"Saturday Night Live" (SNL) has made its much-anticipated return, and it’s diving straight into some hot topics. The latest episode aired on January 17, 2026, marking the show's first fresh installment of the year after a break. In the opening sketch, James Austin Johnson portrayed former President Donald Trump, who humorously addressed viewers about significant events that unfolded during the show's hiatus. One of the key topics was the controversial capture of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.
Johnson, channeling Trump, quipped, "I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and received everything they wished for this Christmas. As for me, I got exactly what I wanted: my very own Nobel Prize—well, technically someone else’s, but who’s counting? And in my stocking, I found Maduro! We pulled off a reverse Santa, sliding down the chimney with a bag and whisking him away!"
Colin Jost reprised his role as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, taking a more aggressive stance towards the situation in Venezuela. "We went in there and quite literally swiped their president," Jost, as Hegseth, stated with feigned outrage. He then proclaimed that the U.S. would next focus on Iran, emphasizing, "You can’t just murder your protesters—that’s our trademark!"
The sketch also touched on the rising tensions in Minneapolis following the tragic police shooting of Renee Nicole Good, with Ashley Padilla stepping into the shoes of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Displaying her character's signature humor, she began, "Before we get into it, I want to give a quick shoutout to my hair and makeup team, who absolutely despise me. Now, of course, clashes have arisen on both sides in Minneapolis, and have we handled everything perfectly? Absolutely, yes!"
She continued with a playful twist, saying, "Rest assured, you can always count on me because my last name is Noem, as in ‘do I have the situation under control?’ Noem, I certainly do not!"
The cold open included a few quick jabs at other recent developments involving Trump, such as the moment he read aloud a note from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, concluding with Trump casually declaring, "Oh, and by the way, the midterms are canceled!"
Finn Wolfhard, known for his role in "Stranger Things," hosted the first new episode of 2026, featuring musical guest A$AP Rocky, who recently released his new album titled "Don't Be Dumb." This episode came shortly after the finale of Wolfhard's hit Netflix series, giving audiences more reason to tune in.
The previous episode of SNL aired on December 20, 2025, hosted by Ariana Grande with musical guest Cher. That show was particularly emotional as it marked the farewell of long-time cast member Bowen Yang, who teared up during a meta sketch about his final shift working at an airport.
What’s next for SNL? Wolfhard’s episode is just the beginning of three consecutive weeks of new shows. Viewers can look forward to Teyana Taylor hosting the upcoming episode, which will feature musical guest Geese. Taylor’s hosting debut is generating buzz, especially following her recent Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actress in the film "One Battle After Another."
Additionally, on January 31, Alexander Skarsgård will be making his own SNL hosting debut, joined by musical guest Cardi B. It's shaping up to be an exciting time for fans of comedy and music alike.
