New York, NY – Comedy icons Tina Fey and Amy Poehler lit up Saturday Night Live once again, reuniting for the show’s October 11 political cold open and proving that their chemistry—and their wit—remain unmatched.

In the biting sketch, Fey portrayed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the controversial politician who made headlines after admitting in her 2024 memoir that she shot her own puppy. Poehler, who hosted the episode, played former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a scene that quickly spiraled into SNL-style chaos.

“I spell my name with an ‘I’ because that’s how I thought it was spelled,” Fey quipped as Noem, drawing roaring laughter from the live audience. “I’m the rarest kind of person in Washington, D.C.—a brunette that Donald Trump listens to.”

The cold open escalated when Noem stormed in, armed and unfiltered, mocking both political parties and her own infamous past:

“This Democrat government shutdown needs to end now. Ha! That makes me laugh more than the end of Old Yeller.”

The audience erupted when Fey referenced Noem’s “puppy incident,” twisting the scandal into a darkly funny punchline. The sketch then shifted into a fake recruitment ad for ICE, brilliantly parodying the agency’s reputation:

“Are you a big tough guy? Too unstable for the army or police? Do you take supplements you bought at a gas station? Then slap on some Oakleys, big boy. Welcome to ICE!”

Later in the night, Fey and Poehler teamed up again during the Weekend Update segment for a “Joke Off” with hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che, joined by fellow SNL alum Seth Meyers.
The four comics exchanged rapid-fire jokes about a Tennessee woman who gave birth to a 13-pound baby, each punchline more outrageous than the last. Poehler finally landed the knockout line:

“The record was previously held by… me.”

The trio’s chaotic energy earned them the victory—and thunderous applause from the live audience.

The reunion marked one of SNL’s most nostalgic and electric moments of the season. Fey and Poehler, who defined a generation of SNL brilliance with their portrayals of Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, proved once again that sharp political satire and fearless humor are still their domain.

When politics gets too heavy, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler remind us: sometimes the smartest thing you can do is laugh.