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America First Works: A movement too big to ignore
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As we faced the 2024 election, we were driven by a single purpose: to create a ground game and mobilization that couldn’t be ignored, manipulated or diminished.
We were out to fix the missed opportunities of 2022 and 2023, fueled by the stories, struggles and convictions of everyday Americans whose lives have been directly impacted by the policies of the establishment and the elite.
America First Works became the megaphone for these voices. Behind it all was the leadership of Brooke Rollins, who had the vision; Linda McMahon, whose strength built our reach; and Lee Zeldin, whose unwavering dedication inspired thousands nationwide to join our cause.
President-elect Trump takes the stage to address supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, Nov. 6, 2024. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
In 2022 and 2023, we watched in real-time as voters were cannibalized by shifting to early voting, leaving Election Day turnout thinner than ever. We knew then that we had to build something stronger – something resilient.
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Our coalition didn’t just aim to capture votes; it was about reaching people, listening to them, and turning out a large number of low- and no-propensity voters who felt they had been abandoned in past elections. It was viewing voters as customers – and building a business to serve the American people.
The strategy was simple yet ambitious.
We launched Project 19 targeting the 19 most important bellwether counties. When Brooke Rollins launched AFPI she had the vision to have an advocacy arm – America First Works. In 2024, her vision grew the $2 million organization and transformed it into a formidable $35 million machine that spanned from coast to coast, setting the stage for the most massive ground game the country has seen in decades.
This effort would not have been possible without the nearly 100 organizations who rallied together through Pathway Partners. We worked alongside grassroots powerhouses like Turning Point Action, Chase the Vote, AMAC Action, Tea Party Patriots Action, and Hunter Nation.
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This was no ordinary coalition; this was a new kind of collaboration where each partner amplified the strengths of the others. A shared purpose united our coalition: to bring back America’s promise for the average citizen who felt forgotten. We weren’t just mobilizing; we were empowering communities.
Countless stories across America shaped our journey.
In Arizona, we met mothers in Scottsdale who had lost their children to fentanyl. Each one was a reminder of the devastating border crisis that’s ravaged families and taken lives. Their stories echoed across Arizona and beyond, becoming a powerful call for accountability and action.
In Wayne County, Michigan, we met Abdul, whose family was furious over introducing radical educational content into their children’s public schools. Under President Trump, he said, his family felt peace and stability. But with the current administration, he spoke of the erosion of values, the struggles of his family, and a feeling that their voices no longer mattered.
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By Election Day, Project 19 transformed into Project 47, with over 3,500 canvassers across 47 counties visiting over 5.7 million Americans at their doors and sending over 23 million text messages to get out the vote. The data from key battleground states tell the story of our impact:
• In Arizona, we reached 1,353,687 people by text, turning out 654,787 voters – a text-to-vote ratio of 48%. Our 468,424 door knocks led to a 42% knock-to-vote ratio. This level of mobilization was vital in a state previously decided by just over 10,000 votes.
• In Georgia, a state that had not gone our way before, 511,120 out of 1,074,915 people we texted cast their votes, with a knock-to-vote ratio of 61% – 188,459 out of 311,172 homes knocked. This mobilization speaks to the power of our strategy in historically challenging terrain.
• In Pennsylvania, where early Republican voting was historically low, our text program alone brought 392,152 early voters to the polls, breaking records. We nearly matched the previous cycle’s total early Republican votes solely by mobilizing mid- and low-propensity voters.
Our efforts would not have succeeded without the steadfast guidance of Linda McMahon, whose operational insight ensured every piece of the puzzle fit perfectly, and Lee Zeldin, whose dedication inspired our teams on the ground to keep pushing, even when the hours were long, and the work was tough. Together with Brooke Rollins’ vision, they have transformed America First Works into a monumental grassroots movement.
What we built in 2024 was nothing short of historic. But we know this is only the beginning. Our coalition of Pathway Partners and the thousands of individuals who canvassed, called, and shared their stories represent a movement far bigger than any one election. These are Americans who want their country back, who believe in the values that make this nation strong, and who refuse to be silenced by a media that attempts to drown out their voices.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to our mission. We’ve created a blueprint for reaching the real America, not as a faceless mass of voters but as people with hopes, struggles and stories. With leaders like Brooke Rollins, Linda McMahon, and Lee Zeldin, our movement has proven that with purpose, resilience, and unity, we can forge a path too big to ignore – and too big to rig.
The work continues, and America First Works will lead the charge.
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What to know about NCAA-tourney bound Wisconsin Badgers softball
The Wisconsin Badgers are headed to the NCAA softball tournament. These are some names to know, as well as some pertinent history.
Wisconsin softball could not keep up with the reigning national champions.
Texas – the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament – run-ruled the Badgers, 9-0, in six innings on May 16 in the Austin regional of the NCAA Tournament, easily sending UW to the consolation side of the double-elimination bracket.
Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan took a no-hitter into the fifth inning until Alivia Bark’s single. The Badgers’ only other baserunner during Kavan’s five innings in the circle was on a walk in the first inning.
The Badgers did not have a runner in scoring position until the sixth inning, when Emily Bojan hit a double off Texas reliever Cambria Salmon.
