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The latest "Saturday Night Live" cold open saw former cast member Jason Sudeikis  resume his role as the "old" Joe Biden to reassure the "new" one, played by James Austin Johnson amid slumping poll numbers.

The big picture: Sudeikis' Vice President Biden, who's also this week's host, explained to Johnson's President Biden: "I'm you from eight years ago, man, the ghost from Biden's past — boo!" He noted they "may be from different eras, but ... we're Joe freaking Biden!"

Jason Sudeikis returns as "ghost from Biden's past" in "SNL" cold open

He tried to reassure the new Biden, played by James Austin Johnson, amid slumping poll numbers.

A screenshot of the two "Saturday Night Live" Joe Bidens in the latest "SNL" cold open. Photo: NBC

A screenshot of the "Saturday Night Live" Joe Bidens in the latest "SNL" cold open. Photo: Will Heath/NBC

Saturday Night Live

<p>The latest &quot;Saturday Night Live&quot; cold open saw former cast member Jason Sudeikis  resume his role as the &quot;old&quot; Joe Biden to reassure the &quot;new&quot; one, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="played by James Austin Johnson" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/james-austin-johnson-debuts-as-biden-on-snl-e435a1ab-883b-4387-8038-6b758026490d.html" data-vars-content-id="b039e680-8e73-4ede-8a2b-f352ae48818a" data-vars-headline="Jason Sudeikis returns as &quot;ghost from Biden&#x27;s past&quot; in &quot;SNL&quot; cold open" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/james-austin-johnson-debuts-as-biden-on-snl-e435a1ab-883b-4387-8038-6b758026490d.html" target="_self">played by James Austin Johnson</a> amid <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="slumping poll numbers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/axios-ipsos-poll-biden-losing-covid-trust-39c1b22d-a09e-43e2-877e-097d035027b2.html" data-vars-content-id="b039e680-8e73-4ede-8a2b-f352ae48818a" data-vars-headline="Jason Sudeikis returns as &quot;ghost from Biden&#x27;s past&quot; in &quot;SNL&quot; cold open" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/axios-ipsos-poll-biden-losing-covid-trust-39c1b22d-a09e-43e2-877e-097d035027b2.html" target="_self">slumping poll numbers</a>.</p><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Sudeikis&#x27; Vice President Biden, who&#x27;s also this week&#x27;s host, explained to Johnson&#x27;s President Biden: &quot;I&#x27;m you from eight years ago, man, the ghost from Biden&#x27;s past — boo!&quot; He noted they &quot;may be from different eras, but ... we&#x27;re Joe freaking Biden!&quot;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/nbcsnl/status/1452119830379876354"></a></blockquote><div style="display:none"></div></div><span data-ad-status="NO_AD_LENGTH" data-ad-type="midStoryAd"></span>

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Jason Sudeikis returns as "ghost from Biden's past" in "SNL" cold open

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