“Saturday Night Live” imagined a Republican Party scrambling for a winning message ahead of the midterm elections and finding little help from some of its biggest names.

The show’s cold open featured Republican strategists trying to record campaign ads as the party’s prospects were described as “looking bleak,” cycling through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before President Donald Trump stepped in.

Marcello Hernández’s Rubio initially delivered his appeal in Spanish, only to abandon the pitch and admit that he, too, had been duped.

“Oh my God! He tricked us!” Rubio exclaimed, before rattling off Trump’s conflicts with Venezuela, Iran and Canada.

McConnell, played by Mikey Day, was wheeled onto the set and struggled to deliver his lines, while Jeremy Culhane’s Vance was quickly dismissed after introducing himself.

“We can just AI this,” one of the strategists concluded.

Colin Jost’s Hegseth then barged into the shoot and urged Republicans to “do the gayest thing ever and vote,” while parodying the defense secretary’s recent emphasis on religion and culture-war issues at the Pentagon.

“I’m putting God back in war and it’s working,” Jost said. “Our soldiers are praying a lot more than they used to.”

But James Austin Johnson’s Trump eventually decided he had the solution to Republicans’ problems.

“If the Republicans win, I’ll give everyone $5,000,” Johnson said. “And that is not a bribe because I have no intention of following through on that promise.”

Trump has repeatedly promised a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” for every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of Congress in November. The proposal, which would require congressional approval, could cost more than $1 trillion.

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The sketch ended with Republican strategists asking Trump to prerecord a message celebrating a GOP victory.

“We did it! We won! Nobody has ever won so much before!” Johnson declared.

Then they asked him to record another message in case Republicans lost: “We did it! We won!”

The post “Oh my God! He tricked us!”: SNL’s Rubio and others panic over midterms appeared first on Salon.com.

This article is part of Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis.

As insurgent candidates offering critiques of the Democratic Party won primary after primary in 2025 and 2026, pundits were left wondering: were the Democrats having their own “Tea Party moment”? Back in 2010, the Tea Party was key to securing massive GOP legislative gains, even as its reactionary edge cost the GOP winnable senate seats in places like Delaware and Nevada.

Progressive triumphs in Democratic primaries during president Trump’s second administration might suggest something similar is on the way. Zohran Mamdani beat Andrew Cuomo in the race for New York’s mayoralty, Abdul El-Sayed’s triumphed against establishment pick Haley Stevens in the Michigan Senate primary, and Graham Platner easily dispatched — despite scandals of such magnitude he would ultimately have to withdraw as the party’s general election candidate — Gov. Janet Mills in the Maine Senate primary. Each candidate offered fresher rhetoric, more ambitious politics, and a critique of the Democratic Party, allowing them to edge out — or in some cases destroy — their opponents. Cue the invocations of the Tea Party and questions about whether or not “the Democratic Party might very well be about to explode.”  

But comparisons between the Democratic Party’s fresh crop of candidates and the Tea Party do not really stand up to scrutiny. Tea Partiers were motivated by an anti-systemic energy that had deeper roots than the current ire of Democratic voters, and the demographics of the GOP meant the party ultimately embraced a “burn it down” approach to governance. The insurgent left within the Democratic coalition remains focused on conventional liberal issues like human rights, affordability, and taxing the wealthy. New, animating issues for voters — such as ending military funding for Israel and harsher regulation of data centers — still do not see voters anywhere close to the Tea Party’s reactionary fervor to remake, or remove, much of the U.S. government. Democratic voters — and the candidates they elect — may find that current leadership is not fit for their objectives, but replacing a few key stakeholders is a different dynamic from the Tea Party’s anathema towards any Republican interested in “normal” governance.

This week I asked 28 current and former Republican Party officials in Florida whether they would denounce an unrepentant white supremacist in their ranks, a man who will appear on the ballot this November as a member of the GOP.

You’ve seen the red-and-white checkered tablecloth before, but now’d your chance to do something different. This summer, swap the standard cookout vibes for something more curated. With styled-to-a-T tabletops and menus that take their cue from around the world, these combinations prove that outdoor entertaining can be both easygoing and elevated.

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Veranda Outdoor Pitcher & Tumblers $30–$48

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Scandinavian Simplicity

Lean into easy elegance with a clean, minimalist setup. Think white linens, unfussy wildflowers, and natural wood accents that feel both grounded and elevated. Pair the look with equally refreshing dishes, like lemon-dill gravlax and a Scandinavian summer strawberry tart, that channel the cool, unfussy spirit of a Nordic summer.

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Welcome to Come On Over, a Food52 newsletter about hosting life’s big and little moments. It’s where we share our personal tips and tricks, from modern-day etiquette—shoes off or shoes on?—to making extra seating out of every surface of an apartment. This week, Kelly’s breaking the ice.

There’s nothing I love more than introducing one group of friends to another, especially when I know they’re going to get along swimmingly. But walking into a room full of unfamiliar faces can be awkward, even in the friendliest setting. And when you’re the one bringing everyone together, it’s on you to smooth that tension. So I gathered a few go-to tricks from the Food52 team.

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Welcome to Come On Over, a Food52 newsletter about hosting life’s big and little moments. It’s where we share our personal tips and tricks, from modern-day etiquette—shoes off or shoes on?—to making extra seating out of every surface of an apartment. This week, Kelly is hosting a French fête.

This article was created in partnership with Maker's Mark.

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Just because it’s a kid’s birthday party doesn’t mean the adults can’t have fun too—and no, we’re not just talking about wine and beer in Solo cups (although that doesn’t hurt). This summer, we’re rethinking what a kid-friendly birthday bash can look like: Think platters of French pastries, silver coupes filled with grapes, and homemade paper chains that are prettier than the ones you remember from kindergarten.

Most recently, we’re looking to Tess Gigone—Toronto-based creator and our resident recipe try-er in It’s Fine—for all the inspiration. At Food52, we’ve seen her tackle classic recipes for the first time ever (gracefully, might I add). And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from watching her, it’s that she has an incredible eye.

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When it comes to potlucks and parties, a standout pasta salad can steal the show. Whether you're aiming for a mayo-free option, experimenting with unique dressings, or simply need to know how much to prepare for a crowd, we've got you covered.

Let’s be honest—we love pasta salad year-round. It plays well with creamy, comforting flavors in colder months, then graciously welcomes warmer temperatures with bright, fresh zest.

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There’s something about spring that makes dinner feel like an occasion again. The days are longer, flowers are blooming, and suddenly setting the table feels just as important as what’s being served.

I’ve loved “tablescaping” for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I’d jump at any excuse to set the table—Sunday dinners, holidays, even regular weeknights. I went through a serious napkin-folding phase (I’m talking flowers, hearts, animals…I’d even refold them at restaurants). At home, I’d use wrapping paper as a makeshift runner, sprinkle confetti around (much to my mother’s annoyance), and rummage through drawers for anything remotely decorative.

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Welcome to Come on Over, a Food52 newsletter about hosting life’s big and little moments. It’s where we share our editor’s personal tips and tricks, from modern-day etiquette—shoes off or shoes on?—to making extra seating out of every surface of an apartment. This week, Kelly is gearing up for pasta night.

No two-syllable word hits me quite like “pasta.” Aside from potatoes (hey, I am Irish), there’s no greater comfort food. A tomato sauce base is top tier—I’ll hear no different—and the smell of garlic knots baking as guests walk through the door? Magic. While pasta night is a simple concept, I believe in small elevations that give even the most casual affairs a bit more oomph. So pick your poison (pasta shape) and let’s get into it.

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