Courtesy Olivia Perez-Cubas BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Olivia Perez-Cubas, communications director for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)

How/where are you celebrating your birthday and with whom? “Dinner at Philomena’s in Georgetown with a few close friends and my parents, who are in town from Miami.”

How did you get your start in politics? “As an intern for Carlos Trujillo (who was recently confirmed as U.S. ambassador to the OAS) at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, where I went to college. I enjoyed getting a behind the scenes look at policy making, and the experience encouraged me to move to DC after college.”


What’s an interesting book/article you’re reading now or finished? And why? “Really enjoyed Ross Douthat’s column on Jordan Peterson and the effect he is having on men’s views of religion and society more broadly. It’s a fascinating dynamic and one worth exploring. Two worlds of conservative commentary collided for me as I recently began listening to Peterson’s lectures. On a side note – while his lectures are popular with men, they’re certainly worthwhile for women as well!”

What is a trend going on in the U.S. or abroad that doesn’t get enough attention? “I don’t know if this constitutes as a trend necessarily, but the water crisis in South Africa – it’s a situation Americans and the media should be paying more attention to.”

What’s a fun fact that people in Washington might not know about you? “My family has a history in ice cream! (Abe Doumar is my mom’s great grandfather).”

This article tagged under: Playbook Birthday of the Day