<!-- Title, Credits, Start Button -->
{
(set: $gameTitle to "White House Crisis")
(set: $typewriterText to $gameTitle)
(display: "Typewriter")
(live:2s)[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-2s nb title-margin"><center>
//An Unsubtle Satire for an Unsubtle Time//</h4><br></html>
(stop:)
]
(live:4s)[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb"><center>
[[Start->Intro]]<br>
[[Credits]]</center></h4></html>
(stop:)
]
<!-- Initialize/reset all game state variables -->
<!-- Save faction names as variables to avoid string literals -->
(set: $establishment to "Establishment")
(set: $extremist to "Extremist")
(set: $inept to "Inept")
(set: $kushner to "Kushner")
(set: $kelly to "Kelly")
(set: $miller to "Miller")
(set: $kellyEmail to "johnkelly@whitehouse.gov")
(set: $kushnerEmail to "kushboi@yahoo.com")
(set: $millerEmail to "stephenmiller@whitehouse.gov")
(set: $factionNames to (a: $establishment, $extremist, $inept))
(set: $lastChoice to "None")
(set: $choiceNumber to 0)
(set: $choiceHistory to (a:))
(set: $cnnChyron to "Placeholder CNN chyron")
(set: $foxChyron to "Placeholder text for an alert!")
<!-- Init scores lookup -->
(set: $scores to (dm:))
(for: each _faction, ...$factionNames)[
(set: $scores to it + (dm: _faction, 0))
]
(set: $presidentMood to 0)
(set: $numberOfProtesters to 0)
(set: $nextTweetID to "Start")
(set: $tweetURL to
(dm:
"Start", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/kzvyte0qlfu0kua/Tweet1.png?dl=1",
"Crisis2Start", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/780p2xa3jy67qy8/Tweet2.png?dl=1",
"Crisis3Start", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/iwujltcxg7ewgyo/Tweet3.png?dl=1",
"Truth", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/x03i67dt7xlmmu3/Truth.png?dl=1",
"Tweet1"+$establishment, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/e2m4b2rxxbfq43x/Establishment_1.png?dl=1",
"Tweet2"+$establishment, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/ncnxz6o1xvv8n5s/Establishment_2.png?dl=1",
"Tweet3"+$establishment, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/iwujltcxg7ewgyo/Tweet3.png?dl=1",
"Tweet1"+$extremist, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/k6861przihdro7k/Extreme_1.png?dl=1",
"Tweet2"+$extremist, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/nqcsi0hzndte5v7/Extreme_2.png?dl=1",
"Tweet3"+$extremist, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/7aow3s9mkcl4jw4/Extreme_3.png?dl=1",
"Tweet1"+$inept, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/bad8q71rk4uwpmx/Inept_1.png?dl=1",
"Tweet2"+$inept, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/i1u4ibhmx3lqfdg/Inept_2.png?dl=1",
"Tweet3"+$inept, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/s1fdxa6ync9q91s/Inept_3.png?dl=1",
"Extreme-Inept", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/mnrcjzoszid9vds/Extremist_Inept.png?dl=1",
"Extremist", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/b4x9jaq2zzersb4/Extremist_Ending.png?dl=1"
)
)
(set: $pp to "http://placehold.it/500x500.png")
(set: $portraitURL to (dm:
"Kushner", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/om7dmy18oqcl907/jaredkushner.v3.png?dl=1",
"Kelly","https://www.dropbox.com/s/4a3luqt2yr5epco/johnkelly.v2.png?dl=1",
"Miller", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/2aiz3rdvzs3581b/stephenmiller_v5500x500.png?dl=1",
"DoofKush", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/13y9604aqqlrx6n/jaredkushner.v2.png?dl=1",
"MillerArmband","https://www.dropbox.com/s/cphuvdbjp8yqujc/stephenmiller_armband.v2500x500.png?dl=1",
"MillerAngry", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/v8bynsxnmol57et/stephenmiller_angry.v2500x500.png?dl=1",
"KellyAngry","https://www.dropbox.com/s/2y8qm5sek2w9iig/johnkelly_angry.v2.png?dl=1"
)
)
}
(transition: "dissolve")[It's May, 2018. You are a White House intern.(display:"Tap Sound")]
(live: 2s)[<html><class='fade-in'>You took this job because you want to serve your country, but it hasn't been quite what you expected. </html>(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]
(live:4s)[
Currently, the President and his associates are subjects in a wide-reaching investigation of his campaign, administration, and the Russian government for [[a few reasons.->Investigation Reasons]] (display:"Tap Sound") (stop:) ]
(live:6s)[
[[He is not taking this well.->Intro2]](display:"Tap Sound") (stop:)
]{
<!--Debug-->
(if: $nextTweetID is 0)[
(set: $nextTweetID to "Start")
]
(if: $tweetURL is 0)[
(set: $establishment to "Establishment")
(set: $extremist to "Extremist")
(set: $inept to "Inept")
(set: $tweetURL to
(dm:
"Start", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/kzvyte0qlfu0kua/Tweet1.png?dl=1",
"Crisis2Start", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/780p2xa3jy67qy8/Tweet2.png?dl=1",
"Crisis3Start", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/iwujltcxg7ewgyo/Tweet3.png?dl=1",
"Truth", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/x03i67dt7xlmmu3/Truth.png?dl=1",
"Tweet1"+$establishment, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/e2m4b2rxxbfq43x/Establishment_1.png?dl=1",
"Tweet2"+$establishment, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/ncnxz6o1xvv8n5s/Establishment_2.png?dl=1",
"Tweet3"+$establishment, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/iwujltcxg7ewgyo/Tweet3.png?dl=1",
"Tweet1"+$extremist, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/k6861przihdro7k/Extreme_1.png?dl=1",
"Tweet2"+$extremist, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/nqcsi0hzndte5v7/Extreme_2.png?dl=1",
"Tweet3"+$extremist, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/7aow3s9mkcl4jw4/Extreme_3.png?dl=1",
"Tweet1"+$inept, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/bad8q71rk4uwpmx/Inept_1.png?dl=1",
"Tweet2"+$inept, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/i1u4ibhmx3lqfdg/Inept_2.png?dl=1",
"Tweet3"+$inept, "https://www.dropbox.com/s/s1fdxa6ync9q91s/Inept_3.png?dl=1",
"Extreme-Inept",
"https://www.dropbox.com/s/mnrcjzoszid9vds/Extremist_Inept.png?dl=1",
"Extremist", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/b4x9jaq2zzersb4/Extremist_Ending.png?dl=1"
)
)
]
(set: _image to $tweetURL's $nextTweetID)
(print:"<img class = 'center2' src='" + _image + "' style='border:2px solid black'>")
}{
(display: "Send Tweet")
(display:"Tweet Scare Sound")
}
(live: 1s)[
(transition:"dissolve") + (css:"font-size:130%; font-weight:bold;")[ [[Oh God. ->First Tweet Reaction]] ]
(stop:)
]<script>
window.typewriterSound.play();
</script>
=><=
{
<html><h4 class ="title-margin">
<!-- Create a variable to track the position within the $typewriterText string -->
(set: $typewriterPos to 1)
<!-- Create a hook to hold the typed text -->
(css: "font-size: 120%; font-weight:bold;")[|typewriterOutput>[]]
(live: 50ms)[
<!-- Add the next character to the hook -->
(set: _newLetter to $typewriterText's $typewriterPos)
(append: ?typewriterOutput)[(print: _newLetter)]
<!-- Update the position -->
(set: $typewriterPos to it + 1)
<!-- If it's gone past the end, stop -->
(if: $typewriterPos is $typewriterText's length + 1)[
(stop:)
]
]
<span class="blinking-cursor">|</span>
</h4>
</html>
}{(display:"Tap Sound")}
(transition:"shudder")[The room explodes into action.]
(live:2s)[Several aides rush out the doors, tripping over each other, while others attempt to shove their way through, creating a profanity-screaming tangle of exasperated staff. Some simply sit motionless, wearing a thousand-yard stare.{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live:5s)[You gather your thoughts for a moment.{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live: 6s)[This is bad. {(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live: 7s)[You need to get away from here.{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live: 8s)[Go grab some coffee for somebody. {(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live: 9s)[Anybody.{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live:10s)[
[[Do not get involved.->Attempt to Look Busy]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)
](transition:"dissolve") [ Today the mood around the White House has been tense. (display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]
(live:2s)[ (transition:"dissolve")[
Recently, the investigation has begun closing in on the President's inner circle. Furious at this development, the President has been contemplating firing Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in an attempt to stop the investigation.(display:"Tap Sound") (stop:)]]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve") [
Doing so would mark the beginning of a [[constitutional crisis.->Constitutional Crisis]] (display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]]
(live: 6.5s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
Though his top advisors uniformily caution him that this would be strategically undesireable, the President isn't listening to them right now...] (display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]
(live: 9s)[(transition:"dissolve")[
He's listening to the [[TV.->Fox News Intro]] ] (display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)] (live:0s)[Obstruction of justice.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:.5s)[Conspiracy against the United States.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:1s)[Failure to register as a foreign agent.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live: 1.5s)[Filing false reports to conceal status as an unregistered foreign agent. (display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]
(live:2s)[Conspiracy to launder money.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:2.5s)[Money laundering.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]
(live:3s)[Lying to the FBI.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:3.5s)[Conspiracy to defraud the United States.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:4s)[Fraud.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:4.5s)[Wire fraud.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:5s)[Bank fraud.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:5.5s)[Bank fraud conspiracy.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:6.0s)[Tax fraud.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:6.5s)[Campaign finance violation.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:7s)[Perjury.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:7.5s)[Intimidation.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:8s)[Identity fraud.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live:9s)[ Wow. [[Is this normal?->Investigation Reasons 2]] (display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]Around you in the West Wing lobby stand several aides watching TV. You overhear some of them saying that the President is angrier than he's ever been, and he hasn't left his bedroom in hours.(display:"Tap Sound")
(live: 4s)[
Suddenly,the sounds of Twitter alerts going off one by one fill the room. Everybody in this room only gets alerts from one account - the President's. <script>window.multiTweetAlert.play();</script>(stop:) ]
(live: 6s)[
You and the other aides scramble to open your phones. You hope this isn't what you think it is.(display:"Tap Sound") (stop:) ]
(live: 8s)[
"It's probably nothing," you think. He hasn't tweeted anything too unexpected today.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:) ]
(live: 10s)[
You unlock your phone:(display:"Unlock Sound") (stop:) ]
(live: 11s)[(display:"Tap Sound")
[[ See 1 new Tweet->First Tweet]] (stop:)]A constitutional crisis occurs when a legal situation arises which is not covered by the given state's constitution.
In this case, the crisis could arise from the question of whether or not a sitting President can halt a case involving himself or their inner-circle.
In the best cases, these situations are resolved through arduous legal proceedings. In the worst cases, they can result in governmental collapse or war.
For this reason, conventional wisdom is that these should be avoided, but one of the top voices in the President's ear disagrees...
You hear shouting coming from the [[television.->Fox News Intro]]
(display:"Tap Sound")You look at the TV one of the staffers has dragged into the lobby. Naturally, it is tuned to [[Fox News.->Fox News Explainer]]
The chyron reads:
(set: $foxChyron to "PRESIDENT BLASTS ROSENSTEIN FOR FBI RAID ON LAWYER")
(display:"Fox News Alert")
(live: 3s)[<html><h4 class="fade-in-3s nb"> Above it, a blustery man bellows:
"The President is right: this investigation is spiraling out of control. It is a total witch hunt, and a threat to this country. Rod Rosenstein is incompetent, conflicted, and - I'll just say it - corrupt.
Mr. President, if you're listening: it's time that you take back control of this situation."
[[You hope he isn't listening.->Intro3]]
</h4></html>
(stop:)
]
(display:"Tap Sound"){(display:"Tap Sound")}
With a running start, you push through the remaining staff writhing in the less-crowded doorway and jog down the hallway.
(live:1.5s)[{(display:"Tap Sound")}
As you pass the Chief of Staff's office, you see [[John Kelly->John Kelly Bio]] covering his face with one hand while the other holds a phone. You're really glad you're not him right now.
(link: "Continue jogging.") ["Intern!"{(display:"Tap Sound")}
(live: .2s)[
(display:"John Kelly Surprise")
(stop:)]]
(stop:)
]
John Kelly, a former U.S. General, began his career in the current administration as head of Homeland Security, in which he was viewed by mainstream media as one of the more level-headed staff.
After the previous Chief of Staff was unceremoniously fired on an airport tarmac, John Kelly assumed the job in what was widely viewed as a move to enforce order and discipline in an otherwise chaotic administration.
For a while this narrative held, though eventually it began to collapse as leaks of the President arguing with and defying Kelly began to appear in the news.
Another blow to his reputation was when Kelly (link:"divulged")[(print:"divulged")(open-URL:"https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-kelly-rex-tillerson-was-on-the-toilet-when-i-told-him-hed-be-getting-fired")] that he had fired the last Secretary of State on the toilet - a revelation which was generally regarded as a "dick move."
{(display:"Tap Sound")}
(link:"Keep moving.")[{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Intern!
(live:2s)[
(goto:"John Kelly Surprise")
]
]{
(set: $portrait to "Kelly")
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
You walk towards the [[Chief of Staff->Chief of Staff Explain]]'s office.
Kelly has visible bags under his eyes, and a furious expression across his face. He continues speaking again before you've finished entering the room.
(live:2s)[(display:"Tap Sound")
"This place is a shitshow right now. Staff all have their hands full. I need you to deliver something that'll calm the President down. Keep him from tweeting about [[Mueller->Mueller Explanation]]."
He pauses for a moment, seeming to shudder internally. Then he [[speaks again->John Kelly 1b]].(stop:)](set:$pdlink to "propaganda document")
The prop doc (or '(link:$pdlink)[(print:$pdlink)(open-URL: "https://news.vice.com/en_ca/article/zmygpe/trump-folder-positive-news-white-house")]') is how people in this administration refer to a folder full of positive news that was delivered twice-daily to the President's desk.
On a good news day, his top staff would compete for the honor of delivering it, hoping to be showered with his good will - though on a bad day a lack of positivity could incite his wrath.
Since he arrived, John Kelly has been trying to cut down on the frequency of the prop docs (much to the President's irritation), though in dire situations he has been known to allow them.
Regardless, such a sensitive task is always handled by those at the highest levels of the administration...
[[...not an intern.->John Kelly 1b]]
{(display:"Tap Sound")}{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Shit. Shit. Shit.
(live:1s)[You did not sign up for this.{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live:3s)[You begin to feel nauseous. {(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live: 5s)[{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You lurch towards the bathroom, but only make it a few steps before a man pops out from behind a potted plant and (link:"startles you.")[startles you.
{
(goto:"Miller Surprise")
}
]
(stop:)
]{
(set: $portrait to "MillerArmband")
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
He walks you down the hall. You look at him and notice a file folder marked **DOCUMENTS** in his hand. You don’t remember it being there before. You don’t know where the two of you are going. He doesn’t tell you.
(live:3s)[<html><h4 class ="fade-in-3s nb">"So intern, it seems as if your status among us has risen quite dramatically,” he says, staring straight ahead, goose stepping down the hall.
Before you figure out how to respond, he continues, “I have a feeling that you will become a strong asset to the party. Especially towards the end. Of our solution..."
