PA-12:Summer Lee says she condemns 'all forms of hate' while defending controversial decision to appear with Hasan Piker

[RandySF]

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee is getting heat for a planned campaign appearance alongside Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, a political commentator who’s been accused of antisemitism and anti-American sentiment on multiple occasions.

Lee, a progressive Democrat who represents part of the Pittsburgh region – including Squirrel Hill, seen by many as the center of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community – was scheduled to appear alongside Piker at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan on Tuesday at rallies for U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

Piker, a streamer and political commentator, has been in the spotlight recently for his previous comments regarding Hamas, the Oct. 7 attacks, 9/11 and more. His more inflammatory comments include saying that “America deserved 9/11,” responding to one of his listeners who condemned the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, with “Bloodthirsty violent pig dog, suck my dick,” and also said “It doesn’t matter if rape happened on October 7th. It doesn’t change the dynamic for me.”

Amid the controversy, Democratic officials have found themselves on the back foot, trying to explain why they are agreeing to make appearances with him – and Lee is no exception.



https://www.cityandstatepa.com/politics/2026/04/summer-lee-says-she-condemns-all-forms-hate-while-defending-controversial-decision-appear-hasan-piker/412692/?oref=cspa-skybox-hp

[SSJVegeta]

1. I like how the press is obsessed with this but doesnt see it a big deal an actual self nazi dined with trump

[RandySF]

2. Piker and the Nazi both suck.

[SSJVegeta]

11. Piker isnt nearly comparable to a nazi

The worst thing he said doesnt even compare to "women should be put in gulags" and their voting rights taken away

[EdmondDantes_]

15. He has said even if there were rapes as part of the Oct 7 attacks it changes nothing in his mind

I'm not drawing much of a distinction between shrugging his shoulders at rape and the horrible violence on Oct 7 with gulags where women are raped and subject to horrible violence.

Then there's his praise for the Chinese government who is putting people in gulags as part of an ongoing genocide.

[SSJVegeta]

16. Again. None of that is the same as "lets lock up an entire gender and kill all the Jews."

Not even remotely. Also not sure if there is anything worse than "I love Hitler"


And yes. There is absolutely a distinction between that and dismissing (or even endorsing) the status quo.

[SunImp]

10. I wonder if they were this outraged when Gavin Newsom interviewed Bannon, Shapiro, Charlie Kirk, etc

[JBTaurus83]

3. But everyone can appear raising money with Naziyahoo

Who has literal fascists in his cabinet and kills children. The fake outrage stuff gets tiring from both sides.

[RandySF]

7. Piker is still a creep.

[leftstreet]

14. +1

[PeaceWave]

4. This Piker character is one sick puppy. What is Summer Lee thinking?

[EdmondDantes_]

5. I get there's legal reasons and disputes about what is antisemitic, but saying he's accused seems silly

[mcar]

6. I like her but a big mistake on her part

[AZProgressive]

8. I'm not sure why Piker is a big deal or suddenly becoming a litmus test for Democrats

As he is Cenk's nephew I never paid much attention to him but his target audience tends to be younger. I consider a lot of media figures either to the left or to the right of Piker.

I say this as someone who watched only 1 video of his which was when he was debunking the right wing conspiracies regarding the Somali-American community in Minneapolis before ICE killed & injured civilians there in the city.

I have a feeling this has more to do with primaries. If someone wants to reach a large young online audience it is likely a politician such as Summer Lee may appear on his show which isn't a dealbreaker for me personally.

[SunImp]

9. I wonder if they were this outraged when Gavin Newsom interviewed Bannon, Shapiro, Charlie Kirk etc

[FiveFifteen]

12. And your clearly stated point is?

False equivalence is the strength of idiots.

Who the fuck would ever stand with this moron?

It is that simple.

[SunImp]

13. I'd still vote for Newsome, Summer Lee, Mamdani, etc

They're just trying to expand their audience or understand people's points of view. I personally don't like it when politicians interview controversial people or go on fox news/rogan, but maybe this can be one way to expand our reach.

[FiveFifteen]

18. Good point

Thanks.

[MichMan]

17. There is a difference between being interviewed on his show and appearing with him at campaign rallies

[FiveFifteen]

19. Bullseye

Anyone who thinks it is acceptable for a campaign rally shouldn’t complain when Fuentes or his trash ilk appear with Rs.