really good chance [34:09] to making sure [34:10] we can still stay competitive, [34:12] but keep it safe. [34:13] Thank you, Congressman. [34:14] I'll repeat [34:15] the gist of the question [34:16] for you, Dr. El-Sayed. [34:18] Are you in favor [34:19] of exercising [34:19] the power [34:20] that you would have [34:21] if elected [34:22] to the U.S. Senate? [34:23] Would you like [34:24] to do it [34:25] on a federal level? [34:27] Should it be up [34:27] to the individual states? [34:29] Or should government [34:30] not interfere [34:31] with this growing technology? [34:33] We absolutely need [34:35] federal leadership [34:35] on this question. [34:37] Right now, [34:37] AI is an existential risk. [34:39] Just to explain this, [34:40] if you've ever seen [34:40] the movie Fantasia, [34:42] where all of a sudden [34:42] the broomsticks [34:43] start making [34:43] other broomsticks, [34:44] that's what we're talking about. [34:45] It's called [34:45] recursive self-improvement. [34:47] And we are on the cusp [34:48] of getting there. [34:49] We need a pause [34:50] on frontier research. [34:52] We also need [34:52] to address the fact [34:53] that we don't have [34:54] the regulatory infrastructure [34:55] in the government [34:57] to oversee [34:57] the development of AI. [34:59] We also need [35:00] to address the fact [35:00] that even the CEOs [35:01] of these corporations [35:02] think they could take [35:03] 50% of the white-collar jobs [35:05] over the next 5 to 10 years. [35:07] So we need to make sure [35:08] that we have AI [35:09] under democracy, [35:10] meaning that there's [35:11] going to be democratically [35:12] appointed folks [35:13] on the boards [35:14] of these AI corporations. [35:15] There also should be [35:16] AI no-goes. [35:17] AI should not be able [35:18] to fire you, [35:19] shouldn't be able [35:19] to fire a weapon, [35:20] shouldn't be able [35:20] to deny you [35:21] health insurance. [35:22] I should want to be clear. [35:23] People like him [35:24] are invested in the AI industry [35:26] as it stands, [35:27] and so they are not [35:28] going to stand up to it. [35:29] In fact, they're spending [35:30] to support him [35:30] in this campaign. [35:31] All right. [35:32] Congressman Rogers, [35:33] your rebuttal, 30 seconds. [35:34] Yeah. [35:35] I mean, this whole thing [35:36] is just a little bit [35:37] laughable to me. [35:38] He's invested in AI [35:40] through his mutual funds. [35:41] If you are in the stock market, [35:42] what he's saying is [35:43] people are probably [35:44] invested in AI. [35:45] That's why he is [35:46] so deceiving, [35:47] and that's why [35:48] there's this pattern [35:48] of deception [35:49] that he likes [35:50] to patter on about, [35:51] which is dangerous. [35:52] And he said [35:53] the quiet part out loud. [35:54] He wants government [35:55] to go into these businesses. [35:57] That is the [35:58] Democrat Socialists [35:59] of America [35:59] coming for your business [36:00] and your future. [36:02] And so you need [36:03] to really stop [36:04] for a minute [36:05] and think about [36:06] do you want somebody [36:07] who wants the government [36:08] involved in these companies? [36:11] Thank you, Congressman. [36:12] Dr. El-Sayed, [36:13] you have 30 seconds. [36:14] You got a guy [36:15] who can't even respect [36:16] the rules of this debate, [36:17] and he loves to lie [36:19] because he's invested [36:20] what, $2.6 million [36:21] direct funding [36:22] in a corporation [36:23] that's building [36:24] a data center [36:24] in Saline Township. [36:26] He doesn't want [36:27] to talk about it, [36:28] but there's a difference [36:28] between a mutual fund [36:29] and invested directly [36:32] in a corporation [36:32] building a data center [36:33] in people's backyards. [36:35] At the end of the day, [36:36] if you want [36:36] corporate government, [36:38] you've got corporate [36:39] government right here. [36:40] They're going to get rich [36:41] and you, [36:41] you're going to pay the cost. [36:42] Thank you very much, [36:44] gentlemen. [36:44] Alicia, you now have [36:45] the next question. [36:46] We're going to jump [36:47] to Michigan Jobs [36:48] and the auto industry. [36:50] Dr. El-Sayed, [36:51] Michigan's auto