A Devastating Shift a Single Year Has Caused in the US
One year ago, the environment was utterly distinct. Ahead of the American presidential vote, considerate Americans could acknowledge the nation's serious imperfections – its injustices and disparity – but they still could perceive it as the United States. A democratic nation. A land where the rule of law carried weight. A state headed by a dignified and ethical public servant, notwithstanding his advanced age and declining health.
These days, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we inhabit. Individuals believed to be illegal immigrants are collected and shoved into vehicles, sometimes denied due process. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for a grotesque event space. Donald Trump is harassing his opponents or perceived antagonists and demanding the justice department hand over a huge total of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are dispatched to US urban areas on false pretexts. The Pentagon, relabeled the War Department, has practically rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses potentially totaling close to a trillion USD in public funds. Colleges, legal practices, news companies are submitting under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are treated like aristocracy.
“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit into autocracy and extremism,” a noted author, wrote this past summer. “In the end, faster than I imagined possible, it did happen in America.”
One awakes with fresh terrors. And it is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how severely declined we have become, and the speed at which it has happened.
Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was legitimately chosen. Even after his deeply disturbing initial presidency and despite the alerts linked to the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – following Trump himself stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – enough Americans elected him instead of the other candidate.
As terrifying as the present situation is, it’s even scarier to realize that we have only been several months under this leadership. Where will an additional three years of this decline position us? And if that period becomes a more extended duration, since there is nobody to restrain this ruler from determining that another term is essential, perhaps for national security reasons?
Admittedly, there is still hope. There are legislative votes in 2026 which might bring a different balance of power, if Democrats retake either chamber of Congress. There are elected officials who are striving to impose certain responsibility, for example Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry into the attempted cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.
And a leadership election three years from now could begin the path to recovery exactly as the prior selection placed us on this unfortunate course.
There exist countless citizens demonstrating in public spaces throughout communities, as they did in the past days at democracy demonstrations.
Robert Reich, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is stirring”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or throughout the Vietnam war protests or throughout the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.
He claims he understands the signals of that awakening and notices it unfolding at present. For proof, he cites the widespread marches, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to agree to government requirements they only publish what is sanctioned.
“The dormant force always remains inactive till some venality becomes so noxious, some action so contemptuous of the common good, certain violence so disruptive, that the giant is forced other than to stir.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may turn out correct.
In the meantime, the big questions persist: can America return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its standing internationally and its commitment to legal principles?
Or must we acknowledge that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My pessimistic brain indicates that the second option is correct; that everything might be finished. My positive feelings, however, advises me that we need to strive, by any means we can.
Personally, as a media critic, that means pushing media professionals to live up, more completely, to their duty of holding power to account. For others, it may be engaging with election efforts, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to protect electoral access.
Not even one year prior, we existed in a very different place. In the future? Or in several years? The fact is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to attempt to not give up.
What Provides Me Encouragement Today
The contact I have in the classroom with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously visionary and practical, {always
