The Tragic Change Only 12 Months Has Brought in the US
In late October 2024, the environment was entirely distinct. Ahead of the American presidential vote, thoughtful Americans could acknowledge the country's significant faults – its injustices and inequality – however they still could perceive it as the United States. A democracy. A land where the rule of law held significance. A country headed by a respectable and decent leader, even with his elderly years and declining health.
These days, in late October 2025, countless Americans hardly identify the nation we reside in. Individuals alleged as illegal immigrants are rounded up and forced into transport, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his political rivals or alleged foes and demanding legal authorities transfer an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are deployed across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Department of War, has – in effect – freed itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD in public funds. Universities, attorney offices, media outlets are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are treated like nobility.
“The US, just months before its 250-year mark as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the edge toward dictatorship and extremism,” Garrett Graff, commented this past summer. “Finally, faster than I believed likely, it did happen in America.”
Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we are, and the speed at which it has happened.
Yet, we know that Trump was legitimately chosen. Following his deeply disturbing initial presidency and following the warnings associated with the understanding of the conservative plan – even after the president personally declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat solely at the start – sufficient voters elected him instead of the other candidate.
As terrifying as the present situation may be, it’s even scarier to realize that we are just nine months into this presidential term. What will an additional three years of this decline leave us? And if that period turns into a more extended duration, as there is no one to stop this president from determining that additional tenure is required, perhaps for security concerns?
Certainly, all is not lost. We will have midterm elections next year that may create a new governmental control, should Democrats regain either chamber of the legislature. There exist government representatives who are attempting to impose some accountability, for example representatives that are launching an investigation concerning the try to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote in 2028 could begin our journey toward restoration precisely as the prior selection put us on this regrettable path.
There are millions of Americans marching in public spaces of their cities, as they did last weekend in the No Kings rallies.
Robert Reich, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of America is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare in that decade or throughout anti-war demonstrations or in the Watergate scandal.
On those occasions, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.
Reich says he recognizes the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding at present. For proof, he references the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous defiance by media to agree to government requirements they report only approved content.
“The slumbering entity always remains inactive until specific greed becomes so noxious, an specific act so contemptuous of the common good, some brutality so loud, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may prove to be right.
Meanwhile, the big questions persist: is the US able to regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its position globally and its adherence to legal principles?
Or should we recognize that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind tells me that the final scenario is correct; that everything could be gone. My positive feelings, though, tells me that we must try, through all methods we can.
For me, working in journalism analysis, that means urging journalists to adhere, more completely, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For some people, it may be working on political races, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect electoral access.
Less than a year ago, we were in a very different place. A year from now? Or three years from now? The fact is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is try to continue fighting.
What Provides Me Hope Now
The contact I encounter with students with new media professionals, who are both visionary and practical, {always
