Metro Link (Federal Rail Funding)

A non‑physical, spoken referent to federal rail funding—summoned as 'US rail' in staff conversation rather than produced as paperwork. It has no material form: no printed memo, no map, only a phrase that functions like a coin. In Josh's bullpen the term snaps across the table as leverage—brandished by staffers, weighed by senior advisors, and offered as a programmatic payoff to bend a congressman's vote.

2 appearances

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S1E4 · Five Votes Down

Forgotten Anniversary and the Hardball Green Light

The 'metro link' is invoked verbally as transferable political currency—Josh uses it as the concrete concession he'd offer Katzenmoyer if intimidation fails, making it a bargaining chip that anchors the hardball strategy in policy terms.

Before: A conceptual line item—a promised federal project used as leverage, not physically present.

After: Remains a threat/offer in the conversation; its deployment is contingent on the political outcome of Josh's plan.

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S1E4 · Five Votes Down

Authorize the Hard Line on Katzenmoyer

The 'metro link' is an invoked funding commodity — Josh offers it as the alternative carrot if intimidation fails, turning a federal project into transactional leverage in the vote fight.

Before: A transferable political commodity only referenced in bargaining; not yet committed or allocated.

After: Remains an available bargaining chip in the team's strategic options; explicitly named as fallback leverage if coercion fails.

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