The Tragic Shift a Single Year Has Made in the United States
In late October 2024, the environment was entirely distinct. Before the American presidential vote, reflective citizens could acknowledge America's serious imperfections – its injustices and inequality – however they continued to see it as America. A democratic nation. A country where constitutional order held significance. A country guided by a honorable and upright official, notwithstanding his elderly years and declining health.
These days, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens scarcely know the nation we live in. Persons alleged as undocumented migrants are collected and shoved into vehicles, occasionally denied due process. The left side of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque ballroom. The president is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and requesting legal authorities transfer an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Uniformed troops are dispatched across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically rid itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, law firms, journalism organizations are yielding from leader's menaces, and billionaires are handled as nobility.
“The US, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the brink into autocracy and fascism,” a noted author, stated this past summer. “In the end, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred here.”
Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it's hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how deeply lost our nation is, and how quickly it has happened.
Yet, it is known that the president was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and despite the alerts that came with the knowledge of Project 2025 – even after the president personally declared plainly he would rule as a tyrant solely at the start – enough Americans elected him over his Democratic opponent.
While alarming as the present situation is, it's more daunting to recognize that we are just several months into this administration. What will three more years of this downfall find us? And suppose that timeframe transforms into a more extended duration, as there is nobody to restrain this leader from determining that additional tenure is required, perhaps for defense purposes?
Certainly, there is still hope. There will be legislative votes in 2026 that could bring a different governmental control, should Democrats regain one or both houses of the legislature. We have elected officials who are trying to exert some accountability, like Democratic congressmen who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote in 2028 could start our journey to recovery exactly as the previous vote set us on this unfortunate course.
There are countless citizens demonstrating in public spaces across municipalities, as they did last weekend at democracy demonstrations.
Robert Reich, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is rising”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout the sixties activism or throughout the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.
The author states he recognizes the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding currently. As evidence, he points to the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they solely cover what is sanctioned.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists inactive till certain corruption becomes so noxious, a particular deed so disrespectful toward public welfare, some brutality so loud, that it has no choice but to awaken.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may turn out correct.
Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: can America regain its footing? Can it reclaim its position in the world and its commitment to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind tells me that the final scenario is true; that everything could be gone. My optimistic spirit, however, advises me that we have to attempt, by any means we can.
For me, as a media critic, that involves pushing media professionals to commit, more thoroughly, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it may be participating in congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.
Not even one year prior, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or after another term? The reality is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to strive to continue fighting.
What Provides Me Encouragement Today
The contact I have in the classroom with young journalists, who are both visionary and practical, {always