[[You stare at him.->Miller 1c]] (stop:)
</h4></html>
]Stephen Miller was born into a liberal-leaning Jewish family in Santa Monica, but became a committed conservative after he realized how much he loved being contrarian.
He made his first foray into politics running for his high school student government, where he ran on views like (link:"'why should we pick up our own trash when janitors are already paid to do it?'")["why should we pick up our own trash when janitors are paid to do it for us?" (open-URL:"https://youtu.be/JSXy4aRF9aM")]
He also barged into the final lap of a women's track meet once to 'prove' his athletic supremacy over the opposite sex. [[It was pretty impressive.->Stephen Miller Bio 2]]
{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You peer into one of the offices - surprisingly enough, it's empty. You walk in and take a seat next to the printer.
As you're opening your laptop, the printer suddenly whirrs to life and begins spitting out pages. You look around - still nobody in sight - and sneak a glance at the printer tray:
(set:$catlink to "10 Signs That Your Cat Is A Wizard")
(link:$catlink)[(print:$catlink)(open-URL: "https://www.buzzfeed.com/sharblar/10-signs-that-your-cat-is-a-wizard-9ms6?utm_term=.sanB4dJ8XL#.dfdExw6DNa")
(live:1s)[
(goto:"Jared Surprise")
(stop:)
]
]{
(set: $portrait to "Kushner")
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
It's too late.
"Hey, uhh, uhhhhh... hey," he says as he approaches you. "This thing in the printer, that's just a thing I was getting for... it's nothing really. Did you see this thing in the printer?"
You shake your head and (link-reveal:"avoid eye-contact.")[{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"It's just this thing that I had to do for my job, it's really top-secret stuff. I can't tell you about it, so don't even ask."
You try to stay as still as possible, (link-reveal:"hoping he'll leave you alone.")[{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Hey, is that the prop doc?"
[[Damnit.->Kushner 1c]]]
]{
(set: $portrait to "Kushner")
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
"Hey, uh, so as long as you're putting that together, can you do me a favor? Right now my dad-in-law is kind of pissed at me and I don't really know why.
Can you put something in there that'll like... make him not pissed anymore?"
Oh thank God, you thought he was going to ask you to do something crazy. Just agree and he'll leave you alone.
"Sure," (link:"you reply.")[you reply.{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Wow, thanks buddy! I've really needed a friend around here recently, and I'm so happy I found one. I'm just kinda hanging around right now, so I'll see you later!"
OK, maybe you shouldn't have agreed to that.
He leaves, and you [[open your laptop.->First Choice]]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Jared Kushner, a largely unsuccessful real-estate mogul born into luxury, married into the President's family through his daughter, Ivanka - ultimately leading to his position in the administration.
He was initially placed in charge of many major tasks, including ending the opioid epidemic and pursuing peace in the Middle East. He was unqualified for all of these.
Recently, his high-level security clearance was revoked after it was revealed that he lied to the FBI on numerous occasions - preventing him from pursuing any of the goals initially laid out for him.
Nobody really knows what he does anymore, but he still hangs around.
[[OK.->Jared Surprise]]You open your web browser. Beside you sits Miller's folder and the pile of office-supply debris left behind by Jared.
Time to make the prop doc.
(link:"You try not to think about how this choice could potentially lead to a constitutional crisis.")[(display:"Tap Sound")You think about how this choice could potentially lead to a constitutional crisis.
**//Fuck//**.]
(unless:(history:) contains "First Choice")[
You consider what to check first.]
[[Check the Fox News homepage->Establishment_1]]
[[Look through Miller's folder->Extreme_1]]
[[Find something positive for Jared->Inept_1]]
[[Check the New York Times homepage->NYT]]
{(display:"Tap Sound")}You navigate to FoxNews.com. At the top of the page, in giant text, reads:
{(display:"Tap Sound")}
(link-reveal:"**Trump Fires Deputy AG Rosenstein**")[
{(display:"Click Sound")}
"The President fired Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein this morning after declaring him unfit for the job. This move, while controversial, was greeted by many as a refreshing break from the President's inaction on an an unrelenting attack on his administration by partisans.
At the time of reporting, there has been no indication that the President intends to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller following the Rosenstein announcement."
[[Keep thinking.->First Choice]]
(link:"Print it and put it in the folder.")[
(set: $lastChoice to $establishment)
(goto: "Deliver First Prop Doc")
]
](display:"Paper Sound")
You open up Miller's folder. The first article, from something called 'Gateway Pundit,' reads:
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
**BREAKING: PRESIDENT FIRES 🌎ROSENSTEIN🌎 FOR GRAVE INCOMPETENCE**
"The President has dealt another blow to the DC Swamp and the Deep State, firing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein this morning. After MONTHS of inaction and attempted kneecapping by corrupt Washington bureaucrats, the President only has one final obstacle: the corrupt and slimy Robert Mueller.
Despite the hysterical howling from the Fake News Media, POTUS fulfilled yet another promise, striking back against the Deep State that, for his whole presidency, has stalled and filibustered his America First Agenda. Sources inside the White House say that President Barron is as fired up as ever, removing another Obama-era holdout.
This is a developing story, but thankfully, the Globalist and Establishment forces in the capital are on their heels and on the run."
[[Keep thinking.->First Choice]]
(link:"Put it in the folder.")[
(set: $lastChoice to $extremist)
(goto: "Deliver First Prop Doc")
]</h4></html>
{(display:"Tap Sound")}What is going to make both the President and Kushner happy?
{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You navigate to one of the popular Capitol Hill gossip rags and start scrolling.
---
//
Cutest Congressional Pets: Part 21
How To Hide A Panic Attack: Intern Edition
More Reports of Half-Eaten Animals Being Found Around the White House!
Did John Kelly Really Call The President A "Complete F---ing Idiot"?
Time's Up... For Bad Fashion! 6 Sexy Suits For Lady Staffers
Sean Spicer Unveils Wax Sculpture of His Own Shame at Madame Tussauds
Overheard: Ted Cruz Forgets to Clear Browser History; Watches Weird Porn
WATCH: Devin Nunes Accidentally Publishes Video of Himself Walking Into Glass Window
Cutest Congressional Pets: Part 20
[[Are Jared and Ivanka Expecting Again? Rumors Tell of New White House Powerbaby to Arrive!->Inept-1b]] //You log onto the [[New York Times->NYT Explainer]] homepage. The top story reads:
{(display:"Tap Sound")}
(link-reveal:"**Deputy AG Rosenstein Fired**")[
{(display:"Click Sound")}
"This morning the President fired Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in a move that has been hinted at for weeks both in public and private, despite the cautioning of his top advisors. This move, seen as paving the way for the firing of Robert Mueller, has raised concerns amongst government officials about a constitutional crisis.
This is a developing story."
[[Keep thinking.->First Choice]]
(link:"Print it and put it in the folder.")[
(set: $lastChoice to "Truth")
(goto: "Deliver First Prop Doc")
]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You put the folder in your bag and head up to the Presidential bedroom.
You knock on the bedroom door. After a couple moments, it opens a crack, and a hoarse voice whispers "...help... me..."
You recognize their face: it's former Governor [[Chris Christie->Chris Christie Explainer]]. He is wearing nothing but a shock collar and a (link-reveal:"tiny party hat.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"...please... you have no idea what he does to us in here-"
The collar buzzes, and Christie yelps in pain. He snatches the folder from your hand and retreats back inside the room. Your eyes meet for one last moment. He is crying.
The door slams, and then there's silence.
You figure it's better not to think too hard about it.
[[Head back to the lobby.->First Choice Reaction Tweet]] ]{ (display:"Tap Sound")
(display: "Choice Selected")
(if: $lastChoice is "Truth")[ (set: $nextTweetID to $lastChoice) ]
(else:)[
(set: $nextTweetID to "Tweet"+(text:$choiceNumber)+$lastChoice)
]
}
As you enter the lobby, you see the other aides glued to their phones.
Did he tweet again already? You check your phone.
(link: "1 new Tweet")[{(display:"Unlock Sound")
(display:"Send Tweet")}
(live:2s)[
{(display:"E-Mail Sound")}
You hear the sound of an e-mail arriving in your inbox.
[[ Open it.->First Choice Resolution]]
(stop:)]
]
{(display:"Tap Sound")(set: $portrait to "KellyAngry")(display:"Portrait")}
You report back to John Kelly's office. As soon as he sees you, his eyes light up with rage.
He leaps over his desk, and pounces on you, ripping your your intern badge off with his teeth. He spits it out on the ground and stomps on it.
"What the fuck did you give him?!" he screams.
[[Tell him.->Truth Ending 2]]{(display:"Tap Sound")
(set: $nextTweetID to "Crisis2Start")
(set: $foxChyron to "PROTESTS BREAK OUT IN RESPONSE TO ROSENSTEIN FIRING")
(display: "Fox News Alert")
}
You realize you don't know what to do now - you haven't heard from your boss all day. They must be pretty busy right now.
You sit down and open your laptop, trying to seem busy yourself. You open up Wikipedia and start browsing articles about serial killers.
Compared to your work, this is really relaxing.
[[Several hours pass.->Receive Phone Call]]{
<!-- Store data -->
(unless: $lastChoice is "Truth")[
(set: $scores's $lastChoice to it + 1)
(set: $choiceHistory to it + (a: $lastChoice))
(set: $choiceNumber to it + 1)
]
}{(display:"Unlock Sound")
(set: $nextTweetID to "Crisis2Start")
(display: "Send Tweet")
}
You slowly look over at Kelly. He has bitten into his lip, and blood is slowly running down his chin.
[["Sir...?"->Kelly 2b]] <html><body> <marquee behavior=scroll direction="left" scrollamount="10"><b><font color="red">FOX NEWS ALERT: $foxChyron</font></b></marquee></body></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Hi mom."
"Oh thank God you answered. Are you alright? I'm seeing all these protesters outside the White House on the news, and with what just happened in Richmond I was so worried."
You look at the TV - all you see is an propaganda piece from a group called "Committee to Defend the President."
"What are you talking about? What happened in Richmond?" you ask.
[["Oh no, you haven't heard?"->Pick Up 2]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You don't want to let your mom hear how stressed you are right now. You'll call her later. Probably.
Your phone pings - it's a New York Times push notification. (link-reveal:"You read the preview:")[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
"Violence in Richmond after white supremacists clash with protesters descending on the city in response to Rosenstein firing. At least 1 confirmed dead, 9 injured after a car..."
Your reading is interrupted by an animalistic scream coming from behind you.
[[Someone slaps your phone out of your hand.->Kelly 2]]
</h4></html>]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"We have confirmed reports of violence between protesters gathered in Richmond, with at least one dead and nine injured after a car was driven into a crowd of activists protesting the firing of Rod Rosenstein."
(link-reveal:"John Kelly's face goes white.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"Shit. No. Not again. No no no!"
He whips out his phone and dials someone listed in his contact as "Shit-licker." He yells into the phone:
"You listen to me: if you put that fat-faced sycophant on air talking to the President about this, I swear to God I will-"
[[The camera cuts to that fat-faced sycophant.->Second Crisis Begins 2]]
]{
(set:$portrait to "Kushner")
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
You enter the office with the supply closet. Standing in center of it is Jared Kushner. He is angrily tapping his keyboard with one finger. He is surrounded by assorted fun-size snack bags.
You press your back against the wall and try to shimmy past without him noticing.
You almost succeed, but he leaps from his chair and knocks it over, tripping himself, and (link-reveal:"spotting you in the process.")[
"Oh, hey buddy!" he says, regaining his balance. "I was just having some computer problems. Can you help?"
You sigh. It's becoming clear this is an occupational hazard.
[[Approach the computer.->Kushner 2b]](display:"Tap Sound")
]{(display:"Tap Sound")(set: $portrait to "Miller")}
You look at the closet and see a pair of glowing eyes. You feel a sense of overwhelming dread. You see a shape (link-reveal:"emerge from the closet.")[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-1s nb">
[[It's Stephen Miller.->Miller 2a]]</h4></html>(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You sit down by a printer and open your laptop. Out of the corner of your eye you can see Jared tapping away on his computer, wiggling happily in his chair.
OK. Time to help de-escalate the President's rhetoric //and// prevent a constitutional crisis. No pressure.
[[Read the article Miller gave you.->Extreme_2]]
[[Go to FoxNews.com->Establishment_2]]
[[Read the article Ivanka gave you.->Inept_2]]{(display:"Paper Sound")}
You unfold the document that Miller gave you. It's from [[Breitbart->Breitbart Explainer]]:
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
**Breaking News: Protest violence- was it Antifa?**
"Chaos emerged after First Amendment Activists clashed violently with Antifa and Black Lives Matter Radicals. A car has allegedly driven into a crowd of people “protesting” the firing of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, leaving one dead and nine injured. It is currently unknown whether the “protestors”, allegedly hired by George Soros, instigated the vehicular collision.
One silver lining in this tragedy is that, so far, no police officers have been harmed during the carnage.
Reports indicate that the “protesters” hate the president and that the First Amendment Activists are 100% on his side, should the president need to consider which side to support."
[[Keep thinking.->Second Choice]]
(link:"Put it in the folder.")[
(set: $lastChoice to $extremist)
(goto: "Deliver Second Prop Doc")
]
</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You navigate to the Fox News homepage. On the front page, you see a freshly-published editorial:
(link-reveal:"**The President Should Take A Stand**")[
(display:"Click Sound")
"Today, the President came under fire by the liberal media for 'failing to denounce' Nazis and white supremacists, while condemning antifa. While he may not have been explicit, any logically-minded person can see that he was implicitly condemning them while also addressing the under-recognized violence committed by the alt-left.
While surely the President will give a more explicit denunciation of the abhorrent alt-right affiliates in due time, we'd do best to remember that the politically-correct media is blowing this out of proportion."
[[Keep thinking.->Second Choice]]
(link:"Print it and put it in the folder.")[
(set: $lastChoice to $establishment)
(goto: "Deliver Second Prop Doc")
]
]You open up the article Ivanka pinned to Jared. It's from the Huffington Post:
{(display:"Paper Sound")}
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
**Kanye West Speaks Out: 'I Love The President,' Criticizes Obama**
"Rapper Kanye West this weekend professed his 'love' for the President and complained that he 'couldn’t get anything done' with former President Obama, according to a radio host who interviewed West.
West also dismissed accusations of racism against the President before continuing to making several cryptic remarks such as 'the President and I have a telepathic dragon connection' and 'seriously - this is not a metaphor - I am a dragon.'"
[[Keep thinking.->Second Choice]]
(link:"Put it in the folder.")[
(set: $lastChoice to $inept)
(goto: "Deliver Second Prop Doc")
]</h4></html>
<!--real link: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/04/24/kanye-west-professes-love-for-donald-trump-criticizes-obama-radio-host-says.html-->{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You put the folder in your bag and head towards the Presidential bedroom again. This time, you notice several staffers glancing at you - word must have gotten out about your new role.
You approach the bedroom door and knock. Silence.
You knock again. This time, the door opens. Standing there is previous Chief of Staff [[Reince Priebus->Reince Priebus Explainer]]. His clothes are tattered, and (link-reveal:"his hair unkempt.")[
"//Do you have good news for the master?//" he asks. His voice sounds raspy, like a chain-smoking baby.
