Story perspectives

Beamer PAC Ad Links El-Sayed to Hasan Piker

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 2:53 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

David Beamer, Todd Beamer’s father, narrated a Michigan Senate PAC ad attacking Abdul El-Sayed.
The ad showed a Hasan Piker clip saying America “deserved 9/11.”
It showed Abdul El-Sayed with Hasan Piker at Michigan State and Michigan events in April.
Abdul El-Sayed told Fox 2 he was “not here to disavow views.”
Trump aide Theo Wold warned Abdul El-Sayed’s failure to denounce Hasan Piker lets “enemies from within” affect the ballot.

History

Historical Context

In the 2004 presidential race, the 527 group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth launched a $22.4 million TV blitz accusing Democratic nominee John Kerry of falsifying his Vietnam service. The ads, first aired in August 2004, sparked the term “swiftboating” for dishonest political attacks. Today’s Michigan Senate PAC ad echoes that tactic, showing how the 2004 smear model continues to shape partisan campaigning.

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Story summary

David Beamer, Todd Beamer’s father, narrated a Michigan Senate PAC ad attacking Abdul El-Sayed.
The ad showed a Hasan Piker clip saying America “deserved 9/11.”
It showed Abdul El-Sayed with Hasan Piker at Michigan State and Michigan events in April.
Abdul El-Sayed told Fox 2 he was “not here to disavow views.”
Trump aide Theo Wold warned Abdul El-Sayed’s failure to denounce Hasan Piker lets “enemies from within” affect the ballot.

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