As the United States of America is set to mark 250 years as a nation, François Picard is pleased to welcome Fanny Lauby, Associate Professor of Political Science at Montclair State University. Professor Lauby observes some striking trends as the US reaches its Semiquincentennial: Recent Supreme Court rulings have taken Americans to uncharted territory with an 'expansion of the presidency at the expense of the powers of Congress and checks & balances in general' All the while, Donald Trump has been receiving significant backlash over a wave of unpopular executive orders, at home and and abroad, including his signature hardline immigration policy. Immigration.