Washington Post Humor Columnist Alexandra Petri Is Primed To Defend Her Championship at the Club's Press vs. Politicians Spelling Bee

Submitted by rhowell on Fri, 09/20/2019 - 14:35

Can you spell the scientific name for bedbugs? You can bet Washington Post humor columnist Alexandra Petri (pronounced Pea’-try) can. Not only did she write a recent column taking on the persona of a bedbug incensed at being dragged into the muck of U.S. politics, she’s also a champion speller. In this edition of Update-1, National Press Club Broadcast/Podcast Committee member Viola Gienger has a fun conversation with Petri about her sense of humor, her championship last year in the NPC Press vs. Politicians Spelling Bee and her pending return this year, on Sept. 17, to defend her title.

Other previous winners have included U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in 2013 and U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) in 2015. Art Swift of Gallup won in 2016, and Todd Gillman of the Dallas Morning News orthographed his way to the championship in 2017

Bee There or Bee Square! For more information about the event and to buy tickets, see the NPC website or the Eventbrite page.