Washington Post Science Editor

investigative well-connected credible

The Washington Post's science editor receives a tip from a blind source alleging that Vice President Hoynes suppressed a NASA report indicating possible life on Mars. C.J. Cregg references this claim while briefing new Associate Counsel Joe Quincy in his makeshift office, marking the editor as a distant but critical player in a brewing scandal. The mention elevates press scrutiny on administration space policy and VP actions, forcing White House staff to address legal and public relations fallout from the leak.

6 appearances

Science Journalism

Also known as: science editor (Washington Post)

Washington Post …'s Journey

A timeline through the narrative

6 moments

S4E21 · Life on Mars

Orientation by Ribbing — Quincy Entrenched as Hoynes' Counsel

Not present; inferred as proactive and inquisitive given the blind-source tip driving the story.

Referenced indirectly by C.J. as the Washington Post science editor who has a blind source alleging Vice Presidential interference; does not appear but his reported tip catalyzes the legal task …

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S4E21 · Life on Mars

Orientation and Orders: Quincy Is Put On Notice

Alert and opportunistic — implied urgency to verify and publish a major scoop.

Referenced off-screen as the Washington Post science editor who has been given a blind source claiming Vice Presidential interference; functions as the narrative instigator of the leak that propels the …

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S4E21 · Life on Mars

Dove at the Window, Two Leaks at Once

Assertive and probing — pressing for a serious answer from the White House

Mentioned indirectly: the Post's science editor is the origin of the NASA suppression tip delivered through the Press Office to Quincy; their investigative push catalyzes legal and PR triage inside …

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S4E21 · Life on Mars

Double Leak: NASA Suppression and DOJ Settlement Force Leo's Hand

Assertive and probing (inferred through staff reaction to the tip).

Referenced by Quincy as the source of the reporter's question: the science editor has a blind/source claim that the White House asked for classification of a NASA commission report alleging …

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S4E21 · Life on Mars

Leo Converts Rumor into Crisis: Mars, Money and the Leak

Determined and professionally dogged — pursuing a high-impact story through unnamed sources.

The Post's science editor is invoked as the person who received a blind-source tip about the NASA report suppression; their inquiry catalyzes the internal legal/PR scramble.

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S4E21 · Life on Mars

Window of Reckoning — Hoynes' Admission

Not present; represented as a professional curiosity-driven actor whose contacts can amplify gossip into headlines.

The Washington Post Science Editor is implied as a possible conduit for the Mars rumor (gossip contact); not present, but placed in the narrative as a journalistic node that escalated …

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Affiliation

Bartlet Administration (Executive Office of the President)

Executive governance, West Wing operations, presidential communications, crisis management, and logistical coordination