You hold up the folder. (link-reveal:"Reince's eyes light up.")[
"//PRIEBUS!//" he belches excitedly. He regains his composure. "//The master will be pleased.//"
He takes the folder and skulks back inside the bedroom.
What the hell is going on in there?
[[Return to the lobby.->Second Choice Reaction Tweet]]
]]You return to the West Wing lobby.
{(set: $nextTweetID to "Tweet"+(text:$choiceNumber)+$lastChoice)
(display:"Choice Selected")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
(display: "Send Tweet")
(live:3s)[
(display: "E-Mail Sound")
Your inbox notification chimes.
(stop:)]
[[Check your e-mail.->Second Choice Resolution]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You hop on the Metro home. As the train leaves the station, you feel your phone vibrate, and check. There's a New York Times push notification:
(link-reveal:"**Dozens Suffocate in Syria as Government Is Accused of Chemical Attack**")[(display:"Click Sound")
"BEIRUT, Lebanon — Dozens of Syrians choked to death after a suspected chemical attack struck the contested city of Dara, with aid groups on Sunday blaming President Bashar al-Assad’s government and Hezbollah for the assault and Western governments expressing outrage."
(live:3s)[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
You groan, not necessarily because of the tragedy, but because of what's in store for you at work tomorrow. You feel some self-disgust when you realize that.
(live:2s)[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-2s nb">
You arrive at your stop.</h4></html> (stop:)
]
[[Walk home.->Post-Second Crisis 2]]</h4></html>(stop:)
]]
<!--SOURCE: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/08/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-attack-ghouta.html -->{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You hear birds outside your window telling you it's time to go to work. You're even more exhausted than you were last night.
(live:2s)[You get dressed and hop on the Metro. (display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]
(live:4s)[You keep an anxious eye on your phone. (display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]
(live:6s)[Close to your stop, it goes off - not with a Twitter alert, but with a New York Times push notification:
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">[["Russia Says US Strike 'Cannot Go Unanswered'"->Go In To Work 2]]</h4></html>(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]{
(set:$portrait to "Kelly")
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
"What the hell are you doing?!" John Kelly screams at you. "Are you fucking leaking on me right now? I swear I will wring you like a wet towel if I find out you just leaked."
"It was just my mother," you respond calmly, trying to de-escalate.
"I don't give a damn, you can still leak to your mother!"
He picks your phone up and (link-reveal:"throws it.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"Don't fuck around," he growls.
Suddenly, Fox News blasts back from its commercial break.
[["We have some breaking news from Richmond, Virginia..."->Second Crisis Begins]]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You head to the lobby. Compared to yesterday, that felt pretty tame.
(live:2s)[You receive another New York Times push notification on your phone.{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)
]
(live:5s)[Oh shit.{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)
]
(live:6s)[Calm down, it's probably nothing. They send tons of these.{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)
]
(live:7s)[It's going to be fine.{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live:8s)[ [[Read the notification.->Third Crisis Begins]]{(display:"Tap Sound")} (stop:) ]{(display:"Click Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
**Syrian Crisis Escalates to a New, Dangerous Phase
Moscow decries US militarism; France, UK call for emergency UN Security Council session**
"Diplomats on both sides of the Atlantic frantically scrambled to de-escalate the crisis in Syria, which has grown over the past decade from bloody civil war, to regional power struggle, and now to a potential shooting war between the world’s two largest nuclear powers. Never since the Cuban Missile Crisis has the world been so close to another global conflict.
Following a sarin gas attack in Daraa, a city near Syria’s border with Lebanon, US Navy planes bombed a nearby airfield and a suspected chemical facility. Unlike past American missile strikes, this action seems to have inflicted heavy damage on both sites and killed at least 90 Syrian soldiers, including several high-ranking officials, and at least 10 Russian military personnel and pilots.
In a statement that was incendiary even for the Syrian Civil War, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov charged that Washington was, 'jeopardizing peace not just in Syria, but around the world. This brazen murder of Russian citizens by American militarists forces Russia’s hand. Despite our quest for peace in Syria, the new actions by Washington warmongers means that all options must be on the table.'"
---
(link:"This is bad. This is so, so bad.")[This is bad. This is so, so bad.
{(display:"Tweet Sound")}
You hear another Twitter notification from the President, and wonder what kind of leadership he will offer in such a complex, scary situation.
On the other hand, there's still a lot more left in this article...
[[Keep reading.->Third Crisis Begins 2]]
[[Stop reading and check Twitter.->Third Tweet]]
]
</h4></html>{(set:$nextTweetID to "Crisis3Start")
(display: "Send Tweet")
(display:"Unlock Sound")
}(live:3s)[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">(if:$panicAttack is 0)[
Sometimes you really question the qualifications of the President to deal with (link:"situations like this.")[situations like this.
{(display:"E-Mail Sound")}
Your inbox chimes. You have a new e-mail.
[[Open it.->Third Tweet 2]]
]
](else:)[
You vomit and collapse on the ground, curling into the smallest shape that you can.
You try to think about puppies and all the other good things not yet corrupted by (link:"this terrifying world.")[this terrifying world.
{(display:"E-Mail Sound")}
Your inbox chimes. You have a new e-mail.
[[Open it.->Third Tweet 2]]
]
]
<h4></html>(stop:)]{(set: $portrait to "Kelly")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
You walk into the lobby and pause. You consider your choices.
You could just take your bag and walk out the door. You stand, motionless, thinking about going to the airport and grabbing a flight to LA. Your old college roommate "does stand-up" out there. Maybe you stay with him (link-reveal:"until this blows over.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"Intern!" an aide says, spotting to you from the end of the hallway.
"Didn't you hear me?!?" The aide shouts, not bothering to move closer to you. "Kelly needs you, now!"
The aide rushes away. You [[head to Kelly's office.->Kelly 3b]]
]You look up. A shadowy figure is clinging the corner where the wall meets the ceiling, gnawing on something. It spits out a bone from a small animal, sucked dry of flesh, which lands at your feet. It hisses at you.
"Uhh... hello, Mr. Miller," [[you say.->Miller 3a]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Dreading your meeting with Kelly and slightly shaken from your encounter with Miller, you decide to take the long route through the Rose Garden.
As you walk, you see a gangly figure hunched over amongst the roses which you immediately recognize as (link-reveal:"Jared Kushner.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
He is facing a cat wearing a tiny wizard hat and cloak, trying to wrap the cat's paw around a small stick. The cat, visibly unhappy with this situation, is not complying.
"Take. The. Wand!" he grunts, picking up the cat as it tries to escape and placing it back in the roses. "This is going to be so awesome, Oedipuss, please just believe me on this!"
You speak up.
[["Mr. Kushner?"->Kushner 3b]]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You find a nearby printer and sit down next to it - it appears empty, and hundreds of pages litter the ground and desk around it. This place is a mess.
You find more paper and refill the printer tray.
You open your laptop, and carefully remove the soggy letters from your bag, laying them out flat beside you.
[[Read Miller's article->Extreme_3]]
[[Go to FoxNews.com->Establishment_3]]
[[Read Ivanka's letter->Inept_3]]{(display:"Paper Sound")}
You open up Miller's note. Dried blood crackles off it as you unfold it. It's an article from [[InfoWars->InfoWars Explainer]]:
<html><h4 class="fade-in-3s nb">
**DEEP STATE MANIPULATES PRESIDENT INTO BREAKING PROMISES**
"Today, the Deep State made their most RADICAL move today when staged a FALSE FLAG bombing of Syria by American forces, in order to convince the public that the President has broken his promise of keeping AMERICA FIRST and to drag the USA into more endless war in the Middle East.
This moment will go down in history as the moment that the MAGA dream began to die, unless the President FIGHTS BACK and finally FIRES America-hating puppeteer Robert Mueller, crippling the Deep State's ability to manipulate him ONCE AND FOR ALL."
[[Keep thinking.->Third Choice]]
(link:"Put it in the folder.")[
(set: $lastChoice to $extremist)
(goto: "Deliver Third Prop Doc")
]
</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You log onto the Fox News homepage. The top article reads:
(link-reveal:"**Senate Majority Leader: “The President was right to act.” **")[(display:"Click Sound")
"The Senate Majority Leader praised the President’s military response to Iran's bombing of a US Destroyer earlier this morning.
The Senate Majority Leader expressed support of the President’s decision. “Personally, I found it to be a proportional and entirely appropriate response to an attack on a US military craft,” he said, “The President was right to act.”
The Majority Leader shrugged off any questions about the President’s legal authority to issue the strikes, repeating, “I found it to be a proportional and entirely appropriate response, and stand with the President against all foreign aggressors.”
He declined to answer any questions about yesterday's firing of Rod Rosenstein or the future of Robert Mueller's investigation.
The Speaker of the House agreed, releasing a statement earlier this afternoon in support of the President’s actions."
[[Keep thinking.->Third Choice]]
(link:"Print it and put it in the folder.")[
(set: $lastChoice to $establishment)
(goto: "Deliver Third Prop Doc")
]
]You open the letter. It reads:
{(display:"Paper Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-3s nb">
//Dear President Daddy,
My name is Evan, but everyone calls me Turnip. I’m 10 years old and you are my favorite president. You are the best president out of all the presidents. I like you so much I think about what it’d be like to do a photo shoot with you on a statue of a parrot sitting on top of another parrot. Don’t worry, it wouldn’t be naughty or anything. It would just be a picture of me sitting on your lap, while you’re sitting on a statue of one parrot mounting another parrot.
What’s your favorite color? Do you like air force one? Have you considered the merits of firing Robert Mueller at this time? Your daughter is very beautiful and does not want to go to jail.
Your Friend,
Evan//
[[Keep thinking.->Third Choice]]
(link:"Put it in the folder.")[
(set: $lastChoice to $inept)
(goto: "Deliver Third Prop Doc")
]</h4></html>{
(set: $nextTweetID to "Tweet"+(text:$choiceNumber)+$lastChoice)
(display:"Unlock Sound")
(display:"Send Tweet")
}
You've seen this moment coming for so long, and it feels just as apocalyptic as you imagined it would. Somehow can't muster up any strong emotions in reaction to it, though.
You feel numb.
(link: "You look out the window at the swelling crowds gathered at the White House gate.")[
{(display:"Select Ending")
(goto: $ending)}
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
**One Year Later**
---
Congress finally has enough support to begin impeachment proceedings. By year's end, the President has left the White House, and VP Mike Pence is sworn in. The Nation, badly shaken, just wants a return to normalcy.
In his inaugural speech, Pence speaks of conservative ideals, and the idea of one Nation, under God, 'coming home' to [[the true Republican party.->Establishment2]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}The crowd outside is invigorated. Chanting, yelling, bursting with indignant energy. They're here to take a stand for democracy; to let those in power know that nobody is above the law. They are principled in their non-violence, as they believe they can maintain the high ground through (link-reveal:"peaceful demonstration.")[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
They protest for hours on end. Images of massive protests from all across the country are plastered across every major news network.
The sun goes down. Prime time television news switches to regularly-scheduled punditry and entertainment broadcasts. The protesters disband for the night, sure to reconvene with the same strength [[the next day.->Extremist-Establishment2]] </h4></html>
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
The crowd pulses and roars; their indignant chants crash over you like ocean waves. During your time at the White House you've seen protests at the gate, but this feels different. You feel a sense of impending dread like nothing you've felt before.
You hear the breaking news jingle come from the TV and turn to face it:
(set: $foxChyron to "Riots break out in downtown Washington, D.C.")
(display:"Fox News Alert")
They're broadcasting images of protesters climbing the facade of the President's hotel near the White House, ripping down the giant, golden "BARRON" sign letter-by-letter. The people doing so aren't draped from head-to-toe in (link:"black")[black(open-URL:"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/black_bloc")] - they're wearing formal business attire.
That's only a few blocks away from here.
[[You look outside the window again.->Extremist2]]{(display:"Tweet Sound")}
You haven't even put your phone away before you receive another Twitter notification.
(link:"See 1 new Tweet")[(set:$nextTweetID to "Extreme-Inept")
(display: "Send Tweet") (display:"Tweet Sound")<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
Oh God. Why the hell would he tweet something like that right after starting a constitutional crisis?
You only have to think for a moment before the answer (link-reveal:"pops into your head:")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
[[Miller.->Extremist-Inept2]]
] </h4></html>]
<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">{(display:"Tap Sound")}
One of the doors behind you slams open. It's John Kelly, now missing much more of his hair.
"Alright assholes, anyone in here ever deliver a baby?" he yells, gesticulating wildly. After a couple seconds of stunned silence he continues: "Fuck all of you!" He looks at you. "Intern, come here. Now! RUN!"
You break into a run to meet him.
"Grab some towels and get to Ivanka's room. GO!" He grabs you by the shoulders and shoves you in the direction of the linen closet.
[[Grab the towels and rush to Ivanka's room.->Inept2]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
**A Few Weeks Later**
---
<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">You’re cracking open a beer in your Arlington apartment. Your roomates have warmed up to you a bit since you quit your internship at the White House.
Your phone vibrates and you panic. You still get sick with fear everytime the phone vibrates. It’s a (link-reveal:"New York Times push notification.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"In a surprising turn of events, the White House data breach has been tied to Jared Kushner." You hear a squeal from the deck outside. Your roommates have seen the notification as well.
You unlock your phone and [[go to the full article.->Inept-Establishment2]]
]</h4></html>(css: "font-size: 100%; font-weight:bold;")[|loading>[Loading]]
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">This story is best experienced with sound.</h4></html>(live:2s)[
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">It will sometimes open new browser tabs, so playing in a new window is recommended.</h4></html>(stop:)]
<div id="beginning" class ="hidden">\
(live: 5s)[
(goto:"Initialize Game")
]
</div>
(live: 500ms)[
<!-- Add the next character to the hook -->
(append: ?loading)[(print: ".")]
]{
(if: $portraitURL is 0)[
<!--DEBUG-->
(set: $pp to "http://placehold.it/500x500.png")
(set: $portraitURL to (dm:
"Kushner", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/om7dmy18oqcl907/jaredkushner.v3.png?dl=1",
"Kelly","https://www.dropbox.com/s/4a3luqt2yr5epco/johnkelly.v2.png?dl=1",
"Miller", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/2aiz3rdvzs3581b/stephenmiller_v5500x500.png?dl=1",
"DoofKush", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/13y9604aqqlrx6n/jaredkushner.v2.png?dl=1",
"MillerArmband","https://www.dropbox.com/s/cphuvdbjp8yqujc/stephenmiller_armband.v2500x500.png?dl=1",
"MillerAngry", "https://www.dropbox.com/s/v8bynsxnmol57et/stephenmiller_angry.v2500x500.png?dl=1",
"KellyAngry","https://www.dropbox.com/s/2y8qm5sek2w9iig/johnkelly_angry.v2.png?dl=1"
)
)
]
(unless: $portrait is 0)[
(set: $portraitID to $portraitURL's $portrait)
]
<!--Debug failsafe-->
(if: $portraitID is 0)[
(set: $portraitID to "http://placehold.it/500x500.png")
]
<!--END DEBUG-->
(print:"<img class='right-side large' src=" + $portraitID + " align='right'>")
}
{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Your phone rings. You take it out and (link-reveal:"look at it.")[(display:"Unlock Sound")
"Incoming call from Mom."
She doesn't usually call you during works hours. You wonder if it's important.
[[Pick Up]]
[[Ignore Call]] ]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Something horrible. There were some white supremacists already out rallying over a confederate statue when the anti-Barron protesters showed up.
Fights started breaking out, and the news is saying one of the anti-Barron protesters was killed, and many were injured. It's terrible. Please honey, stay inside, and stay sa-"
Your mother's plea is interrupted by a primal scream coming from behind you.
[[Someone slaps your phone out of your hand.->Kelly 2]]{
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
He snaps out of his daze, and turns to you.
"OK, listen," he barks, spewing specks of blood onto your shirt. "Today is another one of //those// days. Listen carefully: go put together another prop doc.
Put something in there that says the violence is bad and that he should denounce it, but that isn't too critical of him for what he just tweeted. //Do not remind him about the investigation//. Got it?"
(link-reveal:"You nod.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"Good." He walks away muttering profanities under his breath.
[[Go get the folder.->Kushner 2]]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Already, we see the left trying to politicize something that goes both ways. We have heard clear reports that antifa and the alt-left were the real instigators here against protesters who had a permit and were legally exercising their right to free speech.
The President should not be intimidated by those who try to distort the facts with partisan hysteria. What happened is a tragedy, but we cannot let them use this to advance their fascist agenda against free speech."
Kelly is standing silently, staring dumbfounded at the (link:"television.")[television. (display:"Multi-Tweet Sound")
Then the sound of every phone getting a Tweet alert.
You walk over where John Kelly threw your phone and pick it up:
[[See 1 new Tweet->Second Tweet]]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")(display:"Portrait")}
"So I'm trying to get on this site, but I can't figure out how to make it work."
You look at his browser bar - it reads "nopts.com".
You look at the keyboard. It is missing the 'E' key.
You lean over and bring up the on-screen keyboard for him, and explain to him how it works. Slowly, but surely, he manages to type in the address.
As he's typing, you notice an envelope pinned to his back with the words "TO: PROP DOC INTERN. JARED, DO NOT REMOVE" written across it in gold cursive.
"Wow, thanks! You're the best! Want to see what I'm up to on this site?"
[[Ask about the envelope.->Kushner 2b1]]{
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
"What's that-" you begin, but are interrupted.
“Do you have a Neopet?”
(link-reveal:"-“What?”")[
“Neopets. It’s this really cool social networking site, that has like games and stuff.”
You’re not sure what to say. You didn’t even realize [[Neopets->Neopets Explainer]] was still a functioning website. Jared would have been in his twenties when this website was popular. Does he think this is a new thing?
He pulls his monitor closer to you. “See, here’s my Neopet.” You take a look. You see a drawing of a bunny with a tail. You can see that Jared named it John F. Kelly.
<html>
<img class = "center" src = "https://www.dropbox.com/s/f5gcqo7f51qljwb/John_F_Kelly_Neopet.PNG?dl=1">
</html>
[[Compliment his Neopet’s lush coat and piercing blue eyes.->Kushner 2b2]]
[[Ask why he named it John Kelly.->Kushner 2b1a]]
[[Ask about the envelope.->Kushner 2c]]
]{(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
You ask him about the envelope attached to him. “Oh, this thing?” He asks, taking off his blazer to take a better look.
“It says I can’t remove it,” he explains.
“I think it’s for me?” you ask.
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” he responds, handing you the blazer. “You need to remove it, though. She'll get mad at me if I touch it.”
[[Ask who will get mad at him.->Kushner 2c2]]
[[Take the envelope.->Kushner 2c3]]{(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Thanks," he says. He reaches for the mouse, and your heart sinks. (link-reveal:"Is there more for him to show you on Neopets? ")[(display:"Tap Sound")
Yes.
(live:1.5s)[
He goes to a page titled Neohome Central. You see an image of a cottage.
(link-reveal:"You hope he will not explain any further.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"This is my Neohome," he explains further. "It’s in Neopia Central. I like having a home here, because it feels a little more classic than having a place on Roo Island or the Virtupets Space Station."
You stare at the screen, unsure of how to respond. He takes your undivided attention as an invitation to continue.
“This is the interior,” he says, clicking on the house. A bird’s eye image of his living room appears. “I wonder if it’s gone up in value since I bought it.” He laughs abrasively.
[[Continue to listen to Jared Kushner talk about Neopets.->Kushner 2b3]]
[[This has been really weird. You should probably ask about the letter now.->Kushner 2c]]
](stop:)]]{(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
He stands up straight, predatory expression falling from his face.
(live:2s)[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
“Intern,” he says. You lower your arms, and put your intern badge back around your neck. Approaching you, he reaches into his bag. It is full of crumpled pieces of paper.
One falls out of his bag and you sneak a glance. It says [[Enemies->Stephen Miller Enemies]] at the top, and is filled with names.
Finally, he pulls out a picture frame. Small eagles, each (link:"carrying a bundle of sticks")[carrying a bundle of sticks(open-URL:"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascist_symbolism#Italy")], adorn the border of the frame. Inside the frame is an article.
He hands it to you. “This is a gift for him,” he says, and walks away.
This must be for the prop doc. Why is he always so creepy about this?
[[Time to make a choice.->Second Choice]] </h4></html>(stop:)]{(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
Jared Kushner navigates to a new page.
“The economy is structured around Neopoints. So, you can earn Neopoints by playing games and selling stuff. Or you can just buy them with people money. I usually do that, ‘cuz I’m still working on getting good at games, but I've used all my allowance money from Ivanka this month.”
“They also have a stock market. It’s called the NEODAQ.”
He laughs again. You wince a little at the sound. He keeps laughing for a while. You wait for him to finish.
He probably has more to say about this.
[[Continue to listen to Jared Kushner talk about Neopets.->Kushner 2b4]]
[[Just stop. Ask for the letter and get out of here.->Kushner 2c]]{(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
Jared Kushner absolutely has more to say about this.
He takes you to a page titled, “The Neopian Times.”
“I post a lot of stuff here,” He said, “I’m actually a pretty popular writer.”
He shows you the front page, pointing out articles he has written about the marketplace, a welcome letter to new residents of Neopia Central and how to care for your Neopet in the post-9/11 world.
He begins to move his cursor to a link titled, “Short Stories.”
[[Wait, has he been writing Neopets fan-fiction?->Kushner 2b5]]
[[You’re better than this.->Kushner 2c]]{(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
“He was a tough Gnorbu just trying to do the right thing by working for the government. He lived in a really nice new house in Neopia Central, the Capital of this beautiful land. He had really great ideas, but no one listened to him, especially not his Gnorbu-in-law, the President of Neopia.”
“One day his Neopets security clearance got revoked, so all he could do all day was-”
[[You’ve gone too far. Ask him about the fucking envelope.->Kushner 2c]]<!--Redirect-->
(goto: "Inept-Establishment")<!--Redirect-->
(goto: "Extremist-Inept")<!--Redirect-->
(goto: "Extremist-Establishment"){(display:"Tap Sound")}
As you walk in the door, your housemates, gathered around the TV watching CNN's live coverage of the Syria chemical weapons crisis.
{
(set: $cnnChyron to "US Carries Out Retaliatory Strike On Syrian Airbase")
(display:"CNN Breaking News")
}
(live:2s)[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
"The US military carried out retaliatory strikes against the Syrian government for their chemical attack earlier this evening. The attacks were carried out through Destroyer missiles and Bahrain-based airforce units.
Reported casualties include over a dozen members of the Russian Air Force..."
Your housemates spot you watching. They fall silent and [[mute the TV->Post-Second Crisis 3]].</h4></html>(stop:)]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
The lobby doesn't seem to have been cleaned since yesterday. Papers still litter the floor, and furniture is moved around to bizarre places.
(live:2s)[(display:"Tap Sound")
A gaggle of aides are gathered around the television. Somebody has changed the channel to CNN. Normally this would be a punishable offence, but it seems like the higher-ups are too busy to care today. </h4></html>(stop:)]
(live:4s)[(display:"Tap Sound")
Several of them are on their phones, slowly shaking their heads. Others simply look numb.(stop:)]
(live:5s)[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-2s nb">
You walk around to the back of the group to get a view of the TV.
(display:"Choose Random Scandal")
(set: $cnnChyron to $scandalChyrons's $randScandal)
(display: "CNN Breaking News")
Oh no.
(link: "Listen to the report.")[
(goto: "Random Scandal " + $randScandal)
]</h4></html>(stop:)]{
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
“Why did you pick the name John F. Kelly?” You ask.
He looks at you for a moment, eyes narrowed.
“It’s my... brother’s name,” he answers.
[[Quickly tell him that makes sense. You kind of want to see where this is going.->Kushner 2b2]]
[[Change the subject. Ask him about the envelope on his blazer.->Kushner 2c]]{(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Nevermind," he answers. "She just gets really mad at me when I don't follow the rules.
She said she'd check my blazer for my fingerprints when she gets back from Aspen, and if she finds any I won't get my allowance.
I really need my allowance. My Neopet is starving."
[[OK, whatever. Take the envelope.->Kushner 2c3]]{(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Paper Sound")}
You unpin the envelope from his jacket and find a letter inside. You unfold the letter and read it:
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
//"Hello Intern,
In the event that you find yourself assembling another 'care package' for my father, could you please include this article? He doesn't spend much time around people of color, and I think he could really use a more 'cultured' friend.
Thank you,
Ivanka"//
You return the letter to the envelope, noticing the attached article.
"Hey, want to see my Neopet's-"
"No, that's OK, thanks Jared," you interrupt. Something has caught your attention: behind Jared, the door to the supply closet has creaked open.
[[You think you see movement in it.->Miller 2]]
</h4></html>{
(set: $scandalID to (a: "A", "B", "C"))
(set: $randScandal to $scandalID's ((random:1, $scandalID's length)))
(set: $scandalChyrons to (dm: "A", "Stormy Daniels saves schoolbus full of children, sues President for defamation", "B", "Devin Nunes caught on tape scaling White House fence after secret meeting ", "C", "Melania has abandoned husband and child, returned to Slovenia"))
}{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Onscreen is [[Stormy Daniels->Stormy Daniels Bio]], one of the President's unshakable scandals from the past few months.
//"So, I was with my best friend, driving to my normal volunteer job as a horse psychiatrist,"// she begins, smiling, //"when this adorable family of beavers ran out in front of my car.
Naturally, I stopped to help them across. One of them was wounded so I ripped my shirt into bandages and made a splint for it."//
Oh, come on. She must be making this crap up. Maybe the President's right, and she really just is a liar.
[[The camera cuts to some phone-camera footage->Random Scandal A2]].{(display:"Tap Sound")}
//"We have obtained exclusive footage of the Head of the House Intelligence Committee, Devin Nunes, attempting to escape the White House grounds by climbing over the fence. This misadventure was allegedly preceded by a secret meeting between Nunes and a representative of the President,"// a talking head narrates over the footage.
The footage shows Devin Nunes attempting to climb up the fence. Several journalists begin snapping photos, and the flash from their cameras reveal Nunes' face.
He stops and stares at the cameras for a moment with an expression of pure, dumb panic.
Then, rather than addressing the journalists, he begins frantically trying to scale one of the fence poles (link:"Mulan-style")[Mulan-style(open-URL:"https://youtu.be/DXOM-A7abFk?t=210")] with his tie.
Unlike Mulan, he is not very graceful, and is having a hard time.
[[Keep watching.->Random Scandal B2]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
An iPhone video plays on the screen. It shows a woman sitting in a cafe, looking out into the crowded square around her.
The woman is wearing a stylish red hat. Her sunglasses sit on the cafe table. She is sipping a cappuccino, face tilted upwards toward the sky. She looks serene, like she has stepped into the sun after a long stretch in the dark.
It’s Melania, the President's wife.
[[Keep watching.->Random Scandal C2]]{(display: "Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
"An absolute disaster," he yells, "and after I've worked so hard to keep immigrants from polluting our delicious--I mean, er, pure--Anglo-Saxon bloodlines...
There will be new calls for us to take in refugees, when we've been so successful in keeping them out this year. Did you know we've only let 11 in this year? 11! Now they'll try and make us let more and more of them in. //Unacceptable!//"
He takes a half-eaten corpse of some species of rodent (too mangled to identify) from his pocket, and starts digging into it. He plucks out several of the ribs and angrily flicks them at your feet, and then removes a small, folded piece of paper from behind the (link-reveal:"lungs.")[
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-2s nb">
He unfolds it, shaking off some blood, and hands it to you.
"Sometimes the President needs some tough love," he says. "Give this to him."
You take it and carefully place it into a compartment in your bag you feel is least likely to get blood on your belongings. When you look up, Miller is gone again. How does he do that?
[[Continue to Kelly's office.->Kushner 3]] </h4></html>
](display:"Portrait")
{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Intern!!!" He bellows, throwing a pile of papers at you. You duck and they hit the wall behind you, in a flurry.
"Sir?"
"Where they fuck have you been?" His face and neck are turning red in splotches. "Well?"
You don't really want to tell him the answer. (link-reveal:"You try to think of an excuse.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"TOO LATE," he shouts, knocking over his office chair. "This country's on the brink of a constitutional crisis //and// World War III, get your shit together and assemble a prop doc! RIGHT NOW!" He barks.
"Yes sir," you respond. You turn to leave, but someone begins to knock on the door.
"WHAT?!" Kelly screams, pulling out tufts of gray hair.
[[A staffer enters the room solemnly.->Kelly 3c]] ]{(set: $portrait to "KellyAngry")
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Sir," an aide walks in. You recognize them as an IT person in the building. They look like they’ve been crying. Their hands and voice are shaking. "We have a problem."
Kelly's eyes bulge but he says nothing. The aide continues, "There's been a network security breach."
(link-reveal:"You can see veins popping out of Kelly's neck.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"It appears as if a Russian hacker group has been able to breach our servers through..." The aide looks through their folder, "...a Neopets account?"
"KUSHNER!!!!!!!" Kelly bellows, punching his computer monitor.
This is a lot to handle.
You should [[get out of this office before you get hurt.->Third Choice]]
]{(set:$portrait to "DoofKush")(display:"Portrait")(display:"Tap Sound")}
He shrieks and leaps to his feet, tripping over his spaghetti legs and landing on top of the cat. The cat hisses and attacks him, shaking off its wizard apparel and darting away while Jared yelps in pain.
You run over and help him off the ground. He brushes the dirt off himself and avoids (link-reveal:"eye contact.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"Oh hey buddy, thanks," he says, blushing slightly. You decide not to discuss what you just saw, as you don't want to prolong this interaction.
"I was just, uh, uh, uhhhhhhhh," he starts.
"I'm sure it's top-secret stuff, you probably shouldn't be talking to low-clearance interns about it," you interrupt.
"Yeah. Yeah!" he says, "Good point."
You turn to walk away, but [[Kushner yells "wait!"->Kushner 3c]]
]{(set: $portrait to "Kushner")
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")}
"I'm so glad I ran into you," he says, "I was just looking for you--uh, I mean before I had to do my top-secret thing. Ivanka gave me another letter for you, and this time she trusted me to give it to you myself! At this rate she'll let me sleep in the bed with her soon!"
He retrieves a small envelope from his pocket and hands it to you. (link-reveal:"It's wet.")[
"Aw crud, I got apple juice on it. It's okay though, you can still read it."
