Policy Intern

Semester: Winter (January - May 2027)

Status: Part-time Temporary (25 hours per week)
Reports to: Isabel Sunderland, Policy Lead of Technology Reform

Stipend: $18.40/hour 

Location: Washington, DC Preferred (Remote Available–see note under location section)

ORGANIZATION

Issue One is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization that unites Republicans, Democrats, and independents to win game-changing federal reforms to fix our broken political system and create an inclusive democracy that works for everyone. Issue One educates the public and Congress to pass legislation to increase transparency, strengthen government ethics and accountability, reduce the influence of big money in politics, protect the freedom to vote, and strengthen U.S. elections.

POSITION

Issue One seeks an intern eager to advance policy at the intersection of technology, money in politics, and constitutional checks and balances.

The intern will work primarily with our technology reform program, which strengthens the information environment through policy and advocacy on kids’ online safety, data privacy, Section 230 liability, national security, and AI governance. The intern may also support research and analysis for Issue One’s work exposing the influence of money in politics. They may also contribute to our constitutional defense work, which pushes back against executive overreach and defends checks and balances and the rule of law.

Day to day, the intern will support policy analysis, legislative outreach, subject-matter research, coalition engagement, and campaign building. Ideal candidates are adaptable, curious, and comfortable juggling shifting priorities in a fast-paced policy environment.

Interns are integral members of Issue One. On our small but growing team, you will gain hands-on experience in bipartisan outreach and advocacy, communications and messaging, event planning, and coalition building. You will also collaborate closely with partner reform organizations and get a front-row view of the technology reform work advancing across the country.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Research and Policy Analysis

• Conduct research on topics at the intersection of technology, democracy, and accountability, including social media, artificial intelligence, kids’ online safety, data privacy, Section 230 liability, disinformation and misinformation, national security, polarization, and democratic resilience.
• Support research and analysis for Issue One’s work exposing the influence of money in politics and for our constitutional defense work pushing back against executive overreach and defending checks and balances and the rule of law.
• Track federal and state legislation, regulatory developments, court rulings, and news relevant to the technology reform agenda.
• Synthesize complex policy, legal, legislative, academic, and news materials into clear and accessible summaries for internal and external use.
• Draft and contribute to policy memos, research briefs, fact sheets, talking points, reports, articles, and other materials for policymakers, partners, advocates, media, and the public.

Advocacy, Legislative, and Coalition Support

• Support legislative outreach and advocacy advancing the Technology Reform program’s priorities.
• Help prepare materials for meetings with policymakers, advocacy organizations, academics, civil society partners, and other stakeholders.
• Attend meetings, briefings, hearings, public events, and coalition calls as assigned, and provide clear notes or summaries for Issue One staff.
• Build and maintain internal trackers, databases, and shared research resources on technology policy, legislation, litigation, corporate conduct, and advocacy opportunities.
• Conduct qualitative and basic quantitative research to support Issue One’s policy, advocacy, and public education work.
• Work with the Technology Reform team to turn policy priorities into concrete campaign actions, including digital content, partner engagement, public events, legislative outreach, and rapid-response materials.
• Support advocacy and coalition efforts across Issue One’s money-in-politics and constitutional defense work, including outreach to policymakers and partners on campaign finance transparency, executive overreach, and the rule of law.

This internship is a dynamic opportunity to engage with a wide range of topics related to tech policy and democracy. Given the program's fluid, evolving nature, duties may change, and new responsibilities may be added based on program needs. Therefore, interns must be able to adapt to program needs and remain optimistic when changes occur. 

REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated interest in democracy, technology policy, online safety, AI governance, money-in-politics, and rule of law.
• Strong research skills and ability to synthesize complex policy, legal, legislative, and news materials into clear, actionable summaries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects or deadlines.
• Self-starter who can work independently, ask thoughtful questions, and see projects through to completion.
• Demonstrated ability to generate ideas, think creatively, and adapt to new projects or shifting priorities.
• Some experience or coursework related to policy research, legislative tracking, advocacy, campaigns, communications, journalism, nonprofit work, or technology policy.

LOCATION

This will be a part-time internship of 25 hours per week, with a strong preference for in-person. Interns can work remotely or join us on-site for a hybrid schedule, including being in our Washington, DC office on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. If remote, they must reside in a state where Issue One is formally established. These states include California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, or Virginia. Remote opportunities outside of these states are not available.

We anticipate this being a roughly 19-week internship, with a start date on or about January 11 through May 28, 2027. The internship duration is flexible and may be extended if both the intern and their supervisor agree. 

Intern Selection Timeline

• October 8-23: Position is posted, and resumes are collected. 
• October 26-November 6: Resumes are screened and interviews are scheduled.
• November 9-13: Finalist selected and internship offered. 
• January 11, 2027: Internship begins.

Special Note: While Issue One will do its best to follow the above timeline, there are instances where the selection process is shortened or delayed due to circumstances beyond our control. The organization will do its best to update all selected candidates on any changes to the timeline. In addition, while resumes may be submitted after October 23, there’s no guarantee they will be screened for a potential interview.

DEI Philosophy and Self-ID Questionnaire 

Our DEI efforts focus on empowering staff, valuing differences, and ensuring every voice matters. We aim to attract diverse candidates with varied perspectives and experiences, reinforcing our commitment to a workplace where everyone's unique contributions are celebrated.

We ask all applicants to fill out a voluntary self-identification questionnaire as part of our application. This helps us maintain our DEI commitment and create equal opportunities for success.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply by clicking "apply for this job" in the top-right corner of this page. Please include how you heard about the position. 

Issue One is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities and all other employment laws and regulations. We intend to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity, or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decisions, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, credit information, employment status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, homeless status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Company is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, fringe benefits, and other compensation, the application of disability and/or temporary disability policies, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.