The U.S. Senate race between Abdul El Sayed and Mike Rogers is disrupting traditional political alignments in the Black and Jewish communities in southeast Michigan.

In this episode Stephen goes to talk with voters and organizers in both communities about how they're managing difficult conversations about El Sayed's Arab American and Muslim background. The show includes interviews with canvassers who are knocking doors on Detroit's west side, and organizers of a house party where members of the Jewish community gathered to talk about the election's

In studio, we were joined by former congressman Andy Levin, Branden Snyder of the Working Families Party, Kermit Williams of Oakland Forward and Eli Williams-Szenes of Bend the Arc.

Callers from around the state shared intimate stories about their experiences sorting through these issues in the election.

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In the third episode of our Michigan Decides shows about the 2026 elections, Stephen and guests discuss political ads - how and why they're made, how they've changed, and whether they're effective.

Jill Alper, who has done political consulting for nearly 40 years at the state and national level, talked about a number of ads in the current cycle, especially in the contested U.S. Senate race between Democrat Abdul El Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers.

Jason Cabel Roe, also a longtime political consultant, and Michal Traugott, a research professor at the Center for Political Studies at the University of Michigan, joined Stephen in studio to talk about the ads and talk with callers, who rang in from around the state.

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Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers faced off in a U.S. Senate debate with just weeks to go before Election Day. Immediately afterward, Stephen Henderson was joined by longtime NPR political correspondent Don Gonyea and Gongwer Michigan reporter Liz Nass to make sense of what Michigan voters heard.

What were the candidates trying to accomplish? Who were they trying to persuade? And what did the debate reveal about the larger political divide in Michigan?

Plus, listeners call in with the moments that stood out to them, the issues they still want the candidates to address, and what they need to hear before casting their votes.

Call us anytime at 734-412-7155, or email us at MIweneedtotalk@gmail.com

Join our online community at www.MIweneedtotalk.org