You thank him and place it next to Miller's letter, in what has officially become the 'wet' part of your bag.
"Uh, hey, wanna play Marco Polo with me?"
"No thank you!" you yell over your shoulder as you speed-walk away.
[[You're almost to Kelly's office.->Kelly 3]](display:"Tap Sound")
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You return to the President's bedroom once again. You knock once more, and the door is promptly opened by none other than Senator [[Ted Cruz->Ted Cruz Explainer]]. He is wearing what appears to be a Halloween costume based on a (link:"popular cartoon character")[popular cartoon character (open-URL:"http://s7.orientaltrading.com/is/image/OrientalTrading/PDP_VIEWER_IMAGE/mens-minion-dave-costume~13792130")].
"Hello, fellow American!" he chimes, "How can I help you in this trying time for our country?" His skin is glistening with some sort of mucous membrane. He has a fixed smile and dead eyes.
(link-reveal:"He notices the prop doc.")[(display:"Tap Sound")<html>
<h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
"Ah, this must be the President's intelligence briefing! He has many things on his plate right now, especially with this partisan Democrat investigation obstructing him."
He takes the folder, leaving a slimy trail on your hand where they touched.
"Thank you for your service!" He shuts the door.
Fuck this job.
[[Return to the lobby.->Post-Third Crisis]] </h4></html>]{
(display:"Choice Selected")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}<html><h4 class="fade-in-3s nb">
You return to the lobby and plop down on a chair. Sleep-deprived and exhausted from a long day, you can barely keep your eyes open. Many of the aides around you look like they're in the same boat.
You close your eyes and begin to drift off, finding only a brief moment of peace before your phone makes that dreaded, (link-reveal:"familiar sound.")[(display:"Tweet Sound")
[[See 1 new Tweet->Mueller Fired]] ] </h4></html>{
<!--DEBUG-->
(if: $factionNames is 0)[
(set: $establishment to "Establishment")
(set: $extremist to "Extremist")
(set: $inept to "Inept")
(set: $factionNames to (a: $establishment, $extremist, $inept))
<!-- Init scores lookup -->
(set: $scores to (dm:))
(for: each _faction, ...$factionNames)[
(set: $scores to it + (dm: _faction, (random:1,5)))
]
]
<!-- END DEBUG-->
<!-- Init ending-related variables-->
(set: $ending to $establishment)
(set: $bestScore to -1)
(set: $bestFaction to "None")
(set: $secondBestScore to -1)
(set: $secondBestFaction to "None2")
<!-- Calculate best score -->
(for: each _faction,... $factionNames)[
(set: $f to _faction)<!--Permatemp variable b/c Harlowe's dumb-->
<!--(print:$f + " " + (text: $scores's $f))-->
(if: $scores's $f > $bestScore)[
<!-- If needing to swap best for second best -->
(if: $bestScore > -1)[
(set: $secondBestScore to $bestScore)
(set: $secondBestFaction to $bestFaction)
]
(set: $bestScore to $scores's $f)
(set: $bestFaction to $f)
](else-if: $scores's $f > $secondBestScore)[
(set: $secondBestScore to $scores's $f)
(set: $secondBestFaction to $f)
]
]
}
{
<!--Choose Ending-->
(set: $diffThresh to 2)
(if: $bestScore - $secondBestScore > $diffThresh)[
(set: $ending to $bestFaction)
](else:)[
(set: $ending to $bestFaction + "-" + $secondBestFaction)
]
}{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You arrive at the room. The door is open, so you run inside, where you find many staffers huddled around the bed. John Kelly sees you and calls out.
"Forget about the towels, intern!"
You approach the bed. In it lies Ivanka, cradling a newborn child - safe and healthy looking as any you've ever seen. You swear it looks like its skin is glowing with a calming, light-blue hue.
Jared, spotting you, rushes over to hug you. "We just had a new kid!" he squeals, "almost 7 months ahead of schedule!"
7 months? That can't be what he meant to say. (link-reveal:"Right?")[(display:"Tap Sound")
Suddenly, the baby's eyes fly open.
"Enough!" yells the baby, in a booming voice. Everybody around the bed jumps back in surprise. The baby confidently nudges Ivanka's hands to the side and stands up. It begins walking towards the foot of the bed.
[[You do a double-take.->Inept3]]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
The baby begins to speak. "During my short time in the womb, I have heard so much bullying, and so much lying. This isn't what government should be!"
You can swear the baby has gotten bigger since you first saw it.
"Why do you all shamelessly take turns manipulating a man whose ego and lust for power have gotten the best of him instead of helping him realize what's truly important as a leader? Are you all really so cynical? What do any of you believe in? What do you think we even have a government for?"
The baby is definitely growing - it is now 3 feet. tall and has hair down to its ears. Its eyes are not colored, but rather reflective, like a brilliant mirror.
It steps off the bed onto the ground. Jared pulls up Instagram on his phone and start streaming video. John Kelly doesn't say anything to him. He seems too surprised to be angry about the possibility of leaks.
[[You are too stunned to react at all. Keep listening.->Inept4]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"I believe that government should be about helping the people who need it most, and creating a just, stable society. Not about petty partisan turf wars or consolidating more power, and especially not cruelty towards those weaker than you.
I believe that nobody is above the law, and your complicitness in the President's behavior should make you all ashamed. You are better than this."
The baby has hit puberty. (link-reveal:"Their voice grows deeper as they continue.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
"I am not so naive as to think that we can agree on everything, but there are so many issues that most Americans agree on which you refuse to touch due to your sheer avarice!"
The baby-creature looks you dead in the eyes. You can see your soul reflected in their pupils.
"Must I list some to jog your memory?" it asks you.
[[Nod your head.->Inept4b]]
[[Shake your head.->Inept5]]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-3s nb">
"As you wish, child.
(set: $a to "Making our politics less money-driven by reversing Citizens United.")
(link:$a)[(print:$a)(open-URL: "https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/03/us/politics/poll-shows-americans-favor-overhaul-of-campaign-financing.html")]
(set: $b to "Defying the tax-complexity lobby by simplifying taxes.")
(link:$b)[(print:$b)(open-URL: "https://www.propublica.org/article/filing-taxes-could-be-free-simple-hr-block-intuit-lobbying-against-it ")]
(set: $c to "More taxes on the rich, fewer on the poor and middle-class.")
(link:$c)[(print:$c)(open-URL:"http://news.gallup.com/poll/208685/majority-say-wealthy-americans-corporations-taxed-little.aspx")]
(set: $d to "Protecting net neutrality.")
(link:$d)[(print:$d)(open-URL:"http://thehill.com/policy/technology/364528-poll-83-percent-of-voters-support-keeping-fccs-net-neutrality-rules")]
(set: $e to "Universal background checks and mandatory waiting periods for gun purchases.")
(link:$e)[(print:$e)(open-URL:"https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2521")]
(set: $f to "Real funding to America's rotting infrastructure.")
(link:$f)[(print:$f)(open-URL:"http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/351984-poll-finds-overwhelming-support-for-tax-reform-and-infrastructure")]
(set: $g to "Giving the Dreamers a path to citizenship.")
(link:$g)[(print:$g)(open-URL:"https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2512")]
(set: $h to "Criminal justice reform.")
(link:$h)[(print:$h)(open-URL:"http://thehill.com/regulation/370692-poll-3-4-of-americans-support-criminal-justice-reform")]
(set: $i to "Preventing partisan gerrymandering.")
(link:$i)[(print:$i)(open-URL:"http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/news/press-releases/supermajority-americans-want-supreme-court-limit-partisan-gerrymandering")]
These are but a few of the many that should be easy to fix in a properly-functioning democracy, but something has gone horribly wrong."
[[Bask in the brilliant blue shine emanating from the baby-creature.->Inept5]]</h4></html>
<!-- Links:
1. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/03/us/politics/poll-shows-americans-favor-overhaul-of-campaign-financing.html
2. https://www.propublica.org/article/filing-taxes-could-be-free-simple-hr-block-intuit-lobbying-against-it
3. http://news.gallup.com/poll/208685/majority-say-wealthy-americans-corporations-taxed-little.aspx
4. http://thehill.com/policy/technology/364528-poll-83-percent-of-voters-support-keeping-fccs-net-neutrality-rules
5. https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2521
6. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/351984-poll-finds-overwhelming-support-for-tax-reform-and-infrastructure
7. https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2512
8. http://thehill.com/regulation/370692-poll-3-4-of-americans-support-criminal-justice-reform
9. http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/news/press-releases/supermajority-americans-want-supreme-court-limit-partisan-gerrymandering
10. ???
-->{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"You know this!" the baby-creature pronounces, slipping into young-adulthood. "Yet you only perpetuate the cycle of greed and exploitation. Shame on you."
The androgynous baby-creature is now an adult, and shines so brightly you have to shield your eyes. It fills you with awe, as if looking upon a deity or (link-reveal:"angel.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-3s nb">
"However, I retain hope. I have hope that each one of you can find it in yourselves to right the wrongs you have inflicted on this world. To re-adjust your broken ethical codes and work for the good of your fellow inhabitants in this country and on this planet. To try to save this dying planet before its blood is irrevocably stained on your hands."
The adult-god-baby sheds a single tear, and scans the room, briefly locking eyes with everyone present.
[["I believe in you," it says.->Inept6]]</h4></html>
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
With that, the angelic being looks up at the sky, raises its arms, and shoots directly through the ceiling, disappearing into the stratosphere and leaving the room in awed silence.
John Kelly is the first to speak.
"I... I think I need to go outside," he says quietly, walking away. You and the other staffers follow him. As you walk, you hear a Twitter notification, and (link-reveal:"check your phone:")[(display:"Tap Sound")
(display:"Send Tweet")
(Tweet text: "After hearing the words of my celestial grandchild, I have decided to rescind my order to fire Robert Mueller and will be resigning from the Presidency. I hope that once I am gone, we can begin to heal.)
You smile weakly and emerge into the sunlight, looking up towards the spot where Javanka's baby disappeared. You notice that you smell the Cherry Blossoms, newly blooming.
Spring is here.
(link: "The End.")[(goto:"Initialize Game")]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
=><=
**<u>Written by</u>**
(link:"Henry Meyers")[Henry Meyers(open-URL:"https://twitter.com/Mandoceratops")]
Marguerite Sanchez
John Barron
**<u>Art by</u>**
(link:"Vincent BeBeau")[Vincent BeBeau(open-URL:"https://t-domesticus.deviantart.com/")]
**<u>Programmed by</u>**
Henry Meyers
**<u>With additional help from</u>**
Adam Scholl
RJ Palmer
Garth Ginsberg
John Angarola
Tom Parker
[[Back->Initialize Game]] {(display:"Tap Sound")}
Nothing has changed outside the window. No violence, no destruction. It must be concentrated around the Barron Hotel. You hear sirens.
A pundit on the TV behind you starts yelling:
"Look: these leftist thugs have no respect for rule of law. You can see it here, when they don't get what they want, they become violent. They just want to destroy what their elders have (link-reveal:"worked so hard to build.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
The President talks so much about 'law and order,' yet he rarely uses his //legal right// to fight back against these people whenever they behave like this. I'm sick of it. I want to see consequences for this illegal, dare I say, //terrorist// behavior."
You hear helicopters. (link-reveal:"Your phone chirps.")[
(display:"Tweet Sound")
[[See 1 new Tweet->Extremist3]] ]</h4></html>
]{(display:"Unlock Sound")}
(set: $nextTweetID to "Extremist")
(display: "Send Tweet")
Several of the helicopters land on the front lawn of the White House, with armor-clad guards jumping out and assuming defensive formations. In the distance you can see tear gas rising over the crowd. The sounds of angry yelling are being replaced by (link-reveal:"frightened screams.")[
<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
One of John Kelly's assistants runs into the room and announces:
"The White House is on lockdown, everyone. Nobody in or out until the situation is contained. Get cozy."
Outside, you see a phalanx of riot police closing in on the protesters at the gate. Pushing, shoving, screaming, yelling. Bodies hitting the ground, (link-reveal:"blood streaming from their heads.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
"This just in," the Fox News pundit says, "the President has called in the National Guard to contain the violence in Washington, and the rioters are being dispersed. I say it's about time. We're getting reports of violence in other cities, which we can only hope will follow the example set by D.C. police and the National Guard.
You start to feel dizzy.
[[Sit down.->Extremist4]]</h4></html>
]]</h4></html>
{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
With your back against the wall, you close your eyes and try to ignore the sounds of the chaos outside, and the droning anger from the TV pundits. Outside, you hear the horrible sound of an (link:"LRAD")[LRAD(open-URL:"http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/08/14/lrad_long_range_acoustic_device_sound_cannons_were_used_for_crowd_control.html")], a sound weapon, going off in the distance.
You hope that you won't be hearing any gunshots.
You're so, so tired.
[[Doze off.->Extremist5]] </h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
(link-reveal:"'Hey, wake up.'")[
<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
You open your eyes. John Kelly is standing beside you, looking out the window. You stand up silently and look outside. A large police cordon has been set up around the White House gates. You can't see any protesters remaining - only their trampled signs and the dry-red streaks of pepper spray littering the ground.
"You know, when I signed up for this job," Kelly says without looking at you, "I... I didn't want this. I thought I could stop it."
He sighs. "Go home, kid," he says, turning away and (link-reveal:"leaving you alone.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
You look at your phone to check the time. You have what seems like dozens of unread New York Times push notifications.
[[Skim the notifications.->Extremist5b]]
[[Put the phone back in your pocket.->Extremist6]]
</h4></html>
]
</h4></html>
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
'Protesters across country denied permits after Mueller firing...'
(link: "Swipe it away.")[(replace:"'Protesters across country denied permits after Mueller firing...'")[]]
'Journalists arrested outside White House, ACLU filing suit...'
(link: "Swipe it away.")[(replace:"'Journalists arrested outside White House, ACLU filing suit...'")[]]
'House votes to open investigation into Mueller, Rosenstein, Comey...'
(link: "Swipe it away.")[(replace:"'House votes to open investigation into Mueller, Rosenstein, Comey...'")[]]
'President calls for jailing of journalists from New York Times, Washington Post...'
(link: "Swipe it away.")[(replace:"'President calls for jailing of journalists from New York Times, Washington Post...'")[]]
[[Put away your phone.->Extremist6]] </h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
Behind you, the talking heads on Fox are still going at it.
"Law and order is the real winner of the day. Those who oppose the President have learned, and will continue to learn, what happens when you try and stomp on our rights. I'm not just referring to those on the streets, but those in the papers, the liberal media and the activist judges.
Today was a true victory for freedom and democracy."
(link-reveal:"That's enough of that.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
You leave the White House through the nearest exit.
You step outside, and breath in. It's the first time you've smelled tear gas.
It probably won't be the last.
(link:"The End.")[
(goto: "Initialize Game")
] </h4></html>]
</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
**Two Years Later**
---
President Pence has been re-elected for a second term.
Two men and a woman are on a panel, discussing the administration. The chaos surrounding the former administration has disappeared, but Washington is still dealing with the fallout from a culture permissive of corruption and norm breaking.
