We have a poignant interview for you today— from a few years back — that made me think about what it’s like to be a young person in Washington DC.
It hasn’t changed. There’s a lot of idealism, a lot of hijinks, a lot of corruption. You go in one way, and come out another. The mighty fall, but not nearly as many as the un-mighty.
Welcome to our podcast: “Back to Bed with Susie Bright.”
This is the week of September 20, 2024. If you can consider subscribing, I’m so grateful.
The White House can’t cover my tab!
Jessica Cutler— do you remember?
She is the author of The Washingtonienne, a roman a clef about a Capitol aide working as a low-paid libertine— who didn’t give a F in the glory days of the Bush admin.
Jessica’s exposé started as a just-us-chickens diary, then got leaked by Wonkette, who recognized the scandal and the unrealized talent.
Cutler was unrepentant about her life in DC— which she understood as “business as usual.” She grasped she was being painted as the town whore. She decided to write a novel and have a few last words. Our interview came out, just as the book was breaking.
Cutler studied journalism in college, she excelled at it, but she soured on it. She actively rejected her first job at a New York fashion magazine office.
She decided to move to DC while she was in her prime, get a desk job at a pedestrian Congressional office— but her real life would be the high life! She wanted to shop and girl-bop and live the life of Sex in the City without having to write anything. She wanted to find Mr. Right, but she wanted to glam it up and play the field before she sailed off with a big ring.
The staffers, she knew, did all the work, and the “congressman” was a figurehead. She thought of herself as a nobody.
But man, when she got crossed, she came out swinging.
Cutler is a military brat, her family are no-BS active service and veterans. They backed her up. She told the truth. I think that is the reason she got through this.
‘Til next week,
Clits Up!
Susie
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