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Editor’s note: This op-ed is partially adapted from Rachel Campos-Duffy’s monologue on “Jesse Watters Primetime” on December 30, 2024.
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In the wake of President-elect Trump’s victory, the MAGA movement has been struggling with this question: What is ‘America First’? Is it people or profits? Many insist America is defined by its economic and military might. However, America is more than GDP growth, the stock market or even the “idea” of self-government. It’s a physical place, with people who share common history, traditions, and culture.
Central to the “America First” question is the online debate raging over the expansion of the H–1B visa program, which allows American employers to hire foreign workers, and is vehemently defended by tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Ramaswamy and Musk are competitive men, and their desire for America to win in the global game against our adversaries appears sincere. But the question is, what is your definition of winning? And at whose expense should the game be played?
MUSK AND RAMASWAMY IGNITE MAGA WAR OVER SKILLED IMMIGRATION AND AMERICAN ‘MEDIOCRITY’
The H-1B policy was created to bring the “best and brightest” to America and address labor shortages in specialized fields. On paper, it sounds noble. In practice, however, it has been wildly abused and undercuts American workers in tech jobs no one can credibly argue Americans don’t want to do.
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A 2021 U.S. Census Bureau study found that as many as 72% of STEM graduates in America aren’t even working in STEM-related fields. So, is this really about labor shortages or is it about corporate profits at the expense of citizens who can’t compete with cheap foreign labor?
Who can forget what happened at Disney in 2014 when IT workers were laid off and forced to retrain their foreign-born replacements if they wanted to receive their severance check? Americans aren’t opposed to bringing in more geniuses like Musk. But let’s not pretend Disney’s foreign replacements were all budding Einsteins. These workers come on restrictive terms, are paid less, work longer hours, and are unable to leave their jobs without risking deportation. They also come with the hope of becoming citizens and bringing their families over through chain migration. It’s a rigged game, designed to create cheap labor and make it impossible for American citizens to compete.
DAVID MARCUS: MAGA’S H-1B ‘CIVIL WAR’ IS EXACTLY HOW POLITICS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK
Ramaswamy argues that the problem isn’t mass immigration, but American culture itself. We need these foreign workers, he says, because our culture has “venerated mediocrity” for decades. We celebrate the prom queen over the math champ. The jock over the valedictorian.
It’s a convenient theory, but one that misses the mark entirely.
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American culture isn’t the issue; it’s the destruction of it that’s at the core of the problem. American culture gave the world electricity, airplanes, cars, Elvis, the internet, Rocky Balboa, and “Star Wars.” What we’re witnessing now isn’t the failure of American culture but the deliberate erosion of it — a demoralization campaign fueled by decades of mass immigration and an education system poisoned by cultural Marxism — a foreign and utterly un-American ideology.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are competitive men, and their desire for America to win in the global game against our adversaries appears sincere. But the question is, what is your definition of winning? And at whose expense should the game be played? (Getty Images)
Dissing prom queens and promoting “America Last” visa policies won’t restore our greatness. It’s a distraction from the real issue: the dismantling of our national identity, the takeover of our schools by communist activists, and the devaluation of American labor.
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The Constitution tells us that the paramount duty of our government is to “promote the general welfare” and “secure the blessings of liberty” for the American people. There was a time when America lived up to that promise. During his travels through America in the early 19th century, French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville observed that America is great because America is good.
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Sadly, we’re replacing goodness with Godlessness. Some of MAGA’s newest members are Silicon Valley atheists who envision a cold tech and corporate future for us—one that fails to appreciate the humanity and vulnerability of our own citizens.
Secularism, transhumanism, and AI will never satisfy the soul. America needs God, family, love and a return to real, not virtual, relationships. And that includes the relationship between citizens and their government — a government that genuinely cares and prioritizes them.
The answer to our woes isn’t importing millions of people from around the world. The answer is rediscovering who we are. Ben Franklin, the Wright brothers, Sunday church, family dinners, rodeos, skyscrapers, rock and roll, Friday night lights, and homecoming queens. The answer is fixing what’s been deliberately broken in our culture and institutions.
America is not a sports team and winning in the stock market is not the definition of success for America. “America First” is not a slogan; it is a guiding principle.
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MAGA is about honoring our history and Christian values. It’s about prioritizing our people, our families, and our American way of life.
Evita Duffy-Alfonso is host of “Bongino Report Early Edition with Evita.”
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham made it clear that this offseason would be one of the busiest in program history regarding the transfer portal. True to his word, the Utes have secured 14 new additions, addressing key areas as they prepare for their second year in the Big 12. With the competition ramping up, Utah’s aggressive approach reflects the urgency to remain competitive in one of college football’s most unpredictable conferences.
The Utes’ portal activity highlights a calculated strategy to strengthen positions that lacked depth or consistent production last season. Whittingham and his staff leaving no stone unturned. Despite already securing a significant haul, Utah isn’t done yet. Over the next few days, they plan to host seven additional transfer portal visitors, aiming to round out what could become one of the program’s most impactful portal classes. According to a report by KSL’s Steve Bartle, three of the seven players have been named ahead of the visit to Salt Lake City with the other four remaining anonymous.
Among themo notable names visiting Utah is Washington State receiver Carlos Hernandez. Hernandez has been a productive receiver for the Cougars, tallying 55 receptions for 655 yards and five touchdowns across two seasons. At 6 feet and 189 pounds, Hernandez brings a combination of route-running precision and reliable hands. His visit to Utah on January 3rd is part of a packed schedule that also includes meetings with Wake Forest and Virginia. Despite missing part of the 2024 season due to injury, Hernandez finished strong, accumulating 31 catches for 397 yards and five touchdowns. His proven ability to stretch the field and produce in high-pressure moments makes him an intriguing addition for Utah’s receiving corps.
