01x02 - She's with Her

[bunniefuu]

[ROOSTER CROWING]

Life on the campaign trail
isn't exactly glamorous.

Why are we still sitting here?

Yeah, why haven't we left yet?

Being away from home
for months at a time,

living out of a suitcase,
chasing sources,

and writing stories

half the country won't believe anyway...

it can be a grind.

[SIREN WHOOPS]

But there are some days

that make it all worthwhile.

Because just when you think
you know the whole story,

it changes.

Holy...

sh*t.

- What is she doing?
- Oh, my God.

Look what was holding up traffic.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[CHUCKLES]

Is that Felicity Walker?

[PEOPLE GASP]

Felicity Walker.

What the hell is she doing here?

- [PHONES CHIMING]
- Felicity Walker?

Oh, my God.

[CAMERA SHUTTER SNAPS]

Felicity Walker...

the woman who haunted my past

and would ultimately
derail my entire future.

Of course, I didn't know that yet.

[TAPE SQUEALING]

♪ I am the passenger ♪

It was three years ago when my editor

asked me to cover the first woman

with a real sh*t at the White House...

I'm an only child
raised by a single mom...

A respected senator who reached

across the aisle
to pass paid family leave

and a sweeping climate change bill.

She was scrappy and blunt

and made curtain bangs look good.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

Now, as a reporter,
my job is to remain objective, detached.

But somewhere along the way,
I found myself rooting for Walker.

Yeah! And I wasn't alone.

Everywhere we went,

she seemed to be
capturing hearts and minds.

CROWD: Walker, Walker, Walker!

According to Nate Silver's
statistical needle,

she was a shoo-in to become
the first woman president

and my career-defining front-page story.

See, that's the thing about
being a campaign reporter.

Pick the right horse,
and you can ride that baby

all the way to the White House,

TV, book deals, Pulitzers.

But then...

she lost.

[CRYING]

No one saw it coming.

In the end, it didn't matter
how it happened or why.

It happened, and I was devastated.

That's the end of the era of...

I woke up the next morning
to find that my meltdown

went viral,
thanks to Liberty Direct News.

♪ Somebody tell me ♪

At the time, I thought it was
the worst thing to happen

to a political reporter.

[TAPE SQUEALING]

What a difference three years can make.

♪ Too naughty, no die ♪

♪ You're my ride or die ♪

[BELL DINGS]

♪ You're my ride or die ♪

And remember...

Yes, I know she was at the hotel.

The whole world saw her
show up at the hotel.

But why? Why is she here?

Where's Walker now? What...

[PHONE BUZZES] Oh, hang on.

That's... that's my editor.
I'll call you back in five.

Bruce, I got three minutes.
What do you need?

Your latest on Caroline
feels like a clip job.

I mean, it's all sex, no substance.

[CHUCKLES] Just the way
our readers like it.

- No, dig deeper, dig deeper.
- Uh-huh.

How many donors has she lost?

Is her party pressuring her to
drop out before the caucuses?

- Yeah.
- Do we know who

her super PAC is now gonna get behind?

- Yeah.
- Are you even listening to me?

Of course I'm listening.

You're obsessing about Walker
being in Iowa, aren't you?

I'm not obsessing.

I am investigating, which is my job.

No, your job is to follow
Caroline Bennett.

Now, you begged me
to put you on her bus.

- I mean, you chose her.
- I... [SCOFFS]

I... to be fair, I chose her
before we found out

she starred in "Eyes Wide Shut"
the docuseries.

The fact that
Felicity Walker is in Iowa...

Is not the story on your b*at.

You have a sex scandal
involving produce.

Walker is still the better story.

What is the story?

Why is she in town?

I...

I don't know.

She's taken you down once, Sadie.

Do not let her do it again.

You know, I'm gonna find out
why Walker's in Iowa,

and when I do, you're gonna
front that sh*t on page one.

Bye.

It's so good having you here, Senator.

And since we've known
each other for a long time,

let's just cut to the chase.

Now that Caroline Bennett's
all but out of the race,

who are you planning to endorse?

Don't answer him, Haskin.

You're better than that.

[TSKING] Look at you,

watching two old white guys
like they matter anymore.

You're right.

The Supreme Court is clearly
swayed by social media,

which is why everything
is going so well for us in this country.

Yeah, they'll die off soon enough.

- Who's that guy?
- Tim Haskin, Iowa senator.

He decides who wins the caucus.

What do you mean Haskin decides?

The caucus is tomorrow night.

