“Saturday Night Live’s” Weekend Update segment delivered a sharp critique of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s embrace of conspiracy theories and drew parallels between south dakota Governor Kristi Noem and the villain from the Saw horror franchise during its broadcast Saturday night. The show also touched on delayed plans to feature Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill and former President Trump’s ancient revisionism.
The segment’s hosts, colin Jost and michael Che, targeted kennedy Jr.’s recent comments suggesting the COVID-19 virus was engineered to target certain racial groups, calling the claims “wild” and “perilous.” Jost noted Kennedy Jr.’s uncle, president John F. Kennedy, was assassinated by a conspiracy theorist, adding, “It’s like this family has a real problem with peopel who think the government is out to get them.”
Turning to politics, Jost criticized Trump for proclaiming an end to Indigenous People’s Day and praising Christopher Columbus as an ”original American hero,” pointing out the historical impact of Columbus’s arrival on Hispanic populations. ”So while Trump is rounding up people with ICE,he is praising Columbus,a guy who literally brought boat loads of Hispanics to America,” Jost quipped.
The segment also highlighted the ongoing delay in redesigning the $20 bill to feature Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist and slave rescuer, a plan initially announced in 2016 by the Treasury Secretary Jack Lew. The redesign is now projected to be delayed untill at least 2030.
Weekend Update concluded with a joke-off between jost, Che, and former anchors Tina fey, Seth Meyers, and Amy Poehler, who hosted SNL Saturday. The show also drew a comparison between governor Noem and Jigsaw, the antagonist from the Saw films, referencing her recent appearance in a campaign ad featuring a video edited to resemble the horror movie’s opening sequence.
