Written by Ella Beard (left), Washington Internship Program, 2026
Hi! My name is Ella Beard, and I’m writing this in my final couple of weeks of my internship, with Congressman Jim Costa [D-CA-21].
These past six weeks have felt like something of a blur. From the Venezuelan intervention to Immigration and Customs Enforcement making one headline after another, it feels daunting to relay every single thing that has occurred during our time here. So daunting in fact, that fellow intern Molly and I have kept a list in our phones, to put the whirlwind news into perspective.
Despite this, the show must go on, and Congress must adapt to a rapid firing of events and still stay its course. Daily workings of DC require both attention to the news cycle, but also an ability to maintain efforts central to your district, finding an overlap where possible, and balancing the rest.
I had the opportunity to have a ‘shadow day,’ this week, that my office organized for both Molly and I across two separate days.
I began my day in the office as usual, was then handed a folder, and instructed to meet Mr. Costa at the Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing – our first stop for the day. It was a briefing on Syria, and strategy for moving forward post-Assad regime. Costa is on the Foreign Affairs committee, and so it was exciting to see the behind-the-scenes process of how a hearing of that kind operates. He asked a couple of questions to the panel, while I got to sit behind him with other members’ staffers and listen in.
Next was back to the office for another meeting, this time with Sophie Wilmes – former Prime Minister of Belgium and current Vice President of the European Parliament. This meeting was certainly a highlight of my time here. Their discussions around Ukraine, Greenland and NATO were fascinating to be a part of, and I found out that her husband was Australian! So, we had plenty to talk about, which was surreal.
Ps. She is so tall!
Back to another Foreign Affairs briefing, this time for the Europe subcommittee, on weaponized migration across Europe. The Congressman again had his five minutes of question and answer time to the panel, and it was interesting to listen to not only him, but the line of questioning from other committee members that were present.
The rest of the afternoon saw more meetings, mostly centered around agriculture, and one with local community colleges in the 21st District too. Each one allowed me to meet new people, and hear discussions on different things central to Costa and his electorate.
Having a shadow day with Congressman Costa was a privilege – and one I don’t take lightly. It provided me with unique insight into his daily responsibilities, and what it takes to represent so many people in his district. His schedule is not for the faint of heart.
I thank the office immensely for organising such an incredible experience during my time with Team Costa. It was unforgettable.