The Team Addresses Breaking the News | The West Wing

“We are, in fact, eating more beets.”
Season 2 Episode 21: 18th And Potomac
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[@martinstent5339]

I live in Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. We had a Minister-President (Kind of similar in rank to a US state governor) who was diagnosed with MS during her first term. Although the public was well aware of her condition, and she had to attend some public ceremonies in a wheelchair, she was re-elected twice and served for more than 10 years before she quit because of health reasons.

[@curnath]

Close, but no cigar. Dreyers erste Amtszeit als Ministerpräsidentin begann 2013. MS wurde schon 1995 bei ihr diagnostiziert. Grüße ebenso ein Rheinländer

[@rudyjuarez4535]

@@curnath served and survived her terms without trouble. i'm sure there was trouble but she handled it. That's a real leader.

[@EtoileLion]

It's a little bit different getting diagnosed in office and being diagnosed, then years later running for office and not mentioning it though.

[@curnath]

@@EtoileLion She wasn't diagnosed in office. Dreyer was diagnosed 18 years prior to getting elected. The difference is, everyone knew.

[@Wherethehellarewegoing]

I adore Marlee Matlin. Her performance as Joey Lucas is a highlight of an otherwise phenomenal series.

[@MRFlackAttack1]

“We are in fact eating more beets”

[@votemonty1815]

This show has definitely aged with the barometer for what presidents can get away with being swayed dramatically.

[@ethanpan2335]

Ironically, once Bartlet did do his big interview his numbers actually held up pretty decent

[@cald1421]

Has it though? Biden just essentially resigned and is facing one term mediocrity due to similar poll numbers and health concerns/dishonesty about it

[@saoirsevicteoiria2759]

Joey is my absolute favorite recurring character, and I really like Kenny too.

[@Elisheval]

along with Lord Mulberry.

[@OptimysticPessimyst]

He’s been with her 11 years, to like Joey is to like Kenny

[@potterpotty01]

1 Admiral Fitzwallace 2. Joey Lucas 3. Ainsley Hayes 4. Lord John Marburry 5. Nancy Mcnally

[@FacQue-c9m]

One of my favorite bits is where Joey is talking about how hot a guy is, and Josh gets uncomfortable with Kenny saying it lol

[@annec6200]

What is Kenny’s last name? 🤔 Anyone? 😂

[@TheStuport]

It's a Brilliant Carousel of just how smart EVERYONE who works for President Bartlett can be at any given time.....and yet they also manage to show their vulnerabilities from time to time proving just how fallible we ALL are! IF there ever was a Mount Rushmore of TV Series....The West Wing Fo Sho is on mine! Cheers Everyone!👋

[@googoo-gjoob]

The *GREATEST* show in the _History_ of television.

[@Sonnabend00]

No. Babylon 5.

[@benjaminjonathanjamessisko7095]

Maybe, but it has to contend with "ER", "The Thick Of it", "Buffy The Vampire Slayer", "Scrubs", "Blackadder Goes Forth" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation", to name just a few contenders.

[@scottu9945]

@@benjaminjonathanjamessisko7095 None of those hold a candle to this show IMO

[@Elros04]

@@benjaminjonathanjamessisko7095 you lost all credibility when you listed "scrubs" XD

[@benjaminjonathanjamessisko7095]

@@Elros04 To each their own.

[@ivanpb1983]

"We've just lost Florida" -every Democrat at every election.

[@potterpotty01]

Al Gore won florida. they just convinced everyone he didn't.

[@davidweihe6052]

Did Pres. Obama lose Florida during either of his elections?

[@lebojay]

Well, they elected DeSantis, so we don’t expect much from them anyway.

[@MarkLewis...]

No... Florida is a swing-state in presidential elections.

[@pinverarity]

Dems took FL in three of the last seven Presidential elections, so you’re completely wrong there. And five of the last eight governors, so you’re wrong there too.

