Shift to the Right: Z and SNL | Cain Appears
Will Cain teams up with comedian Cody Tucker to explore who’s more in tune with historical quirks. They also delve into the latest trends as Z and pop culture lean to the right, with insights from 2024 Trump Campaign Advisor Alex Brue Schwitz.
The White House has dismissed NBC’s Saturday Night Live, calling it a “waste of time.” The long-standing sketch show kicked off its 51st season last Saturday with cast member James Austin Johnson reprising his role as President Donald Trump, opening with a Cold Open that’s sure to spark discussion.
“I’m just looking at ‘SNL’ here,” Johnson quipped in character. The show humorously suggested that Trump has been in office for “100 years,” poking fun at both his executive orders and the Pope’s aspirations.
Johnson later remarked, “But they’re better off doing their best. Otherwise, they’ll have to deal with my attack dog, Brendan Kerr, from the FCC.” He wrapped up the sketch with a cheeky “Daddy is watching.”
Although the sketches frequently target Trump, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson downplayed the impact in comments, stating she has “more interesting” things to focus on. “Responding to this means I have to waste time watching it,” she said, echoing the sentiments of many Americans who, like her, had other commitments during the show’s airtime.
In a separate sketch, SNL humorously compared card games to “yes” in Easter-themed bits. Meanwhile, the opening sketch seemed to take jabs at Trump critic Jimmy Kimmel, who frequently finds himself at odds with the broadcast network.
FCC Chair Brendan Kerr even made a veiled warning to the show as it prepared to air. For context, ABC quickly reinstated the Kimmel show within a week after its suspension.
In another skit, SNL took aim at Trump’s tariffs, playfully dubbing it: “Make America’s Great Repression Again.”
Saturday Night Live has long had a history of poking fun at Trump, especially during election cycles. Though Trump has expressed criticism, his camp has largely stayed silent on the show’s antics throughout his latest term. There was, however, an exception back in September 2024 when his campaign publicly responded to a sketch that humorously depicted an assassination attempt against him.
