The Third Way Adam Solomon Intern Program introduces highly motivated graduate or law students, with an interest in policy analysis and development, to the process of advancing a 21st century progressive agenda. Interns will gain hands‐on experience working closely with Third Way’s senior management team, which has extensive political, communications, and policy experience, forged at every level of government and advocacy: the White House, federal agencies, the House and Senate, presidential campaigns, and national non‐profit advocacy organizations.

Third Way is a think tank that answers America’s challenges with modern ideas aimed at the center. We advocate for private-sector economic growth, a tough and smart centrist security strategy, a clean energy revolution, and progress on divisive social issues, all through a moderate-led U.S. politics.

The Third Way Internship Program was named in 2009 in memory of our former Vice Chairman, Adam Solomon, who believed that progressives must re-think our ideas for a new era. He believed deeply in public service and was instrumental in creating Third Way.

National Security Internship

Third Way’s National Security Program is helping to build a credible, tough and smart centrist national security agenda. Recent examples of impact include:

• A Digest that argued why using force against Iran’s nuclear facilities is problematic for the U.S. and our allies in the near term;
• A Digest that explained the Pentagon’s new defense strategy and its implications for the budget;
• A memo making policy recommendations for policy in Afghanistan;
• A memo that trimmed $420 billion from the Department of Defense that cut fat—but not muscle—from our military;
• Trainings and policy briefs for Members of Congress, candidates, and senior congressional staff on national security issues.

Interns are an integral part of the team. In the past, National Security interns have:

• Produced internal background memos on specific policy issues for the National Security Program Director;
• Co-authored publications and projects;
• Attended events as a representative of Third Way and reported back to the National Security Program team;
• Produced external background memos on foreign leaders and countries;
• Researched budgets, legislation, think tank articles and news publications for Third Way National Security message documents; and,
• Analyzed and briefed the National Security Program team about new public opinion research on defense and national security issues.

Candidates must be graduate-level students with an interest in and knowledge of national politics. Outstanding research, writing, and analytical skills, as well as excellent attention to detail, are critical.

THIS IS A PAID INTERNSHIP

Economic Program Internship

Third Way’s Economic Program focuses on helping middle-class Americans achieve success in a globalizing 21st century economy. Examples of impact include:

• Assisted with the launch and direction of the White House Middle Class Task Force, discussing the formation of the group with the Vice President’s transition team and providing the transition and the White House with policy and message memos.
• Crafted numerous policy proposals, nine of which were included by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in the top Senate Democratic priorities for the 111th Congress.
• Worked extensively in 2008 with Senate and House challengers, who offered a range of Third Way policy ideas in their campaigns, including a broad-based college tuition tax break, a proposal for a federal 401(k) match and a bridge insurance benefit for workers transitioning between jobs.
• Released Are You Better Off? with Governor Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), a devastating portrait of what the Bush years cost middle-class families.
• Launched a major initiative on trade with the release of Why Lou Dobbs Is Winning, a paper examining opposition to free trade, and most recently stood up against protectionism by offering alternatives to “Buy American” that promote U.S. manufacturing through free, fair and rules-based trade.

Interns are an integral part of the team, and they work on a variety of tasks. In the past, Economic Program interns have:

• Provided background research and assisted in drafting Economic Program idea briefs for our signature idea brief series;
• Assisted in organizing Third Way events and presentations on various aspects of economic policy;
• Attended Capitol Hill committee hearings on major legislation and policy briefings on behalf of Third Way; and,
• Attended and contributed in meetings with Congressional offices and Third Way staff on economic policy issues.

Candidates must be graduate students or law students with an interest and knowledge of national politics. Outstanding research, writing, and analytical skills, as well as excellent attention to detail, are imperative.

THIS IS A PAID INTERNSHIP

Social Policy & Politics Internship

Third Way’s Social Policy & Politics Program advances the case for a moderate-led U.S. politics and aims for progress on hot-button social issues like gay equality, immigration, abortion, and guns. In our politics work, we conduct original research and provide analysis of existing polling and trend data to educate policymakers, advocates, the media, and others about the beliefs, policy preferences, and concerns of self-identified moderate voters. On social policy, we offer groundbreaking new frameworks, approaches, and policy solutions to move our country forward and find common ground on often divisive social issues.

Among our recent successes:

• Spearheading the movement to end the 98 year old tradition of partisan seating at the State of the Union amid calls for civility and bipartisanship. Senator Mark Udall, a Third Way Honorary co-chair—championed the idea, and urged his colleagues to cross the aisle. The Washington Post wrote an editorial praising our idea, and momentum built for the bipartisan seating until, according to The New York Times, “no politician could ignore it.”
• Producing a series of memos analyzing the center of the electorate including The Still-Vital Center: Moderates, Democrats, and the Renewal of American Politics, a report describing the importance of political process reforms to the future of American politics.
• Conducting extensive public opinion research on gay equality issues, developing a series of insights and strategies for moving the middle, briefing the Administration, 20 Democratic Governors, key advocacy groups, and scores of Congressional offices on the findings and new framework, and publishing opinion pieces advocating for allowing gay couples to marry in the Los Angeles Times, The Advocate, The Huffington Post, The Baltimore Sun, and Politico.
• Briefing senior members of the White House transition team and the House Democratic Faith Working Group on Come Let Us Reason Together, a common-ground governing agenda that Third Way developed with national Evangelical leaders.
• Helping draft the planks of the Democratic platform on issues like abortion and guns.
• Developing the progressive approach to communicating on immigration that became so dominant that Politico ran a front page story noting almost all immigration reform proponents in Congress were using the Third Way framing.

