My name is Fina Mendoza.
I moved to Washington DC with my older sister Gabby because Papa works in the US Capitol.
He's a congressman.
Me?
I solve mysteries.
And just a reminder, fourth graders, your report on whichever state you choose is due tomorrow.
Margaret?
Unmute, Margaret.
Again?
Got it.
Sorry.
I picked Alaska, Miss Greenwood.
That's great, Margaret.
I chose North Dakota, only because it's the only state I haven't visited.
At least not yet.
I've already been to the other 49.
Good for you, Becca.
Is it okay that I picked D.C., Miss Greenwood?
I know it's not a state, at least not yet, but it's where we live.
That's fine, Michael.
Did you know that Alexandria, Virginia used to be a part of D.C.?
Why don't you save the details for when we make our reports?
Mason, what did you choose?
I, uh, I'm still deciding to screen what there's so many great states to choose from.
You'd better pick one soon, Mason.
Reports are due tomorrow.
What about you, Fina?
I picked California, Miss Greenwood, where I was born.
Very good.
Now, for the news I know all of you have been waiting for, the winner of the St.
Philip's reading competition between our fourth grade class and Mr. Thursby's fifth grade class.
Yeah, awesome.
And the winner is?
Well, unfortunately, it's not us.
Our class read 623 pages.
The fifth grade read 849 pages.
I know, I know.
It's disappointing.
But just think of all the books you read this month.
But we don't get the free pizza on the screen like they do.
It's not fair.
How do we know they really read all those pages?
How do we know they aren't lying?
How do we know you weren't lying about the number of pages you read, Mason?
All right, that's enough.
And that's it for Zoom class today.
I look forward to hearing your state's reports tomorrow.
I'll see you promptly at 830.
Try to log on early so we don't waste time.
Have a good afternoon.
California.
Home of two presidents of the United States, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.
And now, home of two vice presidents of the United States, Richard Nixon and... Gabby!
Gabby!
I'm trying to do homework.
And I've got pandemic band practice.
Go down to the basement.
I can't.
The Wi-Fi is terrible down there.
Can't you at least play something else?
Look through the peeping hole before you open it to see who it is and make sure they are wearing a mask.
I know, I know.
It's a guy with a pizza.
He's wearing a mask.
Pizza?
Abuelita, you didn't tell me we were having pizza for dinner.
If we are, I wish someone would have told me.
I had carnitas on the stove all afternoon.
Yeah, yeah, I have a delivery for a Fina Mendoza.
That's me.
Thanks.
Here, Fina, give the nice boy a tip, propino.
Oh, thanks, ma'am.
Mmm.
What kind did you get?
I don't know.
I don't even know where it came from.
I'll heat it up in the oven.
Back to your bed and practice, Gabby.
Edwina, you have homework, right?
Yes, Abuelita.
Yes, Abuelita.
Two vice presidents from California, Richard Nixon and... Gabby!
What's all the yelling about?
Listen!
I see.
I have to finish my report on California.
It's due tomorrow.
Well, and I have a few phone calls to make before tomorrow's vote certification.
Well, band practice can't go on much longer.
I hope.
I thought they were done with the election.
That Kornacki guy finally got to go home.
Why are you counting votes, Papa?
We're not counting them, Fina.
We're finalizing the results of the electoral college.
Electoral college?
Like USC?
Not exactly.
I don't understand.
Blame Alexander Hamilton.
It was his idea.
The founding fathers didn't think voters were smart enough to elect the president themselves.
So instead, when we vote, we're actually telling members of the electoral college how to vote for us.
That doesn't seem fair.
Letting someone else do the voting?
It's the law of the land.
And it would take a constitutional amendment to change it.
So tomorrow the vice president will run a meeting of the House and the Senate to officially go over the results.
And if someone has an issue, the House and the Senate go away to argue about it.
Then they come back to vote on it.
It's just a ceremony.
Most of the time.
And so, Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21, 1959.
It's called the Aloha State.
Aloha means goodbye and hello.
And it's the only state made out of islands.
The end.
Well done, Kara.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
And as soon as the pandemic ends, I want to go there.
You and me both, Kara.
Who's next?
Mason?
I'm, uh, uh... I'm ready.
I've been ready since Tuesday.
All right, Becca.
Miss Greenwood?
Yes, Margaret?
Thank you for sending the pizza.
It was great.
Yeah, thanks, Miss Greenwood.
Thank you, Miss Greenwood.
It was delicious.
Thank you, Miss Greenwood.
Wait a minute.
What pizza?
The pizza guy brought us all our own pizza.
I wondered who sent the pizza last night.
It wasn't me.
Maybe it was the raccoons.
They were the ones who messed up the classroom.
Maybe it was their way of saying, I'm sorry.
I'm not sure the raccoons are smart enough to order pizza for the class.
Class, do I have to remind you of our rule?
We turn off our devices while we're in school.
Wait, just a minute.
Hello?
Principal Davies?
FINA!
Come look at the TV.
I'm in class and so are you.