[@dirdib69]

Even though Bartlett (mostly) apologized for it later, I always thought that the staff's sense of anger and betrayal was never truly answered. They did a great job of not talking about it, then talking about it, but in the end it turned into them forgiving him because they loved him. It wasn't bad, but I always thought it could have been better.

[@timeimp]

Looking back at this, with the social media of today, it is amazing to think how they were thinking in terms of networks and today it's "which platform do we broadcast to?"

[@riff2072]

It never about "networks" or "platforms." It is all about who the person is doing the interview but, I get what you are saying.

[@huaijiutv]

The acting of this show far exceeded all the other shows of its time. What a cast! If it wasn't for the unrealistic portraying of politics it would be the best show ever!

[@cald1421]

Sagittarius is 270 degrees, which is the number of electoral votes needed to win

[@zerocoolcat]

What a great feeling for Kenny, Joey standing up for him like that. And then Josh.

[@Sylvander1911]

For the record; the real Governor of Michigan at the time this aired was Republican John Engler, in his third, and final term. (The last Governor to serve more than two terms) To my knowledge of Engler having any medical issues. He was succeeded by the present Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

Everyone is exhausted and working in the middle of the night - and Bartlett is being a prick to everyone forgetting that he caused the entire mess.

[@kanderson-oo7us]

He's not forgetting. He feels guilty -- bc he IS guilty - and is being defensive. Human!

[@lebojay]

Imagine people not voting for their own party leader because he lied… 🤔

[@AndSoItGoes24]

Smooth … well-played.

[@keepgoing2506]

Trump’s mouth is moving… he’s lying.

[@riff2072]

They do on TV.

[@Super_Unintendo]

There isn't a single career politician that hasn't lied to get where they are.

[@Elros04]

@@Super_Unintendo true... but not to THAT extent... that is an "ORANGE LIED" alert every 5 minutes...

[@lebojay]

She’s presenting poll results to the President of the United States, and she isn’t using Powerpoint! Is everybody paying attention?

[@scotts.3089]

Good idea to have the announcement on Wednesday night, say around 9 p.m. on NBC.

[@jayegrote5760]

As a December baby, I kinda loved that the secret password was Sagittarius! 🤣

[@hanscombe72]

By the way it’s Kenny Thurman. Someone should know his last name.

[@NoGoodNames20]

Thank you for this one it’s one of my favorites. Can you put the one from the season 3 premiere where Joey Lucas comes storming in from the rain

[@chrisgleason654]

Beets. Bartlet. Battlestar Galactica.

[@paulsmith9198]

How times have changed. Now, a never-ending barrage of lies is almost a pre-requisite.

[@TimoRutanen]

I have a theory that part of the reason why your candidate's lies and character doesn't seem to matter, is because the voters are campaigned to vote AGAINST the opposing candidate and not FOR their own candidate.

[@scotthunt2479]

Did I hear this correctly? At 1:07, I think Toby says the word "Sagittarius" to the Secret Service agent guarding the door in order to gain access. So even those closest to the President have to use a code word when entering a meeting where POTUS will be present? Or was it just this one time because it was supposed to be a highly secretive meeting?

[@caleraizer]

Probably because it's a super secret meeting

[@ethanpan2335]

I assume it’s a one-time issue; note also that “Sagittarius” is the word of choice when Donna informs Josh that she’s in the know, so one wonders if that SS agent knew Bartlet had MS or was just instructed to open the door for that word.

[@FluffyCrimsonBirkenstocks]

If I remember correctly, the word was used in other places too. It makes sense to have a code name because sometimes you have to call a meeting when others are present. Even Margaret had one where she said “ Leo wants to to say hello to an old friend” or something like that.

[@signalfire6]

@@FluffyCrimsonBirkenstocks I believe the 'say hello to an old friend' is code for 'you're needed in the situation room immediately'.

[@ethanpan2335]

@@FluffyCrimsonBirkenstocks The "old friend" one is a pretty frequent one; it's honestly really good for its job.

[@SamMatt79]

Marlee Matlin is magical.

[@2013jpm]

Do not play a drinking game that focuses on the number of "Yeas" are heard in a Sorkin script.

