{
  "id": 13635405,
  "title": "‘SNL’: Pete Hegseth and RFK Jr. Tell Returning USS Lincoln Sailors How Bad Things Are at Home: ‘Public Executions Are Back’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/snl-pete-hegseth-and-rfk-jr-tell-returning-uss-lincoln-sailors-how",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-11T03:46:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/tv-shows/snl-cold-open-pete-hegseth-rfk-jr-public-execution/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pete Hegseth, from \"Saturday Night Live,\" welcomed back sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln after an extended 322-day deployment, informing them of the current state of affairs upon their return. The Secretary of War appeared on the show, dressed in an ammunition belt filled with Fireball energy drinks, to express gratitude for their service and highlighted that only eight of the sailors had attempted suicide during their time at sea. Hegseth praised the group for successfully executing over 3,000 combat missions without any casualties, flight mismatches, or working toilets. In a shocking announcement, he revealed that the U.S. government planned to air a live execution of a former US Army major by firing squad during the Christmas season, stating, \"Public executions are back.\" Additionally, Hegseth unveiled a new flag for the Defense Department's official branding, which one sailor claimed resembled a Nazi eagle. Later, comedian James Austin Johnson portrayed RFK Jr., armed with bulky, veiny forearms, to discuss the resurgence of the measles outbreak, dubbing it \"Golden Flu Season Two.\" Hegseth concluded the segment by quoting Linkin Park's 2000s hit \"In the End,\" while host Shane Gillis welcomed musical guest Rosalía to the show.",
  "summary": "\"If the guy somehow survives the firing squad, then he's got to fight Jake Paul,\" Colin Jost as Hegseth says The post ‘SNL’: Pete Hegseth and RFK Jr. Tell Returning USS Lincoln Sailors How Bad Things Are at Home: ‘Public Executions Are Back’ appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [
    "Pete Hegseth informs returning sailors of dire U.S. home conditions.",
    "Only eight sailors attempted suicide during 322-day USS Lincoln deployment.",
    "U.S. plans live execution of former Army major during Christmas."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}