what every comms intern should ask in their first week

by sarah selip | march 2, 2025

this could be you.

You landed THE internship—congrats!

But before you waltz into your new role with nothing but enthusiasm and a well-rehearsed handshake, let’s talk about what you actually need to know before day one. A conservative communications internship isn’t just about writing press releases and monitoring headlines—it’s about learning how the machine really works. And trust me, the interns who ask the right questions early on are the ones who walk away with more than just a few bylines and some generic resume filler.

Here’s what you should ask (and learn) going into your internship:

1. What is their core messaging strategy?

Every conservative office, PAC, or think tank has a unique approach to communications. Are they pushing a grassroots message? Are they focused on policy-heavy comms? Are they aggressive with media outreach or more reserved? Understanding the core strategy will help you shape your writing and outreach in a way that actually moves the needle.

2. Who are our priority media contacts?

It’s not enough to know which reporters cover conservative politics—you need to know who actually engages with your organization. Some reporters will never give you a fair shake, while others are open to hearing your side. Figure out who’s on your media list, who gets the first call on a breaking story, and which outlets move the needle for your boss or organization.

3. How do we handle crisis communications?

No one wants to talk about damage control on day one, but in politics, it’s not a matter of if a comms crisis will hit—it’s when. Ask how the team responds to bad press, who has final say on messaging in a crisis, and whether interns are involved in drafting statements or talking points. The sooner you understand the playbook, the better prepared you’ll be when things inevitably hit the fan.

4. What’s the internal approval process for content?

A social media post might seem simple, but in political comms, every tweet is a landmine. Find out who approves what before you start drafting copy. Are you writing directly for a principal? Do all press releases go through legal? The more you understand the workflow, the fewer headaches (and rewrites) you’ll deal with.

5. What’s the team’s relationship with elected officials or outside organizations?

Conservative comms teams rarely operate in a vacuum. Whether it’s a member of Congress, a coalition of like-minded organizations, or a network of donors, figure out how external relationships factor into your work. Understanding these dynamics will help you anticipate what’s coming down the pipeline and how messaging needs to be tailored.

6. What does success look like for this internship?

Too many interns show up, complete assignments, and leave without a clear sense of whether they actually made an impact. Ask your supervisor what they expect from a standout intern. Is it great op-ed drafting? Flawless media research? A killer social media campaign? If you know what success looks like from the start, you’ll leave with more than just experience—you’ll leave with results.

Final Thought: Intern Like You Mean It

I cannot stress this enough – the best interns aren’t the ones who sit quietly in the back, nodding along. They’re the ones who ask smart questions, think strategically, and look for ways to add value. Conservative comms is fast-paced, competitive, and—let’s be honest—sometimes chaotic. If you want to thrive in this world, start by learning how it works.

Ask questions. Take notes. Then, get to work!!!

The Unofficial Christmas Party Circuit Survival Guide

If You’re Carrying Business Cards, It’s Work-Related…Not The Club.

by sarah selip | december 3 2024

I have this theory on the Christmas Party Season in Washington, DC (yes, all caps because it’s that big of a deal here) that we must stop treating it like a party season.

Hear me out. For the most part, the DC Christmas Party Season is more like a networking circuit with free food and flowing drinks in some fabulous venues.

But let’s get something straight…and slowly repeat after me: reception hopping is not a bar crawl even though they have open bars.

So, that being said, here are a few tips and tricks I’ve gathered over the years to make sure you look, feel, and act your best over the next month.

My Unofficial 12 Rules to Surviving Christmas Party Season (I’m guilty here, too.)

Rule #1. If you’re carrying your business cards for an event, you shouldn’t wear a weekend outfit — leave the mini skirts and crop tops at home.

Rule #2. Just because you’re wearing a blazer over a mini dress, you’re still wearing a mini dress. It isn’t cute… and you can’t wear a blazer over a club dress. Please don’t do it. That’s an intern move.