Before it starts,
Senator Haskin will go on TV

and shake hands with one
of the Democratic candidates.

That's his way of signaling
to his constituents

who he wants to win.

The sheep will follow.

My job is to find out
whose hand he's shaking

before he shakes it.

That's what you think

- your job is as a journalist?
- Mm-hmm.

That's so sad.

Breaking news, yes.

Also, voters are not sheep.

And... and you know that why?

Because of your many years of experience

on the campaign trail?

I'm sorry that you had to wear Spanx

just to be taken seriously.

I'd be pressed, too, if my insides

had been cinched for a century.

But I have news for you.

The establishment
no longer decides for us.

Young people are engaged.

The world is changing.

You wanna bet?

[FAINT CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

Folks, I'm gonna ask you

to pray with me in just a minute.

Unbelievable.

This is unbelievable.
Gary, are you seeing this?

Sorry, one second, just confirming
you prefer orchids to petunias.

Is Eric's mother still bothering you
with wedding stuff?

I told her you are not my assistant;

you're my embed.

- But orchids.
- Yeah, uh, not sure

she's fully grasping that distinction.

I will call Eric and tell him
to try to wrangle his mother.

But I need you to put your
phone down and look at this.

That's right, Rick.

In response to the sickening revelations

inside the Bennett campaign,
the president...

- How many is that?
- Three.

Three in the last 12 hours,

and it's always the same statement.

He's disgusted. She's disgusting.

Variations on a theme.

This is supposed to be our story, Gary.

We're the ones on Caroline's bus.

We should be the ones
covering her scandal.

Caroline is talking right now,
and we're not filming it, so...

The woman inserted a mango

into her own nether regions

and allowed a man to eat it
out of her in public.

And mangoes can be so stringy.

[SIGHS]

They're calling this a sex club,

but there's gotta be more to the story.

Does it need more?

Maybe not, but if this
is gonna be the thing

that takes her out of the race,

let's make sure it's for a good reason.

Like you getting on TV
instead of Nellie Creamsicle?

Exactly. [LAUGHTER]

- Okay, grab your gear.
- All right.

Accountability and atonement
are my responsibility...

Hey. Did I miss anything good?

If you did, do you think I'd tell you?

And I know some of you folks thought,

well, she's just gonna run away.

She's just gonna go home
after that vicious att*ck.

- CROWD: No!
- Well, no, no, to be perfectly

honest with you,
that thought did cross my mind

more than once last night.

But then I got a call from a friend,

a friend who believes in what it is

I'm trying to do here,

a friend who reminded me

that when the going gets tough...

The tough stay put!

- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- Felicity Walker!

♪ You keep saying
you've got something for me ♪

Surprise!

My good friend Caroline Bennett.

- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- We love you, Felicity!

♪ These boots are made for walkin' ♪

♪ And that's just what they'll do ♪

♪ One of these days, these boots ♪

♪ Are gonna walk all over you ♪

- Yeah.
- Walker is throwing

her support behind Bennett.

Of course it makes sense.

I told you she was a better story.

I mean, yes, they do seem close,

but I don't think
we can call them lovers.

Yeah, lube, that's totally fine.

My manager.

I have to find a way to work
SlippyDippy Intimacy Gel

into American workers getting f*cked,

- which I think is a cute collab.
- I'm sorry. Sorry.

- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
- Mm-hmm, yeah.

I think that's...

Branded content
is the future of journalism.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, Bennett's meeting
with the "Register's"

editorial board later today.

Okay, bye.

I am gonna punch
the perky right out of you

- if you don't calm down.
- Oh, come on.

Even you have to admit
that this is cool.

Walker showing up to support
another female candidate

just proves that she is
exactly who we thought she was.

Exactly who you thought she was.

I still have no idea why...
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

You are so obsessed with her.

I'm not obsessed.

I'm inspired.

She's inspiring.

She is power-hungry,
like every other politician.

The only reason Walker is here

is because she is desperate
to remain relevant.

That's a darker take.
But if she'd won...

- She didn't.
- And that's on us.

The... us... not...

not us the media.

Like, us, the general...

like, the voters, us.

Sadie McCarthy.

Don't look at me like that.

I had no idea you were so...

What, stupid, naive, gullible, what?

Hopeful.

If I ever see you in a p*ssy hat...

[WHISPERING] I am kicking
your p*ssy off the bus.

[BRIGHT MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Of all the midrange hotel
buffets in all the towns...

- Uh-uh, no, not doing this.
- What's your problem?

