Saturday Night Live Cold Open Tackles Pam Bondi Firing, Kristi Noem's Husband, and Artemis II Mission Saturday Night Live’s April 4 episode opened with a sketch that directly addressed the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi by President Donald Trump, marking a departure from the show’s usual cold open format. The sketch, which featured an NCAA Final Four post-game show, centered on Kenan Thompson’s portrayal of Charles Barkley, who delivered unscripted commentary on a range of political and cultural topics. Unlike previous cold opens that often included James Austin Johnson’s Trump impression, this episode opted for a different approach, focusing instead on Barkley’s off-the-cuff remarks. The sketch began with Barkley, played by Thompson, criticizing Bondi’s removal from her position. “As attorney general, Pam Bondi was, and I don’t say this often, terrible,” Barkley declared. “It is a shame when somebody gets fired, but we should all be glad that that freckle-chested dragon lady is gone.” The line, which mocked Bondi’s appearance and political stance, sparked immediate controversy. Bondi’s character, portrayed by Ashley Padilla, then entered to deliver a rebuttal. “The truth is, I was amazing at my job, and I am proud to say I made history as the first woman ever to be fired as attorney general,” Padilla’s Bondi said, adding, “I shattered that glass exit door!” The sketch quickly shifted to a dramatic breakdown, with Padilla’s Bondi weeping and declaring, “They threw my headshot in the trash like it was the Epstein files!” This reference to the controversial Jeffrey Epstein case highlighted the sketch’s satirical take on the political fallout surrounding Bondi’s firing.#charles_barkley #pam_bondi #kristi_noem #artemis_ii #kenan_thompson
‘He’s Lost His Mind’: Trump’s Davy Crockett Social Media Post Has Everyone Scratching Their Heads President Donald Trump followed his announcement of firing Attorney General Pam Bondi with a bizarre social media post that left many baffled. About 30 minutes after the Bondi firing, Trump’s Truth Social account shared a message jokingly claiming Davy Crockett was “a distant relative” of Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas. The post included an image of Fess Parker, who played the folk hero in the Disney miniseries and 1955 film Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier, alongside a rendition of the song with the same name. Trump wrote, “Davy Crockett, obviously a distant relative of Jasmine Crockett, and a very High IQ Frontiersman, would be proud of the legacy that he began long ago, and especially Jasmine’s Great Success as a Politician from the Great State of Texas!” Jasmine Crockett, who did not seek re-election to her House seat and lost the Texas Senate Democratic primary to state Rep. James Talarico, responded indirectly through her campaign’s X account. The account stated, “The President is clearly already missing me as many others will… but, lucky for you, Sir, I’m in the seat until January and have no plans of taking my foot off the gas on behalf of the American people.” Crockett also hinted at a possible connection between the post and her earlier questioning of Bondi’s conduct, adding, “I wonder if this has anything to do with my questioning of Pam Bondi????!!” The post sparked confusion among Trump critics and analysts.#donald_trump #truth_social #pam_bondi #jasmine_crockett #davy_crockett
Florida Democrat Found Guilty of House Ethics Violations The House Ethics Committee announced on Friday that Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has been found guilty of violating multiple campaign finance laws and the Code of Ethics for Government Service. The congresswoman was cited for failing to comply with Federal Election Commission regulations and for not properly disclosing campaign contributions, particularly during her 2021 campaign. The findings come after a public hearing earlier this week, where she faced allegations of misusing federal disaster funds to bolster her campaign. The Ethics Committee’s report detailed instances between 2021 and 2022 in which Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign allegedly misreported over a dozen payments as loans rather than campaign contributions. The panel argued this was done to create the appearance of a financially strong campaign. The committee also noted that a full hearing will be held after the House returns from its April recess to determine whether to recommend sanctions against her. Cherfilus-McCormick responded by stating her focus remains on her congressional duties, vowing to “prove her innocence” while emphasizing her commitment to representing Florida’s 20th District. The case has drawn renewed attention to how Congress enforces its own ethical standards, with Democrats facing pressure to address the allegations against their own members. While the hearing is separate from ongoing criminal proceedings, it could influence any potential punishment from her colleagues. Some Democrats, including Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, have called for her resignation, arguing that her actions “cannot crime her way into legitimate power.” Rep.#house_ethics_committee #pam_bondi #florida_democrat #sheila_cherfilusmccormick #trinity_healthcare_services
