{
  "id": 11836295,
  "title": "‘SNL’ Cold Open: Trump, Rubio and Hegseth Beg Republican Voters for Help Ahead of ‘Bleak’ Midterms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/snl-cold-open-trump-rubio-and-hegseth-beg-republican-voters-for-help",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-04T03:49:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/tv-shows/snl-cold-open-trump-marco-rubio-pete-hegseth-midterms/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During the opening act of \"Saturday Night Live\" tonight, Republican figures Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and Donald Trump, all portrayed by \"SNL\" cast members, pleaded with the voters to lend their support for the GOP during the upcoming midterm elections. Ashley Padilla and Andrew Dismukes, two Republican party members, initiated the segment by having Rubio urge voters to back the party, only to reveal that he had been led astray by Trump himself. In a language that caught many off guard, Rubio explicitly stated that Trump had \"tricked\" him. Furthermore, the segment featured Mitch McConnell, portrayed by Mikey Day, but his presence did little to aid the Republican cause.",
  "summary": "The president also wants you to know his $5,000 promise is not a bribe because he has \"no intention of following through\" The post ‘SNL’ Cold Open: Trump, Rubio and Hegseth Beg Republican Voters for Help Ahead of ‘Bleak’ Midterms appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [
    "Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and Donald Trump plead for Republican voters' support.",
    "Rubio admits Trump tricked him into supporting GOP.",
    "Mitch McConnell's presence in segment fails to bolster Republican cause."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The skit portrays Republican leaders as fractured and desperate for voter support, undermining their own party's prospects ahead of the midterms.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Deadline",
        "title": "SNL Cold Open Goes Full MAGA Midterms Desperation With Hegseth’s “Schlong Donkeys,” Trump’s Rambles & A Sad VP",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/snl-cold-open-goes-full-maga-midterms-desperation-with-hegseths",
        "published": "2026-10-04T03:55:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Rolling Stone",
        "title": "‘SNL’ Cold Open: Trump’s Midterms Pitch Dooms Desperate GOP",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/snl-cold-open-trumps-midterms-pitch-dooms-desperate-gop",
        "published": "2026-10-04T04:42:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}