A Heartbreaking Shift Just One Year Has Made in the US
One year ago, the situation was completely different. Prior to the American presidential vote, thoughtful citizens could admit America's deep flaws – its unfairness and disparity – but they continued to perceive it as the US. A democratic nation. A place where legal governance meant something. A nation led by a respectable and decent leader, even with his older age and increasing frailty.
Currently, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens barely recognize the land we reside in. People alleged as undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into vans, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. Donald Trump is harassing his opponents or perceived antagonists and insisting federal prosecutors hand over a massive sum of public funds. Armed military personnel are being sent into American cities under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, relabeled the Department of War, has practically liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of possibly reaching close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Universities, legal practices, media outlets are submitting from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are handled as aristocracy.
“America, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the brink toward dictatorship and fascism,” an American historian, wrote recently. “Ultimately, swifter than I imagined possible, it did happen here.”
Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it's challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we have become, and how quickly it occurred.
Yet, we know that the president was legitimately chosen. Despite his highly troubling previous administration and even after the cautions linked to the understanding of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself declared plainly he would act as an autocrat solely at the start – sufficient voters elected him instead of Kamala Harris.
As terrifying as the present situation is, it's more frightening to recognize that we’re only nine months into this presidential term. What will another 36 months of this decline leave us? And what if that period transforms into something even longer, as there is nobody to limit this leader from determining that additional tenure is essential, possibly for national security reasons?
Certainly, all is not lost. There are midterm elections in 2026 which might establish an alternate balance of power, in case Democrats retake one or both houses of parliament. There are public servants who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, like representatives currently launching an investigation concerning the try to cash appropriation from legal authorities.
And a national vote in 2028 could start us down the road to recovery exactly as the prior selection put us on this unfortunate course.
There exist countless citizens demonstrating in the streets throughout communities, like they performed in the past days at democracy demonstrations.
Robert Reich, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of America is stirring”, just as it did post-McCarthyism during the fifties or amid anti-war demonstrations or in the seventies crisis.
On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
The author states he understands the indicators of that awakening and observes it occurring now. As support, he cites the widespread marches, the broad, cross-party resistance regarding a television host's removal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to sign government requirements they solely cover authorized information.
“The slumbering entity consistently stays inactive till certain corruption grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous toward public welfare, some brutality so noisy, that he is compelled other than to stir.”
It's a positive outlook, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will turn out correct.
At the same time, the crucial issues persist: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its status globally and its commitment to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My negative thoughts tells me that the final scenario is true; that all may indeed be lost. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, convinces me that we need to strive, in whatever ways available.
For me, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to commit, more completely, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For some people, it could mean participating in political races, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect voting rights.
Under twelve months back, we lived in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The truth is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to attempt to continue fighting.
What Provides Me Hope Now
The contact I experience during teaching with young journalists, who are equally idealistic and realistic, {always