You should be measuring
your office in the West Wing.

Your candidate was dead.
Carlos Danger dead.

But what... what... what is that I hear?

Do I hear a...

[MIMICS HEARTBEAT THUMPING]

Oh, God damn it,

how can they be out
of Swiss cheese already?

That's a heartbeat, baby.
Caroline Bennett in the house.

Vital signs are looking good.

Mm. Sadie. [CHUCKLES]

Look, I am very unhappy,

and now there is no cheese.

Can you take all this
way down to, like, a two?

I need you at a two.

- Walker's gonna save Bennett.
- That's the plan.

Not that I had any say in the plan.

You know, you'd think I would,
seeing as it's,

I don't know, my job,
but as it turns out,

Bennett doesn't give a sh*t
what I think, so...

So here's what I'm thinking.

I'm thinking a Q&A with me,
Bennett, and Walker...

simple, straight to the point.

Huh. How's this for simple?

Hey, hey.

Caroline doesn't care
what you think because...

because that's actually not your job.

Are you her campaign manager,
her chief strategist?

Are you her best friend who
was with her in the sixth grade

when she got her first period?

No, you're her press secretary.

That is your job. [LAUGHS]

Only a man would think
he should have influence

over what a 62-year-old
female presidential candidate

should be doing to stay in the race.

She lied to you. That sucks.

She lied to me, too, but I'm still here.

So why don't we pull up
our big-kid pants

and win this thing, shall we?

[SIGHING] Hmm.

[ROCK MUSIC]

I'll take that as a yes.

♪ ♪

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

♪ ♪

The Iowa Main Street Parade.

One last opportunity
for presidential hopefuls

to rub elbows with the Iowans
before the caucus.

It might look innocent,
but it's actually a bloodbath.

And by the end of tomorrow,

one of these candidates
won't be left standing.

Senator Walker!

Senator Walker, it's "The Sentinal"!

Same goes for the reporters
covering them.

We love you, Felicity.

And I love Caroline Bennett.

This woman here is the real deal.

Make sure to come out
for her on Tuesday.

Senator Walker!

Senator Walker!

♪ ♪

Okay. Lube.

Butter.

Lube.

Butter.

There's gotta be something here.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

I know.

Not only that, I ate
mac and cheese on a stick.

I had peanut butter and jelly
on a stick.

I had catfish on a stick.

Okay, we can do a few questions,

but let's keep it brief, please.

Governor has a tight schedule.

Yes. Right here.

Kimberlyn Kendrick, Liberty Direct News.

Governor, in light of recent revelations

about your involvement
with a fringe sex group,

what would you say to Iowans

concerned that your values
don't align with theirs?

I think Iowans know,
as most Americans do,

that the Resolute Desk isn't
in the president's bedroom

for good reason.

The government shouldn't be involved

in the private lives
of consenting adults.

Is that the same thing
you would say to your daughter?

Okay. That's it for now.

- Thank you, everyone.
- Hey, hey.

You said a few questions.

- Thank you.
- Governor Bennett!

Governor Bennett. You said a few.

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

Hey.

So you kind of ruined it
for the rest of us back there.

[SIGHS]

And I know we answer to different people

who want very different things, but...

No, I'm pretty sure we answer

to the same people: the American public.

And all they want is the truth.

[SCOFFS]

Nice try, but Liberty Direct News

doesn't give a sh*t about the truth.

You care, though, which is
why I'm appealing to you...

If you say as a woman,
this conversation is over.

As a journalist

who's in the same spot as I am,
trying to remain objective with a story

that is fundamentally not objective.

If Bennett were a man, we would...

I would be going after him
in the exact same way.

Oh, yeah? You'd be asking him
how his children feel?

Really? That's bullshit.

Walker's support is going to
give Bennett a second chance,

which means we get to stay on the trail.

f*ck the trail.

She lied.

And I think that once you've lied,

it is a journalist's job to make sure

there aren't other, bigger lies hiding.

That's what I'm doing,
and that's what you

should be doing, too,
but instead you're spinning.

You might think that what Caroline did

was just embarrassing,
but a lot of voters

would call lust and gluttony
two of the seven deadly sins

and would expect more
from their president.

Maybe you should too.

[EDGY MUSIC]

Hi. Do we know who Haskin
is endorsing yet?

Because I feel like with Walker here,

he might have changed his mind.

And if he is, throwing
his support behind Bennett...

- It's not gonna be Bennett.
- [SIGHS]

Then why do you even care?

'Cause if she goes down,
we're off the trail.

