The Heartbreaking Shift Only 12 Months Has Brought in America
Twelve months back, the situation was entirely different. Before the US presidential election, thoughtful citizens could acknowledge the nation's serious imperfections – its inequities and disparity – but they still could perceive it as the United States. A democratic nation. A place where the rule of law carried weight. A state guided by a honorable and decent public servant, even with his advanced age and growing weakness.
Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens barely recognize the country we reside in. Individuals alleged as unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and forced into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the White House – is undergoing demolition for an obscene event space. The leader is persecuting his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department surrender a massive sum of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are deployed into American cities with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, renamed the Defense Ministry, has effectively rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses possibly reaching nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Universities, law firms, news companies are buckling from leader's menaces, and billionaires are handled as nobility.
“America, just months before its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the brink toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” an American historian, wrote in August. “In the end, faster than I thought feasible, it did happen in this country.”
Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – just how far gone our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.
Yet, it is known that the leader was legitimately chosen. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and even after the warnings associated with the understanding of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself stated openly he planned to be a dictator solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him over his Democratic opponent.
While alarming as today's circumstances may be, it’s even scarier to realize that we’re only several months into this administration. How will another 36 months of this deterioration find us? And what if the three years transforms into something even longer, as there is nobody to restrain this leader from deciding that additional tenure is essential, maybe for defense purposes?
Granted, all is not lost. We will have legislative votes the coming year that may create a new balance of power, should Democrats retake the Senate or House of parliament. There are government representatives who are attempting to impose certain responsibility, for example lawmakers currently launching an investigation regarding the effort to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.
And a presidential election three years from now could begin our journey to recovery just as last year’s election placed us on this regrettable path.
We see numerous residents protesting in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent in the past days in the No Kings rallies.
Robert Reich, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the US is stirring”, similar to past post-McCarthyism during the fifties or amid the Vietnam war protests or during the Watergate scandal.
On those occasions, the listing ship eventually was righted.
He claims he understands the signals of that resurgence and sees it happening at present. For proof, he references the widespread marches, the widespread, cross-party resistance regarding a broadcaster's firing and the largely united refusal by journalists to sign the defense department’s demands they only publish approved content.
“The dormant force consistently stays inactive until certain corruption grows too toxic, a particular deed so offensive of the common good, specific cruelty so loud, that he is forced but to awaken.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may prove to be right.
In the meantime, the crucial issues endure: will the nation regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its standing internationally and its adherence to the rule of law?
Or should we recognize that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My negative thoughts suggests that the second option is correct; that all may indeed be finished. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, tells me that we need to strive, through all methods possible.
In my case, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to adhere, more thoroughly, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it may be engaging with political races, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to defend voting rights.
Not even one year prior, we were in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The reality is, we are uncertain. All we can do is try to persevere.
What’s Giving Me Hope Now
The interaction I encounter with students with new media professionals, that are simultaneously hopeful and realistic, {always
