: The title "Faith-Based Initiative" refers both to the legislative push for religious-based social programs and the personal "leaps of faith" characters take—specifically Josh's faith in Santos and Santos's faith in himself.
: An online gossip site runs a story questioning C.J.'s sexual orientation. C.J. manages the fallout with her trademark poise while balancing the increasing responsibilities she has taken over from Leo.
: A controversial amendment banning gay marriage is added to the federal budget. President Bartlet faces a moral and political dilemma when Senator Wilkinson claims the President previously stated marriage is strictly between a man and a woman. [S6E10] Faith-Based Initiative
" Faith-Based Initiative " is the 10th episode of the sixth season of the political drama series . Written by Bradley Whitford and directed by Christopher Misiano, it originally aired on January 5, 2005. 🏛️ Plot Summary
The episode follows several intersecting storylines as the Bartlet administration nears its end and the race to succeed him begins to heat up. : The title "Faith-Based Initiative" refers both to
: This was the first television episode written by Bradley Whitford , who played Josh Lyman. He discussed the writing process in detail on The West Wing Weekly podcast. 📺 Where to Watch
: After being approached by Josh Lyman in the previous episode, Congressman Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) agrees to run for President on one condition: Josh must manage his campaign. This mirrors the "Bartlet for America" origin story between Leo and Jed. manages the fallout with her trademark poise while
: The episode highlights the "tragedy" of a lame-duck presidency. While the staff wants to achieve major goals, they are physically and politically limited by the President's health and the upcoming election.