Fastrack · Mike Rogers Dodges MAGA Question in NBC Interview

Mike Rogers repeatedly declined to say whether he is a MAGA Republican when Kristen Welker asked him Sunday. Rogers is Michigan's Republican Senate nominee.

Rogers said the question was a little bit disgusting to him.
He pivoted to Democrats who say they will not back El-Sayed.
Rogers said he has never called El-Sayed a terrorist.
Welker read Rogers his 2012 remarks on moderate Muslim Brotherhood members.

Why it matters: Trump has endorsed Rogers and called El-Sayed a vicious, violent jihadist on Friday. Rogers did not endorse that language.

Oct. 10: Rogers called Dave Portnoy's terrorist label for El-Sayed exactly right.
Rogers said his 2012 comments aimed to protect Israel-Egypt intelligence ties.

The story so far

26 steps · since Oct 7

Oct 7
Oct 85:04 AMRogers, El-Sayed Clash in First Michigan Senate Debate50 sources
Oct 8–18
Oct 183:09 PMEl-Sayed Pushes Back on Alleged Muslim Brotherhood Ties43 sources
Oct 19–20
Oct 218:05 AMRogers, El-Sayed Clash Over ICE, Taxes, Terror Ties in Debate36 sources
Oct 219:55 AMEl-Sayed, Rogers Trade Attacks in Michigan Senate Race38 sources
Oct 22–24
Oct 25Mike Rogers Dodges MAGA Question in NBC InterviewYou are hereLatest

How 3 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 3 sources

3 sources · 4 articles · 67% Left coverage

Where they split: Coverage divides over whether Rogers was dodging his ties to Trump or distancing himself from Trump's attacks on El-Sayed.

Left coverage, 2 sources: The left sees an interview that went off the rails as Rogers dodged a direct MAGA question.

Raw Story3h'Not answering my question': Mike Rogers interview goes off the rails over MAGA query Mediaite3hGOP Senate Hopeful Mike Rogers Repeatedly Dodges After NBC’s Kristen Welker Asks Him Point Blank: &# ...

Right coverage, 1 sources: The right sees Rogers breaking with Trump's jihadist rhetoric while pressing the case that El-Sayed is further left than he claims.

Washington Examiner3hRogers breaks with Trump on el Sayed attacks: 'I've never called him a terrorist'

What’s next: The race to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters is a statistical tie. El-Sayed leads by 3 points in the RealClearPolitics average.

Rogers invited national reporters to come to Michigan and talk with voters.
Will Rogers's refusal to embrace the MAGA label affect Trump-aligned turnout?
Will the Muslim Brotherhood dispute move voters in Detroit, Flint and Pontiac?