Interns are an integral part of the team, and they work on a variety of tasks. In the past, Social Policy & Politics interns have:

• Produced internal background memos on specific policy issues for the Social Policy & Politics team;
• Attended events and Hill meetings as a representative of Third Way and reported back to the Social Policy & Politics team;
• Composed draft letters of support for specific pieces of legislation for submission to the Congressional Record;
• Tracked the progress of ballot measures and state legislative efforts on social policy issues in the states; and,
• Researched, analyzed, and briefed the Social Policy & Politics team about new public opinion research on relevant issues.

Candidates must be graduate students or law students with an interest in and knowledge of national politics. Outstanding research, writing, and analytical skills, as well as excellent attention to detail, are imperative.

THIS IS A PAID INTERNSHIP

Clean Energy Program Internship

Third Way’s Clean Energy Program is designed to help choose policy, sequence legislation and frame the issues as leaders in Washington and the various state capitals grapple with shifting the United States toward a clean energy future. Highlights include:

• Hosting major national energy forums with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, governors, business leaders and others.
• Conducting a major national poll and extensive qualitative research on the politics of clean energy.
• Serving as one of the sole progressive groups championing the role of nuclear power in America’s clean energy future.
• Releasing a series of papers analyzing the policy implications of a shift to a clean energy future.

Interns are an integral part of the team, and they work on a variety of tasks. In the past, Energy Program interns have:

• Produced the primary research for a major Third Way report on energy in 2030.
• Researched and written a comprehensive review of public polling on energy and climate change.
• Represented Third Way on daily energy strategy calls with the progressive community.
• Researched and developed policy ideas on energy efficient public housing for a member of Congress.
• Developed and wrote Third Way policy proposal on expanding US electricity transmission.
• Researched and wrote briefing books for Governors participating in major Third Way conference on energy reform.
• Participated in Third Way strategy sessions on policy, messaging, and conference content development.

Candidates must be graduate students or law students with an interest in and knowledge of national politics. Outstanding research, writing, and analytical skills, as well as excellent attention to detail, are imperative.

THIS IS A PAID INTERNSHIP

Outreach Internship

Third Way’s Outreach Department focuses on developing strategic relationships with external partners. Examples of impact include:

• Hosting monthly policy lunches with Members of Congress and their Senior staff;
• Developing working groups with Senior Congressional staff on key legislative issues such as health care, clean energy, and innovation;
• Convening numerous networking and policy events;
• Executing organizational fundraising strategy.

Interns are an integral part of the team, and they work on a variety of tasks. In the past, Outreach Department interns have:

• Conducted research on timely legislative issues and covered relevant Committee hearings;
• Attended briefings with Members of Congress and senior congressional staff;
• Developed new systems for database management;
• Assisted in development and execution of events.

Candidates must be graduate students with an interest and knowledge of national politics. Outstanding research, writing, and analytical skills, as well as excellent attention to detail, are imperative.

THIS IS A PAID INTERNSHIP

Communications Internship

Third Way’s Communications Team is looking for a smart, creative, and enthusiastic person to join us for a paid internship. The person we hire will work side-by-side with members of the staff while participating in the development of Third Way events and products. He or she will contribute research and ideas, and assist the Communications Team in achieving its programmatic goals and mission. The Communications Intern will have the chance to contribute to multiple projects and gain real (read: not busy work) hands-on experience by participating in all types of communications projects, ranging from website and social media, to tracking interactions with the press, and staffing Third Way events and briefings.

Some of the duties of the Communications Intern have been:

• Gathering polling data and analysis for columns, fact sheets, and talking points;
• Developing and advancing Third Way’s social networking presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr;
• Coordinating booking/scheduling for featured guests at the Inside Politics press breakfasts;
• Maintaining press lists and tracking interactions with press using various databases;
• Planning and staffing events/briefings with a variety of political figures, elite members of the press, and other officials;
• Assist Bill Schneider with tasks including scheduling, research, fact-checking, and proofing.

Qualifications:

• Candidates must be a college graduate or graduate student with an interest and knowledge of national politics.
• Research Skills: Someone who is a whiz on the Internet—checking quotes, chasing down facts, digging up poll results and election returns, able to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources.
• Administrative skills: Your duties include scheduling and proofing essays and infographics, so attention to detail is a must;
• Ability to prioritize/handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines;
• Positive attitude and the ability to handle stress and high-pressure situations;
• Strong computer skills, with excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Strongly Preferred: Working knowledge of database management software (NGP, VOCUS, Knowlegis, Leadership Directory).

THIS IS A PAID INTERNSHIP.