So be it. I miss my Pratesi sheets.

And why the sh*t does this girl have



Who's Lauren H?

Lauren H is
Senator Haskin's granddaughter,

who is cockblocking
my very important standing date

with Senator Haskin's wife,

which means that I now have to...

k*ll her?

Or find something better for her to do.

If I can get her grandmother alone,

I can pry Haskin's choice out of her.

Ask Lola. She'll know what to do.

Or better yet, ask Lola
to hang out with her.

I can't ask Lola.

We made a bet.

She thinks what I'm doing is irrelevant,

that the world has changed.

What did you bet?

If Haskin's pick wins Iowa,
Lola has to read Janet Malcolm.

- [GUFFAWS]
- Maybe learn something

- about what we're doing here.
- Malcolm?

And if they don't?

Haskin's pick always wins.

I just have to find out who it's
gonna be before my father does.

Mm-hmm.

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

[BRIGHT MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Senator Walker.

♪ ♪

It is... it's quite a thing,
you being here, Senator.

Your support of Governor Bennett
is very meaningful.

♪ ♪

If you wanted to give me a quote...

I don't. Thank you.

Ah. It doesn't have to be now.

♪ ♪

You must be exhausted.

You don't look exhausted.

You always manage
to look so well-rested.

How do you do that? [CHUCKLES]

But I was thinking
maybe a Q&A, or, you know,

maybe we could do a sit-down.

I'd love for the "Sentinal"...

[BUTTON CLICKS, ALARM RINGS]

Sadie McCarthy.

Still as bumbling as ever, I see.

- I'm sorry?
- You should be.

You and your newspaper ruined my life.

You cost me the presidency

with your snark and your sarcasm
disguised as wit and whimsy.

And that viral meltdown
that set women back 100 years,

that was embarrassing.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

You wanna give Bennett
a sh*t at the White House?

Stay the f*ck away from her.

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

♪ ♪

[SIGHS]

♪ ♪

[CLEARS THROAT]

[SNIFFLES] Hmm.

♪ Just how cool could a cool thing hit ♪

♪ If a cool thing ♪
♪ Got more cool, real cool ♪

♪ Yeah, do your thing ♪
♪ With a bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ And it goes like boom, boom, boom ♪

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

♪ If a cool thing
got more cool, real cool ♪

♪ Yeah, do your thing
with a bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ And it goes like boom, boom, boom ♪

I need a favor.

You want free lube, don't you?

It's not a problem; they
gave me, like, a whole case.

A friend of mine would love
to pick your brain.

If you agreed to meet
with her tomorrow morning,

it would really help me out.

Wow.

This must be giving you,
like, actual hives.

Sure, no problem.

I love an opportunity
to speak to my base.

Journalists don't have bases.

It's possible we have
a different definition

- of the word "journalist."
- There's only one definition.

Do you want my help or not?

- Yes.
- Cool.

Oh, when I win the bet,
you don't just have to download TikTok.

You have to dance on it for my page.

Bye.

Okay, bad news.

- They were out of Ding Dongs.
- Shh, shh, shh.

Yes, of course.

Whatever time works best for your mom,
I'm gonna be there.

Okay. Sounds good, Delia.

No, you get some rest.

[CHUCKLES] Okay, who's Delia?

Delia Brown is the daughter
of Amanda Brown,

who was a participant
in Caroline Bennett's sex club

and is willing to give me
an exclusive interview.

Kimberlyn, that is a very big deal.

So let's go over
your last batch of questions,

and then we can compare notes.

Okay, yes. About that.

I actually haven't had a chance
to work on those yet.

Your future mother-in-law has
gone from texting to calling,

and let's just say
the woman is a talker.

I need you to focus.

This moment is not just
about b*ating Nellie.

We have an opportunity to prove
to everyone on that bus

that what we do at Liberty Direct

matters just as much as what they do.

I won't let you down.

And I will call Eric
and deal with all of that

after the interview. [LAUGHS]

[PHONE RINGS]

Pulling an all-nighter
to prep for the caucus.

- I like it.
- Mm. Mm-mm. [CLEARS THROAT]

I'm going over some
of the features on Walker

from the last cycle.

I always thought they were
delightful, but maybe...

maybe I'm wrong.

Like... like this story where I...

I mention her favorite snacks.

- Three sliced avocados?
- Exactly. Yes.

I thought that was a fun detail.

But maybe Walker didn't want the world

to know what she eats.

A lot of people can't afford avocados.

