Extended Interview: Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed
Ross Douthat sat down with Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on October 22 at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. This video is an extended version of the interview that was broadcast on 60 Minutes on Sunday, November 1, 2026. This version was lightly condensed for clarity.
In this conversation, Abdul El-Sayed makes claims about the utility DTE Energy and his opponent, Mike Rogers, that require context. El-Sayed says DTE “buy[s] off almost every politician in our state.” DTE and its political action committee have made extensive, publicly reported contributions to Michigan politicians, including a large majority of state legislators, but 60 Minutes found no evidence that DTE made improper payments in exchange for votes or regulatory decisions. El-Sayed says Rogers “made 14 million bucks” after leaving Congress. Financial disclosures show Rogers’ household net worth rose substantially after he left office in 2015, to an estimated $7 million to $14 million or more, but those figures reflect net worth, not earnings, and 60 Minutes was unable to verify that Rogers made $14 million.
Watch Ross’s interview with Mike Rogers: https://youtu.be/b1mc1gNSZxA
For more context on both interviews: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fact-checking-el-sayed-rogers-60-minutes/
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In this conversation, Abdul El-Sayed makes claims about the utility DTE Energy and his opponent, Mike Rogers, that require context. El-Sayed says DTE “buy[s] off almost every politician in our state.” DTE and its political action committee have made extensive, publicly reported contributions to Michigan politicians, including a large majority of state legislators, but 60 Minutes found no evidence that DTE made improper payments in exchange for votes or regulatory decisions. El-Sayed says Rogers “made 14 million bucks” after leaving Congress. Financial disclosures show Rogers’ household net worth rose substantially after he left office in 2015, to an estimated $7 million to $14 million or more, but those figures reflect net worth, not earnings, and 60 Minutes was unable to verify that Rogers made $14 million.
Watch Ross’s interview with Mike Rogers: https://youtu.be/b1mc1gNSZxA
For more context on both interviews: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fact-checking-el-sayed-rogers-60-minutes/
"60 Minutes" is the most successful television broadcast in history. Offering hard-hitting investigative reports, interviews, feature segments and profiles of people in the news, the broadcast began in 1968 and is still a hit, over 50 seasons later, regularly making Nielsen's Top 10.
Subscribe to the "60 Minutes" YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/60minutes
Watch full episodes: https://cbsnews.com/60-minutes/full-episodes/
Get more "60 Minutes" from "60 Minutes: Overtime": https://cbsnews.com/60-minutes/overtime/
Follow "60 Minutes" on Instagram: https://instagram.com/60minutes/
Like "60 Minutes" on Facebook: https://facebook.com/60minutes
Follow "60 Minutes" on X: https://twitter.com/60Minutes
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://cbsnews.com/newsletters/
Download the CBS News app: https://cbsnews.com/mobile/
Try Paramount+ free: https://paramountplus.com/?ftag=PPM-05-10aeh8h
For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com
60 Minutes
"60 Minutes," the most successful television broadcast in history. Offering hard-hitting investigative reports, interviews, feature segments and profiles of people in the news, the broadcast began in 1968 and is still a hit, over 50 seasons later, regular...