Premise: The lowest person on the government leadership ladder — the Secretary for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — becomes President of the United States after the Capitol building is destroyed during the State of the Union address, with no survivors in an alleged terrorist attack.
Twists:
1) In the morning, the HUD Secretary was being fired (“promoted” to a do-nothing posting in Canada)
2) The terrorist attack might have originated within the United States by Americans
3) The military does not like the new President, thinking he’s a milquetoast
This held my interest despite the fact I wanted to bail as soon as I saw this:
They opened with a damn flash-forward. I hate that. It’s lazy writing.
Some people might draw a parallel between the Kirkman character and Donald Trump — both being seen as unqualified and outsiders. False equivalence. Kirkman has been a government insider, if only on the periphery. He knows how the machinery works. Trump doesn’t.
I’m interested in seeing a second episode. I can’t figure out where they’re going with this. The next episode should give a good indication.
Mike Cane's Atomic Supermen 
I had the same feeling as you on the flash forward. I said to wife ‘I hate this bullshit’. When I saw phone shot I wondered if government still uses them. I knew how first episode was going due to title. I’m now baffled as to how far this military coup is going to go. I did not make the Trump association. This guy doesn’t have the arrogance and stupidity of Trump. I watched because I like Sutherland as an actor. Also think I could fall in love with, I think her name is Ricci, the president’s wife very easily. Another question, does the president summon an ambassador to talk directly, maybe secretary of state would tell him where the bear shots.
You might recall the actress playing the President’s wife from the movie Ronin. She’s very good.
Don’t recall seeing that flick. She is one beautiful woman.