"And instead, we're out here talking about who gets to play what sport, which, you know, should be the question of the people who govern sports.I'm not running to govern sports, right?" El-Sayed told correspondent Ross Douthat during the interview.The discussion came as Douthat asked a broader question about parental control over education and tensions between some Muslim voters and cultural liberalism.
His examples included what schools teach and transgender students’ participation on sports teams.Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed poses for a portrait in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, Feb.21, 2026.
(Evan Cobb for The Washington Post via Getty Images)"Like these are places where rights are in conflict," Douthat said before asking how those disagreements should be resolved."I don't know that that's actually true," El-Sayed responded."I think we manufacture these social issues because here's the thing about it, Ross.
You have an iPhone in your pocket probably or is it an iPhone or a Samsung?"El-Sayed went on to argue that smartphones and the internet make it unrealistic for parents to prevent children from encountering ideas they find objectionable.He said parents should explain their beliefs and help children navigate what they encounter."I think it's really important for us to recognize that the free flow of information is actually a beautiful thing," he said.He then returned to sports while accusing people who emphasize cultural disputes of diverting attention from economic problems."A lot of the cultural war issues that get fought right now are about trying to distract us from the fact that we can't afford our gas, can't afford our groceries, can't see a doctor, are worried about whether or not our kids are going to have a good life," he said.MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT AWKWARDLY PIVOTS TO CIRCUMCISION DURING HEATED FOX NEWS DEBATE ON CHILD SEX CHANGESMichigan U.S.
Sen candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, speaks with media after a debate at WoodTV studios on Tuesda...