A Heartbreaking Change Only 12 Months Has Brought in America
In late October 2024, the landscape was entirely distinct. Ahead of the US presidential election, considerate residents could acknowledge the country's deep flaws – its injustices and inequality – yet they could still identify it as the US. A democracy. A land where constitutional order carried weight. A state headed by a respectable and ethical official, even with his advanced age and growing weakness.
These days, in late October 2025, countless Americans scarcely know the nation we reside in. Individuals alleged as illegal immigrants are detained and pushed into vehicles, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the White House – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. Donald Trump is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and requesting legal authorities hand over a massive sum of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are being sent to US urban areas on false pretexts. The military command, relabeled the Department of War, has – in effect – liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends possibly reaching nearly $1tn in public funds. Universities, law firms, news companies are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are treated like aristocracy.
“America, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has tipped over the brink toward dictatorship and extremism,” an American historian, commented in August. “Finally, more quickly than I thought feasible, it did happen here.”
One awakes to new horrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how severely declined we have become, and how quickly it occurred.
Nevertheless, we know that the leader was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the warnings associated with the understanding of Project 2025 – following the president personally stated openly he planned to act as an autocrat only on the first day – enough Americans selected him rather than the other candidate.
Frightening as the current reality are, it's more frightening to recognize that we’re only three-quarters of a year under this leadership. How will an additional three years of this decline find us? And what if the three years becomes something even longer, because there is not anyone to restrain this leader from determining that additional tenure is necessary, perhaps for security concerns?
Granted, not everything is hopeless. There are legislative votes the coming year that could establish an alternate balance of power, in case Democrats retake either chamber of parliament. We have elected officials who are trying to apply some accountability, like Democratic congressmen currently starting a probe regarding the effort to money grab by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote three years from now could initiate the path to healing just as the prior selection placed us on this disappointing trajectory.
There are countless citizens protesting in urban areas across municipalities, like they performed last weekend during anti-authority protests.
Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the US is awakening”, similar to past following the Red Scare in the 1950s or throughout the sixties activism or in the Nixon controversy.
On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
Reich says he knows the signals of that revival and observes it occurring at present. As support, he cites the widespread marches, the extensive, bipartisan pushback to a television host's removal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to agree to the defense department’s demands they solely cover what is sanctioned.
“The slumbering entity consistently stays dormant before specific greed becomes so noxious, some action so offensive toward public welfare, specific cruelty so noisy, that the giant has no choice but to awaken.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.
At the same time, the crucial issues endure: is the US able to ever recover? Is it possible to restore its position internationally and its commitment to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My pessimistic brain tells me that the second option is accurate; that everything could be gone. My optimistic spirit, however, tells me that we have to attempt, by any means possible.
Personally, working in journalism analysis, that involves pushing media professionals to live up, more fully, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For some people, it might involve participating in political races, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to defend voting rights.
Under twelve months back, we were in an alternate reality. In the future? Or three years from now? The fact is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to strive to continue fighting.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The contact I experience during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are equally hopeful and realistic, {always
