The Heartbreaking Shift Just One Year Has Made in the US
One year ago, the environment was entirely distinct. Prior to the national election, thoughtful residents could recognize the nation's significant faults – its inequities and inequality – however they still could see it as the United States. A democratic nation. A land where the rule of law carried weight. A state guided by a honorable and ethical public servant, notwithstanding his advanced age and increasing frailty.
These days, in late October 2025, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we live in. Persons believed to be unauthorized foreigners are collected and pushed into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the White House – is being torn down for a grotesque event space. The leader is persecuting his adversaries or supposed enemies and requesting the justice department surrender a massive sum of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Department of War, has – in effect – liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Colleges, law firms, journalism organizations are yielding under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are treated like nobility.
“The US, shortly prior to its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the limit into autocracy and fascism,” a noted author, wrote in August. “In the end, faster than I thought feasible, it transpired in this country.”
One awakes with fresh terrors. It is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined our nation is, and the speed at which it has happened.
Yet, it is known that the president was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and even after the alerts that came with the knowledge of the conservative plan – despite the president personally declared plainly he would act as an autocrat solely at the start – sufficient voters selected him instead of Kamala Harris.
While alarming as the present situation are, it's more frightening to realize that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. What will another 36 months of this downfall find us? And suppose the three years transforms into an prolonged era, because there is no one to limit this president from deciding that a third term is essential, perhaps for defense purposes?
Admittedly, all is not lost. We will have congressional elections next year which might establish an alternate political equilibrium, should Democrats regain either chamber of the legislature. There are public servants who are striving to impose certain responsibility, for example representatives that are launching an investigation into the attempted cash appropriation from legal authorities.
And a national vote in 2028 could begin the path to recovery exactly as the previous vote set us on this regrettable path.
There exist countless citizens protesting in urban areas of their cities, like they performed last weekend during anti-authority protests.
A former official, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism during the fifties or amid the Vietnam war protests or in the seventies crisis.
During those times, the unstable nation eventually was righted.
He claims he recognizes the signs of that awakening and notices it unfolding at present. As evidence, he points to the recent massive protests, the extensive, cross-party resistance against a television host's removal and the almost universal rejection by reporters to agree to military mandates they report only what is sanctioned.
“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep until certain corruption becomes so noxious, a particular deed so disrespectful toward public welfare, some brutality so noisy, that it has no choice other than to stir.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I value his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will turn out correct.
Meanwhile, the major inquiries remain: is the US able to ever recover? Is it possible to restore its status globally and its devotion to constitutional order?
Or must we acknowledge that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My cynical mind suggests that the second option is accurate; that everything might be gone. My optimistic spirit, however, tells me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways possible.
In my case, as an observer of the press, that means urging journalists to live up, more completely, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For some people, it may be participating in congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to defend voting rights.
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 don’t know. The only option is to attempt to persevere.
What’s Giving Me Hope Now
The engagement I encounter in the classroom with aspiring reporters, who are equally visionary and realistic, {always
