ROOKE: Noem And Bondi Defang The Left By Laughing In Their Face

Saturday Night Live (SNL) wrote a skit mocking Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. Yet, it’s the left walking away angry at the situation.

If you are a conservative in a position of power, you will inevitably become a target of the left on shows like SNL. Their latest episode featured Amy Poehler as Bondi and Tina Fey as Noem in a parody of Bondi’s appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The overall tone was sharply satirical, blending mean-girl pettiness with timely jabs at the Trump administration’s loyalty, Republican evasiveness, etc.

There was no mistaking that Poehler and Fey (along with the writers) wanted their criticisms to hurt. But this backfired when Noem and Bondi laughed with their bullies instead of demanding apologies. (Sign up for Mary Rooke’s weekly newsletter here!)

Bondi responded lightheartedly by sharing a screenshot from the skit where Poehler (as Bondi) and Fey (as Noem) pose together in a mock Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruitment ad. She tagged Noem in her response, asking if the two should recreate the scene when they are together in Chicago, adding that she loves Poehler.

While Noem hasn’t responded directly, DHS addressed SNL’s cold open skit through an official statement and a social media post, both of which embraced the jabs lightheartedly. Overall, DHS’ approach was to lean into the humor, using the skit to amplify their messaging on immigration enforcement by creating an actual ad for ICE recruitment using Fey as Noem.

“Our government agents are working without pay. Luckily, my boys at ICE don’t mind,” Fey said. “They’re in it for the love of the game. And how did I find them? By running ads like this.”

The ad then transitioned to dramatic footage of actual ICE agents with overlaid text such as “WE’RE HIRING,” “DEFEND THE HOMELAND,” and “JOIN.ICE.GOV.”

Thanks for the free advertisement @NBCSNL

Get Criminals Out. Make History. Save America.https://t.co/nZkBEj3GGi pic.twitter.com/0If5QGaX2N

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 12, 2025

Of course, this couldn’t stand. The left wanted them to feel destroyed by their stupid little skit.

Leftist podcaster, YouTuber, and commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, along with Brett Meiselas, co-founder of the prominent left-leaning MeidasTouch Network, appeared annoyed by the nonchalant responses from Bondi and DHS.

Cohen, obviously frustrated the skit didn’t seem to land like the left wanted, responded to Bondi’s quip, saying, “They’re laughing at you, not with you.”

They’re laughing at you, not with you. https://t.co/mZ753iQxMC

— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) October 12, 2025

Meiselas takes a more combative approach by responding to Bondi’s comment about loving Poehler, saying, “She hates you, Pam.”

She hates you, Pam https://t.co/1UuNGchHth

— Brett Meiselas (@BMeiselas) October 12, 2025

It’s as if both men are screaming: “WHY CAN’T Y’ALL JUST BE MAD SO WE CAN LAUGH AT YOUR PAIN!”

It’s hilarious to see the left whine about the fact that their bullying isn’t working like they want it to. Embracing the SNL skit that mocked them allows both officials to project confidence and resilience in the face of criticism. In politics, especially in the Trump administration, attacks from shows like SNL are inevitable. (ROOKE: Attorney Beloved By Media Hit With Full Circle Moment That’s Spinning Her Like A Top)

Responding with humor rather than defensiveness disarms detractors and creates a glaring contrast with leftist figures who appear thin-skinned.

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