Leo Greenlights 'States of Concern' and Forces C.J. to Consider Danny's Access
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
C.J. and Leo discuss the State Department's proposal to change 'rogue nations' to 'states of concern', revealing bureaucratic nuances and personal dynamics.
Leo informs C.J. about Danny Concannon's request for access, sparking tension over media relations and personal grievances.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Flustered nervousness in pitching, escalating to righteous indignation and frustrated resistance over press betrayal
Caught mid-stride in the bustling office, nervously pitches State rebrand under Leo's time pressure with indignant banter, secures approval via wry 'I'll feel stupid' admission, erupts in fierce resistance to Danny's access citing Post editorials, protests futilely as Leo overrides, then snatches ringing phone as he departs.
- • Convince Leo to approve the 'states of concern' rebrand as diplomatic goodwill
- • Block Danny Concannon's access request to shield staff from further media assaults
- • Recent Post editorials justify denying access as payback and protection
- • Rebrand is a smart, low-risk optics win despite personal embarrassment
confused
walking through the White House lobby with Leo, questioning the protocol for the Ukrainian visitor's arrival, commenting on the girl's appearance, and seeking reassurance
- • understand White House protocol for foreign government visitors
Not present; inferred as eagerly persistent from offscreen request
Absent but centrally invoked as Leo reveals his request for exclusive three-part feature access, triggering C.J.'s explosive veto tied to Post's editorial savagery, positioning him as the persistent press antagonist in White House media wars.
- • Secure unprecedented access for in-depth White House feature
- • Leverage collegial ties to pierce administration defenses
- • Exclusive access yields scoops exposing power's inner churn
- • Past editorial clashes don't preclude professional cooperation
persistent
catches up to Leo in the hallway, compliments his suit, and pitches Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiatives on repetitive stress injuries
- • convince Leo to support OSHA ergonomics standards
Commanding pragmatism laced with impatience and understated amusement at C.J.'s quips
Enters Communications Office purposefully, corners C.J. for an urgent two-minute briefing on State rebrand, attentively listens, probes for downsides, swiftly approves it, reveals Danny's access request, overrides C.J.'s vehement protests with firm authority, instructs Presidential consultation, then exits briskly.
- • Rapidly assess and approve State Department rebrand proposal
- • Enforce consultation with President on Danny Concannon's press access despite internal resistance
- • Low-cost symbolic policy tweaks like rebranding advance diplomacy without harm
- • Strategic press access outweighs short-term grudges from editorial attacks
crazy
showed up at the White House with an appointment not to meet the President (discussed)
Ukrainian visitor had appointment not to meet him; to be consulted by C.J. on Danny's access (mentioned)
accompanying the Ukrainian government member (mentioned)
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
C.J.'s office phone rings insistently as Leo departs post-override, forcing her to abandon the briefing's aftermath and answer it immediately; this interruption embodies the ceaseless crisis pipeline in communications, yanking her from policy clash into the next urgent demand and amplifying the scene's breathless rhythm.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Serves as the high-velocity hub where Leo intercepts C.J. for a compressed policy briefing and access showdown; fluorescent-lit desks and ringing phones frame the terse exchange, underscoring communications as the White House's frontline for info control amid treaty deadlines and diplomatic pivots.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Looms as the antagonistic force via C.J.'s furious citation of its recent editorials that 'jumped up and down' on Leo and staff—four attacks in two weeks—fueling her bid to stonewall Danny's access; this media muscle flexes narrative tension between White House opacity and journalistic hounding.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"C.J.: "State wants us to change 'rogue nations' to 'states of concern.' I say fine, it's a symbolic gesture with no real consequence. It gains us points with allies who feel we've been too harsh and it signals to the seven countries we're talking about that we are open to taking positive steps in the future if they initiate reforms.""
"LEO: "Any down side?" C.J.: "I'll feel stupid." LEO: "I can live with that.""
"LEO: "Danny Concannon wants access for a three part feature about..." C.J.: "No!" LEO: "No what?" C.J.: "No he can't have access. Leo, his editorial staff just jumped up and down on your head yesterday, and last Thursday and the President twice before that. Four times in two weeks!""