[@DBCOOPER888]

How'd they get that desk through those doors?

[@supernukey419]

With difficulty

[@briang9581]

We are way past 17 now.

[@Bazookatone1]

Can we all take amoment to give a silent thought to the two custodians who had to lug that massive antique conference room table and stuffed leather chairss down into the basement room for this secret meeting? What do you think THEY thought the meeting was for? Were they killed to keep the secret like the slaves who built the chinese emperor's tombs? How exactly do you get a table that large through a door that small?

[@hazeleyees]

Its true. We used to care about May Sweeps.

[@kasaarsedai7692]

Haven't seen this one

[@jamesrawlins735]

This is the second to last episode of the second season (ep. 21 - 18th and Potomac). In this episode (SPOILER) we also learn Mrs. Landingham gets killed in a car crash.

[@thesenceofmorality]

Joey is a great character and Marlee Matlin is a pleasure to watch but something got me thinking but knowing the West Wing they might have already done an analysis on this point. With how pervasive sexism still is in today's society I wonder if Joey intentionally chose Kenny instead of a female interpreter for the purposes of making her "voice" more heard. And for that matter, does she go by Joey for that purpose as well.

[@firstname4337]

she chose Kenny because she was banging him

[@AndyMcCavish]

Does Kenny actually have a last name?

[@FurMama83]

Thurman, from season 1 episode 14

[@AndyMcCavish]

@@FurMama83 that's great, I didn't think it was ever mentioned, thank you for replying

[@pauldockree9915]

MS Crisis. Oh. OH. That crisis.

[@JohnDopesmoker]

"65% of those describing themselves as 'Liberal' aren't going to vote for you because you lied." How times have changed 💀

[@LordOfNothingreally]

@JohnDopesmoker Ya, the Republican party is nominating a twice-impeached convicted felon and rapist who lies about everything everyday and it's *liberals* that would support a liar 😂

[@kanderson-oo7us]

Right - now it's the "conservative Christians" supporting an adulterer, business fraud, cheat who told thousands of lies during 4 years in the White House. SAD!

[@FutureReverberations]

And the burning question on the lips of everyone outside the US. "Wtf is Mae Sweeps?

[@TheStuport]

I've never heard oy Mae Sweeps....a vacuum of sorts maybe.... but I have participated in May Sweeps and STILL hated the added TV Ads that were crammed into the time slots.

[@DisinterestedObserver]

It is “May Sweeps.” It was a time of the year (the month of May) when the traditional television networks (NBC, CBS, and ABC) put on their best episodes of the top shows to get more television viewers and drive up ad revenues. Remember this was before the concept of viewing on demand and streaming. People had to watch television shows when they were broadcast or wait for reruns later.

[@firstname4337]

its Joey's stage name

[@pc14iii]

“Sweeps” are the ratings period for TV networks. They happen in February, May, July, and November. The most important are May and November.

[@ktwashere5637]

its a great scene but really - do you not think the people of michigan who took part in the pool would put two and two together when it came out about Bartlett?

[@firstname4337]

no, the people of Michigan are stupid

[@connorduffus]

By that point it didn’t matter.

[@_FRIENDS_OF_ARMANDO_ANZOLI_INC]

No way factor matters of trust = Before Watergate VS Nixon's present / last known status as how much of a Trusted Adult Nixon was at a specific point in time. That time is last time anyone interacted with him in post Watergate portion of history.

[@katec7033]

Yet he won.

[@_FRIENDS_OF_ARMANDO_ANZOLI_INC]

NAMI knows about Watergate that's it.😢

[@SWOBIZ]

Note that none of Bartlet's key advisors recommends the President resign. Nor do they threaten to resign themselves because of his actions. Just like the Clinton advisors after he admitted lying. Holding on to power is too important to them.

[@DrownedInExile]

I agree Clinton shouldn't have cheated on his wife and lied about it. He should have told Ken Starr to go screw himself. He's not the marriage-police. He had zero business asking Clinton about personal indiscretions, that was outside the scope of his investigation.

