The scheduled Dream Friday presentation is canceled so that Circlers can instead watch a press conference featuring Senator Williamson, who declares The Circle to be a monopoly that needs to be broken up. However, Circlers don’t seem concerned because she is considered an outsider politician, and The Circle has support from both main political parties. Mae feels that it would be unfair to punish a company for being successful. Annie calls the senator an idiot who just put herself “in a world of shit” (175). She then asks Mae about Kalden, but there is no new information. Annie seems genuinely concerned about this mystery man’s presence on campus.

Near the end of the workday, Dan summons Mae to his office. He voices his concern about Mae’s apparent lack of participation in campus activities and social media. He is critical of her PartiRank, as well as her absence at a semi-mandatory welcome party. He doesn’t understand why she would spend so much time away from campus. Mae is very apologetic, explaining she had to go home because her dad had a seizure. Dan finds this understandable, but he wants to “emphasize the community aspect of this job” (179).

Dan passes off Mae to Josiah and Denise.