Policy Intern

Issue One; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Issue One in Washington, DC is seeking a Policy Intern for Winter 2027 to support the technology reform program at the intersection of policy, money in politics, and constitutional checks and balances.

The role offers a part-time schedule (25 hours/week) with a $18.40/hour stipend, remote work option, and hands-on experience in policy analysis, legislative outreach, coalition building, and research for bipartisan advocacy.

Qualifications

• Enrollment or eligibility for Winter 2027 internship in Washington, DC area
• Interest in technology policy, money in politics, and constitutional checks and balances
• Able to juggle shifting priorities in a fast-paced policy environment

Responsibilities

• Research and policy analysis across technology, democracy, and accountability topics
• Support advocacy, legislative outreach, and coalition engagement
• Track federal and state legislation, regulatory developments, and court rulings
• Synthesize policy materials into clear summaries for policymakers and partners
• Draft memos, briefs, talking points, and reports for the public and stakeholders

Skills

Policy analysis

Legislative outreach

Research

Coalition building

Job description

Policy Intern

Issue One Washington, District of Columbia, United States

About this position

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,