Meet Marin Cogan, GQ’s Political Correspondent.
Marin took a couple minutes between chasing down Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney to answer a few questions for one of our Famous 5 interviews.
1. How did you land the sexiest political reporting gig in DC?
It all began very sexily: with an email. No, really, the story isn’t very interesting. My editor Mark reached out to me two months ago about a job covering politics for GQ both in print and on the web. I got my start at a magazine and always intended to go back to one, and I always really admired GQ’s longform journalism. It seemed like the perfect opportunity, so I jumped. A month later I was in Iowa covering the caucuses.
2. You worked for POLITICO for two years and just started at GQ – what’s been the most interesting part of your ride so far?
I love—and I hope saying this doesn’t make them stop—the way my male sources seem conscious of the fact that I work for a men’s magazine now. They straighten their ties. They joke about being on the cover. Sometimes, they let me know which ladies we’ve featured in our pages that they find hot. It’s a lot of fun and it’s nothing like what I heard at POLITICO.
3. So tell us, where are some of the best spots to mix and mingle with celebs in DC?
Oh God, I have no idea. I guess they come up to the Hill every now and again, but the only one I ever bothered going to see was Kyle MacLachlan from Twin Peaks. He’s great. I mostly want to mingle with my friends, usually in Columbia Heights, where there are very few celebrities, as far as I know.
4. Be real: Ryan Gosling or Rep. Aaron Schock? (We’re learning towards Rep. Schock, but we’re biased.)
I mean absolutely no offense to Rep. Schock, but: Gosling. Gosling, Gosling, Gosling.
5. What is your favorite part of living in DC?
I’m lucky to have an incredible group of friends. Some are journalists and some aren’t. They are all brilliant and passionate about what they do, and really supportive. It is without a doubt my favorite thing about living in DC, and what anchors me here.