industry [36:52] faces pressure [36:53] from tariffs, [36:55] changing fuel economy rules, [36:57] and global competition. [36:59] What is the most important [37:01] federal policy [37:01] you would pursue [37:03] to protect Michigan auto jobs [37:05] and keep the state competitive? [37:07] Dr. El-Sayed, [37:08] you have 60 seconds. [37:10] Well, we just saw GM [37:12] do the biggest stock buyback [37:15] in automotive history. [37:16] It was personal to me. [37:17] My dad came to this country [37:18] to design and build cars. [37:20] He worked for GM. [37:21] He told me in 1996 [37:22] that if a car company [37:23] is more interested [37:24] in its short-term finances [37:25] than it's interested [37:26] in its engineers [37:27] and its workers, [37:28] it's not going to be [37:28] a car company very long. [37:30] 2008 rolls around [37:30] and we all know [37:31] that GM had to take [37:32] a bailout. [37:33] That's all politics [37:35] that enables [37:36] or comes from [37:37] the enablement [37:37] of corporations [37:38] paying off politicians [37:39] to look the other way [37:40] on exactly that. [37:41] I want to ban [37:42] stock buybacks. [37:43] While we're at it, [37:44] I want us to continue [37:45] to be the world's leader [37:46] in internal combustion [37:48] engine research [37:49] and manufacturing. [37:50] We've got to be [37:50] the world's leaders. [37:51] My dad came here to build. [37:52] But we also can't cede [37:53] the future of auto [37:54] to China. [37:55] So I think we need [37:56] to say what would happen [37:58] if we decided [37:58] to throw the gauntlet down [37:59] and build a 300-mile range, [38:02] $25,000 EV. [38:04] We tariffed around EVs. [38:05] We invested in that. [38:07] And then we could continue [38:08] to win both the future [38:09] of internal combustion [38:10] and EVs. [38:11] Thank you, Dr. El-Sayed. [38:12] Congressman Rogers, [38:13] I'll pose the question [38:14] to you again. [38:15] What is the most important [38:16] federal policy [38:17] that you would pursue [38:19] to protect Michigan Auto Jobs [38:22] and keep the state competitive? [38:24] 60 seconds. [38:24] The very first thing [38:25] we have to do [38:26] is ban the ability [38:28] for the Chinese [38:29] to build cars [38:30] in the United States. [38:31] That is the single, [38:32] number one, [38:33] existential threat [38:34] to our automobile industry here. [38:37] Remember, [38:37] China doesn't come here [38:38] to make profits. [38:40] They come here [38:41] to steal market share. [38:42] And so when they talk [38:44] about showing up [38:45] or they build them [38:46] in Canada [38:46] and try to talk to them [38:48] about coming [38:48] and cross the bridge, [38:49] we need to stop [38:51] that at the border [38:52] and we need to make sure [38:54] that it is very clear [38:55] in the law [38:56] that those Chinese cars [38:57] can't be built [38:58] right here [38:59] in the United States. [39:01] Thank you, [39:01] Congressman Rogers. [39:02] 30 seconds rebuttal [39:03] for you, [39:03] Dr. El-Sayed. [39:05] It's funny [39:05] because the person [39:07] who's inviting them [39:07] to come and build [39:08] the United States [39:08] is his favorite president, [39:09] the guy he's campaigning [39:10] with on Sunday. [39:12] So I'm just trying [39:13] to figure out [39:13] how this is going to go. [39:15] Donald Trump's going [39:16] to help him get [39:17] into the United States Senate [39:18] and he's going to turn around [39:18] and stand up to Trump [39:19] because, you know, [39:19] we've got a real history [39:20] of Republican senators [39:22] standing up [39:22] to Donald Trump right now. [39:23] I don't see it happening. [39:25] So he's going to talk [39:25] a good game [39:26] like he usually does, [39:27] but he's going to bend [39:27] to Donald Trump [39:28] because he is a sock puppet [39:29] for the man. [39:30] The only reason he's running, [39:31] of course, [39:31] is because Trump called him [39:32] and asked him to do it. [39:34] Congressman Rogers, [39:35] 30 seconds rebuttal for you. [39:36] You know, again, [39:37] he wants to make this [39:38] about Donald Trump. [39:39] I mean, the bingo game [39:40] ought to be [39:41] how many times [39:42] can he put the word Trump [39:43] in any answer, [39:44] any answer that he has given [39:46] in the last, whatever, [39:47] 30 minutes. [39:49] It's ridiculous. [39:50] This is really about [39:50] the best way forward [39:51] for Michigan. [39:52] I'm the only guy [39:53] that can go back. [39:54] Just like we did [39:55] on the Gordie Howe Bridge, [39:57] they said no, [39:58] I got in there, [39:58] we got it open. [39:59] Just like the FEMA money [40:01] for up north [40:02] when the administration [40:03] and the governor's office [40:04] were fighting about it, [40:05] I got that fixed. [40:06] You want somebody [40:07] can actually accomplish [40:08] what's good for Michigan [40:10] and I'll be for good [40:11] and won't be for it [40:13] if it's bad for Michigan. [40:14] Thank you. [40:15] Carolyn? [40:15] Thank you so much, Alicia. [40:16] We're going to talk [40:17] about something [40:17] that a lot of people [40:18] here in Michigan [40:19] are worried about [40:20] and that's education. [40:21] Congressman Rogers, [40:23] Michigan ranks 44th [40:24] in the nation [40:25] in fourth grade reading [40:27] and just 25% [40:28] of our fourth graders [40:29] scored at or above [40:30] proficient on the 2024 [40:32] National Assessment [40:34] of Educational Progress. [40:35] What would you do [40:36] in the U.S. Senate [40:37] to improve reading [40:38] and math achievement [40:40] and expand educational [40:41] opportunity [40:42] for Michigan students? [40:44] Yep, this is really [40:44] what got my wife, [40:46] us and I [40:47] into this game [40:48] for running [40:48] for the United States Senate. [40:51] If you can't read [40:52] in the fourth grade [40:53] by the fourth grade, [40:53] you have a 70% chance [40:55] of being on welfare [40:56] or going to prison. [40:58] 70. [40:59] Two-thirds [40:59] of Michigan fourth graders [41:01] cannot read [41:01] in the fourth grade. [41:03] That is unacceptable. [41:04] I argue it's criminal. [41:05] You've just put them [41:06] on a path to poverty. [41:07] So I'm going to use [41:08] Title I money. [41:09] We're going to have [41:10] reading reclamation program [41:11] between third and fourth grade. [41:13] It's phonics based [41:15] to get those kids back reading. [41:17] And we also have a program, [41:18] my wife and I [41:19] are very big into [41:20] Beyond Basics. [41:21] It's a not-for-profit here [41:22] that's been doing work [41:23] for literacy for a long time [41:25] to make sure [41:26] that older kids [41:28] also have the opportunity [41:29] to reclaim their reading. [41:30] You can do it in four [41:31] to 16 weeks [41:33] depending on where [41:34] your reading level is. [41:35] It's absolutely doable. [41:37] And if we don't do it, [41:38] we're going to lose [41:38] and it's going to be bad [41:39] for all of us. [41:40] And I also want to put [41:41] shop back in schools [41:42] and get kids connected [41:43] to skilled trades as well. [41:45] Congressman, [41:45] that's your time. [41:46] Thank you so much. [41:47] Dr. El-Zayed, [41:48] same thing to you. [41:49] Michigan ranks 44th [41:50] in the nation [41:51] in fourth grade reading [41:52] and just 25% [41:54] of our fourth graders [41:54] scored at or above [41:56] proficient on the 2024 [41:57] National Assessment [41:58] of Educational Progress. [42:00] What would you do [42:01] in the U.S. Senate [42:02] to improve reading [42:03] and math achievement [42:04] and expand educational opportunity [42:07] for Michigan students? [42:09] You know, it's a shame. [42:11] I walked into Spain Elementary [42:12] in Midtown Detroit in 2016. [42:15] It was the middle of winter. [42:16] I saw first graders [42:17] bundled up in their coats [42:18] trying to learn how to read [42:20] with icicles coming off the roof [42:22] because the boiler in the building [42:23] broke literally two weeks ago, [42:25] but they had to call them back in [42:26] because they're out of days [42:27] that they could keep them out. [42:28] We built a program [42:29] to provide every one of those kids [42:31] a free pair of glasses. [42:32] We had that school inspected [42:33] for any of the public health issues [42:34] that we could have found. [42:37] When the Flint water crisis hit, [42:38] I had every school, [42:38] daycare and