A Tragic Change Only 12 Months Has Brought in the US
One year ago, the landscape was utterly separate. Before the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could admit the country's significant faults – its injustices and imbalance – however they could still see it as America. A democracy. A place where constitutional order held significance. A state headed by a respectable and decent public servant, even with his elderly years and growing weakness.
Nowadays, in late October 2025, countless Americans hardly identify the land we live in. People believed to be unauthorized foreigners are detained and shoved into vehicles, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is being torn down for a grotesque dance hall. The president is harassing his adversaries or alleged foes and requesting the justice department hand over a massive sum of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are dispatched to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, renamed the Department of War, has – in effect – liberated itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of potentially totaling close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Universities, law firms, media outlets are buckling under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are handled as aristocracy.
“The United States, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the edge into authoritarianism and fascism,” a noted author, stated in August. “Ultimately, swifter than I believed likely, it transpired in this country.”
Every morning starts to new horrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – just how far gone we have become, and how quickly it has happened.
Nevertheless, we know that the president was legitimately chosen. Despite his highly troubling first term and despite the cautions that came with the knowledge of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself stated openly he intended to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – sufficient voters chose him instead of his Democratic opponent.
As terrifying as today's circumstances is, it’s even scarier to understand that we have only been several months into this administration. Where will three more years of this deterioration leave us? And suppose that timeframe turns into an prolonged era, because there is no one to restrain this ruler from opting that another term is necessary, possibly for national security reasons?
Certainly, there is still hope. There are midterm elections next year that may bring a different governmental control, should Democrats regain either chamber of parliament. We have government representatives who are trying to apply certain responsibility, like representatives who are starting a probe into the attempted fund seizure from legal authorities.
And a national vote in the next cycle could initiate the path to healing precisely as last year’s election placed us on this unfortunate course.
There exist millions of Americans demonstrating in the streets of their cities, similar to recent recently in the No Kings rallies.
Robert Reich, stated lately that “the slumbering force of America is awakening”, just as it did following the Red Scare in the 1950s or amid the Vietnam war protests or throughout the Watergate scandal.
On those occasions, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.
He claims he recognizes the indicators of that resurgence and notices it unfolding currently. For proof, he references the recent massive protests, the extensive, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal refusal by journalists to accept military mandates they only publish authorized information.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists dormant before specific greed becomes so noxious, a particular deed so contemptuous of societal benefit, specific cruelty so disruptive, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may turn out correct.
In the meantime, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its standing globally and its adherence to legal principles?
Or should we recognize that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My cynical mind suggests that the second option is true; that all may indeed be lost. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, convinces me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways available.
In my case, as a media critic, that means pushing media professionals to adhere, more completely, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For others, it might involve working on election efforts, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to safeguard voting rights.
Under twelve months back, we existed in a very different place. A year from now? Or three years from now? The truth is, we cannot predict. The only option is to strive to not give up.
What Provides Me Optimism Currently
The interaction I encounter in the classroom with new media professionals, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always
