CNN/SnapStream Ahead of the Michigan Democratic Senate primary and the possibility of a victory for far-left Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI), Tuesday’s CNN This Morning focused heavily on the issue of Israel in the campaign, a frequent topic used by El-Sayed. Instead of a large discussion over establishment struggles, host Audie Cornish said El-Sayed was “inevitable” after the “uncommitted” DNC electors saga in 2024.In the lead segment of the show, Cornish went back to the Democratic Party’s recent issues in Michigan, which she called a “canary” over the War in Israel “ever since October 7th” terrorist attacks. She then noted that El-Sayed was “inevitable”:And Michigan was the place where, I remember the DNC, their electors were the most frustrated, right? That's where you really - it felt like that was the place that had this dialogue the most strongly. And it feels almost inevitable that you'd see a candidate like Abdul El-Sayed come forward. On CNN This Morning ahead of the Michigan primaries, Audie Cornish passed over the idea of establishment Democrat struggles in primaries and noted that a candidate like Abdul El-Sayed was “inevitable” in Michigan after the ‘uncommitted’ DNC elector saga in 2024 over Gaza. pic.twitter.com/IBamKRJpZd— Nick (@nspin310) August 4, 2026 After the panel discussed endorsements in the state between El-Sayed and his establishment-backed opponent in Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI), panelist Jesse Arm of the Manhattan Institute noted that “Abdul El-Sayed is winning because he's running a virulently anti-Israel campaign, as you said, Audie.”Cornish and Arm then got into a back-and-forth over what she actually said, after she related El-Sayed’s rise to the anti-Israel Michigan sect of Democratic voters and the ‘uncommitted’ movement. Later, Cornish made sure to note that she did not say El-Sayed was running a “virulently anti-Israel" campaign, as panelist @Jesse_Leg remarked himself.She then turned to CNN’s Aaron Blake and remembered back to a “grumpy” Bernie Sanders at a DNC and said, “It feels like we… pic.twitter.com/4hWvXm3Q20— Nick (@nspin310) August 4, 2026 Conrish started the comment accreditation fight: “Let me underscore. I did not say he was running a virulently anti-Israel campaign.” It continued, as Arm noted, “I don’t think he would dispute that he is running a virulently anti-Israel campaign.” Cornish responded, “I would dispute I said it.”After the credit battle, Cornish turned to say an El-Sayed victory and the rise of the DSA reminded her of a grumpy Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at an old DNC and his socialist movement: “it feels like we are seeing the fruits of a long-running movement that may or may not be coming to fruition.” In continuation of CNN This Morning’s Michigan primary focus, NOTUS's Dana Milbank downplayed the talk of the Democratic Civil War and admitted "the so-called establishment has gone substantially to the left in recent years." pic.twitter.com/pTog2kwX9J— Nick (@nspin310) August 4, 2026 Later, NOTUS columnist Dana Milbank made an admission in his claim that the Democratic Civil War is “overblown,” as he said the “mainstream” and “establishment.”After being asked by Cornish, “How come you say this is not a civil war?” Milbank remarked, “And for all the talk of divisions within the Democratic Party, the electorate is actually pretty close. You know, it's probably more unified than it's been really in decades. And you see, you know, even the mainstream of the party, the so-called establishment, has gone substantially to the left in recent years.”He continued, “So, yeah, there's this huge divide they have on Israel, but the whole party is moving in El-Sayed’s direction on Israel. They're both looking for universal health care, just different ways of getting there.”Milbank’s comments reflect the new reality of a Democratic Party that has already moved far to the left, exemplified by DSA victories and a possible El-Sayed primary win. As said by former NFL coach Dennis Green, “They are what we thought they were.”The transcirpt is below. Click "expand":CNN This MorningAugust 4, 20266:07:55 AM Eastern(...)AUDIE CORNISH: But also, Michigan has been a canary, right, in it's car factory for like a couple of years now. I mean, ever since October 7th. And I remember the Biden Administration trying to find a way to talk about Gaza and Israel with an electorate. And it had nothing in common with that electorate anymore. And Michigan was the place where, I remember the DNC, their electors were the most frustrated, right? That's where you really - it felt like that was the place that had this dialogue the most strongly. And it feels almost inevitable that you'd see a candidate like Abdul El-Sayed come forward.(...)6:10:00 AM EasternJESSE ARM: I think Abdul El-Sayed is winning because he's running a virulently anti-Israel campaign, as you said, Audie, I don't think it's because he's talking about bringing manufacturing back to Michigan. That's what Haley Stevens has been talking about. In fact, it's kind of the only thing she can talk about.CORNISH: Let me underscore. I did not say he was running a virulently anti-Israel campaign.ARM: [Raises hand] Okay, I did.CORNISH: I want you to own - your comments –ARM: I don’t think he -CORNISH: – just so you can get credit for your comment.ARM: I don’t think he would dispute that he is running a virulently anti-Israel campaign.CORNISH: I would dispute I said it. And, uh, I want to give the last word to Aaron because Bernie Sanders, when I think of him grumpy with his arms crossed at that DNC many years ago, Elizabeth Warren, it feels like we are seeing the fruits of a long-running movement that may or may not be coming to fruition.AARON BLAKE: Yeah. And this is a very big moment for that movement. And I'll tell you why. The reason is that the Democratic primary electorate has proven willing to elect these kinds of candidates, the DSA candidates, in cities like New York City, in cities, you know, heavily urban areas –CORNISH: And only now. Yeah.BLAKE: – Boulder in Colorado. They haven't gotten these candidates necessarily through primaries in marquee races, in swing electorates. So, getting Abdul El-Sayed through this primary and having him tested in a general election that is going to have lots of focus in November is a big moment for this movement. They need to prove that they can win in that kind of environment, not just primaries, but general elections with swing electorates. And that's why I think this race is so important for that movement.CORNISH: So, big test. That's why we're watching it. (...)6:38:21 AM EasternCORNISH: How come you say this is not a civil war? You've been writing about this, and it sounds like you think it's overblown.DANA MILBANK: I mean, what Nick is saying is all true. I think some of it is a little overblown. I mean, one of the main reasons I'll say it is doing so well is he's just extremely charismatic. I mean, he's a very good politician, you know? And for all the talk of divisions within the Democratic Party, the electorate is actually pretty close. You know, it's probably more unified than it's been really in decades. And you see, you know, even the mainstream of the party, the so-called establishment, has gone substantially to the left in recent years. So, yeah, there's this huge divide they have on Israel, but the whole party is moving in El-Sayed’s direction on Israel. They're both looking for universal health care, just different ways of getting there.(...)