Head Start [42:39] tested for lead in the water. [42:41] But this is a funding issue. [42:42] It's a funding issue [42:43] that's been created [42:44] by the disastrous policies [42:45] of folks like Mike [42:47] for a very long time. [42:48] In 1999, [42:49] he architected the legislation [42:50] that ushered in [42:51] what ultimately would become [42:53] emergency management [42:54] under which Detroit public schools [42:56] were then operating. [42:57] That's exactly the kind [42:59] of failed leadership [42:59] that's led us to this crisis [43:01] in the first place. [43:02] We need to fund [43:02] the Department of Education. [43:03] In fact, [43:04] I think we need to tie bar [43:05] the funding [43:05] to the Department of Defense. [43:08] I think we need to be invested [43:09] in schools rather than [43:10] defunding schools [43:11] like we've seen here. [43:12] Congressman Rogers, [43:13] you now have 30 seconds [43:14] for a rebuttal. [43:15] In the whopping 18 months [43:17] he's sent in the city of Detroit, [43:19] we couldn't find anybody [43:20] that knew him [43:21] or knew what he did. [43:22] 67% of Detroiters rejected him [43:25] in his primary. [43:27] 67%. [43:27] So we've been down there [43:29] talking to them [43:30] about what happens [43:30] in their schools, [43:31] how we can get their kids reading. [43:33] He just comes up [43:34] with this flowery language [43:35] and he'll blame Trump here [43:36] in a second for all of that, [43:37] I'm sure. [43:39] And what's happening is [43:40] we've given about $3,000 [43:43] more per pupil [43:44] and all of our education [43:45] standards went down. [43:46] That is your time, Congressman. [43:48] Thank you. [43:48] You have 30 seconds [43:49] for a rebuttal, Dr. El-Sayed. [43:51] Yeah. [43:52] Look, at the end of the day [43:53] the question is ultimately [43:54] who's got a stake in the game? [43:56] I think about the quality [43:57] of schools every day. [43:59] I think with Mike, [44:00] you look at where he sits. [44:02] Dude's moving to Florida [44:03] in November. [44:04] He just took his house [44:05] off the market. [44:06] And yes, [44:06] I am going to blame Donald Trump [44:08] because this is Donald Trump's economy. [44:09] We are living in it. [44:11] We're paying more for gas, [44:12] more for groceries, [44:12] defunding the Department of Education. [44:14] Can you look in that camera [44:15] and say that Donald Trump [44:16] should fund the Department of Education? [44:18] Can you maybe tell him [44:18] not to come here [44:19] if you disagree with his policies? [44:21] He won't. [44:23] I'm happy to answer [44:24] all of those questions. [44:25] That is your time. [44:26] Thank you, Dr. El-Sayed. [44:27] Thank you, Congressman. [44:28] Alicia, you have the next. [44:29] Chuck, you have the next question. [44:30] That's all right. [44:30] Thank you very much. [44:31] Let's now turn our attention [44:33] to something that we hope [44:34] everyone does in a few days [44:36] and that's voting [44:37] and a key aspect of the SAVE Act. [44:40] If elected, [44:41] you may be asked [44:42] to vote on legislation [44:43] requiring voter identification [44:45] and other key changes [44:47] to federal election laws. [44:49] Would you support [44:50] or oppose that legislation [44:52] and why, [44:53] Dr. El-Sayed, [44:54] we begin with you. [44:56] Let's be clear, [44:56] this is about voter suppression. [44:57] You know, [44:58] the SAVE Act [44:58] would require women [45:00] who change their names [45:01] to go back [45:02] and find their birth certificates [45:03] just to be able to vote [45:04] in our election. [45:05] I mean, [45:06] I think that's pretty crazy [45:07] and you pile that on [45:08] to the voter suppression tactics [45:09] we've seen [45:10] out of the Supreme Court [45:10] backed by Donald Trump, [45:12] backed by Mike Rogers. [45:13] In fact, [45:14] Mike Rogers was caught [45:15] on a hot mic [45:16] talking about [45:17] how he wanted to make sure [45:18] that there were retired cops [45:20] who could intimidate voters [45:21] in the city of Detroit. [45:22] I couldn't believe it [45:24] when I heard it [45:24] because that sounds like [45:25] something you'd be hearing [45:26] from someone in the South [45:28] like 