WASHINGTON D.C. - He wouldn't be the first politician who's used a little sleight of hand.
But as it turns out, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, is an accomplished magician. And he shares his talent for magic in a weekly video message to his constituents via Facebook.
It's Pocan's "Magic Mondays" - a weekly video series in which he performs a magic trick while explaining what is happening in Washington. Pocan began Magic Mondays in January this year and has continued his magic tricks after getting positive feedback on the videos, which are both entertaining and informative.
"(Magic Mondays) helps show a real perspective on Washington," he said.
His weekly Magic Mondays can be a challenge.
"It's hard to find time," Pocan said, "when I'm working 12-13 hour days." He said there has been several instances when he had to do them quickly on a Monday and post them immediately.
Pocan said the tricks he performs are mostly new but sometimes he digs into his older bag of tricks.
Magic is nothing new for Pocan - now 50, he has been performing magic tricks since grade school. He said he first got into magic when he checked out a book from the Kenosha Public Library when he was just 8 years old. He went on to do some small magic shows.
At 14, he won the Junior Magic Competition in Madison and placed third in the regional competition. He even helped pay for college by performing shows throughout the region.
By the time Pocan started running his own print company in Madison, Budget Signs & Specialties, his passion for magic was pushed aside for a time. Pocan first entered politics in 1998 winning the 78th Assembly District seat. He first won election to the 2nd Congressional Seat in 2012 and was re-elected last fall.
Pocan's Magic Mondays has generated some attention from large news outlets, including the Washington Post, USA Today, Huffington Post and the Chicago Sun-Times.
"The Washington Post tried to figure out one of my tricks," he said. "They didn't."
His magic tricks have also attracted attention from noted celebrity magician David Copperfield, who now follows him on Twitter. Pocan said he was asked by the popular television show "America's Got Talent" to go on the show, but he declined.
The Society of American Magicians repost his Magic Mondays videos on its social media every week, he said.
"It's always nice to have recognition," Pocan said.
But as it turns out, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, is an accomplished magician. And he shares his talent for magic in a weekly video message to his constituents via Facebook.
It's Pocan's "Magic Mondays" - a weekly video series in which he performs a magic trick while explaining what is happening in Washington. Pocan began Magic Mondays in January this year and has continued his magic tricks after getting positive feedback on the videos, which are both entertaining and informative.
"(Magic Mondays) helps show a real perspective on Washington," he said.
His weekly Magic Mondays can be a challenge.
"It's hard to find time," Pocan said, "when I'm working 12-13 hour days." He said there has been several instances when he had to do them quickly on a Monday and post them immediately.
Pocan said the tricks he performs are mostly new but sometimes he digs into his older bag of tricks.
Magic is nothing new for Pocan - now 50, he has been performing magic tricks since grade school. He said he first got into magic when he checked out a book from the Kenosha Public Library when he was just 8 years old. He went on to do some small magic shows.
At 14, he won the Junior Magic Competition in Madison and placed third in the regional competition. He even helped pay for college by performing shows throughout the region.
By the time Pocan started running his own print company in Madison, Budget Signs & Specialties, his passion for magic was pushed aside for a time. Pocan first entered politics in 1998 winning the 78th Assembly District seat. He first won election to the 2nd Congressional Seat in 2012 and was re-elected last fall.
Pocan's Magic Mondays has generated some attention from large news outlets, including the Washington Post, USA Today, Huffington Post and the Chicago Sun-Times.
"The Washington Post tried to figure out one of my tricks," he said. "They didn't."
His magic tricks have also attracted attention from noted celebrity magician David Copperfield, who now follows him on Twitter. Pocan said he was asked by the popular television show "America's Got Talent" to go on the show, but he declined.
The Society of American Magicians repost his Magic Mondays videos on its social media every week, he said.
"It's always nice to have recognition," Pocan said.