Watch actual members of Congress read lines from House of Cards
To commemorate House of Cards' second season, a half-dozen real politicians were willing to channel Frank Underwood


Since House of Cards premiered on Netflix last year, numerous critics have blasted it for its ludicrously cynical depiction of the political scene in Washington, D.C. Would a politician ever be as calculating and cutthroat as Kevin Spacey's Frank Underwood? Maybe not — but apparently they're willing to pretend to be. In honor of the second season premiere of House of Cards, Now This News convinced a half-dozen actual members of Congress to deliver some of Underwood's most memorable lines.
Participants include Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Donna Edwards (D-Md.), and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). It turns out that icy lines like "That's how you devour a whale" or "Power is a lot like real estate. Location, location, location" are a lot more unsettling when they come from somebody who actually has political power.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.
-
Law firms: Caving to White House pressure
Feature Trump targets major law firms tied to his past investigations
By The Week US Published
-
Venezuelan deportees: Locked up for tattoos?
Feature A former pro soccer player was deported after U.S. authorities claimed his tattoo proved he belonged to a Venezuelan gang
By The Week US Published
-
Saving the post office
Feature The U.S. Postal Service is facing mounting losses and growing calls for privatization. Can it survive?
By The Week US Published