60 years ago, [45:30] not a politician running [45:31] here in Michigan [45:32] who's claiming that, [45:33] you know, [45:33] he's talking to folks [45:34] in the city of Detroit [45:34] because I'll tell you, [45:35] folks in the city of Detroit [45:36] are sick and tired [45:37] of watching politicians [45:38] deny the outcomes of elections [45:40] just like Mike has, [45:41] just like Donald Trump has. [45:43] We deserve the right to vote. [45:45] Nobody should take that [45:46] away from you. [45:47] People have fought [45:47] and died for that right. [45:49] I, for one, [45:50] believe in democracy [45:50] and will abide [45:51] by the outcomes [45:52] of this election. [45:53] He's questioned [45:53] the outcomes [45:54] of the last election [45:55] in the first place. [45:56] All right, time. [45:57] Congressman, [45:58] I'll repeat the question. [45:59] If elected, [46:00] you may be asked [46:01] to vote on legislation [46:02] requiring voter identification [46:05] and other key changes [46:06] to federal election laws. [46:08] Would you support [46:09] or oppose that legislation [46:10] and why? [46:12] Yeah, I think it's [46:13] very reasonable [46:14] and rational [46:14] to ask for a voter ID. [46:16] So my opponent, [46:17] again, [46:18] calls for open borders, [46:20] wants to give illegals, [46:21] driver's license, [46:22] and then avail them [46:23] to all of the services [46:25] of the United States [46:26] of America. [46:27] And by the way, [46:27] it's easy to work [46:28] your way into a system. [46:29] Show an ID to vote, [46:32] I think is absolutely imperative. [46:34] It won't do anything [46:35] and it builds confidence [46:37] in our elections. [46:38] This is what you want. [46:39] And secondly, [46:40] think about this. [46:41] There are so many Democrats [46:43] who are coming out today [46:44] and saying they can't vote [46:46] for Abdul El-Sayed [46:47] because he's too extreme. [46:48] The former chairman [46:49] of the Democrat Party [46:51] has come out and said, [46:52] can't vote for El-Sayed. [46:54] He is too extreme. [46:56] The finance chairman [46:57] of Alyssa Slakin, [46:58] our current senator, [46:59] came out and said, [47:00] I can't vote for El-Sayed. [47:03] If you start thinking [47:04] about Democrats for Rogers [47:06] and elected officials [47:07] around the state [47:08] saying too extreme, [47:10] can't do it, [47:10] this to me is exactly [47:12] the kind of thing he does. [47:13] He's really good on his feet. [47:15] He's not so good [47:15] when it comes to policy. [47:17] Thank you very much. [47:17] I know you're passionate, [47:18] but we have to follow [47:20] the rules here. [47:21] Dr. El-Sayed, [47:21] your 30 seconds, please. [47:24] You know, [47:24] it's sad to me. [47:26] I told you at the outset, [47:27] he was going to make this [47:28] about MAGA-bingo, [47:29] all of the different buzzwords. [47:30] At this point, [47:30] I think everybody playing [47:31] has already won. [47:33] Prize for everybody. [47:34] But here's the thing. [47:35] When you're winning MAGA-bingo, [47:36] we're all losing [47:37] because I told you [47:37] every time [47:39] that they're trying [47:40] to distract you, [47:40] they are picking your pocket. [47:42] You've got a corporate politician [47:43] who wants to turn around [47:44] and do corporate things. [47:45] I mean, [47:45] we just got a note [47:46] he was flying around [47:47] on private jets [47:47] to get his BMW [47:48] or somebody's BMW fixed. [47:51] I haven't been on a private jet. [47:53] I don't know about you all. [47:54] All right. [47:54] That's your time. [47:55] Your rebuttal, [47:56] Congressman Rogers? [47:57] I mean, [47:57] this guy is so ridiculous. [47:59] This is exactly why [48:00] the biggest coalition we have [48:02] is Democrats for Rogers. [48:04] We're doing well [48:05] with African Americans [48:06] in the city of Detroit, [48:08] in Pontiac, [48:09] in Flint. [48:10] We're doing exceptionally well [48:11] with Jewish Democrats [48:13] who are literally afraid. [48:15] I've talked to ones [48:16] with tears in their eyes [48:18] about the future [48:19] of their kids [48:19] and grad kids [48:21] because of the anger [48:22] and division [48:23] that he is laying out [48:24] on the street. [48:25] This is really, [48:27] really important [48:27] that you listen [48:28] to the people [48:29] who are not going [48:30] to support him. [48:31] That's why you want to [48:32] intimidate him. [48:32] Gentlemen, [48:33] we're out of time. [48:33] Not seriously. [48:34] Lisa, [48:35] your question next. [48:36] Our next question [48:36] will be for Congressman Rogers. [48:38] We'll start with you [48:39] about political independence. [48:40] At a time [48:41] when the country [48:42] is deeply divided [48:44] politically, [48:45] what is one policy [48:47] proposed by your opponent's party [48:49] that you could see [48:51] yourself supporting? [48:53] I've seen some housing bills [48:55] and I'd like to be there [48:56] to work with them [48:57] to try to get them [48:58] in a little better shape. [48:59] But for affordable housing, [49:01] we have a huge need [49:02] in affordable housing [49:03] in cities like Detroit [49:04] and Pontiac [49:05] and Flint [49:06] and Benton Harbor. [49:08] And there's other places [49:09] around the state [49:09] that it will be in need [49:10] as well. [49:11] I'd love to work [49:11] with them on that. [49:12] I have a housing plan [49:13] to get younger [49:14] Michiganders [49:16] into homes. [49:18] Right now, [49:18] the current first-time [49:20] homebuyer in Michigan [49:20] is 40 years old. [49:22] It's ridiculous. [49:23] So I have a plan [49:24] to actually build [49:26] in some lots [49:26] in the city of Detroit [49:28] by encouraging investment [49:29] by builders, [49:30] bringing the community together, [49:32] also working [49:33] with the city council. [49:34] I've had great conversations [49:36] with the Detroit city council [49:37] how we can work together [49:38] on getting those housing needs met [49:40] and spurring development [49:43] and housing bills [49:44] in the city of Detroit [49:45] and other places as well. [49:47] Congressman Rogers, [49:48] thank you. [49:49] I'll repeat the question [49:49] for you, Dr. El-Sayed. [49:50] At a time when the country [49:52] is deeply divided politically, [49:55] what's one policy [49:56] proposed by your opponent's party [49:58] that you could see yourself [50:00] supporting? [50:01] 60 seconds. [50:02] Look, I come out [50:02] of municipal government. [50:04] That means you've got to work [50:04] with everybody [50:05] to get something done. [50:06] I was proud to get to work [50:07] with all kinds of folks, [50:08] both in Wayne County [50:09] and in the city of Detroit. [50:11] to eliminate medical debt, [50:12] put glasses on kids, [50:13] take on corporate polluters. [50:15] I'll work with anyone [50:16] and everyone [50:16] when it comes to getting money [50:17] out of politics, [50:18] putting money in your pocket [50:19] and passing Medicare for all. [50:21] I want to talk to two issues. [50:23] Number one, [50:23] I actually believe [50:24] that there are tariffs [50:25] that make sense. [50:26] Donald Trump's tariffs [50:27] don't make any sense, [50:28] but there's a version of tariffs [50:29] that really could be hooked [50:30] to an industrial policy [50:32] that makes sense, [50:34] where you're tariffing [50:34] in a way that actually could [50:36] help us build [50:37] the job creation opportunities [50:39] of the future. [50:40] The other one [50:41] is on corporate speculation. [50:43] Donald Trump, [50:44] even though he's [50:44] a broken clock, [50:45] he's right twice a day. [50:46] And when it comes [50:47] to corporate speculation [50:48] on housing, [50:49] I think that's wrong [50:50] and I actually agree [50:50] that we've got to do [50:51] something about it. [50:52] So there's two issues [50:53] that I'm looking forward [50:54] to finding Republicans [50:55] who are willing [50:56] to work with me on [50:57] so that we can get money [50:58] out of politics, [50:58] put money in your pocket, [50:59] pass Medicare for all. [51:00] Dr. Elzad, thank you. [51:02] Congressman Rogers, [51:03] 30 seconds for rebuttal. [51:04] So think of all [51:05] of the three things [51:06] he just talked about. [51:07] Putting money in your pockets, [51:08] it's a great slogan. [51:10] There's nothing behind it. [51:11] Matter of fact, [51:12] when his new Democrat-socialist [51:13] aligned policies are engaged, [51:16] money in your pocket, [51:17] you'll be lucky [51:17] to have a damn pair of pants [51:19] when you're done. [51:20] Medicare for all, [51:21] he doesn't tell you [51:22] how much taxes [51:23] you have to get charged [51:24] and you lose [51:25] your private health insurance. [51:27] These aren't real solutions. [51:29] These are solutions [51:30] that are going to make [51:31] your life more miserable [51:32] and it's going to take away [51:33] your choices in health care. [51:35] Congressman Rogers, [51:36] thank you. [51:36] Dr. Elzad, [51:37] 30 seconds for rebuttal. [51:38] Let's talk about money [51:39] in your pocket. [51:40] Right now, [51:40] the folks pulling the money [51:41] out of your pocket [51:42] are the big corporations [51:43] who are buying his campaign. [51:44] I outraised him three times, [51:46] but somehow there are more ads [51:47] for him on TV. [51:48] Who paid for those? [51:49] Corporations in super PACs [51:51] that are flooding the airways. [51:53] So I want to stand [51:54] for your union. [51:56] I want to make sure [51:56] that you have one [51:57] so you have good wages [51:59] and good benefits. [52:00] I want to stand up [52:01] to monopolies and oligopolies [52:02] that both suppress your wages [52:04] and raise your prices. [52:05] I would call that [52:05] some substance [52:06] even if for him [52:07] he can't talk about it [52:08] because he's bought off by them. [52:09] Thank you, Dr. Elzad. [52:11] Carolyn? [52:11] Okay, we're almost [52:12] out of time, gentlemen, [52:13] so we do have a few [52:14] rapid-fire questions for you. [52:16] We just need a yes [52:17] or no answer on this. [52:19] Congressman Rogers, [52:20] are you in favor [52:21] of expanding [52:22] the U.S. Supreme Court? [52:23] Yes or no? [52:24] No. [52:25] Dr. Elzad, [52:26] same question to you. [52:27] Are you in favor [52:28] of expanding [52:28] the U.S. Supreme Court? [52:29] Yes or no? [52:30] Yes, but fairly. [52:31] Very good. [52:33] Same rapid-fire question. [52:35] Question number two. [52:37] Do you support [52:37] universal background checks [52:39] for gun purchases? [52:42] Yes. [52:42] Dr. Elzad? [52:43] Yes. [52:44] Congressman? [52:44] It all depends. [52:46] It all depends. [52:47] Yes or no? [52:48] Yes or no is all [52:49] we have time for. [52:49] It's not hard. [52:50] In the middle. [52:51] In the middle. [52:52] There's different cases [52:53] for that. [52:53] So dependable. [52:54] You want to ban [52:55] the second amendment? [52:56] Why don't you talk [52:57] about that? [52:58] Okay, guys. [52:58] There's a big difference. [52:59] Gentlemen, [52:59] we've got to protect [53:00] your closing statements. [53:01] All right. [53:02] All right. [53:03] It's now time [53:04] for a closing statement. [53:05] And as we decided before, [53:09] Congressman Rogers, [53:09] you go first. [53:11] Well, first of all, [53:12] thank you all very, [53:12] very much for having us. [53:15] You know, [53:15] we cannot afford [53:17] Abil al-Sayed's policies, [53:19] and we cannot risk [53:21] his ideology. [53:22] If you think about [53:24] what's at stake [53:25] in this election, [53:26] it really isn't about [53:27] left versus right anymore. [53:29] It really is about [53:30] the heart and soul [53:31] of the country [53:31] and who we are [53:32] as Americans [53:33] and the future we want [53:35] for our children. [53:37] There is a reason [53:38] that group after group [53:40] is coming to our campaign. [53:42] Democrats are openly [53:43] supporting Rogers for Senate. [53:46] Jewish Democrats [53:47] who are afraid [53:48] for their children [53:49] when their daughters [53:50] can't wear their [53:51] Star of David [53:52] walking across [53:53] Michigan's campus. [53:55] These are real. [53:57] My opponent's rhetoric, [53:59] his vitriol, [54:00] is having consequences. [54:02] We need to stand up now [54:04] to make sure [54:05] we are going [54:06] in that right direction [54:08] for this country. [54:10] And again, [54:11] if you are worried, [54:12] you went through, [54:13] you're a Haley Stevens voter [54:14] and you came out of this [54:15] and you said, [54:16] man, I just can't do it. [54:17] He's too extreme. [54:18] like