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 the leading moderate think-tank of the progressive movement. Our aims: an economic agenda that is focused on growth and middle class success; a culture of shared values; a national security approach that is both tough and smart; and a clean energy revolution. We create high-impact products for use by elected officials, candidates and the Administration.

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 progressive national security agenda. Examples of impact include:

• Co-authored, with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Protecting the Homeland from Day One, a study laying out a series of critical steps to thwart and respond to an attack on the US homeland for the new administration, which has already adopted one of the most consequential recommendations.

• Designed the Intelligence Officer Training Corps, a large, dynamic training program for future intelligence officers modeled on the military’s ROTC scholarship program; IOTC was adopted by the Administration and included in the President’s Intelligence request to Congress.

• Drafted a framing memo, Taking the Fight to Our Enemies, to counter conservative attacks on proponents of a drawdown in Iraq and presented a tough and smart plan for reducing troop levels. The plan was used widely by progressive members of Congress and candidates.

• Conducted a series of trainings for dozens of House members, Senate and House candidates, and senior congressional staff on national security issues.

• Issued a major new strategy on combating terrorism with Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and others, as well as a study laying out the Bush national security failures that was released with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), General Wesley Clark and others.

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

• produced internal background memos on specific policy issues for the National Security Program Director;
• 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,
• researched, analyzed, and briefed the National Security Program team about new public opinion research on defense and national security 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

Economic 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 US 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

Culture Internship

Third Way’s Culture Program seeks to re-think how progressives handle hot-button culture issues. Examples of impact include:

• Assisting the White House in crafting their approach to abortion, both for the announced repeal of the Mexico City policy and the statement released on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

• Conducting extensive public opinion research on gay equality issues, developing a series of insights and strategies for moving the middle, and briefing the Administration, 20 Democratic Governors, key advocacy groups, and scores of Congressional offices on the findings and new framework.

• 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.

• Joining four governors to release a groundbreaking report warning of The Impending Crime Wave, labeled by David Broder of The Washington Post as “striking,” and leading to new pieces of legislation in Congress and the states.

• 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, Culture Program interns have:

• produced internal background memos on specific policy issues for the Culture Program Director;
• attended events and Hill meetings as a representative of Third Way and reported back to the Culture Program 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 culture issues in the states; and,
• researched, analyzed, and briefed the Culture Program team about new public opinion research on culture 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 Internship

Third Way’s Clean Energy Initiative 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

Communications Internship

Third Way’s Communications Department focuses on cultivating strategic relationships with DC decision makers & influentials. Examples of impact include:

• Third Way noted regularly in newspapers including The New York Times and The Washington Post;
• Third Way staff featured on ABC News, CNN, NBC News, CBS News, the BBC NPR and almost all major cable political programs;
• Regular publication of op-eds in The Wall Street Journal, National Journal, Roll Call, and Politico;
• Events co-hosted and attended by Senate & House leadership, elite media, and progressive leaders.

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

• Conducted research, gathered polling data and provided analysis for columns and talking points;
• Developed and advanced Third Way’s social networking presence;
• Attended meeting/briefings with a variety of political figures, elite members of the press and other officials;
• Coordinated booking/pitching outreach to press.

Candidates must be graduate students or journalism 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