BROADCAST BIAS: Networks cover for radical Hasan Piker despite ties to Senate nominee

This Fox News opinion piece accuses major US broadcasters of downplaying Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's ties to left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who has made controversial remarks including that America "deserved" the 9/11 attacks and praised Mao Zedong. The article argues that networks such as NBC, ABC, PBS, NPR, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) and CNN have either glossed over or dismissed as a "red scare" the criticism directed at El-Sayed for campaigning alongside Piker and declining to disavow his views, despite Republican attacks branding him a communist.

The piece cites specific coverage examples, including NBC's Shaquille Brewster noting El-Sayed "disagrees" with but won't disavow Piker, and CNN's Kaitlan Collins including Democratic Senator John Fetterman's remarks that he cannot align with anyone who "loves Hamas" or believes America deserved 9/11. Piker has also said he would "vote for Hamas over Israel" every time and once spoke at a College Democrats event dressed in a Mao-style suit. El-Sayed, who won the Democratic primary, now faces Republican Mike Rogers in the general election, with the author contending that outlets like MS NOW's Vaughn Hillyard mischaracterised legitimate scrutiny of Piker's views as manufactured "disinformation."