Abdul El-Sayed has called Bassem Youssef “hilarious.”

Mehdi Hasan has called him a “good friend.”

Youssef, meanwhile, used a Jan. 29 appearance on Candace Owens’ podcast to push false-flag claims about two major terror attacks — 9/11 and the 2025 Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre.

“How can you believe a country that has a very lucrative history of false flag operations?” Youssef asked of Israel before citing what he claimed were examples.

His list included 9/11.

“One month after 9/11, which is the biggest false flag operation,” Youssef said, before adding: “And of course we have the Bondi attack.”

The Bondi attack was no mystery Israeli operation. On Dec. 14, 2025, a father and son opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people. Australian police later said the attackers appeared to have been inspired by the Islamic State; authorities recovered ISIS flags connected to the pair.

Youssef also has longstanding ties to prominent progressive political and media figures.

El-Sayed — now the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat — singled him out ahead of ArabCon last year as someone he was especially excited to see.

“You know Bassem Youssef, fellow Egyptian,” El-Sayed said. “He’s hilarious.”

Hasan’s relationship with Youssef goes deeper. His Zeteo media company made Youssef a prominent contributor, and its We’re Not Kidding podcast launched in 2024 with Youssef billed as a regular presence.

The Washington Free Beacon reported that Hasan also introduced Youssef as his “good friend” during an ArabCon taping last year.

Full report over at The Washington Free Beacon:

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— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) September 18, 2026