You see him every Saturday night, smirking behind a desk, wearing a suit that probably costs more than my first car. Colin Jost is the quintessential "clean-cut" guy of late-night TV. But because he spends half his life mocking politicians on Saturday Night Live, people naturally want to pin him down. Is he a staunch liberal? A secret conservative? Or just a guy from Staten Island who likes making fun of everyone?
Honestly, the answer is way more complicated than a simple "yes" or "no."
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If you look at his background, it’s a weird mix. He grew up in Staten Island—the most conservative borough of New York City—in a family of firefighters. His mom, Dr. Kerry Kelly, was the Chief Medical Officer for the NYFD and a literal hero during 9/11. Then you have the Harvard years. He was the president of the Harvard Lampoon, which is basically the Ivy League pipeline to comedy stardom. He was even roommates with Pete Buttigieg. Yeah, that Pete Buttigieg.
The Buttigieg Connection and Early Clues
It’s hard to ignore the "liberal" label when your former roommate is a high-ranking member of the Biden-Harris administration. Jost actually donated to Buttigieg’s mayoral reelection campaign back in 2015. When Pete ran for President in 2020, Jost was the one playing him on SNL.
But here is the thing: donating to a friend doesn't always equal a total political manifesto.
In his memoir, A Very Punchable Face, Jost talks a lot about his upbringing. He describes a world of civil servants, hard work, and a certain level of pragmatism that doesn't always mesh with the "elite liberal" stereotype. He’s essentially a guy who bridges two worlds. He’s got the Harvard pedigree, sure, but he also has that Staten Island skepticism that keeps him from fully joining any "team."
Why Conservatives (and Liberals) Get Mad at Him
If you ask the internet is Colin Jost a liberal, you’ll get two very different angry answers.
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Progressives have frequently slammed him for being "too centrist" or even "punching down." Remember the 2016 Tinder joke? He made a quip about Tinder adding 37 gender identity options, calling it "Why Democrats lost the election." The backlash was massive. People called him transphobic and accused him of being a "closet conservative" who didn't care about marginalized groups.
On the flip side, conservatives often see him as just another mouthpiece for the "liberal media." Since he’s taken over Weekend Update, the show hasn't exactly been kind to the GOP. He’s spent years roasting Donald Trump, recently making headlines in late 2025 for jokes about the Trump administration and even drawing comparisons to historical regimes that didn't sit well with the audience.
The "Villain" of Weekend Update
One of the most interesting things about Jost’s "politics" is how he uses his public persona as a tool. Over the last decade, he and Michael Che have crafted a dynamic where Jost is the "privileged white guy" foil.
- He plays the straight man.
- He leans into being the "villain."
- He lets Che (and the audience) beat up on him.
This dynamic allows him to stay somewhat elusive. By making himself the butt of the joke, he avoids having to take a hard-line stance on every single issue. It’s a survival tactic in a very polarized world.
Is He a "Liberal" or Just a Comedian?
To understand Jost, you have to look at his defense of his comedy. When he was criticized for that Tinder joke, he didn’t just apologize and move on. He pointed toward a New York Times op-ed by Mark Lilla about the "end of identity liberalism." This suggests he leans more toward "old-school" liberalism—the kind that focuses on broad economic and social unity rather than the specific identity politics that define the modern left.
Basically, he’s a centrist-leaning liberal who hates the "woke" extremes as much as he hates the far-right.
He’s married to Scarlett Johansson, who has her own history of Democratic activism. He hosts the White House Correspondents' Dinner. He moves in these circles. But he’s also a guy who clearly feels uncomfortable with the "purity tests" of modern political discourse.
Looking Toward the Future
As we move through 2026, the political landscape is shifting, and so is Jost's comedy. He’s one of the longest-running anchors in the history of Weekend Update, and his staying power comes from that very ambiguity. He isn't a "firebrand." He’s a satirist.
If you’re looking for a definitive "Blue Team" cheerleader, Jost isn't your guy. He’s too cynical for that. But if you’re looking for a guy who generally aligns with Democratic policies while simultaneously making fun of the people who represent them, then "liberal" is probably the closest label you’ll get.
How to Evaluate Celeb Politics Yourself
The next time you're trying to figure out a celebrity's "real" views, try these steps instead of just reading headlines:
- Look at the donors. Search public FEC records for their name. It’s public info.
- Read the memoir. Memoirs like A Very Punchable Face reveal way more than a 140-character tweet ever will.
- Watch the "Joke Swaps." In the annual SNL Christmas joke swaps, Jost is forced to read things he clearly disagrees with. His physical reaction—the cringing, the blushing—actually tells you a lot about where his personal boundaries are.
Ultimately, Jost is a product of his environment: a mix of Staten Island grit and Ivy League polish. He’s a liberal who isn't afraid to annoy other liberals, which might be the most honest political stance a comedian can have today.
Key Insight: Instead of focusing on the label, look at the target. Jost consistently targets hypocrisy regardless of the party, though his proximity to Democratic circles and his personal history suggest a moderate liberal foundation. Focus on his long-form interviews, specifically his 2020 talk with Pete Buttigieg on Medium, to see his more serious, nuanced take on how politics and comedy intersect.