Rule #3. Hemlines matter.

Rule #4. Think about your shoes. I am a huge heels girl. But, the rule of thumb, and I guess this goes for life in general, if you can’t walk or stand in your heels for more than 20 minutes, leave them at home. If you decide to wear over-the-knee boots and have to pull them up every 5 minutes, leave them at home. If you haven’t broken your shoes in yet, leave them at home.

Rule #5. Wear something you feel confident in, not something you want others to think you look hot in. I’m guilty of this. Don't wear an outfit if you don’t feel comfortable in it — regardless of whether you think you can hide it, you will feel awkward, manifesting in your mannerisms. We all get anxious, but don’t be worried about how you look in the outfit. You’ll get in your head, and it might ruin your night and your confidence. Been there, done that.

Rule #6. I can’t stress this enough — the materials you wear matter. Most, if not all of the time, you will be running straight from your office and right into a reception, so consider what might crease, wrinkle, pill, or stretch. You’ll be living in your outfit for the day, so put your best foot (…’fit? — sorry, had to.) forward.

Rule #7. As much as we love breaking out the wool and cashmere in the colder months, however, DO NOT, AND I MEAN, DO NOT wear fine cashmere or any other dry-clean only sweaters, dresses, etc., to receptions (read: Premium Cigar Association and so on) where folks might light one up. Your dry cleaning bill and roommates will thank you.

Rule #7.5. Trying to get the smokey smell out of your hair? A solid detox or clarifying shampoo will be your best friend. I highly recommend the Ouai Detox Shampoo. In these situations, I apply, lather, and rinse twice before starting my usual haircare routine.

Rule #8. If you received an invite through your work email, you’re attending on behalf of the office. What you do and how you act reflects your company, boss, or office.

I can’t tell you how many times my Chief of Staff friends have received calls or texts from people at parties about how their staff is acting at a reception. Plus, you never know who you’re going to run into. Your boss, former co-workers, future employers, even ex-boyfriends. Don’t get sloppy.

Rule #9. This might be controversial, but I learned this the hard way. Remember that scene from Succession where Cousin Greg’s date (Bridget) showed up at an event with the “ludicrously capacious” oversized designer tote? She’s lugging commuter things around, like a lunch box or subway shoes, and that’s fine — absolutely no shame in the city living game. But if you carry your oversized work bag from reception to reception, your shoulder will start to kill you.

To be perfectly transparent here, my collarbones have been bruised on multiple occasions from lugging around my life-in-a-bag. Ladies, leave it in the office. Carry a smaller bag, a clutch, or anything that won’t leave you aching or throwing it in the corner or the coat room. Also, DC crime is wild (thanks, Muriel), so you don’t want to risk losing everything you own.

Rule #10. It’s cold out. Wear tights. (Hint: my friends and I recommend Sheertex!)

Rule #11. You don’t have to go full glam for receptions… especially after a long work day. We all grew up watching the “How to Take Your Makeup from Day to Night” YouTube videos, so follow that lead. Touch up your makeup, change into a darker lipstick (one that lasts throughout the night — and bring it with you), and add some highlighter. Boom, easy.

Rule #12. Make sure you keep supplies handy… especially when it comes to preventing shoe-related. I compiled a comprehensive list* of great products I love to keep on hand and in your desk drawer. You’re welcome in advance.

BONUS TIPS, especially for interns and junior staffers:

A) An open bar may feel like the perfect way to celebrate enduring this insane election year filled to the brim with Kamala gaffes, but please, dear God. Listen to me. Resist the urge to drain the bar. One to two drinks at the first happy hour may not seem like much, but you’ll be draped over a drop box before the evening ends.

B) You don’t want that (or having your friend carry you out of the party) on your record. We’re all guilty here. (Sorry, Mom!)

C) I can promise you that nobody cares what you’re drinking as long as you have a drink in your hand. An empty hand is an invitation for a wannabe wonk to ply you with booze.

