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CBS TV drama, Madam Secretary aired its latest episode on Sunday with a plot about senior staff exploring whether or not they can remove the American president from office solely based on his mental status.
By invoking the 25th Amendment, the answer is yes.
If it sounds a little too close to reality, show creator Barbara Hall told CNN her intention is not to pull stories from headlines, but instead, hypothesize about the future.
After Dalton's mental status is questioned, Bess and Russell assemble his entire cabinet to vote on whether to remove him from office. Stream the latest full episode of #MadamSecretary: https://t.co/Q8hpiqY0cX pic.twitter.com/0Y1TR005Ag
— Madam Secretary (@MadamSecretary) January 15, 2018
"We're doing a show about a secretary of state and we're obviously doing a political show that we chose to tonely keep somewhat realistic - heightened reality - but rooted in reality," said Barbara Hall in an on-camera interview with USC Annenberg last February.
In the latest episode, the U.S. President threatens to start World War III after the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria is targeted by a sonic attack by Russians.
President Dalton, (played by Keith Carradine) makes unusually aggressive statements toward Russia in a news conference.
"I will tell you this: If we confirm that Russia is behind it, they are going to feel the overwhelming force and ferocity of our military might," says Dalton.
RT if you're feeling concerned. #MadamSecretary pic.twitter.com/phtivxIbC8
— Madam Secretary (@MadamSecretary) January 15, 2018
As eerie as it may seem, the episodes are created well in advance and Hall assures viewers and they are not reactionary responses to what has already transpired with Trump.
While it aims to keeps its pulse on current affairs, it extends the bars of reality toward what could happen.
"Part of what we do on the show in general is try to entertain people but give them a kind of civics lesson at the same time," said Hall.
Hopefully, President Dalton will come to his senses before the clock runs out. #MadamSecretary pic.twitter.com/26MzgF83Lx
— Madam Secretary (@MadamSecretary) January 15, 2018
In the show, senior staff end up invoking the 25th Amendment, wherein Section 4 states, "Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President."
“Sir, I cannot in good conscience carry it out.”-Gordon #MadamSecretary pic.twitter.com/6UbXnVjxzZ
— Madam Secretary (@MadamSecretary) January 15, 2018
Later in the episode, Congress and senior staff vote to have him removed. He then undergoes medical tests where the President learns that a benign brain tumour has been putting pressure on his frontal lobe - the area required for executive function.
The episode wraps up with President Dalton steps down and addresses the public praising the ironclad American constitution the protects the public when the people in power fail.
Profound words. #MadamSecretary pic.twitter.com/yQNKgzA1cM
— Madam Secretary (@MadamSecretary) January 15, 2018
"It's what separates us from dictatorships and oligarchies. Without people of such courage, our democracy would be lost," he said.
Madam Secretary is in its fourth season and has more than 9 million viewers tuning in on a weekly basis.
Hall says the show doesn't have a political slant and aims to bring in viewers from all political parties.
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