Maybe I made her seem out of touch.

You know, you're
a journalist, not a publicist.

And the fact that I even
remember that detail

proves it was a good piece.

Oh, God, and then there's...

there's this one where I...
I said she was exhausting.

I didn't mean she was exhausting.

I meant that being
on the trail was exhausting.

Ugh.

- [SIGHS]
- Sadie, Sadie.

Your style of journalism,
it's observational.

Now, you hold a mirror
up to the candidate,

and if they don't like what they see,

that's not your fault.

Maybe I'm just not good at this, Bruce.

Maybe I should stick to writing
about Chinese mallards and...

and not interfere with the
state of American democracy.

You wanna go back to writing obits?

What the f*ck is going on out there?

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Mm, that's room service. Gotta go.

[LINE BEEPS]

Wait. Did I order room service?

You're not a cheeseburger.

I got you the Q&A with Bennett.

Oh.

Okay.

[LAUGHS]

That's what you wanted.

What? It is. I did.

Yeah, thank you.

[CLEARS THROAT]

[CLEARS THROAT]

So are there any, like, questions you...

specific questions?

You wanna brief me

- on what I should ask?
- Oh... oh.

Oh, yeah, that. No.

That... mm. That won't be necessary.

I mean, I don't really care. I don't...

I don't work for Caroline anymore.

What?

I quit.

What?

- No!
- Yeah, yeah.

Oh, my God.

- What happened?
- I just...

- [CHUCKLES]
- What happened?

[GROANS]

[SIGHS] What happened?

Honestly...

you had something to do with it.

- No.
- No, no, no, no.

Not like this was
your fault or anything.

More like... [SIGHS]

The way you were talking
about her this morning,

all that... that energy
and that enthusiasm.

[CHUCKLES]

I don't have it,
not for her, not anymore.

You know, this job, it's...

it's hard enough
when you believe in the person

you're working for,
but when you don't...

Why don't you?

- I don't know. I just don't.
- But why?

Sadie, can you not be
a journalist right now?

Just be my friend.

[JOY OLADOKUN'S "LOOK UP"]

Yes.

Yeah, of course.

- Sorry.
- Thank you.

[CORK POPS, LIQUID POURING] [SIGHS]

♪ ♪

This is a dumb business we're in.

Mm-hmm. This is true.

[CHUCKLES]

♪ A thousand useless moving parts ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Sometimes you spend your night ♪

♪ Too scared of getting closer ♪

♪ Hiding out in the back seat of your ♪

All right, so let me
just clarify something.

♪ You tell yourself it's raining ♪

So you no longer work for...

for Caroline Bennett.

Thus, you are no longer
a conflict at all.

♪ You tell yourself it's better ♪

Correct.

♪ To jump before you fall again ♪

♪ Before you lose it all again ♪

Interesting.

♪ Look up, do you see the sunlight ♪

Interesting.

♪ There's flowers in your hair ♪

♪ Hold on ♪

Interesting.

♪ 'Cause somebody loves you ♪

♪ You know trouble's ♪
♪ Always gonna be there ♪

♪ Don't let it bring you to your knees ♪

♪ Look up ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Look up ♪

Mm.

[ROOSTER CROWING]

♪ Don't let it bring you
to your knees, look up ♪

Sasha, I will need two
Bloody Marys on the table

before my guest arrives.

Oh, they're already here.
You're the third.

- The third?
- Mm-hmm.

Is Senator Haskin joining us?

Gracie.

Dad... huh.

- What a treat.
- [CHUCKLES]

Your father's been hollering
to get together.

So when Lauren
canceled on me last minute,

I figured I'd k*ll
two birds with one stone.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Well, what have I missed?

Catch me up.

Oh, you know your father
only likes to talk shop.

- [ALL CHUCKLE]
- Let me guess.

The Walker bump
has everyone second-guessing

- Bennett's chances.
- Polls are bullshit.

But now that you're here,
we can discuss more important matters.

How's my granddaughter doing at school?

Annie's in college already?

I'm gonna need to see pictures.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[SIGHS]

Did I wake you?

sh*t. Sorry.

What time is it?

Time for me to go, unfortunately.

Are you going back to D.C.?

No, not... not right this second, no.

Why do I suddenly feel weird?

Mm-mm. Don't... don't feel weird.

I mean, hey, last night...

last night was amazing.

This is not me running away from you.

No, this is just me late.

Late? For what?

Sadie, I'll call you later, okay?

You took a shower.

Where are you going? Why...

[SNIFFS] You smell fancy.

