A Heartbreaking Change Only 12 Months Has Brought in the US
One year ago, the environment was utterly different. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could recognize the country's deep flaws – its inequities and inequality – however they could still perceive it as America. A free society. A land where legal governance meant something. A country led by a honorable and ethical public servant, even with his elderly years and increasing frailty.
Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens hardly identify the nation we inhabit. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and pushed into vehicles, sometimes denied due process. The left side of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his political rivals or alleged foes and insisting legal authorities surrender an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are deployed to US urban areas on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, relabeled the War Department, has practically liberated itself of regular press examination as it spends possibly reaching nearly $1tn in public funds. Colleges, legal practices, news companies are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are regarded as members of the royal family.
“America, just months before its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the edge into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, commented this past summer. “In the end, swifter than I imagined possible, it transpired here.”
Each day begins amid recent atrocities. It is challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.
However, it is known that the president was legitimately chosen. Despite his deeply disturbing initial presidency and following the alerts linked to the awareness of the conservative plan – even after the president personally stated openly he planned to act as an autocrat just on day one – a majority of citizens selected him rather than Kamala Harris.
As terrifying as the present situation may be, it's more daunting to recognize that we’re only several months under this leadership. What will three more years of this decline leave us? And suppose that period becomes something even longer, since there is not anyone to restrain this ruler from deciding that a third term is essential, maybe for defense purposes?
Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There will be midterm elections in 2026 that may establish an alternate governmental control, should Democrats retake the Senate or House of parliament. We have elected officials who are attempting to apply a degree of oversight, like representatives currently starting a probe into the attempted money grab from the justice department.
And a national vote three years from now could start the path to healing exactly as last year’s election set us on this regrettable path.
There are numerous residents marching in public spaces of their cities, similar to recent recently in the No Kings rallies.
A former official, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare in that decade or throughout the sixties activism or in the Watergate scandal.
On those occasions, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.
He claims he knows the signals of that resurgence and notices it unfolding now. As support, he cites the recent massive protests, the extensive, bipartisan pushback against a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal rejection by reporters to accept the defense department’s demands they solely cover approved content.
“The sleeping giant always remains asleep till some venality grows too toxic, a particular deed so disrespectful of societal benefit, certain violence so loud, that the giant is compelled but to awaken.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will prove to be right.
In the meantime, the crucial issues persist: can America ever recover? Can it retrieve its position in the world and its devotion to constitutional order?
Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My negative thoughts tells me that the second option is correct; that everything could be finished. My positive feelings, nevertheless, advises me that we must try, by any means we can.
For me, working in journalism analysis, that involves pushing media professionals to adhere, more completely, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For some people, it might involve engaging with congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to defend ballot privileges.
Under twelve months back, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or three years from now? The fact is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is try to not give up.
What Offers Me Encouragement Today
The interaction I encounter with students with new media professionals, that are simultaneously hopeful and grounded, {always
