The Heartbreaking Shift Only 12 Months Has Made in the US
One year ago, the landscape was completely distinct. Ahead of the American presidential vote, considerate Americans could recognize America's deep flaws – its inequities and disparity – yet they could still see it as America. A democracy. A land where legal governance held significance. A nation guided by a dignified and ethical leader, even with his older age and growing weakness.
Currently, in late October 2025, numerous citizens scarcely know the land we live in. Individuals believed to be illegal immigrants are collected and forced into transport, at times denied due process. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. Donald Trump is harassing his opponents or supposed enemies and insisting legal authorities surrender a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched to US urban areas on false pretexts. The Pentagon, rebranded the War Department, has practically rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Institutions, legal practices, news companies are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are treated like aristocracy.
“The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the limit toward dictatorship and extremism,” an American historian, stated in August. “Finally, faster than I thought feasible, it did happen in this country.”
One awakes to new horrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we have become, and how quickly it has happened.
Yet, we understand that the president was properly voted in. Following his profoundly alarming initial presidency and even after the alerts associated with the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – despite the leader directly said publicly he planned to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – a majority of citizens selected him instead of the other candidate.
While alarming as the current reality is, it's more daunting to realize that we’re only several months under this leadership. Where will an additional three years of this deterioration leave us? And if that timeframe turns into a more extended duration, because there is no one to stop this president from deciding that additional tenure is required, perhaps for national security reasons?
Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There are legislative votes in 2026 that could establish an alternate governmental control, in case Democrats regain the Senate or House of the legislature. We have public servants who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, for example Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to cash appropriation from legal authorities.
And a presidential election in the next cycle could start the path to healing precisely as the previous vote put us on this unfortunate course.
We see countless citizens marching in urban areas throughout communities, as they did recently during anti-authority protests.
Robert Reich, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the US is rising”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid anti-war demonstrations or in the Watergate scandal.
In those instances, the listing ship eventually was righted.
He claims he understands the signals of that resurgence and sees it happening currently. For proof, he points to the recent massive protests, the extensive, cross-party resistance to a television host's removal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to agree to military mandates they solely cover what is sanctioned.
“The dormant force consistently stays dormant till some venality turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so contemptuous toward public welfare, specific cruelty so noisy, that it is compelled except to rise.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll be validated.
In the meantime, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its standing in the world and its commitment to legal principles?
Or should we recognize that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My cynical mind indicates that the second option is true; that everything might be gone. My positive feelings, though, convinces me that we need to strive, by any means we can.
For me, as a media critic, that means encouraging reporters to live up, more fully, to their mission of holding power to account. For others, it may be engaging with congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to protect voting rights.
Under twelve months back, we existed in a very different place. In the future? Or in several years? The reality is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to strive to persevere.
What Provides Me Encouragement Today
The contact I experience during teaching with young journalists, that are simultaneously hopeful and grounded, {always