D) One of my close friends has a rule where he orders one of the event’s featured drinks, then only drinks ginger ale (it looks boozy) before hopping along to the next party. Some other options here — make every other drink something like carbonated water with lemon or cranberry juice with lime and a splash of club soda.

Don’t stress out too much. You’ve got this. This was pretty long, so go grab drinks and hors d’oeuvres… and don’t forget some business cards. You’ve earned it.

Now, go hit the circuit.

PSSST. Did I miss anything? Let us know.

**affiliate links.

flight 93: never forgotten.

a formative memory that shaped my life & my politics

by sarah selip | september 11 2024

First and foremost, I am proud to be an American. However, I can’t emphasize enough how growing up in the post-9/11 generation affected my life, career, and, most importantly, my love of country.

I knew I wanted to get into politics from an early age, but I can’t address that without acknowledging where it all started — my hometown.

Living in DC, I’ve met countless people whose lives were directly affected by 9/11. Some of my best friends in This Town lost relatives and friends in the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center. And truth be told, most of us will never begin to comprehend how much today means to them and their families.

But, for me and countless Pennsylvanians, Flight 93 will always stay close to my heart.

I grew up in Western Pennsylvania, a stone’s throw away from the mountains and about an hour away from Pittsburgh.

2001 was a massive year for me. I was the new first-grade kid at a small picturesque grade school planted at the base of a mountain range surrounding our area — aptly named Valley School of Ligonier, just a few miles from Shanksville, PA, the tiny town rocked to its core when a plane was hijacked and re-routed to Washington, D.C.

At Valley, students K-9 had two recesses — one in the morning and one after lunch.

On the sunny morning of 9/11, my childhood best friend Ashley and I took full advantage of the crisp morning weather during our first recess. We rode red tricycles around the blacktop in the courtyard with our classmates—a movie-worthy morning for a carefree five-year-old kid.

Unfortunately, the next few seconds, even minutes, will stick with me until the day I die.

You rarely pay attention to the sky when you're a kid.

That is until the sky goes dark out of nowhere.

Everyone stops what they’re doing — teachers and students alike — stops in the tracks to look up to see a plane flying very low, just over the school. (We had an airport nearby, so we were used to seeing planes, but nothing like this.)

To illustrate and provide context, the school was remote, tucked away, off the beaten path.

A massive white Boeing 757 flies just over Valley.

The plane felt so close that, even as a five-year-old, you could reach up and touch it if you stood up straight enough.

The sound she makes as she soars through is deafening.

The wind gust that follows suit is intense.

But the most haunting thing for me is that we could make out the numbers on Flight 93’s undercarriage and tail.

N591UA

The next moments are a blur. We somehow make it into the building and are rushed into the school’s basement, where we huddle up, terrified.

After some time, we’re sent to our home rooms, where each classroom television is on the news, and we’re told what happened before we are pushed into the auditorium — our parents rush to the school and begin picking us up one by one.

As we found out later that afternoon, Flight 93 flew so low over our school that there was a genuine chance it could’ve crashed into us. Instead, she crashed into the fields, just over the mountains from us, less than 4 minutes later.

This had a devastating toll on our area.

Our custodians, who were tending to the field hockey and soccer fields up the hill from the main campus, were called by the FBI about their experience for the investigation.

Our close friend and neighbor, a former pilot, was immediately asked to investigate the crash site with his team. We were told never to ask Ron about it. Unfortunately, he passed away last year.

The patriotism that ensued was beyond comprehension. Everything felt red, white, and blue, and the Fourth of July parades were more meaningful.

Who can forget when George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankees Stadium before Game 3 of the World Series?

As part of a Republican family, I was proud to have him lead our party and our country through this horrible time.

Even now, I believe that to be a Republican is to love our country.

America First. Always.

One of my formative memories was witnessing firsthand one of the greatest tragedies our country has ever seen and the direct response from Americans who were outstandingly proud to be just that.

Americans.