In a wide-ranging interview on The Late Show, newly elected Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) offered candid reflections on her career in intelligence, America’s global responsibilities, and the future of her party. Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who served three tours in Iraq before entering politics, combined personal anecdotes with sharp political insights in a conversation that ranged from hot dog debates to the Israel–Gaza war.

From CIA Analyst to Senator

Before her rise in Michigan politics, Slotkin spent years in the intelligence community, focusing on terrorist networks targeting U.S. forces in Iraq. Unlike the Hollywood portrayals of shadowy spies, she described the daily work of analysts as methodical, often focused on hierarchy, money trails, and communications networks.

“I carried a weapon, but my job was to understand how militias and terrorist groups operated,” Slotkin recalled. “We weren’t there to play James Bond—we were there to prevent attacks.”

She emphasized that many career intelligence professionals are far from the “deep state” conspiracy theories popularized in certain political circles. “They’re moms and dads, people in mom jeans and white sneakers, eating ballpark franks on weekends. To demoralize them for political gain is not just wrong—it’s dangerous,” she said, directly criticizing former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric.

Hot Dog Diplomacy

Slotkin’s lighter side also surfaced. Her family’s history in the meat business—her great-grandfather founded a company that helped create Ballpark Franks—gave rise to an annual “Senate Hot Dog Party” she hosts each July. Asked whether a hot dog qualifies as a sandwich, she sided firmly against it: “It’s its own cultural category. Not a sandwich.”

On “Alpha Energy” and Democratic Leadership

As one of the few Democrats to win in a state carried by Trump, Slotkin argued her party needs to project stronger, bolder leadership—what she calls “alpha energy.”

“It’s not about being macho,” she clarified. “It’s about being gutsy, honest, and willing to lead people through a dark place. Like a good coach—you push when someone’s wrong, but you also hug them when they get it right.”

Slotkin cited Michigan’s sports culture as her inspiration, pointing to Lions coach Dan Campbell as an example. “We need that coach energy to get people out of the tunnel and into the light.”

Gerrymandering and the Fight for Fair Maps

Turning to domestic politics, Slotkin condemned Texas Republicans’ newly redrawn congressional map, calling it an abuse of power. “Gerrymandering is literally choosing your voters. In Michigan, people got so disgusted, we passed a constitutional amendment to have an independent commission draw fair maps. Every state should have that.”

She warned that Democrats cannot remain passive: “If they’re going to bring fire, I’m going to bring fire too. I’m not bringing a knife to a gunfight.”

Gaza, Israel, and Humanitarian Obligations

The most somber part of the conversation came when Slotkin addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While affirming Israel’s right to self-defense after the October 7th attacks, she stressed the U.S. must insist on aid access for civilians.

“In Iraq, even when our troops were under attack, we had a responsibility as the occupying power to get humanitarian aid in,” she said. “That responsibility is not optional. Getting baby formula and clean water to children is an American value, a Jewish value, and a Muslim value.”

Slotkin warned that Israel’s long-term security could be undermined by the scale of civilian suffering. “Responding to October 7th is one thing. But the way this is being carried out now—the rhetoric from some in Netanyahu’s government—is harming Israel’s long-term interests. Many of Israel’s staunchest allies are questioning whether this strategy is sustainable.”

A Senator with a Spy’s Discipline

Slotkin’s blend of intelligence experience and Midwestern pragmatism sets her apart in the Senate. She insists that Democrats cannot afford to be “polite consensus-builders” in extraordinary times.

“You can’t win by dancing around it. You need a plan, you need to bring people with you, and then you execute. That’s the energy we’ve lost, and I’m hellbent on bringing it back.”