Read · November 7, 2026
Texas Senator-elect James Talarico joins the Saturday Night Live cold open with James Austin Johnson's President Trump after the midterms
Texas Senator-elect James Talarico, a Democrat, appeared in the cold open of Saturday Night Live on Saturday, in the show's first episode since Tuesday's midterm elections. James Austin Johnson played President Trump. Talarico introduced himself as "the guy who's been texting you every day asking for $5" and said that if he and the president work together, they can make life better for everyday Americans. He then joked about how many Trump cold opens the show keeps doing.
- From the LeftNBC News: Talarico joins SNL's cold open; NBC recaps the sketch and notes NBC's parent company airs the show.
Talarico opens SNL; NBC recaps the sketch and notes its parent company airs the show.
Grade: A (100/100). No problems found.
- CenterNewsweek: Talarico joins SNL's cold open; Newsweek adds the Hegseth sketch and the Weekend Update jokes.
Talarico opens SNL; Newsweek adds the Hegseth sketch and Weekend Update jokes.
Grade: A (100/100). No problems found.
- From the RightNew York Post: Talarico crashes SNL's cold open; the Post says he turned Texas blue and won just over 55% of the vote.
Talarico crashes SNL's cold open; the Post notes he won just over 55% of the vote.
Grade: B (82/100). Uses an unnamed source or unsourced number.
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