Kail, this is so fascinating! Now, in hindsight, it makes sense that they used private investigators for Season 8 (and probably for Season 9) in order to make the twist work.

So my parents are conservative Republicans, and I imagine you would get along really well with them. I myself am a moderate Independent. I suspect the mean lady who yelled at you was one of those hyperliberal partisans who ONLY wants to see people with the same political views as hers represented on TV.

And I'd definitely shop at your family's mom-and-pop grocery store, regardless of where we might disagree politically.