Character

Bernice Collette

assertive principled knowledgeable direct

Bernice Collette wields technocratic authority as an OMB official, seizing Sam's fumbling overture to deliver a surgical takedown of the 1963 poverty threshold—forged by Mollie Orshansky from Cold War food-cost myths that ignore housing, health, and transport realities. Handshake firm, name correction crisp, she thrusts forward the precise new model inflating poor counts by four million, scorning political blowback to demand truth over optics. Josh's tactical whispers arm Sam for the clash, positioning her as fiscal realism's unyielding champion amid White House crisis churn.

5 appearances

Federal Poverty Measurement Policy

Bernice Collette's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

5 moments

S3E7 · The Indians in the Lobby

Josh's Forgotten Family Home and Extradition Kickoff

Expected resistance to political spin

Bernice Collette referenced as Sam's upcoming contact at OMB to delay the new poverty model; Josh coaches on warming her up with jokes and nicknames, framing her as tough but …

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S3E7 · The Indians in the Lobby

Crisis Cascade: Sam Briefs Josh on Extradition Block, Poverty Surge, and Lobby Sit-In

Steadfast in fiscal realism

Bernice Collette targeted by Sam for charm offensive to stall OMB's poverty model rollout, with Josh advising jokes and nicknames to crack her reserve during heated policy debate.

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S3E7 · The Indians in the Lobby

Sam Grills Bernice on Poverty Formula's Outdated Polish Roots

Assertive confidence laced with impatience

Bernice greets Sam firmly with handshake, sharply corrects 'Bernie' nickname, walks halls explaining Orshansky's 1963 Social Security formula from Polish food myths, dismantles its housing/transport/health oversights, aggressively urges new model's …

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S3E7 · The Indians in the Lobby

Toby Urges Sam to Spin Poverty Stats Downward

Defensive confidence edged with sharp irritation

Bernice sits poised by Sam's desk inside the office, awaiting his return; she rebuffs his pilot program suggestion with sarcasm about abacuses, defends the national mean against regional critiques, and …

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S3E7 · The Indians in the Lobby

Sam's Playful Jab Turns to Sharp Critique of Bernice's Poverty Formula

Irritated defensiveness undercutting professional poise

Seated by Sam's desk throughout, retorts sarcastically to jokes and abacus quip, defends formula's math rigor against pilot demand, justifies national mean over regional costs as too variable, crisply corrects …

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Affiliation

United States

Sovereign Asylum Provision and Foreign Intervention