Katharine teaches Lorien all about cracking and packing, monstrous political cartoons, and shapes. That's right, it's that sexiest of topics: Gerrymandering!

Sources:

• https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/gerrymandering-explained
• https://www.history.com/articles/gerrymandering-origins-voting
• https://www.npr.org/2025/10/21/nx-s1-5577000/north-carolina-redistricting-trump
• https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HSI-pf8MumE
• https://www.gilderlehrman.org/news/elbridge-gerry-and-original-gerrymander
• https://www.npr.org/2025/11/18/nx-s1-5604412/redistricting-midterm-election-texas
• https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/19/texas-redistricting-maps-supreme-court-whats-next/
• https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/11/17/indiana-legislative-leaders-dodge-discussing-redistricting-pressure/
• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/utah-judge-rejects-republican-drawn-congressional-map-adopts-alternative-creating-democratic-leaning-district
• https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymandering-voting-maps-congress-trump-2ba53ae1f492f8e293f0fa261604e8c6

Lorien tells Katharine about a tragedy of gigantic proportions.

Sources:

• The Story of the Titanic: As Told by Its Survivors, Lawrence Beesley, Archibald Gracie, Commander Lightoller, Harold Bride, ed. Jack Winocour.
• https://www.history.com/articles/titanic
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic
• https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/titanic-tragedy-caused-by-fire-not-iceberg-claims-journalist/news-story/ef1bb657d02d64cd5f94cff4f361b4a7
• https://www.rd.com/list/titanic-survivors-what-happened-to-them-next/

Katharine tells Lorien about a seasonally appropriate phobia, and then grants her an honorary doctorate that they're sure is legit.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_clown_sightings#:~:text=The%202016%20clown%20sightings%20were,stunt%20for%20a%20horror%20film.
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21835-coulrophobia-fear-of-clowns
• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-weird-reason-were-afraid-of-clowns/
• https://time.com/4518456/scary-clown-sighting-attack-craze/
• https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/oct/31/the-great-clown-panic-of-2016-a-volatile-mix-of-fear-and-contagion#:~:text=It%20began%20in%20the,for%20adults%20and%20children%20alike.
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/10/03/merrimack-college-lockdown-reports-blame-armed-clown-sightings/91511098/
• https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/clown-mask-prank-may-have-led-to-deadly-stabbing-of-teen/
• https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2016/09/nine_clown_arrests_so_far_in_a.html
• https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2016/11/02/man-recounts-halloween-night-attack-at-hands-of-costumed-mob/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne_Gacy