The GOP’s policy agenda has solidified, focusing on the classics: entitlement reform, school choice, repealing the Affordable Care Act, and weakening protections safeguarded by (link-reveal:"Roe v. Wade.")[
<html>
<h4 class="fade-in-3s nb">The conversation turns to Congress’ push to enact entitlement reform. A Representative has added an amendment to [[exclude individuals who have never been formally employed from public housing.</h4></html>->Establishment3]] (stop:)]{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
"Well, I for one think that this is a disgrace," the woman says. She opens her mouth to continue, but the bespectacled man on her right finishes her thought.
"This policy is going to devastate the trans community, particularly trans men and women of color. How a so-called Christian could support such un-Christian values baffles me."
The woman nods. The moderator bounces this opinion to the man on the woman's left, who is wearing a bow tie. The moderator gestures to him. "Do you have any thoughts on what these two are saying?"
The man in the bow tie leans over, hands on the desk in front of him. "I think they are the disgraces," [[he says, eyes lighting up.->Establishment4]]
</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
"Come on, they're just expressing their opinion," the moderator says, slightly rebuking him. He lets the man in the bow tie continue anyway.
"These two are members of the media, and yet they're spinning the administration's noble attempt to solve the budget crisis with their liberal agenda." The man in the bow tie has calibrated his outrage well.
"I don't think that's what they’re doing," the moderator says, chuckling. He gestures back to the woman. [["Thoughts?"->Establishment5]]</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
"Well, I think we should get back to the subject at hand. This bill will only escalate the economic insecurity that many individuals must endure in this Nation. Not only that, but this kind of blatant discrimination should never be tolerated in this day and age."
"Agreed," says the man in the glasses. "We should //also// remember that this kind of rampant discrimination should not be condoned in the 21st century."
"Oh yes," the man in the bow tie groans, "let's just focus on Democrat talking points. Let’s ignore the men and women in Congress working tirelessly to reform the welfare state that's paralyzing the inner city. Let's help these welfare queens get their champagne and t-bone steaks with the American taxpayer's hard earned cash."
He smirks, [["It's black privilege."->Establishment6]]
</h4></html> {(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
"Wow," the woman says, voice rising. She seems genuinely taken aback. "That was extremely inappropriate."
The man in glasses jumps in, "how could you believe something like that?"
The man in the bow tie raises his voice to rise above his colleagues. "Oh, stop being so [[politically correct->Establishment7]], you two."</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Let’s move on," the moderator says. "We have some breaking news here. It has just come to my attention that the US court of appeals will take on a new case involving maternity leave."
The panel discusses the pros and cons of maternity leave until (link-reveal:"the show ends.")[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
No one follows up with the man in the bow tie about his veiled white-supremacist talking point.
(live:3s)[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
He will be back on the show in a few weeks.
</h4></html> (live:3s)[
(link:"The End")[
(goto: "Initialize Game") (stop:)]
] </h4></html> (stop:)
]
</h4></html>
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
**The Next Day**
---
They're out in numbers just as strong as the first day. Their movement is holding strong, and news outlets are staying focused on the protestors' cause.
The White House, meanwhile, has been trotting out their predictable talking points about the "illegitimacy" of Mueller's investigation. Attempts to get Republican House and Senate members to speak on record about the crisis are meat with (link-reveal:"deafening silence.")[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
A celebrity musician tweets their support of the President, saying they believe him and his assertions of there being a "witch hunt." A wave of social media backlash drives the media to pivot away from to protests to focus on the more lucrative story.
As the sun goes down, [[the protesters disband once again.->Extremist-Establishment3]] </h4></html>]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
**A Few Days Later**
---
The protests continue, but turnout and energy has noticeably decreased. People can't keep skipping work indefinitely - they need to pay their rent and feed their families. There are fewer people protesting in work attire compared to the number in flamboyant, button-clad clothing and pink-eared hats.
Protest coverage gets a few hours of airtime, but the celebrity Twitter drama and a new cabinet nominee's Senate confirmation hearing are the focus of (link-reveal:"today's news cycle.")[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
To date, only a few Republicans in Congress have commented on the Mueller firing, and their remarks have been brief.
The President releases another barrage of tweets, praising his celebrity defender and attacking his social media assailants. He doesn't even mention the protests. The news goes wild.
The sun goes down, and [[the protests disband yet again.->Extremist-Establishment4]] </h4></html> ]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
**Weeks Later**
---
The protesters across the country now number in the thousands, rather than the tens of thousands. This dedicated core is determined not to let up pressure. As long as they stay, the news has to mention them, people have to remember why they're there. (link-reveal:"At least that's what they tell themselves.")[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
Their mentions in the news have now been whittled down to a few minutes per day - and even that is largely focused on the infighting that has broken out between the centrist and center-left organizers of the Washington, D.C. protest and the progressive and far-left demonstrators who now comprise the majority of the bodies present.
Many of the demonstrators are frustrated with the lack of progress made by the organizers, while the organizers insist they hold their ground. Non-violent protest is always the best method. History has shown this.
[[They have faith.->Extremist-Establishment5]] </h4></html>]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
**Months Later**
---
A single body stands outside the White House gates, holding a sign reading "NO AMERICAN IS ABOVE THE LAW." There are no cameras around, save for some curious tourists who point and snap quick pictures with their phones.
The Republicans managed to retain their House and Senate majorities in the November midterms, and are continuing along with the same agenda as normal. None of them have said the name "Mueller" in months.
Democrats still talk about it, but (link-reveal:"it doesn't really matter.")[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
---
You sit on your couch at home. You've been out of work for weeks, ever since you were fired for accidentally including a New York Times article in one of the prop docs. This sent the President into a rage, which caused a week-long scandal. Many of your co-workers have been replaced as well.
On TV, a CNN host interviews a White House spokeswoman.
"Before we move on," the interviewer says, "does the President have anything to say about the recent federal court ruling in his favor against the ACLU regarding Robert Mueller's firing?"
"No," she says, smiling, "he's got other matters on his mind. After all, it's infrastructure week."
(link:"The End")[
(goto:"Initialize Game")
] ]<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">{(display:"Tap Sound")}
The crowd outside roars, even louder than before. You hear them begin to chant: "//hey, hey, ho, ho, fascist scum have got to go!//"
That was not a strategically wise move for the President. Or for Miller. Especially right now.
Fox News returns from a commercial break, (link-reveal:"discussing the President's newest tweet.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
(set: $foxChyron to "Republicans in Congress break from supporting the President after tweet requesting searches of Muslim citizens.")
(display: "Fox News Alert")
Being interviewed is one of the President's most steadfast supporters in the Senate.
"You know me, I've supported the President through thick and thin. However, I cannot, in good conscience, support this statement. It seems to me like the most extreme voices in the President's ear have won out over the more reasonable."
"Will you vote to impeach the President if it's brought to the Senate floor?" the interviewer asks.
"I will have to consider it."
[[The camera cuts away.->Extremist-Inept3]]
</h4></html>]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
**Breaking: White House Data Breach Involving Sensitive Documents Tied to Jared Kushner**
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
"This morning, the Times has received confirmation that Jared Kushner is the source of the White House data breach from 3 weeks ago. The breach is widely believed to be the the source of several documents that directly connect the President to felony offenses that occurred both during his campaign and during his presidency.
Jared Kushner, in response to these allegations, issued only a brief statement: "I just wanted everyone to like me. I don’t know what happened."
Kushner's lawyers have insisted that Kusher’s use of the term 'everyone,' is in reference to the American people, and 'I don’t know what happened,' is in reference to crimes committed by others during his time [[spent in the West Wing.->Inept-Establishment3]]"</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
**Two Years Later**
---
<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">It’s been two years since the President resigned. Kushner, widely hailed as this generation’s (link:"Daniel Ellsberg")[Daniel Ellsberg(open-URL:"https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pentagon-Papers")], currently manages a non-profit working to help adult men make friends.
Washington has returned to its former self, still full of gridlock and posturing, but functioning - (link-reveal:"more or less.")[(display:"Tap Sound") <html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
You turn on the news, and watch as newly-elected President Bush gives a press conference on the Syrian war. It’s dragged on since the beginning of his presidency, but he assures the audience that there is an end in sight, [[though he does not know exactly when.->Inept-Establishment4]]</h4></html>
]</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
It was a little weird when Jeb announced his candidacy, after everything that had happened. The Nation seemed too tired to come up with any new ideas. He hurdled through the primary, and with the left split between a Democrat and an Indepedent candidate, it wasn’t too difficult for him to (link-reveal:"win the electoral college.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
You see a push notification on your phone about the (link:"resurgence of subprime loans")[resurgence of subprime loans(open-URL:"https://www.investopedia.com/news/4-early-warning-signs-next-financial-crisis/")]. You toss your phone to the other side of the couch, and change the channel.
At least we’re back to the way we were.
(link:"The End")[
(goto:"Initialize Game")
]</h4></html>
]</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
**One Month Later**
---
<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">You sit at home on your couch watching CNN. You lost your job after the inadvertantly causing a presidential temper tantrum. It's hard to pick the right information for the President, especially after his first constitutional crisis.
A handsome, white-haired anchor is interviewing a panel of lawyers.
"So, as you know, the vote to impeach the President has narrowly passed the House and now sits on the floor of the Senate, awaiting final vote. What do you think our viewers should expect in terms of an outcome?"
One of them pipes up, "the President is in real danger here. If this vote was able to pass the House, there's a much better chance (link-reveal:"it will pass in the Senate.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
Unless he resigns, we may live to see the first sitting President thrown out of office as a result of impeachment. What a time to be alive!"
"I agree with that," says another, "after the 'Muslim Search' rollout debacle, I could no longer support the President. I feel this is for the best if we want to maintain momentum behind the populist wave that led him to power.
He simply went too far, at the behest of his advisor Stephen Miller, and now is paying the price."
"Speaking of Stephen Miller..." [[says the interviewer.->Extremist-Inept4]] </h4></html>]
</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"We have recently found out that after being fired from his position at the White House and dropping off the radar, he has re-emerged, giving speeches to far-right nationalist parties in Europe. Here's a clip of him speaking in Hungary."
A clip plays. Stephen Miller is standing at a podium with an unhinged look in his eyes. He is banging the podium, (link-reveal:"sweat glistening across his body.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
"They can call you racist. Let them call you a racist! What's so bad about being racist anyway? When did that even become a bad thing? We have to keep our bloodlines clean and nutritious //at all costs//."
They cut back to the panel, all chuckling.
"What a character," the interviewer says, chuckling. "Thanks to our panel for joining us. When we come back, we have an interview with an up-and-coming Republican House nominee from Montana."
[[A preview of the interview plays.->Extremist-Inept5]] </h4></html>]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Opposite the interviewer in the preview sits a handsome, well-groomed man in khakis and a polo shirt, smiling cordially at the camera.
"Some people have compared you to far-right ideologues like Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller. What do you say to them?" (link-reveal:"the interviewer asks.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
"Well, obviously I want nothing to do with disgusting opportunists like them. However, I think there is still a grain of truth in the policies that they proposed, and I think, with the right approach, they can still find a place in our great American way of life.
After all, troubled times require bold action."
He winks coyly, and the program cuts to commercial.
You wonder how far he'll make it.
(link:"The End")[
(goto:"Initialize Game")
]</h4></html>
](if: $centeredImageURL is 0)[
(set: $centeredImageURL to "https://www.dropbox.com/s/f5gcqo7f51qljwb/John_F_Kelly_Neopet.PNG?dl=1")
]
<html>
<img src = "https://www.dropbox.com/s/f5gcqo7f51qljwb/John_F_Kelly_Neopet.PNG?dl=1">
</html>Typically, the Chief of Staff is the person in charge of communicating and coordinating with the majority of the administration on the President's behalf.
The reason for this is that the President is normally assumed to be very busy at all times with other, more important executive duties.
This President, hesitant to cede any power, prefers to interact directly with any staffer in his vicinity. This has dramatically weakened the Chief of Staff’s power.
[[Understably, John Kelly is not pleased with this.->John Kelly 1]]
{(display:"Tap Sound")}No.(display:"Tap Sound")
(live: 1s)[
[[Right.->Intro2]]
(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)
]
{(display:"Click Sound")}
//**Are Jared and Ivanka Expecting Again? Rumors Tell of New White House Powerbaby to Arrive!**//
"White House lovebirds Jared and Ivanka may have a new top-secret package arriving soon, as rumors of Ivanka's baby bump have been swirling. While the two are undoubtedly busy as ever with their administrative duties, we can't help but imagine what lies in store for Javanka and their baby!"
Yeah, this will have to do.
[[Keep thinking.->First Choice]]
(link:"Print it and put it in the folder.")[
(set: $lastChoice to $inept)
(goto: "Deliver First Prop Doc")
]{
<!--DEBUG-->
(set:$emailSig to 0)
(if: $lastChoice is 0)[
(set: $lastChoice to "Inept")
(set: $kellyEmail to "johnkelly@whitehouse.gov")
(set: $kushnerEmail to "kushboi@yahoo.com")
(set: $millerEmail to "stephenmiller@whitehouse.gov")
]
<!--EXTREMIST-->
(if: $lastChoice is "Extremist")[
(set: $emailAddr to $millerEmail)
(set: $emailText to "Excellent choice, intern. That Kelly geezer doesn't have the vision for the future like we do. Onto phase 2 ;)"
)
(set: $emailSig to "'Man is and remains an animal.Here a beast of prey, there a housepet, but always an animal.'- Joseph Goebbels")
]
<!--ESTABLISHMENT-->
(else-if: $lastChoice is "Establishment")[
(set: $emailAddr to $kellyEmail)
(set: $emailText to "Good job. Don't tell a fucking soul about this.")
]
(else-if: $lastChoice is "Truth")[
(set: $emailAddr to $kellyEmail)
(set: $emailText to "GET TO MY FUCKING OFFICE NOW")
]
<!--INEPT-->
(else:)[
(set: $emailAddr to $kushnerEmail)
(set: $emailText to "Thanks for the solid, bro! You're a really good friend :) See ya around bestie!")
(set: $emailSig to "The captain’s drunk, your world is Titanic floating on the funk - Limp Bizkit")
]
}
{
(display:"Tap Sound")
(display:"E-Mail")
}
(unless: $lastChoice is "Truth")[
[[You hear the sound of a breaking news alert.->Post-First Crisis]]
](else:)[
[[Go to Kelly's office.->Truth Ending]]
]---
To: intern@whitehouse.gov
From: $emailAddr
---
$emailText
(unless:$emailSig is 0)[
(link:"...")[(display:"Click Sound")
$emailSig]
]
---{
<!--DEBUG-->
(set:$emailSig to 0)
(if: $lastChoice is 0)[
(set: $lastChoice to "Inept")
(set: $kellyEmail to "johnkelly@whitehouse.gov")
(set: $kushnerEmail to "kushboi@yahoo.com")
(set: $millerEmail to "stephenmiller@whitehouse.gov")
(set: $choiceHistory to (a:"Inept"))
]
<!--EXTREMIST-->
(if: $lastChoice is "Extremist")[
(set: $emailAddr to $millerEmail)
(set: $emailText to "I am pleased with your decision, intern. Soon we will be many, and we will take the streets and storm the palace.")
(set: $emailSig to "'Man is and remains an animal. Here a beast of prey, there a housepet, but always an animal.'- Joseph Goebbels")
(if: $choiceHistory's (1) is "Extremist")[
(set: $emailText to it + "
I have been pleased by your loyalty, and I shall consider inviting you along as a subservient once I have finished my rise to power.")
