‘House of Cards’ star Michael Kelly set to join Capitol event on military quality of life

WE HEAR: The fictional and real-life versions of Washington are poised to collide once again as a “House of Cards” star heads to a Capitol Hill briefing on military quality of life.

Michael Kelly, who played White House chief of staff Doug Stamper on Netflix’s political thriller, will be on-hand for a Thursday afternoon panel discussion held by the nonprofit Blue Star Families at the Longworth House Office Building.

The event is aimed at shining “a spotlight on what is being done, and what more should be done, to address the unique needs of military families, including spouse employment, childcare, food security, mental health, housing and community support,” according to Blue Star Families.

In addition to his “House of Cards” role, Kelly played an Army lieutenant general in the 2017 National Geographic Channel miniseries “The Long Road Home” and joined a 2019 USO tour. Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Craigslist founder Craig Newmark and Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet are also among the briefing’s participants.

Journalist Kara Swisher and Newmark will also headline a Blue Star Families reception for military families on Thursday at Dog Tag Bakery in Washington. The group is expected to unveil a new campaign inspired by a $100 million donation from Newmark’s philanthropic foundation to organizations that support military families and veterans, which was announced in June.