Travels in Trumpland with Ed Balls

Ed Balls travels to America's Deep South, to immerse himself in the lives of those who put Trump in power and learn how this reality TV businessman won them over. Trump promised to make Americans proud again, so Ed joins the 15,000 working-class Americans heading to Saint-Jo, Texas, with their monster trucks and Confederate flags for the wild Rednecks with Paychecks festival - the ultimate celebration of Southern Pride. Determined to find out how billionaire Trump's no-nonsense attitude resonated with the values of these hard-working Americans, Ed helps festival organiser Derrick and finds a surprising Trumpster in Mexican Mardha, who crossed the boarder illegally 20 years ago. Wall-supporting Mardha describes herself as a proud American but since Trump became president, he has given new powers to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and hugely increased the number of Hispanic illegal immigrants being deported. Ed joins ICE officers for the early morning arrest of an illegal Mexican immigrant in Atlanta, Georgia, and asks if Trump's focus on ridding the US of 'Bad Hombres' risks creating divisions in the 'land of opportunity'.

Trump promised to be the president of law and order, and to make the USA safe again. To witness the 'American carnage' Trump described in his inauguration speech, Ed heads to Opelousas - one of the most dangerous cities in the state with the most gun murders in America: Louisiana. To find out if the president is delivering on his promise, Ed partners up with Trump-loving sheriff's deputy Ryan and soon discovers the realities of policing an area with lenient gun laws, where every household owns a firearm. Ryan takes Ed to meet a bunch of rookies who are learning how to defend themselves out on the streets, but quickly regrets offering to have a go when he realises it means getting shot in the backside with a Taser gun. Keen to meet the criminals they are up against, Ed finds himself donning an ill-fitting orange jumpsuit and being locked up for a night in the local jail, where he meets some unlikely supporters of the president. Trump vowed to protect America's gun laws and is a staunch supporter of the NRA, so Ed travels to Austin, in gun-toting Texas, to find out why so many Americans are obsessed with their firearms.

Tapping into the US's deep-rooted belief in the American dream, billionaire businessman Trump promised to make all Americans wealthy again, but is he just helping the rich get richer? Ed's first stop is literally Donald Trump's backyard, his very own private members club, Mar-a-Largo in Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump can be found playing golf most weekends. Hosted by millionairess Toni, a close friend of the president's and founder of female Trump fan club The Trumpettes, Ed is put to work helping prepare for the Trumpette Ball, a huge, extravagant party Toni is throwing at Mar-a-Largo in her old friend's honour. But Trump's one-year anniversary as leader of the free world sparks protests outside Mar-a-Largo and Ed is left with a sour taste in his mouth at the party after a divisive speech by Fox News star Judge Jeanine Pirro.