You're not supposed to have the TV on during school hours.
Abuelita, you've got to come see.
It's like a movie.
All those people.
Look, they're climbing all over the inauguration platform in front of the Capitol.
Right.
So, class, there's some news.
I know a lot of your parents work on Capitol Hill.
My mom works for Senator Farnsworth.
My dad's a reporter.
He covers Congress.
My mom's a Capitol Police woman.
My dad's a congressman.
Yes, yes.
Listen, all of you.
You know Congress is voting today to certify the electoral votes for the presidential election.
We know, Ms.
Greenwood, we all know that the senators and the congresspeople who are going to argue that the vote shouldn't count,
Yes, well, there are a number of people who want to do more than just argue.
A large crowd has surrounded the Capitol, and many of those people are trying to get inside the building.
They can't do that.
Visitors have to go through the metal detectors in the Capitol Visitor Center.
Unless they have a family past, like me.
I know, Fina.
But, uh, well... Fina!
They broke that window near the x-ray machine.
The one on the south side of the Capitol.
And a bunch of people are waving Confederate flags in Statuary Hall.
Miss Greenwood, my papa's in the Capitol.
So's my dad.
So's my mom.
Mine too.
I have to call my mom.
I have to call my dad.
Take a breath, all of you.
One more.
Okay.
How many of you are at home without an adult?
Me.
Me.
All right.
I want all of you to check in with your parents right now.
Anyone who can't get a hold of their mom or dad or guardian, call me.
Stay inside.
It's going to be all right.
Thank you.
Papa?
Papa!
You're home!
Finally!
Are you okay?
Mijas!
Tutu!
Gracias, adios.
I cannot tell you how many rosaries I have prayed for your safety.
I'm home now, Mama.
It was so scary, Papa.
The sirens and the pictures on TV.
And you didn't answer your phone.
I dropped it when the Capitol Police moved us out of the house chamber.
We were locked inside a room for hours.
We saw you on TV, Papa.
You and the lady who was praying and the one with the ugly shoes up in the balcony.
Yes, yes, but I'm home now and I'm fine.
But why, Papa?
Why did those people want to hurt the Capitol?
Or even hurt you, Papa.
Do you remember that year when your Dodgers lost to the Houston Astros and how angry you got when you found out the Astros were stealing signs about pitches?
They were cheating, Papa.
That's right.
Well, for months now, the president has been telling his fans that he was cheated in the election.
But he wasn't, Papa.
No, he wasn't, Fina, but his lies made his people angry.
The Dodgers were angry, but they didn't break into the Astros' ballpark and trash their locker room and steal their stuff.
No, they worked harder and played even better.
Not only beat the Astros, they eventually won the World Series.
Fina, that's the way you're supposed to bounce back from defeat.
The right way.
Now let me go change my shirt.
I'm going back to the capital.
Nonsense, mijo.
You're staying home with your familia.
Not tonight, mama.
Wrap me up a slice of that cold pizza and I'll take it with me.
Why are you going back to the capital, papá?
I was elected to do a job, Fina.
Tonight, Congress is going to face down the bullies and finish our constitutional duty.
Voting to certify the electoral votes.
Remember this night, girls.
This is Democracy in Action.
Thank you.
The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast is written and produced by Kitty Felde.
Our cast includes Amy Solano as Fina Mendoza, Monica Fitchell as Gabby, Stephen Cuevas as Papa, Christine Avila as Abuelita, Susan Vallett as Miss Greenwood, India Scalioni as Becca, William Beamer as Michael.
Mika Scaglione as Margaret Leo Shodorf as Mason Isla Shodorf as Kara Wenzel Jones as the guy at Mario's Pizza, Steve Gamber as the pizza delivery guy and Steve Dvorkin is Senator Something.
Hannah Matzecki is our associate producer.
Hunter Felde is associate sound designer.
Our music comes from composer and musician Andrew Barkin.
Our logo designer is Imelda Hinojosa.
And special thanks to singer-songwriter Annie Chelsea.
This episode is based on the Fina Mendoza novella Losing is Democratic.
How to Talk to Kids About January 6, published by Chesapeake Press.
You can get an autographed copy of the book by following the link in the show notes.
The book includes curriculum that can be used in the classroom or for homeschooling.
Losing is Democratic has been praised by Democratic U.S.
Senator Adam Schiff and former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, both members of the House Select Committee, on the January 6th attack.
Next time on the Fina Mendoza Mysteries.
Remember Senator, Something you've got to be careful with social media.
That's coming up next on the Fina Mendoza Mysteries.
I'm Kitty Felde.
Thanks so much for listening.
By the way, book three in the Fina Mendoza Mysteries is called Snake in the Grass and it will be released on April 1st 2025.
In the book.
The bitter partisanship has gotten so bad on Capitol Hill.
Somebody is putting snakes in the trash cans and gym bags of members of Congress.
That's Snake in the Grass, published by Chesapeake Press and available for pre-order now.
I'm Kitty Felde.
Thanks so much for listening.