[@kingseleyjameskanditkor7058]

Ooh piss off. Lying about your health or who you sleep with, is not a reason to resign. You are a typical partisan hack who would only want a president to resign in those circumstances if they are from the opposing party. Shame on you!

[@j.j.9123]

@swobiz, Trump could t have stayed staffed. He told thousands of lies during his term. And now, of course, he’s lied about holding on to classified documents.

[@redlion145]

What a terrible take. FDR didn't resign or threaten to resign either. He was elected to a third term. The only chronic health condition that should stop someone from being president is mental health, an inability to make rational decisions.

[@SWOBIZ]

@@redlion145 It’s not about the illness. It’s about the concealment while putting the nation at risk.

[@SamuelKing-nk5fw]

First

[@grogery1570]

God to think there was a time when people thought lying was an issue. After a Trump presidency I think the issue is people are unhappy when the president tells the truth!

[@TimoRutanen]

People are unhappy when either the lie or the truth is uncomfortable to their personal situation. It's like ignoring reality would somehow make reality easier to handle.

[@stephenmason9527]

LMAO this episode (a Democrat President hiding his deteriorating health from the public) is Joe Biden *on the nose*

[@grogery1570]

@@stephenmason9527 Now if only we could get a report on Trumps health. But isn't this just normal? Republicans attack Democrats on an issue to hide their weakness on the same issue?

[@nalou6933]

then there's the Repuke former president whose every word, every breath is a lie. Cheating on all three of his wives, lying about grabbing p*ssy, (he did), lying about walking down to Congress on January 6 with the Capitol rioters (he knew damn right well the Secret Service wouldn't allow it), lied about Covid, lied about not knowing about Project 2024, lied about softening his stance on abortion, lied about winning the 2020 election when he lost, lied about the 2 voting staff women, saying they mishandled the voting process when they didn't, lied about every stat during his administration, tried to bully Brad Raffensburger into illegally finding him 11, 780 votes in Georgia, and that's only the tip of the iceberg. I've forgotten most of his lies, the list of his lies could go in for centuries.

[@shalashaska9946]

Man, its just hard not to see the parallels with how little people care about the current president being blatantly in the throws of dementia

[@colinmerritt7645]

Or his chief rival being a lying, misogynist traitor with ties to Russia.

[@MG-_-1471]

It’s because even if true the alternative is much much worse

[@shalashaska9946]

@@MG-_-1471 Ah come on, everything was great for those 4 years honestly. We all made more money, things were cheaper, no wars. You gotta vote policy not personality. And the idea that bad orange man is worse than someone with full blown dementia is wild

[@jamiestewart48]

Let's me objectively fair here, both candidates for the next election are horrendous.

[@shalashaska9946]

@@jamiestewart48 I agree, they're both way too old. But if you had to pick one, I'd rather pick the one without the debilitating mental issue. I'm no big fan of trump but I do know the majority of bad things people believe about him just aren't true.

[@MarkLewis...]

Now "liberal" sarcastically means: "To obfuscate or lie." As in: "That was a very liberal interpretation of the law." or "To be far too malleable by political influence" as in: "These new crazy liberal ideas." Where it used to just simply mean: "Open to new political ideas." Conservative used to just mean: "A traditionalist or keeper of the status quo", (or if it ain't broke, don't fix it.) Now it means: "Closed-minded and antiquated". When the words we use to describe our political affiliations are all bad... what does that say about our politicians and the state of our political affairs?!

[@MG-_-1471]

Liberal still just means generous, progressive or open to new ideas

[@MarkLewis...]

@@MG-_-1471 Interesting... but I noticed you didn't say conservative still just means traditionalist... could it be because you consider yourself a Liberal? That's how people use the terms, in an insulting way towards the opposition, who is treated as the enemy. Both Liberal and Conservative are used as though people are spitting out a curse when they say them, but think whatever you like.

[@justinchandler6045]

Yeah, this is just dripping with pretentiousness.

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

I like beets.