The West Wing Season 5 (2003-4)

John Goodman briefly becomes the president after Zoe's been kidnapped. William Devane makes an appearance. As do John Cromwell, Stephen Tobolowsky, Glenn Close. This series had John Welles as showrunner - Sorkin has left. Allison Janney won her fourth Emmy.

'Partisan politics' = strongly support party's own policies and unwilling to compromise with the opposition.

Josh finds himself embattled after turning a Democrat senator Republican; he saves face when Republicans try to 'mug' President over budget negotiation, by first suggesting they walk to the Senate, and then when their reception is tardy, to leave; the President gets his way with the budget. Meanwhile we have our eye on Donna - it's about time she was moved up...

Good episode 'Access' looks entirely at CJ's day and that of her team, and ends up here:

There's a useful new security adviser - Mary McCormack.

And then - how did I know Donna was going to get into trouble? Because - put your characters in jeopardy. It's the tense ending in Gaza, and we still don't know if she's OK...

Josh Singer is one of the staff writers; he went on to write The Post, First Man and Spotlight.