Amid an election 12 months with guarantees of divergent visions of America, “Saturday Evening Dwell” dove in to the politics of 2024 to search out punchlines.The present opened with a satirical tv particular celebrating Easter, “The Resurrection,” which recounts the story of three ladies who witnessed the return of Jesus.It was rapidly interrupted by a flash of sunshine and smoke, with one of many characters asking, “Is it Jesus?””Mainly, sure,” stated James Austin Johnson as former President Donald Trump as he emerged from the flash. He dismissed the three: “All proper women, you may go.”Then he proceeded to hawk $60 Trump-branded bibles, which the true Trump unveiled Tuesday. They embody copies of the nation’s founding paperwork and lyrics from the Lee Greenwood nation track, “God Bless the united statesA.””When you suppose this can be a dangerous look, think about how bizarre it could be if I began promoting bibles,” Johnson’s Trump stated. “Nicely, I’m promoting bibles.”He stated God is the Beyoncé of the Trinity, introduced a match, muscular picture of himself within the Backyard of Eden (“My precise physique,” he stated), and stated purchasers will obtain a particular Trump toaster. It produces slices with the previous president’s face on one aspect and the Hi there Kitty brand on the opposite, Johnson’s Trump stated.Then he requested his viewers to affix him in a particular, “Easter eve” recitation of the “Lord’s Prayer,” throughout which he passed over traces with nonsensical sounds earlier than his conclusion.”Within the identify of the daddy, the son and the Easter Bunny, amen,” Trump stated.RecommendedComedian and actor Ramy Youssef hosted “SNL” and carried out a monologue that prolonged the present’s concentrate on politics, and touched on the Israel-Hamas struggle. He stated he was in Upstate New York just lately for a gig and seen many Trump marketing campaign posters, banners and yard indicators. It made him reluctant, he stated, to talk in Arabic in public when his mom referred to as.”Mom, peace be upon you and the prophet you realize,” he stated he informed her in English. ” which prophet. The very best one. The final one.”Ramy Youssef performs the opening monologue on “SNL” on Saturday.NBC NewsHe puzzled if somebody from President Joe Biden’s marketing campaign would name once more, as they did in 2020, when he was requested to stump for the president in Michigan, which has a major Arab American inhabitants.”Inform the Arabs to vote for Joe and you possibly can change the course of American historical past,” Youssef stated the marketing campaign aide informed him.The request, he stated, had him fantasizing about going to Michigan and making an actual distinction.”Is that this as much as me?” he stated. “Am I the man?”In his fantasy, he went to Michigan and campaigned for Biden amongst Arab People, going the place they might be simply discovered, Youssef stated. “I’m in each vape store,” he stated.However Youssef stated he determined towards it. The comic stated now he want to see a trans girl marketing campaign for the job.He circled again to prayers — “That is all I can do proper now.”He stated his pals consistently ask him to hope for them, and he does, besides generally the prayers are for vastly completely different targets. He has prayed for freedom for Palestinians, for the hostages taken by Hamas militants within the Oct. 7 assault on Israel, for his pal whose household is struggling in Gaza. Then there’s his pal’s canine, which has suffered in a custody battle after a breakup. “Please free the individuals of Palestine, please,” Youssef stated, recounting his prayers. “And please free the hostages. All of the hostages. Please.”He continued: “And whilst you’re at it, you realize, free Mr. Bojangles. I imply, he’s a wonderful canine.”“SNL” airs on NBC, a division of NBCUniversal, which can also be the guardian firm of NBC Information.Dennis Romero is a breaking information reporter for NBC Information Digital.