In the backfield, Utah is pursuing Utah State standout Rashul Faison. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back rushed for over 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns last season, emerging as one of the top available backs in the transfer portal. Faison’s physical running style and breakaway ability caught the attention of several major programs, including Florida State, Alabama, and North Carolina. However, Utah remains in the hunt, with Faison set to visit Salt Lake City on January 7th. The Utes’ running back room is already solid, but Faison’s dynamic play during Utah’s matchup against Utah State in Logan left a lasting impression on Whittingham’s staff. Adding him could provide Utah with a one-two punch in the backfield.
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Another player on Utah’s radar is Arkansas receiver Dazmin James, who brings tantalizing speed and athleticism to the table. James, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver, clocked a 10.46-second 100-meter dash in high school and recorded sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash times during his recruitment. While his production at Arkansas was limited—he redshirted in 2023—James showed flashes of his potential in Arkansas’ bowl win over Texas Tech, where he recorded three catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. James will visit Utah alongside Faison, adding another layer of excitement to what could be a transformative weekend for the Utes.
The remaining four transfer visitors have not been publicly identified, reflecting the competitive nature of the portal process. Two of these players visited earlier this week, while the final two are expected on Sunday and Monday. This cloak-and-dagger approach underscores Utah’s desire to keep potential additions under wraps until deals are finalized.
Utah’s proactive stance in the portal aligns with the realities of modern college football, where roster turnover and reloading talent through transfers are essential for sustained success. The Big 12’s physicality and speed demand depth at every position, and Whittingham’s ability to identify and recruit impact players will be crucial as the Utes aim to contend for a conference championship.
Utah has ‘big money’ problem with a billionaire calling NIL shots for rival
The broader significance of Utah’s portal success speaks to the evolving identity of the program. Once known for developing under-the-radar talent, Utah is now competing head-to-head with national powerhouses for premier transfer targets. This shift is a testament to Whittingham’s longevity, the program’s stability, and Utah’s growing reputation as a destination for players seeking to maximize their potential.
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Steve Smith Sr. becomes first-time finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame
As the portal process continues, Utah fans can expect more fireworks in the coming weeks. Whether it’s landing high-profile names like Hernandez, Faison, and James or pulling off surprise commitments, the Utes’ aggressive offseason sets the stage for a potentially exciting 2025 campaign. With Whittingham at the helm, Utah is making it clear that they’re not just participating in the Big 12—they’re here to win it.
Another transfer quarterback has been added into the fold for Purdue heading into 2025, as former Washington State quarterback committed to the Boilermakers today.
Chuba spent one season with the Cougars after being a three-star dual threat quarterback prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, where he chose Washington State over the likes of Virginia, Toledo, Northern Illinois, East Carolina, Bowling Green, Arkansas State, Liberty and others.
In his one-year stint in the Pac-2, Chuba did not appear in a game, as Washington State’s quarterback John Mateer became one of the top signal callers in college football for then head coach Jake Dickert.
Chuba now joins three other incoming signal callers as Purdue revamps its entire quarterback room from a year ago, where its lost Hudson Card, Ryan Browne and Marcos Davila. The Boilermakers have responded by landing Arkansas transfer Malachi Singleton as the presumptive starter, along with true freshmen EJ Colson and now Chuba, not to mention 2025 three-star quarterback Garyt Odom. The lone holdover in the group is Bennett Meredith, who have served as a backup to Hudson Card over the last two years.
The “Native Girl” statue at the Wyoming State Museum stands wrapped in frost as freezing fog lingers across Cheyenne. (Stew Dyer/Cap City News)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A thick layer of freezing fog blanketed Cheyenne early Saturday morning, creating picturesque scenes across the city while prompting caution for drivers and pedestrians. According to the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, the fog reduced visibility to less than a quarter mile in some areas and left a thin glaze of ice on elevated surfaces, including roadways, sidewalks, and vehicles.
A frosted sculpture outside the Wyoming State Museum glistens in the freezing fog. (Stew Dyer/Cap City News)
A Freezing Fog Advisory was issued for parts of southeast Wyoming, including Laramie County, as the cold air combined with lingering moisture to create hazardous travel conditions. The advisory is expected to remain in effect through the evening.
A Cheyenne trolley bus parked downtown as freezing fog coats trees and decorations in frost. (Stew Dyer/Cap City News)
Freezing fog occurs when moist air cools rapidly, causing water droplets to freeze on contact with surfaces, creating hazardous travel conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses.
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A decorative wreath near Depot Plaza is covered in frost, adding to the winter ambiance in Cheyenne. (Stew Dyer/Cap City News)
Despite the potential hazards, the freezing fog created stunning winter scenes, from frosted trees to icy sculptures. Many local landmarks and decorations were coated with shimmering layers of frost, turning downtown Cheyenne into a icy wonderland.
The Wyoming State Capitol building is framed by frost-covered trees, creating a wintry scene despite the low visibility. (Stew Dyer/Cap City News)Frosted trees near the Cheyenne Depot Plaza add a wintry charm to the city’s center as freezing fog persists. (Stew Dyer/Cap City News)The galloping horse sculpture near Cheyenne Depot Plaza emerges beautifully frosted against the foggy backdrop. (Stew Dyer/Cap City News)The Cheyenne Depot Plaza arch stands tall, surrounded by frost-dusted decorations and trees. (Stew Dyer/Cap City News)
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