The Book Lover's Ultimate Guide to Friendship
Issue 130, featuring an interview with Elizabeth Mitchell
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Interview with Elizabeth Mitchell
Today’s interview is with Elizabeth Mitchell, whose face may seem familiar to you if you’ve tuned into a White House press briefing recently — she was just promoted to White House correspondent for The Daily Signal! You can follow Elizabeth on X by clicking here.
What does your life look like right now?
I’m the White House Correspondent for The Daily Signal. I live in Arlington with my husband Alex. We moved to the DC area after graduating from Hillsdale College in May and getting married in June! Outside of work, I hang out with friends, attend Capitol Hill Baptist Church, volunteer at Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center, play pickleball, and hike in Virginia and Maryland with my husband.
What are your favorite topics to research and write about?
About a month ago, I switched beats to cover the White House. Previously I was covering social issues, like abortion, gender, and education, and those topics in relation to the executive branch are still my favorite to cover. Those are the issues I care most about as a Christian, so I really enjoy writing about them, especially when I can tell stories that might otherwise go unreported! I have also enjoyed the opportunity to study foreign policy, economics, and legal issues more to prepare to ask well-informed questions at briefings and write my reports on what the president is doing. I’ve been listening to lots of podcasts to stay up-to-date on all the news and always appreciate recommendations!
What’s your top piece of advice for interns, especially in news/media?
Do more than what you’re assigned. Find story ideas that interest you in addition to what you’re asked to do and write as much as you can. If you make a well-thought-out pitch, chances are your editor will appreciate your initiative and say yes. I recommend holding yourself to the standards of a full time employee, and it’s likely your superiors will start to see you that way as well.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned in your 20s?
There have been a lot of big decisions to make in my early twenties, such as where to live, what job to take, where to go to church, etc., and I have learned that through prayer, thought, and seeking wise counsel, God will make the correct path clear, even if choosing seems impossible at first.
What's your favorite or most useful clothing purchase of the last year?
My favorite clothing purchase of the year is my 100% Organic Cotton Poplin Tiered Maxi Dress in lipstick pink from Quince. It’s perfect for work, church, brunch with friends, and more. It’s extremely comfortable for all day wear and great to know it's organic and washable! I’ve been loving Quince lately because the clothes are very high quality but more affordable than most brands.
Evie’s Corner: The Book Lover's Ultimate Guide to Friendship
In high school, you’re friends with the girls who sit at your lunch table. In college, you’re friends with the girls who live in your hall. In adulthood, you’re friends with… whoever you can find?
That’s how it feels sometimes, anyways. I know women who have said that making new adult friends feels more nerve-racking than dating. Keeping old friends throughout life changes can be difficult, too. It’s easy to feel down when your childhood best friend lives across the country, or a new friend keeps flaking on you. In moments like these, you might wonder how you can truly build deeper connections. I have a very simple solution I think all you Girl’s Guide readers will love.
Books have always been a big part of how I connect with people. I love chatting it up at book club. I love asking people what they’re reading right now. I love it when a friend introduces me to an author I’ve never heard of before. Fiction takes us to worlds we never dreamed we’d visit. Non-fiction helps us make our own world better. So if you encounter a book that you really love… don’t you want to share it with a friend?
The crazy thing about our modern age is that books are cheap. Too cheap, really. But what would have been a costly gift 200 years ago is now just a few bucks. That’s why I’ve been making it a habit lately that if I mention a book in conversation with a friend, and they seem interested in it, I send them a used copy via ThriftBooks or AbeBooks. More often than not, there’s a copy of the book available for less than $10. Many of my friends are busy moms who would love to expand their book collections. But remembering the title of a book they want to read, much less locating it at the library or in a bookstore, is just not a priority. But to have that book show up on their doorstep, available for them to read at their leisure? That’s something that can make someone’s day.
Cookbooks, memoirs, novellas – the possibilities are endless. Loaning out a book can sometimes be more of a burden than blessing (How long is too long to keep the book? What if you lose it?). Gifting a book makes things simpler. Not to mention, it makes your friend feel special and seen. I truly think these little random acts of kindness are what makes the world go round.
What do you think of this friendship life hack? Let me know if you try it out, or if you already do something similar.
The Haps
Everything’s Coming Up White Lotuses
If you spend too much time on the Internet like I do… then I’m sure you’ve been seeing all the White Lotus memes. Some of them are funny. Some of them are dark. And some of them are disturbing. But I’m just going to take it as a win that a family of characters from my native North Carolina is getting so much screen time.
Apparently director Mike White loves to send a message with the books his characters read while lounging poolside at the deadly luxury resort. You can read Daily Beast’s breakdown here. The breakout star of Season 3 has definitely been British actress Aimee Lou Wood, who plays the radically optimistic Chelsea — read The Hollywood Reporter’s interview with her here.
Here are more links to what I’m reading and writing lately:
‘Goodnight Moon’ Cements American Icon Status (The American Conservative): My latest piece is inspired by my daughter Margot’s bedtime reading.
‘Snow White’ Producer’s Son Slams “Immature” Rachel Zegler: “Clearly Hurt the Film” (The Hollywood Reporter): It feels like the Snow White news cycle has been going on for YEARS. Maybe it’s time for everyone to move on?
States move to ban or restrict use of synthetic dyes used in candies and cereal (The Associated Press): West Virginia, where I live, leads the way!
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