Elizabeth and Jay Whitman work to preserve a historic peace agreement between that is being threatened by the government of Spain .
: 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
: Henry McCord (Tim Daly) has a bizarre and tense encounter with Secretary of Defense Gordon Becker . Elizabeth and Jay Whitman work to preserve a
: Jay identifies that a Russian troll farm is spreading fake news to fuel sectarian violence and destabilize the peace process. Madam Secretary Season 5 Episode 9 Recap: Winter
: Jay manages to convince a social media executive to help shut down the troll farm. Elizabeth confronts the Russian minister with evidence of the disinformation's deadly consequences, eventually forcing a pivot that allows the peace agreement to proceed. Personal Plot: The McCord Family and Gordon Becker
: Blake Moran, recently promoted, faces a territorial dispute between two departments, OES (Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs) and GHD (Global Health Diplomacy), over an international program.