NBC’s Saturday Night Live was in a celebratory mood over the weekend as it welcomed Tuesday’s Democratic victories by welcoming Sen.-elect James Talarico to close out the cold open. However, the mood was tempered somewhat by its belief that Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer won’t be up to the task of combatting President Trump.
Kenan Thompson played Jeffries and previewed his upcoming fights with the administration, “And now that we're in charge, our first order of business will be to march right up to Donald Trump, look him dead in the eye, and say, ‘Hey! Knock it off, Buster!’”
Playing the role of Schumer, Sarah Sherman rebuked Thompson’s Jeffries character, “Whoa, whoa, language, language. Hey, but it's a new world. This election marked a seismic shift in politics.”
SNL seems to be worried that Democrats won't play hardball with the administration. Hakeem Jeffries (Kenan Thompson) claims "Now that we're in charge, our first order of business will be to march right up to Donald Trump, look him dead in the eye, and say, 'Hey! Knock it off,… pic.twitter.com/0VG9ccW7EC
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) November 10, 2026
Fake Jeffries agreed, “Oh, I agree, I agree. These young Democrats have the base energized. Perhaps it's time for us to step aside and pass the torch to the next generation.”
After both laughed at the idea, Thompson continued, “No. Never!”
Eventually, James Austin Johnson’s Trump character made an appearance and froze the Jeffries-Schumer skit in the background. At one point, Fake Trump declared, “But election is over now, so I hope you enjoy what you voted for. Jon Ossoff, or as I call him, Pinky Herman. Abdul El-Sayed, or as I call him, Mamdani for Men. And, of course, down in Texas, Tala-freak-o.”
Talarico then joined Johnson on stage by proudly insisting, “That’s Senator Tala-freak-o.”
After a rambunctious, 13-second-long ovation complete with all sorts of hooting and hollering from the audience, Talarico struggled to get his line out amidst even more applause, “Hi, America. I'm James Talarico, the guy who's been – the guy who's been texting you every day asking for $5.”
Later, James Talarico receives an obnoxiously long applause from the audience and eventually delivers the "Live from New York" line pic.twitter.com/Wu3wBlsbf2
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) November 10, 2026
Talarico then claimed, “But I think, Mr. President, if we can work together, we can make life better for everyday Americans. It's clear people want something new. They want something different. I'm talking, of course, about SNL’s cold opens. How many of these Trump freezers are they going to do?”
After Johnson said “infinity,” Talarico wrapped up the cold open by asserting, “Well, in that case, there's only one thing left to say," as both he and Johnson delivered the famous “Live from New York, it's Saturday night!” line.
SNL’s most recent cold open is a snapshot into modern late night comedy show. Most criticism of Democrats is out of concern that leadership is not left-wing enough while trying to turn people like Talarico into a star. In that sense they are no different than MS NOW.
Here is a transcript for the November 7 show:
NBC Saturday Night Live
11/7/2026
11:41 PM ET
KENAN THOMPSON/HAKEEM JEFFRIES: And now that we're in charge, our first order of business will be to march right up to Donald Trump, look him dead in the eye, and say, “Hey! Knock it off, Buster!”
SARAH SHERMAN/CHUCK SCHUMER: Whoa, whoa, language, language. Hey, but it's a new world. This election marked a seismic shift in politics.
THOMPSON: Oh, I agree, I agree. These young Democrats have the base energized. Perhaps it's time for us to step aside and pass the torch to the next generation.
BOTH: Ha ha ha!
THOMPSON: No. Never!
…
JAMES AUSTIN JOHNSON/DONALD TRUMP: But election is over now, so I hope you enjoy what you voted for. Jon Ossoff, or as I call him, Pinky Herman. Abdul El-Sayed, or as I call him, Mamdani for Men. And, of course, down in Texas, Tala-freak-o.
JAMES TALARICO: That’s Senator Tala-freak-o. Hi, America. I'm James Talarico, the guy who's been – the guy who's been texting you every day asking for $5.
JOHNSON: In this economy, who can blame you?
TALARICO: But I think, Mr. President, if we can work together, we can make life better for everyday Americans. It's clear people want something new. They want something different. I'm talking, of course, about SNL’s cold opens. How many of these Trump freezers are they going to do?
JOHNSON: Infinity.
TALARICO: Well, in that case, there's only one thing left to say.
JOHNSON AND TALARICO: Live from New York, it's Saturday night!
