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"SNL": Baldwin returns as bleach-drinking Trump in season 45 finale

Alec Baldwin as President Trump on "Saturday Night Live at Home." Screenshot photo: NBC/YouTube

Alec Baldwin was back as President Trump for a virtual high school graduation skit in the final "Saturday Night Live" cold open of season 45.

The big picture: Kate McKinnon as the high school principal noted in the third "Saturday Night Live at Home" episode that students' preferred keynote speakers were the "murder hornets" and former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama — who are due to participate in virtual graduation ceremonies in real life — but they declined. Instead, they got Baldwin's Trump, who at one point pretended to drink bleach, in a nod to Trump's comments last month that disinfectant could be used to treat coronavirus. The president said later he was being sarcastic.

  • Watch the clip below:
A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Go deeper

Dave Lawler
5 hours ago - World

Biden seeks to reboot U.S. sanctions policy

Sanctions increased under Obama and dramatically under Trump. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

The Biden administration is rethinking the U.S. approach to sanctions after four years of Donald Trump imposing and escalating them.

The big picture: Sanctions are among the most powerful tools the U.S. has to influence its adversaries’ behavior without using force. But they frequently fail to bring down regimes or moderate their behavior, and they can increase the suffering of civilians and resentment of the U.S.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Zachary Basu
5 hours ago - World

Merkel's farewell spoiled by Poland crisis at EU summit

One last awkward EU "family photo." Photo: John Thys/AFP via Getty Images

Angela Merkel took up her vaunted mantle as Europe's crisis manager for what could be the last time tonight, as she urged the EU to find compromise in its showdown with Poland.

Why it matters: The European Commission has threatened to withhold over $40 billion in pandemic recovery funds after Poland's constitutional tribunal — stacked with loyalists from the ruling right-wing populist party — rejected the principle that EU law has primacy over national law.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Alayna Treene, Sarah Mucha, Andrew Solender
5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Republicans who put it all on the line

Rep. Nancy Mace speaks with reporters after voting to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

A small contingent of House Republicans risked their political futures on Thursday, they say, in the name of constitutional responsibility.

Why it matters: The nine Republicans who voted to hold former Trump aide Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress are now in peril of becoming political pariahs. They've opened themselves up to potential primary challengers and public attacks from their party's kingmaker — former President Trump.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow