Rebellion PAC Ad for ElSayed Draws Antisemitism Claims

Rebellion PAC’s advertisement supporting Abdul ElSayed in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race has drawn criticism for linking U.S. aid to Israel with grocery prices, while ElSayed’s campaign says it had no role in the ad and does not speak for its candidate. The ad’s message and its use of Israel in a discussion of household costs have prompted accusations of antisemitism, a characterization its promoter, Cenk Uygur, disputes. The video depicts a couple shopping for groceries. When the woman tells her partner to put eggs back, she says they need to set money aside for killing Palestinians. The conversation then connects U.S. assistance to Israel and military operations in Gaza with the cost of food. The ad also refers to aid figures and ends with a narrator contrasting Republican candidate Mike Rogers, shown alongside Israeli officials, with ElSayed, described as being for viewers. Rebellion PAC promoted the spot as supporting ElSayed. Campaign spokesperson Roxie Richner said it was not affiliated with the Abdul for Senate campaign and that ElSayed was focused on opposing policies that raise costs for Michiganders. Her statement distanced the campaign from the advertisement; it did...