[s7e2] Pressing The Flesh -

Mellie is eager to prove herself as a diplomat, but Rashad isn't making it easy. He plays hardball, initially dismissing Mellie because she is a woman. While Mellie tries to lead with charm, Olivia Pope—now operating as both Chief of Staff and Command of B613—is ready to play dirty.

Olivia tasks Jake Ballard with digging up dirt, eventually finding that Rashad has been secretly educating his niece in the U.S.. When Olivia attempts to use this to blackmail him, she meets her match: Rashad refuses to back down, calling her "the devil" for her ruthless tactics. Gladiators in the White House [S7E2] Pressing the Flesh

Scandal Season 7, Episode 2 Recap: "Pressing the Flesh" In the second episode of Scandal ’s final season, the White House is in full swing as President Mellie Grant hosts her first high-stakes state dinner. The goal? A historic nuclear treaty with President Rashad of Bashran to secure peace in the Middle East. But in true Scandal fashion, "Pressing the Flesh" is less about polite dinner conversation and more about blackmail, power plays, and a shocking return. Mellie’s Big Move and Olivia’s Dark Turn Mellie is eager to prove herself as a

Meanwhile, the team at Quinn Perkins & Associates (QPA) is at the party for a different reason—hunting for high-profile clients to rebuild their firm's reputation. However, Huck’s "Gladiator" instincts take over when he notices something off about a guest’s credentials. He successfully identifies and thwarts an assassination attempt on Rashad, which ultimately softens the Bashrani leader and brings him back to the negotiating table with Mellie. Scandal Recap: The President Needs a Vibrator - Vulture Olivia tasks Jake Ballard with digging up dirt,