What's happening?

I used your shower gel.

Didn't realize you were saving
it for a special occasion.

[LAUGHS]

Good luck with the interview today.

Oh, God. I forgot about that.

Do you know if Walker's...

- gonna...
- No, no, no.

It's just gonna be you and Bennett.

Her choice, not mine.



- Sadie?
- Mm-hmm?

Don't be late.

All right, I love you.

- That...
- [WHISPERING] f*ck.

Yeah, it's... it's okay.

That's okay.

I mean thank... thank you.

Okay...

bye.

Bye.

[MELLOW MUSIC]

♪ ♪

What the f*ck?

♪ ♪

[LAUGHS]

[WHEEZES]

Oh, God.

♪ ♪

[PHONE BUZZING]

- Can we tuck this guy in?
- Yeah.

Is that comfortable? [PHONE BUZZING]

It's fine.

_

- [SIGHS]
- Okay, you're all set.

[SIGHS, CLEARS THROAT]

- Ready?
- I really wanna...

to thank you so much for
taking the time to talk to us.

Not everyone would be so brave.

Well, it was my daughter
who encouraged me to speak out.

This new generation... [LAUGHS]

- I envy them.
- Don't we all?

Honestly, I never would have
said a word to anyone

if Caroline Bennett had been
honest in the first place.

She made it sound like it was some kind
of hippie free love thing.

It wasn't like that.
I mean, maybe it was for people like her

but not for me.

What do you mean, people like her?

The ones who paid.

Paid?

To eat the fruit.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

- Mm-hmm.
- Let's start.

Great.

♪ ♪

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

Who's ready for another glass?

Sadly, I have to get back to work.

- The caucuses are opening soon.
- Look at you,

hustling like you're still 25
with something to prove.

- If I were you, I'd be done.
- Oh, you would not.

You know how it is.

We don't get older. We just get better.

I have more energy now
than I did when I was 30.

- Bullshit.
- No, really.

In fact, if anyone should be
retiring, it's you, Dad.

But then who would break
the story about Tim's pick?

I suppose it's different for men.

Their sense of self-worth
is tied to their careers,

which makes sense.

Why does that make sense?

Because they can't have children.

I'm sorry, but...

that kind of thinking
is a little old-fashioned, no?

I mean, the world has changed.

The world hasn't changed, Gracie,

just your news algorithm.

Tessy, now, when you leave here

a little later on...

- All right.
- [CHUCKLES]

I'm so glad we get another sh*t at this.

- [LAUGHS]
- I owe you an apology.

Last time you were here, you asked me

how I was gonna break America's heart.

- [LAUGHS]
- Right.

And I totally missed the mark
on that one, didn't I?

Well, I mean...

But now it's out in the open,

and I'm hoping that we can all just...

move on.

So you and me, we get a do-over.

So let's do this over, shall we?

Yes, we shall.

[CLEARS THROAT]

♪ ♪

[CLEARS THROAT] Sorry.

Sorry, can I use your bathroom
really quickly?

Yeah, sure. Of course.

Governor, we have a situation.

- What?
- Well...

Oh, God.

Which outlet?

We believe it was Liberty Direct News

who broke the story first,
but it's everywhere now, so...

What are you doing?

- What are you doing?
- No, it wasn...

Are you recording this?

Well, we are on the record. This...

No. This interview's over. Get out.

- Out. Get out!
- Excuse me.

Who doesn't wanna be reborn, right?

But I didn't have enough money to join.

That's when the man in charge

said there was another way I could pay.

They had to eat the fruit
off someone, you know?

What happened your face?

Lauren H happened to my face,

thank you very much.

Pretty sure she used a f*cking Sharpie.

I want dancing and singing
when you lose this bet, okay?

Dancing and singing... all of it.

Valid. [PHONE BUZZING]

[SIGHS] Yo, I'm gonna
need you to give me, like,

all the alcohol right now, please.

Tessy, hi. I am so glad you called.

I wanted to apologize.

I'm the one who owes you the apology.

I never should have let your
father hijack our breakfast.

Do you believe that man
kept me there two more hours,

thinking I would spill the beans?

Didn't even pick up the damn check.

I believe it.

Screw that.

Women do get better with age.

And more than that,
we have to stick together.

You got a pen on you, sweetheart?

Always.

♪ ♪

Yeah.

♪ ♪

Tessy, you are a gem.

Talk soon.

♪ ♪

I nailed down Haskin's endorsement.

Get the news alert ready.

I need ten to file.

