Think of America like a bar, stocked with beer, soda, chips or crisps as we call them in Britain.

Classic rock on the jukebox, the pool table's free.

Because the bar is so great, there are way more people trying to get into it than can possibly fit.

So the manager hires bounces, ropes off the door to make it more exclusive. But does that make the bar

any better for those who are inside? With 262 days to go, this is checks and

balance. Hello, I'm John Prido, and this is a podcast from the Economist about the 2020

elections and the road to power in America. I'm the Economist's US editor and from now

until Election Day we'll take one theme each week and explore it in depth.

Today has cutting immigration helped America's working class? Something you may have missed during the drama of impeachment

and the first Democratic primaries,

President Trump expanded the list of mostly Muslim nationalities

he's restricted from entering the US. A hard line on immigration

will be a big part of his re-election pitch. He'll make the link between stronger

borders and a booming economy. This turns Orthodox economics on its head. The bar isn't meant

to be more fun just because it's harder to get into. Might Donald Trump's wall

be working?

To explore and explain all of this, as always, I'm joined by Charlotte Howard. Hello Charlotte.

Hi John.

Did you manage to make it to the dry cleaners to clear up Buttergate?

I cannot believe that that was not cut from the final edit and repercussions are to come.

John Fazman, how are you doing?

I know you've been in Nevada.

...