Travels in Trumpland with Ed Balls - anyone else watching?

[Chottie]

It's a three part series with Ed Balls going the Deep South and meeting some of the people who voted for Donald Trump.

I think it's been v good. I like the way he hasn't gone after the deplorables. There have been some genuinely likeable Trump supporters. And Balls has certainly got balls. I wouldn't like to have been tasered or to have spent a night in jail. And they nicked his toiletries.

I remember the Nick Robinson comment, too. He likes them both as a couple and was suggesting Yvette as PM. If only.

Ed is a family friend, so I've met him a few times and always wondered why people disliked him so much where I've always found him pleasant, interesting and good fun. Nice to see that side of him coming out in public. It really is the genuine him. The spin was the fake.

I don’t think it was the fact that the spin was fake. I immediately had to turn the tv over or throw things at it when he was a politician, couldn’t stand him. He came across as creepy, oily, fanatical, intense. But as a tv presenter I think he’s fab. A lot of people seem to have that surprise reaction to him. That’s nothing to do with spin it’s a personal reaction.

I think he’s better off out of politics and needs to do more of this investigative journalism type stuff.

Just like Portillo. I hated him so much as a politician and now like him. Still can't stand Balls though.

I loathe him as a politician (I will never forgive some policies he headed up the implementation of - no matter how much of a tit he makes of himself doing Gangham Style) but he was really quite decent on this. I still swore at him on the telly a lot out of principle.

Those women need to lay off the plastic surgery.

I think it's excellent. He is so good at shutting up- unlike practically every other television presenter. And he didn't go for the stereotype Trump supporter.

Really enjoying this and the range of Trump supporters he's interviewing. I had a good old chuckle at his time and chats with the two chaps who lived in the cabin. A really good illustration of the pragmatic (if musguided) logic of the "redneck" vote.
However did find his sycophancy, towards Trumpette Toni, v cringe.
Aside from that he is coming across as down to earth and likeable. I like his acknowledgement and seeming acceptance of losing his constituency.

I think this series is excellent, and has really given me some insights and a reminder to put myself in others shoes.

To my surprise I actually liked the rednecks!