The Newsroom Recap: Springtime for Cairo and Madison

In case we’ve forgotten that Mackenzie’s a girl and technospeak goes over her girlie head, she asks if that means there’s working internet in Egypt. Neal explains that there’s been some activity coming out the country and gets slightly technical but it’s all too much for her girlie girl head so she just repeats her question.

Luckily this “Mackenzie can’t figure things out because she’s a girl” moment is broken up by Don asking Will to fill in for Elliot, which, okay. I’ll go with that. Turns out Elliot went out on the street at three in the morning during a violent uprising and got beat up with a rock. Broken ribs, broken arm and a cut up face. He’s on his way home but Don and Charlie get into a pissing contest over who will call his wife so Will can actually tell HIS BOSS in front of his staff to let Don make the call. Seriously, does Will understand boundaries? Charlie tells Don what to say and Don’s facial expression says “I’m not the idiot in this room.” Then Charlie gets cantankerous and Will gets all noble about how news men just want to get the story. Grrr…I feel a minor rage blackout coming on.

Back off, Charlie. It’s not my show that’s constantly on Page Six.

Never mind. It was just gas from too much treacle and schmaltz in that last scene. The meeting’s out and Mackenzie sees Sloan sitting at a desk and wonders why she’s still there. Sloan’s epic eye roll reminds Mackenzie that she is and shall always be at the head of the bitch train but Sloan chooses not to blow her off and follows Mackenzie into her office.

Turns out Mackenzie’s been asked to be on a Paley Center panel about whether TV news is equipped to cover the economy. Sloan thinks it’s a great idea but Mackenzie’s a girl and she’s not equipped since she naps during Sloan’s segment because math is hard. HILARIOUSLY, when Sloan is aghast at Mackenzie’s utter lack of professional curiosity, Mackenzie tells her to lose the scolding tone. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Lack of self awareness cracks me up.

Then Mackenzie turns around and actually asks Sloan “how long it took her to know what she knows.” Sloan and I can’t believe how entitled and dumb she is and Sloan mockingly rattles off her education and practical experience and is all “Yeah, like 15 years, you gnat.” Sloan wants to know when this panel is that Mackenzie’s known about for a few months and it’s Tuesday. Morning. They’re talking on Thursday. Night. Sloan suggests giving her three things to write on her hand. Heh. Mackenzie says she “wants to know this” but acknowledges that she won’t know everything, allowing Sloan to get off an obvious joke that Mackenzie still acknowledge as better than any she could come up with. Because she’s an idiot.

I’m laughing so I don’t jump over this desk and throttle you.