Welcome back to the Weekly Press Briefing, where we bring you highlights from The West Wing fandom each week, including new fics, ongoing challenges, and more! This briefing covers all things posted from January 22 - January 28, 2023! Did we miss something? Let us know; you can find our contact info at the bottom of this briefing!
Challenges/Prompts:
The following is a roundup of open challenges/prompts. Do you have a challenge or event you’d like us to promote? Be sure to get in touch with us! Contact info is at the bottom of this briefing.
@thefinestmuffin and @JessBakesCakes are hosting a casual Josh/Donna Rom Com Fest that will reveal on February 14. Prompts and claims are open; details here.
Photos/Videos:
Here’s what was posted from January 22 - January 28.
Bradley Whitford posted a photo of Mariska Hargitay on the set of Law & Order: SVU, where he was filming for an episode that will come out later this season.
Dule Hill posted photos of himself and his family at Dinosaurs in the Valley.
In response to a tweet about classified documents, Kim Webster tweeted a photo of her West Wing ID badge from when she played Ginger and a selfie where she is wearing an FBI hat.
Marlee Matlin posted a photo of herself with her late father at her wedding along with a memorial post in honor of his birthday.
Marlee Matlin posted a promo video for an episode of Accused that she directed.
Marlee Matlin posted a video from Sundance Film Festival.
Mary McCormack posted a video of herself, some TWW cast members, and other celebrities made in support of Americans United.
Rob Lowe posted a 911 Lonestar promo video.
Rob Lowe posted a throwback photo with the late David Crosby along with a memorial post honoring him.
Donna Moss Daily: January 22 | January 23 | January 24 | January 25 | January 26 | January 27 | January 28
Daily Josh Lyman: January 22 | January 23 | January 24 | January 25 | January 26 | January 27 | January 28
No Context BWhit: January 22 | January 23 | January 24 | January 25 | January 26 | January 27 | January 28
@janelmilfoney: January 23 | January 24 | January 26 | January 27 | January 28
Edits/Artwork:
#THEWESTWING: i want to be a comfort to my friends in tragedy and celebrate with them in triumph. and for all the times in between, i just want to be able to look them in the eye. By @jenniferjoIie [VIDEO EDIT]
#ABBEYANDJED: my dear, devoted, delicate by @livsbenson [VIDEO EDIT]
#JOSHDONNA: until i found you by @JessBakesCakes [VIDEO EDIT]
#JOSHDONNA: how could you think i’d be your friend? by @HeatherEdits [VIDEO EDIT]
Miscellaneous:
Happy birthday to Alan Alda, who played Senator Arnold Vinick on The West Wing!
Creator Spotlight:
Each week, we will talk to a fandom creator and interview them about their work and their process. We’ll also give you the opportunity to ask them questions, too! Want to be a featured creator? Find us via one of the methods listed at the end of the briefing!
This week’s creator is @sameschtick on twitter and jazzjo on ao3. You can find the spotlight on tumblr or on twitter.
This Week in Canon:
Welcome to This Week in Canon, where we revisit moments in The West Wing that occurred on these dates during the show’s run.
Season 1, Episode 13: Take Out the Trash Day aired on January 26, 2000.
Season 2, Episode 12: The Drop-In aired on January 24, 2001.
Season 6, Episode 13: King Corn aired on January 26, 2005.
Season 7, Episode 12: Duck and Cover aired on January 22, 2006.
Editor’s Choice:
This week marks the anniversary of the premiere of King Corn. Here are some of our favorite fics inspired by this episode!
can’t call you a stranger (but i can’t call you) by joshatella (shuuuliet) | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | King Corn. The elevator gets stuck.
(Written for the prompt: "stuck together (in an elevator, locked room, something)".)
shine a little light (don’t wrestle with the night) by hanyolo | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | Josh is in Gaza. At least, he thinks he’s in Gaza. He’s never been before, but he’s watched the news footage of the explosion enough times that he immediately recognises the three black SUVs lined up along the dirt road, the buildings in the distance, the crowd of people standing around.
He holds his hand above his eyes as he squints against the sun, can already feel sweat trickling down his back from the blazing sun. He can’t remember how he got here, has no idea why he’s still wearing his suit, his impractical work shoes.
// prompt: josh having a nightmare about donna d wording in gaza and waking up and staring at his phone trying to decide if it’s okay to call her (set during king corn)
sinking slowly, the water’s higher by sam_writes_fics | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | It’s not what either of them wants, not really, but it’s all they have. It’s all they have for right now, or maybe forever, so they cling to it how they want to cling to each other and somehow, it’s enough to get them through the night.
