Ep 1. News Cycle

As the fourth season of Madam Secretary kicks off, the stakes are higher than ever for Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord (played by Téa Leoni) and her team. In the season opener, "News Cycle," McCord must navigate a tricky international situation while grappling with a major crisis at home.

At the beginning of the episode, McCord is on her way to a top-secret meeting with the President and the Joint Chiefs of Staff when she learns of a major leak from her staff. Someone has leaked information about a covert operation to the press, and McCord and her team must scramble to contain the fallout.

As the media frenzy rages on, McCord is forced to make some tough decisions about how to handle the situation. Meanwhile, she also receives a surprise visit from her estranged brother, who has some unexpected news to share.

But as always, McCord and her team refuse to be deterred by any obstacle. They work tirelessly to track down the leaker and come up with a plan to mitigate the damage caused by the leaked information.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to the dynamic interplay between the members of McCord's team. There's Russell Jackson (played by Željko Ivanek), the White House chief of staff who never misses an opportunity to hint at his political ambitions. Nadine Tolliver (played by Bebe Neuwirth) is McCord's trusted chief of staff, who always has her boss's back. Meanwhile, Blake Moran (played by Erich Bergen) is the quirky social media expert who adds a lighthearted touch to the team's serious work.

As always, the show also takes an unflinching look at the complex political realities of our world. In "News Cycle," we see the tenuous relationships between the United States and other global powers, as well as the tricky balancing act that McCord must navigate in order to maintain America's influence on the world stage.

Overall, Madam Secretary continues to be one of the most engaging and thought-provoking shows on television. "News Cycle" sets the stage for what promises to be another exciting season, as McCord and her team deal with ever more complicated political challenges both at home and abroad.