Bruce Shapiro on the USA turning 250 and why a new Supreme Court decision means US President Donald Trump will have even more firing powers. Japan is struggling to recruit people to its militar as its population ages. Plus the booming global trade in rare succulents and cacti across the Mexican border.

Guests: 

• Bruce Shapiro, contributing editor with The Nation magazine and Director of the Global Center for Journalism and Trauma. 
• Tom Le, Associate Professor of Politics at Pomona College, California
• Charlie McCann, Features Writer, the Economist 's long-reads section, 1843