A Devastating Change Just One Year Has Brought in the United States
In late October 2024, the landscape was utterly different. Before the American presidential vote, reflective residents could admit America's deep flaws – its unfairness and imbalance – however they still could see it as America. A free society. A land where legal governance meant something. A nation headed by a dignified and upright official, despite his advanced age and declining health.
Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans scarcely know the country we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are rounded up and shoved into vans, sometimes refused legal rights. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque event space. The president is targeting his political rivals or supposed enemies and requesting legal authorities transfer a huge total of citizen dollars. Uniformed troops are deployed across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The Pentagon, renamed the Defense Ministry, has practically rid itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of possibly reaching nearly $1tn in public funds. Universities, legal practices, journalism organizations are buckling under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are regarded as nobility.
“America, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the edge toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” a noted author, stated recently. “Ultimately, swifter than I imagined possible, it transpired here.”
One awakes with fresh terrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.
Yet, it is known that Trump was duly elected. Even after his highly troubling previous administration and even after the cautions linked to the understanding of Project 2025 – even after the leader directly declared plainly he planned to be a dictator only on the first day – sufficient voters elected him rather than Kamala Harris.
Frightening as today's circumstances are, it's more frightening to realize that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. How will an additional three years of this decline leave us? And what if the three years turns into a more extended duration, because there is not anyone to limit this leader from deciding that additional tenure is required, possibly for defense purposes?
Certainly, all is not lost. We will have midterm elections the coming year which might establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture one or both houses of the legislature. There exist elected officials who are trying to apply a degree of oversight, like Democratic congressmen currently initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.
And a presidential election in the next cycle could start our journey to healing just as the previous vote set us on this unfortunate course.
There exist numerous residents demonstrating in urban areas throughout communities, similar to recent in the past days in the No Kings rallies.
Robert Reich, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare in the 1950s or throughout the sixties activism or in the seventies crisis.
In those instances, the unstable nation eventually was righted.
He claims he recognizes the signals of that resurgence and notices it unfolding at present. As evidence, he references the widespread marches, the widespread, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the almost universal defiance by media to accept government requirements they solely cover what is sanctioned.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists inactive before some venality turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so disrespectful of the common good, certain violence so loud, that he is forced except to rise.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may prove to be right.
Meanwhile, the crucial issues remain: will the nation return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its position globally and its commitment to the rule of law?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My pessimistic brain tells me that the final scenario is correct; that everything could be finished. My positive feelings, though, advises me that we need to strive, in whatever ways we can.
In my case, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to commit, more fully, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For others, it might involve engaging with political races, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to defend voting rights.
Less than a year ago, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or after another term? The truth is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to not give up.
What’s Giving Me Hope Now
The contact I have in the classroom with young journalists, who are equally visionary and practical, {always
