Object

Sam's OMB Poverty Formula Paper

Sam clutches the stark paper in a white-knuckled grip, pacing taut circuits outside Toby's office door as sunlight slices through West Wing shadows—its dense lines pulse with OMB's explosive revision, jacking poverty threshold from $17,524 to $20,000, slamming 4 million fresh faces into destitution. Toby yanks him inside, eyes devouring the figures while Sam's defenses crumble under alarmed rebuttals, the document a live wire sparking statistical showdown.

3 appearances

Purpose

Convey OMB's revised poverty threshold formula during urgent White House alert

Significance

Ignites ferocious debate on data flaws and electoral peril, analogized to retroactive SAT sabotage, thrusting Toby into command as poverty optics threaten presidential legacy amid holiday siege

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

3 moments

S3E7 · The Indians in the Lobby

Sam Reveals OMB Poverty Spike; Toby Demands Probe

Sam white-knuckles the stark OMB document while pacing urgently outside, brandishing it implicitly as he enters and details the threshold hike to $20,000 adding 4 million poor; serves as narrative catalyst, live wire sparking Toby's alarm and orders, embodying the statistical flashpoint clashing data purity against electoral peril.

Before: Clutched tightly in Sam's hand during anxious pacing outside Toby's door.

After: Retained by Sam as he exits office to pursue investigation.

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S3E7 · The Indians in the Lobby

Toby Urges Sam to Spin Poverty Stats Downward

The OMB poverty formula paper looms implicitly in the conversation as the contentious core, referenced through Toby's demands to reconfigure its numbers and Sam's concessions; it embodies the explosive stats driving the debate, transitioning from hallway pressure to office scrutiny for political reconfiguration.

Before: In Sam's possession or recent reference from prior handling

After: Central to ongoing debate inside Sam's office

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S3E7 · The Indians in the Lobby

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

Ginger delivers 'some papers'—aligning with the OMB poverty formula document—to Sam and Toby outside, fueling their spin-vs-test debate and Sam's informed re-entry assault; symbolically, it embodies the explosive stats catalyzing White House policy friction and electoral peril.

Before: Held by Ginger en route

After: Passed to Sam/Toby, contextually fueling office confrontation

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