S3E6 · What It Takes

Kendall prepares to submit the paperwork he has retrieved on the cruises scandal to the Department of Justice. Lisa warns him that the documents may not be sufficient legal ammunition to build a winning case against Waystar, but Kendall refuses to listen.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Roys attend the Future Freedom Summit, a conservative political donor event in Richmond, Virginia, in search of a viable presidential candidate in the upcoming election in light of the current President choosing not to run for reelection. Logan primarily seeks a nominee who will temper the DOJ investigation into the cruises scandal and help Waystar survive against Big Tech. He and the Republican establishment lean towards Dave Boyer, the incumbent Vice President.

At the Summit, Roman is surprised to learn from an attendee that his mother Caroline is marrying British CEO Peter Munion, and that the family have been invited to their wedding in Tuscany; he and Shiv call Kendall to inform him of the news. Connor uses the event as an opportunity to advance his own presidential bid. Roman is approached by Congressman Jeryd Mencken, a controversial, right-wing online provocateur.

Late in the night, Tom – who has resigned himself to the fate of incarceration and is receiving little support from Shiv – takes an equally paranoid Greg to a nearby diner for the two to share their anxieties over their shared legal peril. Tom agrees to absorb responsibility for Greg's role in the cruises cover-up.

The next day, Kendall's DOJ testimony goes poorly; he expresses frustration at having to cooperate with federal authorities—whom Logan has worked to stall—instead of taking an aggressive approach against the company. Lisa, losing patience with Kendall, bluntly informs him that he performed poorly at the testimony and that his case against his father is weakening. Kendall later decides to fire Lisa and seeks out new legal representation.

Shiv is approached at the convention by Congressman Rick Salgado, a traditional conservative who suggests that as president, he can pave a path for Shiv to become CEO of Waystar. During the candidates' dinner, Boyer and Salgado come at odds with Mencken, whom Shiv detests due to his fascist leanings, though Mencken draws attention for being the only candidate to dismiss ATN as politically irrelevant.

Logan gathers his family to his suite to field opinions on the candidates. Shiv supports Salgado while Roman takes a liking to Mencken; Shiv's concern over Mencken's fascist agenda goes ignored. Connor advocates for himself, though the idea is quickly dismissed. Boyer is ruled out after Logan deems him weak and ineffectual.

Tom receives a call from Kendall, who has arrived in Virginia, to meet with him privately at the nearby diner. Kendall suggests that Tom can avoid incarceration if he testifies against Logan, but Tom refuses, telling Kendall he has watched him fail against his father too many times to believe in him now. Kendall takes a photo of Tom as he leaves to use as potential blackmail.

Roman meets with Mencken in the bathroom of Logan's suite to understand his political philosophy, and realizes that Mencken's extreme views and nationalist rhetoric can significantly boost ATN's viewership. Mencken agrees to take Waystar's support. In the suite, Roman suggests to Logan that Mencken's candidacy will earn ATN the advertising revenue Waystar needs to fend off Big Tech and acquire streaming giant GoJo. Logan is convinced and decides to back Mencken despite Shiv's protests. The next morning, Shiv reluctantly participates in a family photoshoot with Mencken on Logan's orders.