The Longhorns, meanwhile, wasted no time in distancing themselves from the Badgers with their bats. They scored three runs in the first inning after back-to-back hits by Kayden Henry and Katie Stewart, a sacrifice fly by Viviana Martinez and a two-run home run by Reese Atwood.
Texas scored another two runs on a Henry double in the second inning, prompting the Badgers to pull UW ace Shelby Jacobson. One day after her complete-game win over Baylor, Jacobson gave up five earned runs against the Longhorns in 1 ⅓ innings pitched.
Texas piled on with two more runs in the third inning in small-ball fashion after loading the bases, and completed the run-rule win with Henry’s two-run homer in the sixth inning – her third hit of the afternoon – off UW reliever Jordan Felci. (The mercy rule in college softball is eight runs after five or more innings.)
All three UW pitchers to face the Longhorns – Jacobson, Berritt Herr and then Felci – each gave up at least two runs against the host and SEC tournament champion.
When, who will Wisconsin softball play next
The Badgers will look to keep their tournament run alive later today in a consolation game against the winner of the Baylor-Wagner game. (The winner of UW’s next game would then need to defeat Texas twice on May 17 to win the Austin regional.)
UW defeated Baylor in the first round following Hannah Conger’s walk-off double in the ninth inning. Wagner is coming off a 9-1 loss against Texas. The first pitch of UW’s second game is expected to be at approximately 5 p.m., depending on the duration of the Baylor-Wagner game.
This story will be updated after Wisconsin’s second game against Baylor or Wagner.
Every year, the NFL schedule bring upon something new for the Detroit Lions. This year, it’s a trip to Germany, a rare “Sunday Night Football” game at Carolina, and an early bye week. Oh wait, scratch that last one. It happens all that time.
Another constant on the Lions’ schedule is their divisional opponents. Like every other team, Detroit’s six divisional games make up over a third of their entire schedule. That means Detroit’s record within the NFC North will likely be crucial toward their regular season success. And with all three of their road divisional games crammed into the final four weeks of the season, how Detroit fares in those contests will almost certainly decide where they land in the postseason picture.
Last year, Detroit was swept by both the Vikings and Packers, and even though they ended up sweeping the division-winning Chicago Bears, it wasn’t enough to punch their ticket to the playoffs. So today’s Question of the Day is:
How many division wins will the Lions pick up on their 2026 schedule?
My answer: I’m going with three.
First off, let’s get this straight. There is no universe where getting swept by the Vikings again in 2026 is acceptable. I understand their defense is a very tough matchup for an offense-heavy team like the Lions, but Minnesota’s roster just doesn’t compare to the rest of the division right now—especially with the questions at quarterback. Because the Vikings still always play the Lions tough, I’ll give them a split of the series.
And I’m going to be boring with the other two teams, too. I expect a split with each series. I think Ben Johnson will have a chip on his shoulder after getting swept by Dan Campbell last year and find a way to win one of those games. And while I’m really tempted to predict a sweep of the Packers, I’m just having a hard time seeing it given how well they tend to play against Detroit. The Lions will have the benefit of the bye week going into their first matchup, but a Week 18 game in Lambeau will be tough, even if the Lions managed to beat them in that exact scenario during the 2022 season.
How many division wins do you think the Lions pick up this year? Vote in the poll below and share your reasoning in the comment section.
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MILWAUKEE – Where you live can have a significant impact on how much money you need saved for retirement. And according to a new study, Wisconsin ranks near the middle of the pack in terms of the most and least expensive states for retirees.
Big picture view:
MoneyLion, a consumer finance app and marketplace, examined how much money Americans would need to save each month to retire comfortably in each state. The study weighed factors such as average retiree household expenses, Social Security income and the age at which a person started saving for retirement.
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The study’s full methodology can be found on MoneyLion’s website.
What they’re saying:
Ted Jenkin, managing partner at Exit Wealth Advisors, told FOX Business that state income taxes and real estate property taxes are two of the biggest expenses that retirees need to look at. Thomas Aiello, National Taxpayers Union vice president of federal affairs, added that taxes are a reason some retirees may move to places like Florida, Texas and Tennessee – which offer no sate income tax or “death” tax.
How much in Wisconsin?
Local perspective:
Wisconsin ranked No. 28 in MoneyLion’s study, which determined someone would need to save $1,096,140 to retire comfortably at age 65. That’s based on a $54,807 average annual cost of retirement over 20 years.
To hit that number, MoneyLion said someone would need to start saving $2,030 per month at age 20 or $2,610 per month starting at age 30.
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By the numbers:
MoneyLion’s study also determined the following savings needed to retire comfortably at age 65 (as well as the average annual cost of retirement over 20 years) in neighboring states:
- Minnesota, No. 25: $1,162,628 ($58,131)
- Illinois, No. 34: $1,003,326 ($50,166)
- Michigan, No. 42: $868,526 ($43,426)
- Iowa, No. 43: $821,180 ($41,059)
Hawaii was the most expensive state for retirees, with $3,132,206 needed to retire comfortably at age 65. The most affordable state in the study was West Virginia, with $664,463 needed to retire comfortably at age 65.
The Source: Information in this story is from the MoneyLion study, which referenced data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources. LiveNOW from FOX and FOX Business contributed to this report.
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