Americans: Don’t build that wall

What do Americans think of President Trump’s border wall? A Harvard CAPS/Harris online poll of 1,407 voters found that 56 percent of respondents do not support the president’s proposal. It was conducted during the government shutdown, which began Dec. 22 after Trump’s request for $5.7 billion to fund the project. This doesn’t mean Americans aren’t concerned about the border, however. The survey found a slight majority—51 percent—believe Democratic lawmakers and the president should compromise and dedicate $2.5 billion for border security. A separate poll, conducted by Hill-HarrisX last month, found that 35 percent believe the U.S. needs border security but there are “better options” than a wall (versus 34 percent in favor and 31 percent against).