When writers use the lede, “In a scene straight out of House of Cards…” to describe political intrigue in our fair city, the snake is eating its own tail: The show, adapted from the BBC series of the same name, is based on the wheeling and dealing that now bears its name. Who is the snake charmer behind the series, holding a funhouse mirror to Washington’s politicos? That would be Beau Willimon. The man who also packed his play Farragut North with a cast of power-hungry politicians found Hollywood success after years of work in high-profile presidential and Senate campaigns. How closely did his experiences working for the likes of Charles Schumer and Howard Dean resemble the harsh, heartless world of House of Cards? He’ll chat with New York Times media columnist (and former Washington City Paper editor) David Carr at the National Museum of Natural History and, like Frank Underwood, discuss his jaded take on politics and power, how the show’s distribution on Netflix has affected the way we watch television, and, perhaps, some important Metro safety tips. Beau Willimon speaks at 6:45 p.m. at the National Museum of Natural History’s Baird Auditorium, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. $25–$30. (202) 633-3030. smithsonianassociates.org.