DOJ's Ed Martin Faces Ethics Charges Over Threatening Letter to Georgetown University The D.C. Bar’s disciplinary office has filed ethics charges against Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin, alleging misconduct related to a threatening letter he sent to Georgetown University Law Center in 2023. The letter, which was disclosed in court filings, criticized the law school’s diversity and inclusion policies and led to sanctions against its students. The case was made public on Tuesday through filings in the D.C. Court of Appeals’ Board on Professional Responsibility. In the letter dated February 17, Martin, who was serving as interim U.S. attorney at the time, accused Georgetown of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and demanded changes. He claimed a whistleblower had raised concerns about the school’s approach to DEI education. Without awaiting a response, he instructed his office staff to stop employing Georgetown students as fellows, interns, or employees at the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office. Georgetown’s former dean, William Treanor, responded by condemning the letter as an “attack on the University’s mission as a Jesuit and Catholic institution.” The disciplinary complaint, authored by Disciplinary Counsel Hamilton “Phil” Fox III, argues that Martin’s actions violated the First and Fifth Amendments by using his official position to coerce the law school into altering its curriculum and teaching methods. The filing states that Martin’s demands effectively sought to suppress free speech and religious rights in exchange for employment opportunities for Georgetown students. The Justice Department has criticized the D.C. Bar, calling it a partisan entity.#pam_bondi #ed_martin #dcbar #georgetown_university #jeanine_pirro
Ed Martin, outspoken Justice Department lawyer, is formally accused of ethical violations Interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin faces attorney discipline proceedings in Washington, D.C., after being formally accused of violating ethical codes. The disciplinary complaint, filed by Hamilton Fox, the district’s professional conduct investigator, alleges that Martin violated his obligations as a government attorney by sending a letter to Georgetown Law’s dean last year. In the letter, Martin claimed the Justice Department would not hire students from Georgetown Law due to the school’s diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives. The complaint, announced on Tuesday, marks the first major bar discipline proceeding against a high-profile Trump administration official or attorney supporting President Donald Trump during his second term. Fox’s filing states that Martin acted in his official capacity to suppress a disfavored viewpoint, specifically the teaching and promotion of “DEI” (diversity, equity, and inclusion) at Georgetown Law. The complaint argues that Martin demanded the law school relinquish its free speech and religious rights in exchange for continued employment opportunities for its students. Martin, who was removed from the top prosecutor role in D.C. after senators blocked his confirmation, remains at the Justice Department in several roles, including as pardon attorney. The disciplinary process requires Martin to respond to the allegations, with potential sanctions or the loss of his law license. A Justice Department spokesperson criticized the complaint, accusing the D.C. bar of targeting Trump supporters while ignoring ethical violations by previous administrations. The controversy stems from a letter Martin sent to Georgetown Law while temporarily serving as U.S.#ed_martin #georgetown_law #hamilton_fox #pam_bondi #dc_court_of_appeals
Most Vocal Democrats Silent On Donations From Epstein-Linked Billionaire Democrats who have been most vocal about the Epstein files have remained quiet about their financial ties to Reid Hoffman, a billionaire LinkedIn co-founder who maintained contact with the convicted sex offender long after publicly claiming their relationship had ended. Hoffman, who has donated tens of millions to Democratic causes, has supported politicians who have criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein case, including Sen. Adam Schiff, Rep. Ro Khanna, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. New emails released by the Department of Justice reveal Hoffman stayed in touch with Epstein years after he initially stated their connection had ended. Khanna, a co-sponsor of the bill that forced the release of Epstein’s files, has received $35,600 in campaign donations from Hoffman since 2011, including $7,000 in June 2025, according to FEC records. Khanna told PBS News in February that anyone who visited Epstein’s island “needs to be investigated under oath,” though he has not directly acknowledged Hoffman’s visit. However, some of Khanna’s claims about the Epstein case have been inaccurate. He described six individuals on the House floor as “wealthy, powerful men that the DOJ hid,” but The Guardian reported that four of the men he named had no connection to Epstein. Khanna criticized the DOJ for failing to protect survivors and for creating confusion about Epstein’s alleged activities. Frustration over the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files has grown since Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed in February 2025 she had a “client list” on her desk. Conservative influencers were later handed binders at the White House with little new information.#adam_schiff #pam_bondi #hakeem_jeffries #reid_hoffman #ro_khanna
