Messaging & Data Lab

Winning the argument with facts, data, and America First message clarity.

Quick Resources

WHAT WE DO

We turn policy into persuasive, easy-to-use communications tools.
MDL publishes a daily messaging newsletter, the “America First Line Up,” which translates key issues of the day into toplines messaging and resources.
MDL also publishes the Messaging and Data Lab Weekly Report, focusing on topline points, key stats, polling, and policy resources from our team of experts on a topic that impacts the entire America First movement.
By pairing proven policy solutions with sharper, data-driven messaging, the Messaging & Data Lab gives our America First partners the tools to communicate with confidence.

Policy wins matter. So does the way they’re communicated. AFPI's Messaging & Data Lab (MDL) equips leaders, communicators, and America First allies with the research, messaging, and data needed to explain America First policies clearly and persuasively.

In addition to a team of communications experts, we use top-tier, deep-dive polling conducted by Kellyanne Conway and her team. We also utilize our Office for Fiscal and Regulatory Analysis (OFRA), comprised of a team of experts in technology, AI, and open-source modeling, will produce data and reports unparalleled by any U.S. think tank. Their work will be woven into MDL products. MDL is the go-to expert messaging resource for the America First movement.

To sign up for the Daily Lineup and Weekly Report.

Team

Ashley Hayek

Executive Vice President

Kellyanne Conway

Chair, American Child

Sonny Joy Nelson

Communications Advisor

Matthew Jensen

Executive Director, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory Analysis

Latest

News Release | June 23, 2026

AFPI Relaunches Messaging & Data Lab

The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) today announced the relaunch of the Messaging & Data Lab (MDL), which will provide expert messaging to the conservative movement, based on one-of-a-kind data and analysis.

| January 14, 2026

AFPI January 2026 Housing Survey — Topline Takeaways

This survey paints a simple picture: housing costs are delaying big life choices, voters think government red tape is a big part of the problem, and there’s broad support for policies that cut fees, speed up building, and expand the workforce, especially when incentives reward places that actually reform.

Op-Ed | April 28, 2025

Under Trump, American AI Prepares for the Golden Age

President Donald Trump’s deregulation policies, pro-energy vision, and tariff strategy are propelling American artificial intelligence toward a Golden Age, and the AI industry is all in. Just months into his second term, President Trump’s trifecta is unshackling innovation, powering AI’s future, and shielding it from foreign threats. Tech leaders aren’t just watching—they’re racing to build an American AI empire under his bold plan.

Commentary | April 24, 2025

America First Unfiltered: Criminals Deported, AI in Classrooms, & DEI Dismantled

President Trump accelerates deportations, boosts AI in classrooms, honors veterans, and cracks down on DEI in another America First week of wins.

Commentary | April 17, 2025

America First Unfiltered: Trump Protects Social Security, Lowers Drug Costs & Deports Criminals

This week, President Trump doubled down on law and order, vowing to restore safety and sovereignty to the American people. With support from El Salvador’s President Bukele, the Trump administration is accelerating the deportation of violent criminals, securing Social Security for American citizens, and standing up for women’s sports and affordable healthcare — proving once again that America First is more than a slogan.