America, a new season of “Saturday Night Live” is upon us. But don’t fret: The iconic late-night series was up to the same-old tricks – mostly – in its first sketch back.
New cast member James Austin Johnson opened the show with his take on an exasperated President Joe Biden (quite the plum gig) addressing the country about his infrastructure legislationand the general state of, uh, everything.
“Broadway‘s back, that’s exciting right?” he said to thunderous applause. But quickly snuck in: “So is the Taliban. So, win-some, lose-some.” (Guest performer Jim Carrey famously appeared as the president last season.)
Fellow politicians joined him, including Cecily Strong as Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.; Aidy Bryant as Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va.; Ego Nwodim as Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Melissa Villaseñor as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; and Alex Moffat as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
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“What do I want from this bill? I’ll never tell,” Strong quipped. “Because I didn’t come to Congress to make friends, and so far, mission accomplished.”
Pete Davidson later appeared in the sketch as former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (“governor-ish,” in his words) to help Biden bolster his legislation’s hopes. Cuomo resigned earlier this year in the fallout of his sexual harassment scandal.
“Just like me, it deserves a second chance,” Davidson said. “And a third chance. And up to at least 11 chances.”
After a whirlwind week of negotiations between Democrats trying to enact two central pieces of Biden’s agenda, the White House and congressional leaders are doubling down on their commitment to pass the bills amid intra-party conflict.
“I believe I can get this done,” Biden told a crowd of reporters on Saturday before boarding a flight on Marine One to Wilmington, Delaware. “I believe, when the American people are aware of what’s in it, we can get it done.”
More on that legislation:‘I can get this done’: White House digs in on negotiations as Biden agenda hangs in balance
Contributing: Matthew Brown