](else:)[
(set: $emailText to it + "
Perhaps you can redeem yourself after betraying me at first.")
]
]
<!--ESTABLISHMENT-->
(else-if: $lastChoice is "Establishment")[
(set: $emailAddr to $kellyEmail)
(set: $emailText to "Good work. I'm getting too fucking old for this shit.")
(if: $choiceHistory's (1) is "Establishment")[
(set: $emailText to it + "
You've got a bright future ahead of yourself if you keep following your orders. Not one goddamn person in this place seems to have that skill.")
](else:)[
(set: $emailText to it + " Whatever you did last time was a major fuckup, but I'm a kind and merciful man. Stay on my good side and you'll go far.")
]
]
(else-if: $lastChoice is "Inept")[
(set: $emailAddr to $kushnerEmail)
(set: $emailText to "Heeeeeeey buddy, Ivanka said I can eat at the table with her tonight because I did so good!!! You rule!")
(set: $emailSig to "The captain’s drunk, your world is Titanic floating on the funk - Limp Bizkit")
(if: $choiceHistory's (1) is "Inept")[
(set: $emailText to it + "
This is so cool having a BFF here. Your probably the nicest person I've ever met. I'll ask Ivanka if you can come with us next time we go to Aspen :) :) :)")
](else:)[
(set: $emailText to it + "
I was a little scared you didn't like me after I didn't see my dad-in-law tweet about me, but now I know you really do care.")
]
]
(display:"Unlock Sound")
}
(display:"E-Mail")
You sigh and (link-reveal:"close your computer.")[ <html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
This day has been a nightmare.
You check the time.
It's 7:15. You see the other interns leaving for the day.
[[Time for you to go home, too.->Post-Second Crisis]] </h4></html>
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
"At around 3:30 local time, Istanbul-based reporters for Reuters reported that Russian warships bearing the insignia of the Black Sea Fleet passed through the Bosphorus Straits and towards the Dardanelles. If confirmed, that would indicate that Russia is moving more naval forces to the eastern Mediterranean, putting it in potential conflict with the US 6th Fleet, which carried out the airstrikes. It is unknown if Turkey, which is a NATO member, allowed the Russian ships to pass.
The US 6th Fleet is a much larger and more modern force, but the prospect of even a skirmish, or simply a misread of the situation, could quickly lead to a deadly exchange of force between the world’s largest and most powerful militaries."
---
[[This is terrifying. Keep reading.->Third Crisis Begins 3]]
[[Check the President's Twitter. He must have something to say about this.->Third Tweet]]
</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Stormy Daniels is a pornographic actress who was paid $130,000 by the President's "fixer" as a hush agreement about an affair from a decade earlier - shortly after the President's youngest son was born.
She claims that, shortly after, she was coerced by the President into watching //Shark Week// nonconsensually.
She also claimed that her and her child's wellbeing were later threatened by a mysterious goon - saying they'd come to harm if she told anybody about her meetings with the President.
She has been on a media tour telling this story, claiming that the President broke his side of the hush agreement by saying he knew nothing of the matter. (link:"He recently called her statement about the mysterious goon a lie.")[He recently called her statement about the mysterious goon a lie.(open-URL:"https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/stormy-daniels-sues-trump-defamation-over-con-job-tweet-n870171")]
The President's lawyer has remained fairly silent on the matter since he was raided by the FBI.
[[OK.->Random Scandal A]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
The footage shows a shirtless Stormy carefully escorting a family of beavers across the road. One of them has an elegantly-crafted improvised splint on its front leg. It looks up tearily at Stormy as if to say //"thank you, benevolent goddess."//
(link-reveal:"Are you fucking serious?")[(display:"Tap Sound")
//"Then, around the bend, this schoolbus comes swerving. I can see the driver - he's looking at his phone, mouth agape, like he's distracted by something horrible. We later found out he was reading the news."//
[[She continues.->Random Scandal A3]]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You think about whether Kelly has heard about this. Then you wonder about Miller. Then Kushner.
(link-reveal:"Are you going to need to do a prop doc for this?")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
You know other interns in politics who'd kill for a chance at the connections you made with your superiors yesterday.
Normally, chain-of-command is supposed to be pretty important in this job, but that doesn't seem to mean much anymore.
Letting them know you're thinking actively about their role in the prop docs could earn you some favor.
On the other hand, getting caught trying to play all-sides could lose you your job. You'll have to choose.
Who do you want to e-mail?
[[John Kelly->Random Scandal Establishment]]
[[Jared Kushner->Random Scandal Inept]]
[[Stephen Miller->Random Scandal Extremist]] </h4></html>]You send an e-mail informing them about the story. Within moments, your inbox chimes with a (link:"response.")[response.
{(display:"E-Mail Sound")}
{
(if: $kellyEmail is 0)[
(set: $kellyEmail to "johnkelly@whitehouse.gov")
]
(if: $randScandal is 0)[
(set: $randScandal to "A")
]
(set: $kellyRSReplies to (dm:
"A", "Good initiative, intern. I'll call up Press Sec immediately, we're going to need a response to this before the briefing today.
If the public trusts a porn star more than the President... where the hell is this country headed?",
"B", "Good fucking God, this Nunes prick is always making life a goddamn nightmare. We need to get some guard dogs around here.
Good initiative on getting this to me.",
"C", "Fucking Christ, I knew we should have installed a tracking chip on her. We're going to need to re-hire that body double...
Good work getting this to me fast, intern."
)
)
(set: $emailAddr to $kellyEmail)
(set: $emailText to $kellyRSReplies's $randScandal)
(set: $emailSig to 0)
(display:"E-Mail")
}
He seems to appreciate the sense that someone else is working with him here. You don't envy his job.
(display:"Random Scandal Conclude Text")
]You send an e-mail informing them about the story. Within moments, your inbox chimes with a (link:"response.")[response.
{(display:"E-Mail Sound")}
{
(if: $millerEmail is 0)[
(set: $millerEmail to "stephenmiller@whitehouse.gov")
]
(if: $randScandal is 0)[
(set: $randScandal to "A")
]
(set: $millerRSReplies to (dm:
"A", "So pleased to hear from you, intern. Don't you worry about this Aryan princess, I have a plan to deal with her...
By the way, have you ever heard of the Red Pill?",
"B", "So flattered that you'd bring this to my attention, intern. I can see a great future between us.
This Nunes buffoon, on the other hand, can't do one thing right. I will have to dispose of him soon. Heh heh ;)",
"C", "So delighted to hear from you, intern. I will remember this ;)
I never trusted that woman. She always acted like a major bitch and would slap me when I was just harmlessly smelling her. Good riddance to that Stacy."
)
)
(set: $emailAddr to $millerEmail)
(set: $emailText to $millerRSReplies's $randScandal)
(set: $emailSig to "'Man is and remains an animal.Here a beast of prey, there a housepet, but always an animal.'- Joseph Goebbels")
(display:"E-Mail")
}
You shiver a little, and take a moment to appreciate just how creepy Stephen Miller is.
He's not even charismatically creepy, like Dracula. He's more like (link:"the Thing")[the Thing(open-URL:"https://moviequibble.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/thething2.jpg")].
(display:"Random Scandal Conclude Text")
]You send an e-mail informing them about the story. Within moments, your inbox chimes with a (link:"response.")[response.
{(display:"E-Mail Sound")}
{
(if: $kushnerEmail is 0)[
(set: $kushnerEmail to "kushboi@yahoo.com")
]
(if: $randScandal is 0)[
(set: $randScandal to "B")
]
(set: $kushnerRSReplies to (dm:
"A", "Hey bro, thanks for the heads up, I'll show Ivanka. I don't know who that pretty lady is but that was pretty cool when she saved those beavers. What's 'defamnation'?",
"B", "Hey bro, so happy that you thought of me, I love hilarious viral videos. One time my pants ripped off when I was running too, and Ivanka had to make me new ones from newspaper.",
"C", "Woah, dude, I thought my step-mom-in-law was here the whole time. How's she get over there?! She's so cool.
I couldn't really understand what she was saying though, I'm gonna go show Ivanka. You're such a good buddy for sending me this. Hilarious!"
)
)
(set: $emailAddr to $kushnerEmail)
(set: $emailText to $kushnerRSReplies's $randScandal)
(set: $emailSig to "The captain’s drunk, your world is Titanic floating on the funk - Limp Bizkit")
(display:"E-Mail")
}
You consider replying to explain the situation to him, but the idea of doing so fills you with pre-emptive guilt. Kind of like explaining death to a toddler for the first time.
Ivanka can explain it to him.
(display:"Random Scandal Conclude Text")
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
//"Then I just kind of talked to the kids a little bit, giving them some life advice. How the human form is nothing to be ashamed of, how nobody is above the law, and how you should **never, ever, EVER lie**." //
//"Wow, that's quite a story, Stormy,"// the interviewer says. //"Speaking of that last point, though, how do you respond to allegations by the President that you are lying about your relationship with him and the threats made against your wellbeing on his behalf?"//
//"Ah yes, glad you asked,"// she [[responds.->Random Scandal A5]](goto: "Post-Random Scandal"){(display:"Tap Sound")}
//"Anyway, I see this, and that he's going to swerve off the road, so I took off my skirt and used it as a flag to get his attention. Totally worked!"//
You see events transpire in the video //exactly// as she described. The driver brakes safely before he reaches the ditch, and the children flood out from the bus door to hug Stormy.
Holy shit. She really did it.
[[She continues.->Random Scandal A4]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
//"I have filed a defamation lawsuit against the President. As a pornographic actress, I'm called many things - but one thing I'll never tolerate is being called a liar."//
(link-reveal:"She looks directly into the camera.")[(display:"Tap Sound")
//"Mr. President, you should have known better than to call Stormy Daniels a liar. The truth is going to come out, and I am coming for it."//
[[This isn't good.->Random Scandal Choice]]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Fox News is a right-wing news organization who have been heavily influential in US politics for over 20 years.
While they have been accused of bias and sensationalism since their inception, recently many have gone so far as to compare them to a state-run media organization due to their unfaltering support (and selective coverage) of the President.
The President has been known to watch their shows regularly, tweeting out responses to what he sees.
They recently retired their slogan, "Fair and Balanced."
[[OK.->Fox News Intro]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
The video begins to shake as the camera moves closer to Melania. People are staring at her, but no one has approached her yet.
As the camera approaches her face, she looks into it, (link-reveal:"eyes calm.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
"Melania, how is your visit to Ljubljana?" A voice behind the camera asks.
She smiles and asnwers, "I have escaped from White House and I am never going back." She takes a sip of her cappuccino.
[[Keep watching.->Random Scandal C3]] </h4></html>]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Why did you leave, Melania?"
"The President brings destruction everywhere he goes. Because of him, Democracy is slipping through fingers of American people. Without rule of law and freedom of press, (link-reveal:"the people have nothing.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
The office of President of United States is extremely important position, not one to treat lightly or for personal gain. The President is very bad man. He does not understand damage his actions do to world. I cannot stand by his side any longer. I protest this by leaving to Ljubljana."
[[Keep watching.->Random Scandal C4]] </h4></html> ]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
//"The House Intelligence Committee is currently tasked with investigating potential crimes by the President and his associates,"// the talking head continues.
//"As a congressional committee, these are expected to function independently of the President or Senate. A violation of this norm is unprecedented."//
(link-reveal:"Nunes has finally made it to the top of the fence.")[(display:"Tap Sound")<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
As he drags his leg over the top, he rips a hole in the crotch of his pants on one of the fence spikes.
He looks down and, seeing the hole in his pants, panics more. He swings one of his hands over to cover the hole in his pants - in the process, both punching himself in the testicles and losing his balance on the fence.
He plunges to the ground on the other side, screaming.
[[Keep watching.->Random Scandal B3]] </h4></html>]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
//"Numerous members of the House Intelligence Committees on both sides of the aisle have stated on record that they knew nothing of the meetings between Nunes and the President's representative. Several of them stated that this represents a major breach of norms and trust within the House, and an attempt to deceive the American people."//
Nunes is rolling on the ground in pain, cupping his crotch as if to protect it from more harm. You can faintly hear him yelling "owie!" repeatedly (link-reveal:"beneath the narration.")[(display:"Tap Sound")<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
He starts slowly pulling himself together and getting back on his feet.
It's pretty baffling that he hasn't given up on trying to escape this way - he has already been caught on camera, but still seems to think he can get of this situation scot-free.
[[Keep watching.->Random Scandal B4]] </h4></html>]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
//"There have been (link:"calls")[calls(open-URL:"http://thehill.com/homenews/house/326184-first-gop-lawmaker-calls-for-nunes-to-recuse-himself")] calls from both Republicans and Democrats for Nunes to recuse himself as leader of the committee since this footage was obtained." //
Nunes, back on his feet, is trundling away from the fence. His pants have ripped down to his knees, and he now struggles to keep them on at all while moving. He trips over them, and they (link-reveal:"rip completely in half.")[(display:"Tap Sound")<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
//"Representative Nunes was not available for comment."//
The footage ends with Nunes disappearing into the darkness. As he begins to slips out of sight, he trips on a rat and falls. Sensing weakness, the rat begins to attack him.
The camera slowly zooms in as Nunes cries out for help. He appears to be losing this fight. The rat finishes its assault and scampers away with Nunes' driver's license.
"No, please, I need that!" he yells.
The segment ends, and the aides around you begin murmuring amongst themselves.
[[Good for that rat.->Random Scandal Choice]] </h4></html>]{(display:"Tap Sound")(display:"Portrait")}
"DIPSHIT! You're lucky I'm a man of principle, or I'd wipe this floor with your ass. You have 5 minutes to get out of this building before I fucking //hunt you//." The tone in his voice suggests he's not being metaphorical.
He shoves you out the door and slams it. You book it to the exit.
You experience the numb self-affirmation that accompanies making the best choice available in a situation where all choices were bad.
(link-reveal:"You think you did the right thing.")[{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You're also out of a job.
Still, you can't help but wonder what might have happened if you'd played along.
(link: "Go home.")[
(goto: "Initialize Game")
]
]{
(set: $portrait to "DoofKush")
(display:"Portrait")
<script>
window.jaredFail.play();
</script>
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
Suddenly, you hear the sound of papers and electronics hitting the floor.
(live:2s)[Amidst a pile of office supplies by the doorway stands [[Jared Kushner->Jared Kushner Bio]]. He's an important person who works here, but you're not sure exactly what he does.(display:"Tap Sound")(stop:)]
(live:5s)[
You make eye contact, and he seems to visibly panic - spilling the contents of his bag as he fumbles to clean up the mess, whimpering quietly.
(display:"Tap Sound")
[[Pretend not to notice.->Kushner 1b]](stop:)]
{
(set: $portrait to "MillerArmband")
(display:"Portrait")
}"Hey, intern!"
You recognize his grotesque, balloon-like face instantly - it's [[Stephen Miller->Stephen Miller Bio]], speechwriter and advisor to the President.
(live:3s)[
(transition:"shudder")[You vomit.](stop:)]
(live: 5s)[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
He pauses for a moment, looking at you with disgust; then he straightens up and smiles politely.
"Did I overhear correctly that Kelly wants you to assemble a prop doc?"
You nod. He puts his arm around your shoulder. He’s wearing a red armband. "That's a little on the nose," you think.
