: Following the encounter, the McCords suspect that a doctor is being pressured to withhold Alison's cough medicine as a way to silence them regarding Gordon's erratic behavior. Subplot: Blake's Efficiency Challenge
: On Matt’s advice to treat them like "competing bucks," Blake tricks both departments by threatening to let the Department of Defense take over their project. This perceived "common enemy" causes the two departments to cooperate immediately to retain control, successfully resolving the conflict. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 9 Recap: Winter Garden Madam Secretary - Season 5Eps9
Elizabeth and Jay Whitman work to preserve a historic peace agreement between that is being threatened by the government of Spain . : Following the encounter, the McCords suspect that
: Spain, dealing with its own internal independence movements (a reference to Catalonia), is reluctant to support the deal, fearing it sets a precedent for secession. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 9 Recap: Winter
