You're listening to The West Wing Weekly. I'm Rishikesh Hereway.

And I'm Josh Womalina.

Today we're talking about Season 2, Episode 6, The Lame Duck Congress.

The teleplay is by Aaron Sorkin. He wrote a lot of them.

Story is by Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. and the episode first aired on November 8th in the year 2000.

Directed by Jeremy Kagan, one of two episodes, his first.

Here's a synopsis from TV Guide.

Josh Toby and Sam want the president to consider calling a lame duck session of Congress to try and pass a test band treaty.

And CJ leaks news of this to Danny who initiated the story in the first place by asking if the White House was, quote, considering calling the session.

Meanwhile, Donna goes on the warpath over Carpool Tunnel Syndrome.

Sam and Ainsley teach each other a thing or two.

And a Ukrainian reformer shows up drunk at the White House demanding to see the president.

Wow, you got it in one.

I was on the edge of my seat.

Killed it.

There's a thing at the beginning of the episode that I kept thinking about throughout the episode and then really got brought home at the end of the episode, which was chess.

When they're first talking about the musical chairs of the Senate committees.

What's going on?

Casey wants appropriations and he has this seniority.

So we'll have to give up budget.

Which tagly I'll jump out in a second, which clears the way for Newberry and Senate Armed Services.

Newberry leaving opens up Judiciary.

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