Chris Evans reveals using role as Captain America to attract politicians to civic engagement site

Chris Evans used his role as Captain America to attract politicians to his passion project, he revealed on Tuesday’s episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers.

The 39-year-old actor has founded a website that lets lawmakers explain political issues and legislation.

He described the site called A Starting Point as a ‘civic engagement platform’ that allows politicians to speak about everything from artificial intelligence to education and the environment.

Superhero role: Chris Evans used his role as Captain America to attract politicians to his passion project, he revealed on Tuesday’s episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers

The participating politicians answer basic questions about budgeting, finance, taxes and more, which Chris hopes will help people better understand emerging laws and policies.

The self-professed ‘news junkie’ immediately saw the idea as a win-win for everyone involved, but it took a lot of work for him to earn politicians’ trust.

Convincing people to get on board ‘was an uphill battle,’ he revealed.

‘I think, naively, I thought, ”Well, I’ll just write a letter! Who wouldn’t want to be a part [of this?]”,’ Chris noted. ‘But obviously we’re trying to cultivate a new relationship. We have nothing to show; we just have our words. There was apprehension.’

Marvel universe: The 39-year-old actor is shown as Captain America in a still from the 2012 film The Avengers along with Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson

Marvel universe: The 39-year-old actor is shown as Captain America in a still from the 2012 film The Avengers along with Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson

In a video, Chris reassured an unknown figure on the phone, who said, ‘There have been so many celebrities that have come through and essentially tricked members of Congress.’

Chris swore to them that he would be ‘happy to jump on the phone or get a coffee, or whatever’s necessary to put their concerns at ease.’

‘There were some people I thought would participate who wanted to nothing to do with us,’ he told Seth, 46, not naming names. ‘And there were some people that I thought never in a million years would sit down with us, and they showed up and answered everything.’

Civic engagement: Chris described the site called A Starting Point as a 'civic engagement platform' that allows politicians to speak about everything from artificial intelligence to education and the environment

Civic engagement: Chris described the site called A Starting Point as a ‘civic engagement platform’ that allows politicians to speak about everything from artificial intelligence to education and the environment

The actor had one secret weapon in the halls of Congress, he shared.

‘Being Captain America didn’t hurt,’ Chris said. ‘That was the string we were really playing on the whole time. It was nice to use that in a way that got us in the door but didn’t add any pressure.’

‘In the film world, when you show up, if you’re making a movie or in a rehearsal, first day of filming, there’s an expectation,’ he went on. ‘I don’t think anyone expected much out of me in D.C., so when the expectations are low, that’s where I thrive.’

Captain card: 'Being Captain America didn't hurt,' Chris said. 'That was the string we were really playing on the whole time. It was nice to use that in a way that got us in the door but didn't add any pressure'

Captain card: ‘Being Captain America didn’t hurt,’ Chris said. ‘That was the string we were really playing on the whole time. It was nice to use that in a way that got us in the door but didn’t add any pressure’

Chris and his partners told politicians that they wanted to do the website for the long haul.

‘If we’re duplicitous, if we get you to answer a question, then we eviscerate you, you’re not coming back,’ he pointed out. ‘The nature of this is to provide something for everybody. What’s that saying, ”A good idea is when everybody wins”? Everybody can win here, but it wouldn’t happen if we’re trying to slam people.’

Since the site was founded in 2017, Chris had made 10 trips to Washington, D.C., and noted that ‘each time got easier and easier. And everyone was so sweet and so lovely.’

Trust issues: Chris and his partners told politicians that they wanted to do the website for the long haul.

Trust issues: Chris and his partners told politicians that they wanted to do the website for the long haul.

‘Honestly, if you give them a platform and you ensure that the mechanism is not designed to be duplicitous, they respond to it,’ he shared.

The Defending Jacob star got the inspiration for the website after a Google search he’d done to learn about ‘a policy or bill’ turned up confusing, unhelpful information.

‘It felt like there was a hole there, that there was something missing,’ he recalled. ‘I’m sure there are plenty of people who are interested in politics, and it’s daunting.’

Needed information: The Defending Jacob star got the inspiration for the website after a Google search he'd done to learn about 'a policy or bill' turned up confusing, unhelpful information

Needed information: The Defending Jacob star got the inspiration for the website after a Google search he’d done to learn about ‘a policy or bill’ turned up confusing, unhelpful information

The actor sought out politicians instead of experts because he felt that choosing ‘experts’ was a subjective matter that would just drag him ‘into the weeds.’

‘When you read something online, you start questioning: What’s the agenda, what’s the bias, where’s the money?’ Chris explained. ‘I want to remove as much subjectivity as possible, and allow the connectivity between elected official and electorate exist more clearly.’

‘Politicians may not be an expert in every single field, but they’re still the ones voting on policy,’ he emphasized. ‘They’re the ones affecting your life, and I think the American people should know who those players are.’

Good point: 'Politicians may not be an expert in every single field, but they're still the ones voting on policy,' he emphasized. 'They're the ones affecting your life, and I think the American people should know who those players are'

Good point: ‘Politicians may not be an expert in every single field, but they’re still the ones voting on policy,’ he emphasized. ‘They’re the ones affecting your life, and I think the American people should know who those players are’

A Starting Point allows politicos to present two sides to a debate, or explore issues they feel passionately about without worrying about who their audience is.

Chris cited a discussion about the merits of mail-in voting, which featured U.S. representatives Eric Swalwell and Dusty Johnson.

He considered it ‘the gold standard’ for civil discourse, noting that they disagreed with each other but started every statement with, ‘Ok, I hear what you’re saying.’

Gold standard: Chris cited a discussion about the merits of mail-in voting, which featured U.S. representatives Eric Swalwell and Dusty Johnson

Gold standard: Chris cited a discussion about the merits of mail-in voting, which featured U.S. representatives Eric Swalwell and Dusty Johnson

‘Just that statement—it’s like a breath of fresh air,’ he marveled. ‘Somehow I think listening has become conflated with weakness or capitulation, and that just shows you are a thorough thinker.’

Chris offered that he was, at heart, a person who wanted to help other people.

‘Some people are so divided and polarized right now,’ he said. ‘I thought maybe leaning on information, leaning on the north star of truth, might be a more effective starting point.’

Chris first played superhero Steve Rogers in the 2011 Marvel Studios film Captain America: The First Avenger and has reprised the role in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films.

Popular character: The Boston native first played superhero Steve Rogers in the 2011 Marvel Studios film Captain America: The First Avenger and has reprised the role in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films

Popular character: The Boston native first played superhero Steve Rogers in the 2011 Marvel Studios film Captain America: The First Avenger and has reprised the role in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films