For You, I Came This Far by thefinestmuffins | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | A King Corn AU where Josh and Donna talk it out, and Josh gets by with a little help from his friends.
Talking (And Not Talking) by onelargecoffeepls | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | "He knows that you have to have a reason to talk to a woman or else you end up looking like an idiot, but it’s Donna and he’s never had a hard time talking with Donna.
Until now."
Another King Corn AU. Josh knocks, and Donna has some things to say.
burning slowly, my one and only by thotsandfeelings | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | "I can't stop thinking about you."
Unlocking The Door by orphan_account | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | Iowa. Josh knocks, eventually.
Fics:
Presenting your weekly roundup of fics posted in the tag for The West Wing on Archive of Our Own. If you are so inclined, please be sure to leave the authors some love in the form of kudos or comments. Be mindful of posted warnings/tags for each story.
Josh/Donna
Presidential Impetus by JayeReid1 | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete
As Swords Go by thefinestmuffins | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete
Roses and Sacrifice for You by Shinyrosa | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress
say my name and everything just stops by flowersinapril | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress
how i love the view when i’m beside you by JessBakesCakes | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete
Other Pairings/Gen Fic
compel me to ask you for more by jazzjo | Rated G | Andrea Wyatt/Toby Ziegler | In Progress
before i forget by jazzjo | Rated G | No Pairings | Complete
For Love and Politics by Mabis | Rated T | Josh Lyman & Sam Seaborn | Complete
You're Gonna Die Bloody (and All You Can Do is Choose Where) by onekisstotakewithme for daylight_angel, miabicicletta, Luppiters, hondagirll | Rated T | Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg | Complete
Wait For Me by imperfectirises | Rated M | Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet | In progress
A Different Life by PreppyPrincess5103 (JAG crossover) | Rated M | Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie/Sam Seaborn | In progress
Adorable, Yet Ill Adored by HotchkissRoyale | Rated E | Ainsley Hayes/Sam Seaborn | In progress
Multiple Pairings
A Political War by Hitomi_Zotz | Not Rated | Mallory O'Brien/Sam Seaborn, Zoey Bartlet/Charlie Young, John Hoynes/Original Female Character(s) | In Progress
Unto Us, A Child Is Born by mlea7675 | Rated G | Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet, Helen Santos/Matt Santos | Complete
Forbidden Fruit by footloosecutloose | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Elizabeth Bartlet Westin, Elizabeth Bartlet Westin/Doug Westin | In Progress
THE WEEKLY PRESS BRIEFING TEAM CAN BE REACHED VIA THE FOLLOWING METHODS:
Feel free to let us know if we missed something, if you have an event you’d like us to promote, or if you have an item that you’d like included in the next briefing!
ykw, i have no idea if this makes,,, any sense, but coney island by taylor swift & the national has similar vibes to king corn, specifically josh and donna in king corn
I’m sure people have their different opinions on when josh realised he was in love with donna and for me I'm like he obviously knew in Gaza but anyway you look at it he 100000% knows by king corn. I think he knew and repressed it deep deep down long before but in king corn he is very much aware of it and it’s making him miserable. the way he sulks into his hotel room and like scratches through his hair to the point where it l i t e r a l l y looks like he’s about to pull it all out all because he had an awkward 2 minute conversation with donna and he knows that the woman he loves is in the room opposite. and as much as he wants to go talk to her he can’t bring himself to do it because he’s so hurt and angry, but even worse, he probably thinks she doesn't want to see him. every time I watch this scene I'm like “this is a guy who knows he’s in love with a woman he can’t have”
everyone talks about the last scene between them in this episode and obviously I love that too but when josh walks into his hotel room it’s one of the very few times we see him this vulnerable. but he’s alone so he doesn’t have to keep up appearances and at this point he just misses donna and wants her back and it’s everything to me but it breaks my heart into a million pieces. it reminds me of what amy said to jake in b99 after they broke up for like 3 hours or something and she says to jake “the only person I want to talk about that stuff with is you”. the only person he wants to talk about the situation with is donna, but he can’t and it’s such a short moment but I think about this scene a lot and I truly think it’s one of the most heartbreaking moments in the whole show and I would love to know how detailed the stage directions were, or if it was the director or if it was brad just killing it as usual but it’s SOOOOO GOOD
