Before Monday’s inauguration of President Donald Trump, Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming promised an incoming “shock and awe with executive orders.”

“A blizzard of executive orders on the economy as well as on the border,” Barrasso said on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” earlier this month. 

Trump did not disappoint. 

On his first day, the president issued about 200 executive actions. While this may seem extreme and perhaps an abuse of his office, what Trump did isn’t shocking at all given prior precedent. 

Our modern-day presidents are increasingly leaning on their executive authority to enact their agenda. And former President Joe Biden really upped the ante. In his first 100 days, Biden issued a slew of orders and actions that pushed (and exceeded) the limits of his power. Much of what he did, especially in his first days, was overturning Trump’s orders from his first term – many of them centered on the border and immigration. 

So it’s no surprise that Trump returned the favor, rescinding nearly 80 of Biden’s edicts as his first matter of business. 

Why the increased reliance on executive power? 

“This country is so split on so many issues, and that includes representation in Congress, that it is extremely difficult to........

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