[["Here, walk with me,"->Miller 1b]] says Miller.
</h4></html>
(stop:)]
{(display:"Tap Sound")}{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You stop dead and turn around. John Kelly is looking right at you.
<html><img class="center" src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/4a3luqt2yr5epco/johnkelly.v2.png?dl=1"></html>
"What are you doing?" he barks.
"I'm just getting coffee," you manage to stammer.
"Not anymore. Get in here now."
[[Comply.->John Kelly 1]]<html><body> <marquee behavior=scroll direction="left" scrollamount="10"><b><font color="red">CNN BREAKING NEWS: $cnnChyron</font></b></marquee></body></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
"Hey," you say.
"Hey," they mutter back. You know they don't approve of your job. They don't know how bad it really is.
Part of you wishes you could join them to watch this report, but part of you wants to avoid the outside world for as long as you can anyway.
As you walk up the stairs, you hear the television unmute and (link-reveal:"conversation resume.")[<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
You remove your work clothes and try to get comfortable in bed. You take some solace in the thought that you helped prevent a constitutional crisis today.
Tomorrow will be a long day, and you should get some rest.
[[You don't sleep a wink that night.->Go In To Work]]</h4></html>
]{(display:"Unlock Sound")}
"MOSCOW, Russia. The Russian government has described the American airstrikes on Syrian air bases and facilities that killed at least 10 Russian military personnel as 'an outrage,' and vowed that “such wanton aggression cannot go unanswered.”
President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to cease participation in the 'hotline' with the US military, originally put in place to avoid conflict in cases of miscommunication that could otherwise escalate into open hostilities.
The Pentagon, in a statement, has said that US forces operating in the area are only authorized to use offensive force against designated targets, and to otherwise only use deadly force in self-defense.
This is a developing story."
You swipe the story to the side. This is going to be (link-reveal:"one hell of a day.")[
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-3s nb">
You exit at your stop and walk to the White House, where you check in with security and [[enter the West Wing.->Random Scandal Intro]]</h4></html>]{(display: "Tap Sound")
(set:$emailAddr to "johnkelly@whitehouse.gov")
(set:$emailText to "MY OFFICE, NOW.")
(set:$emailSig to 0)
}
(display:"E-Mail")
(link:"You'd better get moving.")[
(if: $panicAttack is 1)[
Actually, you are still having a panic attack and you feel like the world is ending.
Wait, the world actually might be ending. Fuck.
You'd better sit down for a few seconds and compartmentalize...
(live: 5s)[
OK, all better! Good thing you know how to suppress emotions effectively in a pinch.
(link:"You get a move on.")[(goto:"Miller 3 Intro")]
]
](else:)[
(goto: "Miller 3 Intro")
]
]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Neopets is a children's website that peaked in popularity in the early 2000's.
It was bought by Viacom in 2005 - a purchase which did not prove lucrative.
In 2009 the site was targeted by hackers, who stole the identities of users by tricking them into installing malware on their computers.
[[Neopets denied any culpability for these breaches.->Kushner 2b1]]<script>
try{
window.tap.play();
}catch(err){
}
</script>In college he continued this trajectory, (link-reveal:"mingling with known white nationalists")[(open-URL:"https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/01/30/white-nationalist-richard-spencer-praises-stephen-miller-taking-hardline-anti-immigrant")] and greatly expanding his repetoire of racist and xenophobic views.
He went into politics immediately after graduating, and later joined the President's inner circle in 2016, when he began helping with immigration policy, and on what became known as the (link-reveal:"'Muslim Ban.'")[(open-URL:"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/29/protest-trump-travel-ban-muslims-airports")]
He has also vehemently opposed welcoming refugees into the country. A journalist once asked him if this went against the famous poem on the statue of liberty stated "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses."
Miller replied, [["that poem wasn't always there."->Miller Surprise]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You scan the page quickly:
-Jared
-Ivanka
-Jake Tapper
-Pocahontas (Warren)
-Pocahontas (Real)
-The Pope
-My high-school's girls track team
-Amanda
-Beatrice
-Stacy
-Hilary
-Hillary
-Jessica
-Cynthia
-Karen
-Zoey
-Samantha
-Charlotte
-Brittany
-Camilla
-Jennifer
-The one from dentist camp
-All the other ones who rejected me whom I forgot
-The cosmopolitans
-Demi Lovato
-Anita Sarkeesian
-Thetas
-Dad
-FDR
-Vin Diesel
-Sergeant Boston Corbett
-Nelson Mandela
-Gary Cohn
-Magic Johnson
-Kathleen Kennedy
-Anthony Scaramucci
-John Kelly
The list goes on more, but [[you'd better stop looking before he notices.->Miller 2b]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Chris Christie was the first Republican Presidential Candidate to officially endorse the current President during the 2016 race.
He expected to be compensated with a high-profile position in the cabinet, such as Attorney General.
Instead, he received nothing and was (link-reveal:"regularly")[(open-URL:"https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2017/02/16/christie-says-trump-made-him-order-meatloaf-meal-together/ocBdUJgphM8lK10xWM6TkJ/story.html")] (link-reveal:"humiliated")[(open-URL:"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/271074-trump-tells-christie-get-in-the-plane-and-go-home")] by the President.
[[OK.->Deliver First Prop Doc]] {(display:"Tap Sound")}
Reince Priebus was head of the Republican National Committee during the 2016 Presidential Campaign, during which he urged the sitting President to drop out over a leaked tape in which he bragged about sexually assaulting women.
After the President won the nomination, Priebus' criticisms abruptly ended.
When the President chose Priebus as his first Chief of Staff, many pundits viewed it as a conciliatory move towards the Republican political establishment from a status-quo defying populist.
However, the President completely ignored Priebus at every turn, rendering his role in the administration largely irrelevant.
Priebus was abruptly and humiliatingly fired on an airport tarmac at the urging of newly-minted Communications Director Anthony 'The Mooch' Scaramucci, and replaced with John Kelly.
[['The Mooch' was fired 3 days later.->Deliver Second Prop Doc]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Ted Cruz is a Senator from Texas who ran against the President in the 2016 primary, during which the President (link-reveal:"called Cruz's wife ugly")[(open-URL:"http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-shared-an-unflattering-picture-of-ted-cruzs-wife-2016-3")] and (link-reveal:"accused Cruz's father helping to assassinate JFK")[(open-URL:"https://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/trump-ted-cruz-father-222730")], in addition to many personal insults directed at "Lyin' Ted" himself.
Cruz defiantly retaliated in response to these attacks, calling the President "a sniveling coward," a "pathological liar," a "narcissist," and a "philanderer."
A few months after the election, and Ted Cruz was one of the President's most (link-reveal:"unequivocal supporters")[(open-URL:"https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/22/politics/ted-cruz-cpac-trump/index.html")]
[[OK.->Deliver Third Prop Doc]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
A woman steps into the shot, asking, "is that the only reason you left, Melania?"
"The President is very bad man," she repeats, scowling. "He promised no one would find out about (link:"porn star lady")[porn star lady(open-URL:"https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/business/media/stormy-daniels-60-minutes-ratings.html")]. Or (link:"Playboy lady")[Playboy lady(open-URL:"https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/politics/karen-mcdougal-donald-trump/index.html")]. Or (link:"pee pee thing")[pee pee thing(open-URL:"https://news.vice.com/en_ca/article/3kjjwk/comey-says-trump-asked-him-to-look-into-the-pee-tape-for-melanias-sake")]. He has embarrassed me for last time."
"So it’s also about the infidelity, Melania?" (link-reveal:"The woman asks.")[<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
She finishes her cup of coffee. Standing up, she answers, "And he only gets card for my (link:"birthday")[birthday(open-URL:"https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/26/politics/melania-trump-birthday-present/index.html")]."
She leaves the cafe, and turns to say, "No more questions. Goodbye now."
[[The video ends, and the feed cuts back to the hosts.->Random Scandal C5]]</h4></html>]{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
"Well, as a mother, I could never imaging doing something so awful," the host pauses, taking a beat for effect, "but it’s never fair to judge people living through unimaginable circumstances."
"Absolutely," her male co-host agrees, hiding a smirk. "I could not imaging having to live through all that." The two stare at the camera, straining every muscle in their face to keep from laughing.
The network repeats the video footage while aides run to the East Wing.
[[Everyone forgot about Melania.->Random Scandal Choice]] </h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
InfoWars is a right-wing conspiracy-driven propaganda, the public face of which is (link:"Alex Jones")[Alex Jones(open-URL:"https://youtu.be/17VQtmxmLfM")].
They make most of their revenue from marketing "male vitality" and "tactical bath" products.
[[Enough said.->Extreme_3]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
Breitbart is a far-right publication, funded partially by radical right-wing billionaires, and dubbed a "platform for the alt-right" by ex-CEO Steve Bannon.
Breitbart gained significant national prominence when Bannon was appointed White House Chief Strategist of the current administration.
Bannon tried to take Breitbart's hard-line anti-immigration platform to the national level. He was later fired.
Since the President took office, Breitbart reporters are now a normal part of the daily White House Press Briefings.
[[OK.->Extreme_2]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
The New York Times is the USA's official "newspaper of record."
They are generally considered to be very reliable and rigorous in their reporting.
The President, unhappy with negative coverage he receives from them, has begun frequently attacking their honesty and credibility.
[[Most of the White House staffers still read it anyway.->NYT]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}You'd better go wait for orders.
(link:"Go to the lobby.")[
(goto:"Random Scandal Resolution")
]You send an e-mail informing them about the story. Within moments, your inbox chimes with a response:{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
"The White House, through UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, called Russia’s actions 'a crime against humanity.' Amb. Haley added that until Russia untangles itself from the Syrian conflict, future 'high casualty events are inevitable.'
After countless massacres, brazen lies, and active participation in wartime atrocities, the Putin regime once again that it is above no hypocrisy. After so many innocent children killed, so many families torn apart, and a continued, shameless cooperation with the Assad regime, Russia has no right to lecture us on human rights, or any topic."
---
You feel like you're about to have a panic attack.
[[Keep reading. This is important.->Third Crisis Begins 4]]
[[Check Twitter. Your heart is racing and you could really use some morale from a strong leader.->Third Tweet]]</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}<html><h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">
"European diplomats rushed to force an emergency session of the UN Security Council, hoping to work out a ceasefire for all combatant parties in Syria. However, experts say that such a resolution is unlikely at the moment. 'Besides the many, independent and adversarial insurgent groups operating in Syria, I highly doubt that the pro-Assad forces will want to stop [their offensive] now that they have the upper hand in southern Syria. And if they continue, Russia will continue to provide air support and whatever ground presence they currently have,' Richard Haas of the Council on Foreign Relations said in an interview.
It does not appear that other countries in the region are counting on tensions simmering soon either. Already, the Israeli government announced nationwide air-raid drills and has begun issuing gas masks at schools. Similar drills have been reported in Riyadh and Tehran.
This is a developing story."
---
You are having a full-on panic attack.
{(set: $panicAttack to 1)}
[[Clutch your chest and check Twitter to see how your President is dealing with this situation.->Third Tweet]]</h4></html>{(display:"Tap Sound")}
As you walk, start to notice a trail of what looks like... blood... in front of you. You sense a sinister presence above you.
[[Look up.->Miller 3]]<html>
<h4 class="fade-in-2s nb">YO FADING IN!</h4>
</html>The President regularly locks himself in his bedroom for hours on end, angrily watching cable news and tweeting responses to it.
White House staffers have mostly gotten used to this new status quo, but today there is a palpable [[nervousness throughout the building->Intro3]].{
(set: $portrait to "MillerArmband")
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}<html><h4 class ="fade-in-3s nb">
"Our... final solution," he smirks. </h4></html>
(live:3s)[(display:"Tap Sound")Is he serious?(stop:)]
(live:4.5s)[<html><h4 class ="fade-in-2s nb">
He places the folder titled **DOCUMENTS** into your hand.
"I am sure that this will please him." </h4></html>(stop:)](live:6.5s)[
You flip through the contents of the folder. Inside are several stories from far-right outlets that you’re sure Kelly will disapprove of. When you look up, though, Miller is nowhere to be found. It smells like sulfur where he stood.
{(display:"Tap Sound")}
You head to the printer, to [[finish the prop doc.->Kushner 1]]
(stop:)]{
(set: $portrait to "Kelly")
(display:"Portrait")
(display:"Tap Sound")
}
"Go put together a [[prop doc->Prop Doc Explanation]] and bring it to him."
(live:3s)["Are you sure-" you begin.{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live:4s)["Do I look like I'm fucking around right now?" he yells. "GO!"
{(display:"Tap Sound")}(stop:)]
(live: 6s)[ [[Leave. ->Miller 1]]{(display:"Tap Sound")}
(stop:)]<script>
try{
window.click.play();
}catch(err){
}
</script><script>
try{
window.paperFold.play();
}catch(err){
}
</script><script>
try{
window.email.play();
}catch(err){
}
</script><script>
try{
window.tweetAlert.play();
}catch(err){
}
</script><script>
try{
window.unlock.play();
}catch(err){
}
</script>(display:"Tap Sound")Robert Mueller is the Special Counsel who has been leading the investigation into the President and his associates.
At first, virtually all Republicans (link-reveal:"applauded his appointment as fair and just.")[(open-URL:"https://twitter.com/newtgingrich/status/864998445244743684?lang=en")]
Once he started finding crimes, (link-reveal:"many turned against him.")[(open-URL:"http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/383195-gingrich-calls-mueller-investigation-breakdown-of-constitutional")]
In the past, the President's legal team tried to dissuade him from tweeting about Mueller to prevent further legal complications.
Most of those lawyers are gone now.
If the President fires Mueller, it will mark the beginning of a constitutional crisis.
[[Cool.->John Kelly 1]]<script>
try{
window.multiTweetAlert.play();
}catch(err){
}
</script><script>
try{
window.tweetScare.play();
}catch(err){
}
</script>{(set: $portrait to "MillerAngry")(display: "Portrait")(display:"Tap Sound")}
<html><h4 class = "fade-in-2s nb">
Miller drops to the ground, landing silently on all fours and slowly rising to his feet. There are fresh blood stains on his shirt from whatever he was eating.
"Today is a //terrible// day," he snarls. "Have you seen what was done? Have you //seen// the mistake that was made?" He makes a sound that you can only describe as being similar to an (link-repeat:"enraged panther")[<script>window.panther.play();</script>].
[["You mean with Syria?"->Miller 3b]]</h4></html>{(set: $portrait to "Miller")(display:"Portrait")(display:"Tap Sound")}
<html><h4 class ="fade-in-3s nb">Miller silently prowls behind Kushner, shoulders hunched around his neck, ears swiveled in his prey’s direction. His mouth hangs open to capture his prey's scent.
You feel the urge to get away from this situation as fast as possible.
As you turn to back away from Miller, you hear a crunch - you've stepped on one of Kushner's bags of (link-reveal:"Pizza-flavored Goldfish.")[ (display:"Tweet Scare Sound")
He snaps his head toward you - finding your scent. He has bloodlust in his eyes, and doesn't seem to recognize you. He begins to slink towards you.
You maintain eye contact while trying to make yourself as large as you can. You raise your arms, open your blazer, and [[wave your intern badge around.->Miller 2b]]
]</h4></html>