The US is in decline. Its extraordinary privilege is under threat. It has squandered its wealth and power while China has come to dominate global trade in manufactured goods, commodities and infrastructure. Dominant nations feel confident of their culture and tolerate even exploit immigration. Nations less secure in their position, as the USA is in reality now, naturally and quite reasonably resist the cultural dilution that immigration can trend toward. Trump understands this, and that most US voters don't. Thus the problem needs to be both obfuscated and dealt with. Immigration is both a powerful means to gain support and a valid thing to act on in terms of managing the complex problems the US faces. By dividing and ruling Trump sets the agenda and narrative and the left are on the back foot. But the decline of US power is not going to be turned around easily and there is risk of internal divisions crippling any attempt. 'One Battle After Another' is an interesting fictional exploration of the issue of immigration and the wider divisions now evident in the US.