The Devastating Change Just One Year Has Brought in the US
In late October 2024, the landscape was entirely different. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could recognize the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and imbalance – yet they continued to identify it as America. A free society. A place where constitutional order held significance. A country guided by a dignified and upright leader, notwithstanding his older age and growing weakness.
Nowadays, in late October 2025, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we reside in. Individuals alleged as undocumented migrants are collected and pushed into transport, occasionally refused legal rights. The left side of the White House – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish event space. Donald Trump is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and requesting federal prosecutors hand over a massive sum of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are deployed across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, rebranded the Department of War, has – in effect – freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, legal practices, media outlets are submitting from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are handled as members of the royal family.
“America, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the brink toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, stated recently. “In the end, swifter than I believed likely, it did happen in America.”
Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone our nation is, and how quickly it occurred.
Nevertheless, we understand that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his deeply disturbing previous administration and even after the warnings associated with the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – following Trump himself said publicly he planned to be a dictator solely at the start – sufficient voters elected him over Kamala Harris.
While alarming as today's circumstances are, it's more daunting to understand that we’re only several months into this presidential term. What will another 36 months of this decline find us? And if the three years turns into a more extended duration, as there is not anyone to restrain this ruler from deciding that additional tenure is required, maybe for defense purposes?
Granted, all is not lost. We will have legislative votes next year which might create a new balance of power, if Democrats recapture either chamber of parliament. There exist public servants who are trying to impose a degree of oversight, like representatives who are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to money grab from the justice department.
And a national vote in 2028 could initiate our journey to recovery precisely as the prior selection placed us on this disappointing trajectory.
There are numerous residents demonstrating in public spaces of their cities, like they performed last weekend in the No Kings rallies.
An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the nation is rising”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or during the Vietnam war protests or in the Watergate scandal.
In those instances, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
Reich says he recognizes the signals of that revival and sees it happening at present. As support, he cites the widespread marches, the broad, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to accept government requirements they only publish what is sanctioned.
“The sleeping giant always remains inactive till certain corruption becomes so noxious, a particular deed so offensive of societal benefit, specific cruelty so noisy, that he is forced other than to stir.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may be validated.
At the same time, the crucial issues remain: can America return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its standing in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind indicates that the second option is true; that everything might be lost. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we need to strive, through all methods we can.
In my case, working in journalism analysis, that involves encouraging reporters to adhere, more thoroughly, to their mission of holding power to account. For some people, it might involve working on election efforts, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect ballot privileges.
Less than a year ago, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or three years from now? The fact is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to strive to continue fighting.
What’s Giving Me Hope Now
The contact I experience during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are both idealistic and practical, {always
