Aiello

Aiello operates as an off-stage senator whose single vote matters in razor-thin Senate arithmetic. Sam invokes Aiello as one of three lawmakers he "put in a headlock" to secure the administration’s position, and staff treat Aiello as persuadable and tactically important enough to be "sent back" for further outreach. Aiello rarely appears on-camera but exerts concrete narrative force: the senator’s alignment shapes last‑minute White House strategy, flags the limits of behind‑the‑scenes pressure, and binds local political calculations to national legislative urgency.