Story perspectives

Mike Rogers Skips Town Hall, Citing Fox 2 Bias

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 3:47 PM UTC · How we work

Left

Calls Rogers coward

Republican candidate Mike Rogers refused to attend a September 15 televised town hall with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit.
El-Sayed used the missed debate to call Rogers a coward, champion Medicare for All, and denounce unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel.
Rogers’ campaign said he declined because FOX 2 moderator Roop Raj showed media bias.
El-Sayed criticized unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel and other nations.

Right

Moderator bias claim

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers refused to attend a September 15 town hall with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit.
Fox 2 said it would keep Rogers’s podium empty while El-Sayed fielded questions alone.
Rogers claimed Fox 2 moderator Roop Raj favored El-Sayed, prompting his refusal.
The campaign said he will still debate El-Sayed on Oct 8 (Wood TV8) and Oct 21 (WXYZ Channel 7).
El-Sayed disavowed Hasan Piker’s remarks and avoided a yes-or-no on Israel as a Jewish state.

Blindspot

Fox 2 announced it would keep an empty podium for Rogers during the September 15 town hall, leaving the seat vacant while El-Sayed fielded questions alone, highlighting the media’s response to the candidate’s boycott.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Right-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

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Calls Rogers coward

Republican candidate Mike Rogers refused to attend a September 15 televised town hall with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit.
El-Sayed used the missed debate to call Rogers a coward, champion Medicare for All, and denounce unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel.
Rogers’ campaign said he declined because FOX 2 moderator Roop Raj showed media bias.
El-Sayed criticized unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel and other nations.

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