Choose the correct phrase to complete the podcast host's nervous response.

"Are the aliens going to beam up our broadcasting tower before we finish the episode?" asked the co-host. "I _____, or we'll never get our sponsorship money!"

The correct answer is strongly suspect not.

In English, when substituting a negative that-clause, verbs of thinking or believing are divided into two groups.

Verbs like think, believe, and suppose usually negate the main verb and use so (e.g., "I don't think so").

However, verbs like suspect, hope, assume, and be afraid keep the main verb affirmative and use not to replace the negative clause (e.g., "I hope not," "I suspect not"). Therefore, "don't suspect so" is grammatically unnatural here.