The Iowa caucus.

Unlike primaries, where voters show up

at their polling stations
and fill out secret ballots,

Iowans declare their support
by huddling together

over homemade signs and apple pies

at various schools, churches,
and community centers.

Here, folks vote with their feet,

standing together in different
groups around the room

as organizers count heads.

It's a little like musical chairs,

except without the music... or chairs.

But the biggest fan club
walks away with the cake

and the delegates.

♪ ♪

Hello, Mike. So glad to be here with you

live from Des Moines, Iowa,

where the Democratic caucuses
just started a few minutes ago.

And we're here with Nellie Carmichael,
our White House correspondent.

They finally let you out
of the briefing room, huh?

I asked nicely.

[CHUCKLES] It's good to see ya.

I mean, nobody should be talking
about the president tonight.

How could he compete
with a human breakfast buffet?

Exactly. That was quite
an interview, Kimberlyn.

Thank you, Nellie.

I was really interested
in getting down to the bottom...

And yet somehow

it seems like you missed
the most important part.

Are we talking passion fruit, coconut,

or is this how they
pawned off the honeydew

everybody picked off the fruit salad?

Well, when I sat down with Amanda Brown,

one of the women involved,
we learned that...

Wait, stop, Kimberlyn. Let's be real.

Caroline Bennett
is not settling for honeydew

anytime in the near future.

Well, what this organization really did

was exploit these vulnerable young women

and turn them
into indentured sex servants

for the whims of paying customers.

Basically, it was an all-you-can-eat

fruit salad for $500.

[LAUGHTER]

Yeah, I'd hate to know what they did

- with the watermelon.
- [LAUGHS]

Oh, God, Kimberlyn, you k*ll us.

[LAUGHS]

♪ ♪

- What was that?
- All right, everybody.

It's time to caucus up.

Go to the corner of your candidate,

and let's vote with our feet.

I don't know.

Geriatrics' corner's
getting pretty crowded.

[BLEATS]

Whatever. It's only one caucus.

They're happening all over the state.

And the median age in Iowa is under 40.

Yep, and I'm pretty sure

they're all at home right now
watching TikTok

or buying lube.

♪ ♪

Hey, fam, your girl is back

because it is caucus night
here in Des Moines,

and this middle school gym
is honestly, like, kind of lit.

But I have been hearing
in the past couple days

that this entire caucus
is a foregone conclusion,

that... that some old white guy

is gonna win because some
other old white guy decided so.

And you know what I think that is?

Some boomer f*cking bullshit.

If we've learned anything
from the people

that came before us, it's
that we don't need to listen

and give in to a broken system.

I don't think we should be
having it, y'all. I don't. No.

Because Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta

were not having it.

Because Marsha P. Johnson
and Sylvia Rivera

weren't having it.

Because Sharifa Alkhateeb

and... and Shirley Chisholm
and Masih Alinejad...

none of those people... they
aren't and weren't having it.

The best things that ever
happened in this country

were because of people who didn't listen

to old white men.

So today, Iowa,

I hope that's all of you.

♪ ♪

Hey.

Nice scoop today.

Your producers must be thrilled.

Not really.

Didn't seem to move the conversation.

Maybe not with your viewers,

but they were never
voting for Bennett anyway.

But you changed my mind,
and that's no small feat.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Be honest.

You were never really
all in for Bennett.

Why do you say that?

Because you're not stupid.

You don't want just any woman
to be president.

You want the right woman,

and Bennett was never as good as Walker,

not in your eyes, anyway.

You, Sadie McCarthy,
are a true believer.

[CHUCKLES] God help you.

[MELLOW MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[SCOFFS]

m*therf*cker.

[KNOCKING]

♪ ♪

Sadie, hey. I was gonna call you.

You said you didn't
believe in Bennett anymore.

So who do you believe in?

Wait. What?

Is Felicity Walker running again?

Is that why she came to Iowa?

Let me rephrase the question.
Are you working for Felicity Walker?

♪ ♪

Sa... Sadie. Sa... Sadie, come on.

[DOOR SLAMS]

With caucus results being tallied,

Iowans rejected scandal-ridden
Caroline Bennett

in favor of
Secretary Fergal P. Richards,

thanks to an endorsement
from Senator Tim Haskin.

Bless you, Sam.

So there's no movie of that
book you're making me read.

There's an audio version, though,

so might have to do that.

No need. I'm not gonna quiz you on it.

A bet's a bet.

I keep my word.

Although I do maintain
that if you tried TikTok,

you would love it.

