Woke 1? Abdul El-Sayed Says Posts Criticizing July 4th And The 2nd Amendment Are Old

Aug 12, 2026 01:54 AM - 1 hour ago 1

Topline

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed said Tuesday that his views person changed aft societal media posts resurfaced showing him bashing the Second Amendment and Fourth of July—the latest lawsuit of a progressive stepping backmost antecedently arguable rhetoric during an era the near is referring to arsenic “Woke 1.”

Michigan Democratic Senate superior victor Abdul El-Sayed speaks during a property convention successful beforehand of the Spirit of Detroit statue connected August 05, 2026 successful Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

CNN connected Tuesday reported El-Sayed said “fireworks suck” and pleaded pinch Americans to find different measurement to observe July Fourth successful a 2024 YouTube video, and suggested replacing the correct to carnivore arms pinch a law correct to wellness attraction successful a 2023 video, among astatine slightest 100 of El-Sayed’s YouTube videos that look to person been made private, according to CNN.

His run accused CNN of having “cherry-picked comments from aged podcasts” that “don’t bespeak his beliefs today,” pointing to a 2025 societal media station successful which he told followers to bask Fourth of July fireworks and insisting El-Sayed respects the Second Amendment, but besides supports weapon control.

The reversal is the latest illustration of progressives stepping backmost immoderate of the arguable rhetoric utilized during the emergence of the “defund the police” activity (though the resurfaced El-Sayed YouTube videos were made later)—a play immoderate successful the activity are referring to arsenic “Woke 1” successful an effort to laughter disconnected their critics.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., referenced “Woke 1” while defending socialist Francesca Hong, the favourite successful Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, during an ABC News question and reply connected Sunday.

Ocasio-Cortez laughed while telling the network, “I person this section metropolis councilman that has this uh saying, ‘Woke 1 was crazy,’” explaining that, “I deliberation that during this time, particularly during COVID, location was a immense opening of the Overton window,” referring to the governmental arena erstwhile once-radical ideas go mainstream.

Progressive New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé tweeted a clip of Ocasio-Cortez’s question and reply captioned, “Woke 1 WAS crazyyyy, Madame President,” reprising the building he first utilized successful May erstwhile he was called retired for tweeting successful 2021, “a cis achromatic man should not beryllium the adjacent speaker of the Council.”

NEWS PEG

Hong was heavy criticized for saying she wanted to cancel Thanksgiving successful 2020, past giving a roundabout reply to CNN precocious erstwhile asked if she stood by the statement. She reversed her position successful an question and reply pinch Politico past week, telling the outlet it’s really her favourite holiday. Ocasio-Cortez and different salient progressives, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., person not endorsed successful Hong’s race. She’s challenging Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is backed by Gov. Tony Evers, successful Tuesday’s primary, which includes respective different Democratic candidates. Ocasio-Cortez has said she’s staying retired of the title because she’s focused connected legislature races, while Sanders and Warren person said they’re not acquainted capable pinch Hong. Some observers, however, person speculated whether the progressive leaders are avoiding Hong aft they were burned by erstwhile Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner, a governmental newcomer forced to driblet retired of the title aft a bid of revelations astir his arguable past, culminating successful intersexual battle allegations against him.

What Else Did El-Sayed Say In Old Posts Unearthed by CNN?

He based on that fireworks wounded aerial value and could trigger PTSD successful veterans and scare children and pets successful 1 of the deleted YouTube videos cited by CNN. He besides compared the “ethos of football” to narratives utilized to warrant slavery and different forms of oppression, according to CNN, citing a 2023 section of his podcast that has not been deleted. His run noted successful consequence that El-Sayed was the skipper of his precocious schoolhouse shot squad and “loves Michigan shot connected Saturdays.”

Key Background

El-Sayed and Hong are among a activity of progressive superior candidates raising concerns among constitution Democrats astir whether they tin triumph statewide contests successful November. El-Sayed is successful a dormant power pinch Republican erstwhile Rep. Mike Rogers successful astir polls, while immoderate polls show Hong winning Tuesday’s superior but losing support to Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., successful the wide election.