Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel and Justice Kavanaugh Hit the Bar Together to Celebrate Iran War, Alcohol on ‘SNL’ Cold Open

Variety5/10/2026

Summary

The May 9 episode of “Saturday Night Live” featured a cold open that included characters based on Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel, and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The sketch, which was performed by Colin Jost as Hegseth, Aziz Ansari as Patel, and Matt Damon as Kavanaugh, took place in a Washington, D.C. bar named Martin’s Tavern. The premise revolved around the three characters engaging in a boozy night out, highlighting their camaraderie and antics in a dive bar setting. In this sketch, Hegseth and Patel were depicted as enjoying a night filled with alcohol, while Kavanaugh shared a significant secret related to former President Trump. The portrayal of these characters emphasized their personalities and relationships, with Hegseth's aggressive demeanor and Kavanaugh's humorous revelations contributing to the comedic tone of the segment. The return of Hegseth and Patel to the cold open followed the previous week's debut of Ansari as Patel, indicating a continuation of the theme. The choice to feature these figures in a comedic light reflects the show's ongoing engagement with political figures and current events, using satire to comment on their public personas and actions. Overall, the cold open served as a humorous take on the interactions between these prominent figures, blending political commentary with entertainment in a familiar “SNL” format.

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Lindy Score Breakdown (V4.2)

4d
Age
3
Sources
from cluster
88
Hours Since Seen
Final Score13/100
CategoryAntiLindy
StatusActive
Recency Multiplier28% (0.5^88/48)
Hero EligibleYes

Story Timeline

  1. 2026-05-10
    Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel and Justice Kavanaugh Hit the Bar Together to Celebrate Iran War, Alcohol on ‘SNL’ Cold Open (current)

Score BreakdownRisk 35

Source Reputation: Low-trust source (6/20 pts)
Consensus: Emerging consensus: 3 sources
Age: 3 days - proven survivor

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