You know, I know your whole shtick is

to make it seem like everything
you say is off the cuff,

but you clearly did your research.

I always do.
It's part of the job, right?

Want a drink?

Nah, I'm gonna call my folks,

pop a gummy, say a little prayer.

Now that Bennett's out of the race,

maybe my girl will get her own bus.

Mm. Your girl barely got 5% tonight.

She is not long for this trail.

Wanna bet?

[CHUCKLES]

[LOUNGE MUSIC PLAYING]

♪ ♪

[CLEARS THROAT]

What, are you following me now?

We spent over 150 days
together in Iowa, Senator.

I know this is your favorite restaurant.

I know everything about you,

including the fact
that you're running again.

Just wanted to give you
a chance to go on the record.

Nice try, but we already
covered this, Sadie.

- Your reporting...
- You're not a fan. I got that.

But you also said if I stayed
away from Bennett,

that would help her chances.

Well, I stayed away.

I'm not the problem, Senator.

Maybe not this time, but...

No, I am... I'm not saying

that I haven't made
my fair share of mistakes,

and I'm sure I'm going
to make many more.

I am not perfect, but neither are you.

Which is kind of heartbreaking
but also...

also really liberating,

because now I can just
focus on doing my job.

Now, I have it on good authority

that you've hired a new press secretary,

you're having dinner with
a top Democratic strategist,

and I just confirmed
with a realtor in New York

that the office space
previously occupied

by your campaign HQ

was just leased to an LLC titled

Our Tomorrow Begins Today.

So I'm gonna ask you one more time...

Would you care to go on the record?

If not, I can just say
you declined to comment.

Our readers love that.

Take a seat.

Let's make it quick.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Mm.

Uh-oh.

What's wrong?

Nothing. I'm fine.

What? Was Terry not happy
with the segment?

Look, for what it's worth,
I thought you were fantastic.

No, he really liked it.

He might even wanna
make it a regular thing.

What? That's great!

So then why are you...

I asked Eric's mother
to stop bugging you,

and she sent me a care package.

Except it feels more
like a "f*ck you" package.

I can help.

It's fine.

It's my wedding.

I just don't know
how I'm gonna do it all.

I really thought that I could,
but everything just feels

so much more intense
than I thought it would be.

It's gonna be okay.

[ALANIS MORISSETTE'S
"HAND IN MY POCKET"]

But those flowers have to go.

They're so ugly.

They're hideous.

Okay, let's talk color palettes.

♪ I'm broke, but I'm happy ♪

- Actually, no, neither.
- [GIGGLES]

Neither.

"The Journalist and the m*rder*r,"

by Janet Malcolm.

Chapter one.

♪ I'm sane, but I'm overwhelmed ♪

Oh, Melon does not like
what she be smelling.

♪ And what it all comes down to ♪

- [LAUGHS]
- Now Finn will get a sniff.

Finn disapproves of the pickle.

♪ Is that everything's
gonna be fine, fine, fine ♪

Mm.

This is Annie. Leave a message.

Or better yet, text me.

- [LINE BEEPS]
- Hi, Annie.

It's your mom.

I'm just... I'm watching
this thing on TikTok,

and I have no idea why,
but it is cracking me up.

It's... it's this cat,
and she looks like Norton.

Do you remember Norton?

Ah, maybe you were too little.

Anyway, I'm just calling
to say hi and...

If you'd like to send
this message, press 1.

If you'd like to rerecord
your message, press 2.

[LINE BEEPS]

♪ Is that I haven't got it all ♪

♪ Figured out just yet ♪

[LINE BEEPS]

Hey, it's me.

Call me back, or I'm not
paying for your phone anymore.

♪ And the other one
is giving a peace sign ♪

♪ ♪

♪ And what it all comes down to ♪

♪ Is that everything's gonna be ♪

- [KNOCK AT DOOR]
- Room service.

Yes, finally.

♪ 'Cause I've got ♪
♪ One hand in my pocket ♪

♪ And the other one ♪
♪ Is flicking a cigarette ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I'm free, but I'm focused ♪

♪ I'm green, but I'm wise ♪

♪ I'm hard, but I'm friendly, baby ♪

♪ I'm sad, but I'm laughing ♪

You're not a cheeseburger.

♪ I'm brave, but I'm chicken sh*t ♪

♪ I'm sick, but I'm pretty, baby ♪

♪ And what it all boils down to ♪

♪ Is that no one's really ♪
♪ Got it figured out just yet ♪