the chairman [54:19] of the Democrat Party, [54:20] like so many Democrats [54:21] who are coming out for us. [54:23] Well, guess what? [54:24] You'll have a home with us. [54:25] If you care about education, [54:26] getting housing better [54:28] and fixed, [54:29] keeping your taxes low, [54:30] regulations for business [54:32] so that we can boom [54:34] and have a booming economy [54:35] here in Michigan [54:36] and get Michigan [54:36] off her knees [54:38] and the envy of the country, [54:40] you have a home with us. [54:42] I'd like to earn your vote [54:43] on November 3rd. [54:44] Thank you, Congressman. [54:45] Dr. El-Sayed, [54:46] your 90-second closing statement. [54:48] Nobody appreciates [54:49] the promise of America [54:50] like somebody who understands [54:52] exactly what America gave me. [54:54] I got to go to great public schools, [54:56] amazing public university. [54:58] I love this country. [54:59] I love the Constitution [55:00] and what it protects [55:01] for all of us. [55:02] But right now, [55:03] it has gotten way too hard. [55:05] Our politics have been bought off [55:06] by big corporations, [55:08] billionaires, [55:09] special interests, [55:10] buying and selling politicians [55:11] in the same way [55:12] that they bought and sold [55:13] the person to my left, [55:14] his entire career. [55:16] And what's happened [55:17] to all of us? [55:18] Well, it costs too much [55:20] to fill up your tank. [55:21] It costs too much [55:22] to buy groceries. [55:23] It costs too much [55:24] to see a doctor. [55:25] It just costs too much. [55:28] I had the privilege [55:28] of traveling up north. [55:30] We had 500 people [55:32] in Iron Mountain, [55:34] 600 in Escanaba, [55:35] 1,300 in Marquette, [55:36] all coming together [55:37] around a vision [55:38] for an America [55:38] where it just shouldn't [55:39] be this hard. [55:41] You deserve to have a union. [55:43] You deserve to know [55:44] that your politicians [55:44] are not bought off [55:45] by big corporations. [55:47] You deserve better [55:47] than a war [55:48] that we're fighting aimlessly, [55:50] that raises your gas prices, [55:52] that raises the price [55:53] of your groceries. [55:54] You deserve to know [55:55] that you can look [55:56] your kids in the eye [55:57] and know that their country [55:58] is going to be better for them. [55:59] Because I want America, [56:00] the America I got to experience, [56:02] to be America [56:03] for all of her kids. [56:04] That's what this campaign [56:05] is about. [56:06] We need to turn the page [56:07] on Donald Trump, [56:07] but that means we need [56:08] to stand up to Donald Trump. [56:10] We need to take on [56:10] the corruption [56:11] of our politics. [56:12] We need money [56:13] out of politics, [56:13] money in your pocket, [56:14] and Medicare for all. [56:18] Well, we want to thank [56:19] Congressman Rogers [56:20] and Dr. El-Sayed [56:21] for being here [56:22] and coming to Channel 7 [56:24] and getting through [56:24] all of these issues [56:25] that matter a lot [56:26] to Michigan [56:27] as we certainly [56:28] appreciate you. [56:29] And we want to thank [56:29] everyone at home [56:31] for watching as well. [56:32] And I agree. [56:33] We thank you very much [56:34] for coming. [56:35] You can find this debate [56:36] in its entirety [56:37] at WXYZ.com [56:40] and it will also be [56:41] on our live [56:42] 24-7 stream. [56:44] And of course, [56:45] we want to hear [56:45] from voters [56:46] about what they thought [56:46] about this debate, [56:47] the feedback they're [56:48] going to give us, [56:49] and we're going to have [56:49] reaction from voters [56:51] for you tonight [56:51] on 7 News Detroit [56:53] at 10 and 11. [56:55] And everybody, [56:56] do not forget, [56:57] Election Day [56:58] is November 3rd. [57:00] Both of these gentlemen [57:01] want you to come out [57:02] and vote. [57:03] Polls are open [57:04] at 7 a.m. [57:05] They will close [57:06] at 8 p.m. [57:07] Your voice will not matter [57:09] unless you vote. [57:11] Again, [57:12] thank you all [57:12] for watching tonight. [57:13] Gentlemen, [57:14] thank you for being here [57:15] for this wonderful debate. [57:17] Have a good night, everybody. [57:18] Good night, you.