We Called The ‘Pluribus’ Phone Number. Here’s What Happened.

Better Call Saul? More like better call a personalized White House hotline to find out what the heck is happening in Pluribus!

The riveting, downright terrifying premiere of Pluribus, Vince Gilligan’s new Apple TV series, introduced Better Call Saul alum Rhea Seehorn as Carol, a curmudgeonly romance author who’s swiftly forced to navigate a world-altering event. When everyone except Carol is infected with happiness, she sets out to save them. But before she embarks on her ambitiously heroic mission, she calls a White House hotline to get more info.

As noted in our official Pluribus review, the unique show is best enjoyed unspoiled, so we’re not here to divulge the massive event and immediate aftermath that makes the premiere one of 2025’s most masterful TV episodes. That said, we do want to let you know that the number that appears on Carol’s TV when she rushes home and turns on C-SPAN desperately searching for answers, is a real, callable number.

During the Pluribus premiere, Carol turns on the television and sees a White House official standing at a podium awaiting her call. The screen reads, “CAROL WHEN YOU’RE READY YOU CAN REACH US AT THIS NUMBER: (202) 808-3981.” Early social posts Apple TV made promoting the show also encouraged viewers to call! So what happens when you dial?

When Carol dials the number in the show, the man on her TV screen, America’s Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation, Davis Taffler (Peter Bergman) picks up and says, “Hi Carol, thank you for calling. This must be so bewildering for you. So terrible…” He apologizes for the horrors she’s witnessed and attempts to explain the situation at hand when Carol asks, “What the fuck is happening?!”

After telling Carol her life is her own, Taffler assures her he and the rest of the world will figure out what makes her different and fix it, so she can join them in happiness. Pluribus‘ terrified protagonist hangs up the phone in the moment, but learns that if she needs anything, she can dial 0 for assistance.

In real life, if viewers call 202-808-3981, the Washington, DC number plays a recording from a woman who sounds like Zosia (Karolina Wydra).

“Hi, Carol. We’re so glad you called. We can’t wait for you to join us. Dial 0 and we’ll get back to you via text message.”

Whether you dial 0 or not, the call disconnects on its own. But if you do take the leap, channel your inner Carol, and pound the 0 button on your cell phone, Zosia and the others do indeed follow up with the following text:

Please know your life is your own, Carol. You have agency!

That being said, Reply YES to sign up for updates from Apple TV+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Freq varies, consent not a condition of purchase, msg & data rates apply. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help.

So there you have it, Pluribus fans! One single mystery in this series has been solved! And we had a blast getting to the bottom of it.

The decision to make the hotline a functional phone number not only engaged viewers, but reminded me of past efforts from other iconic shows like The Office, who created working phone numbers and websites for fans. The A+ move is not only a fun surprise, but it shows an admirable, meticulous attention to detail that Pluribus maintains throughout its first season. Stay tuned for more exciting Easter eggs as the series progresses!

New episodes of Pluribus premiere Fridays on Apple TV.