A Devastating Change Only 12 Months Has Made in the US
In late October 2024, the environment was utterly distinct. Ahead of the national election, reflective Americans could acknowledge the nation's deep flaws – its unfairness and disparity – yet they continued to perceive it as the US. A democratic nation. A country where legal governance meant something. A nation headed by a dignified and decent leader, notwithstanding his advanced age and growing weakness.
These days, in late October 2025, many of us scarcely know the country we live in. Individuals alleged as unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and forced into transport, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the White House – is being destroyed for an obscene event space. The president is harassing his opponents or alleged foes and requesting federal prosecutors hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed into American cities with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, relabeled the Department of War, has – in effect – freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Institutions, law firms, journalism organizations are submitting under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are handled as aristocracy.
“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the edge toward dictatorship and fascism,” an American historian, wrote recently. “Finally, more quickly than I imagined possible, it occurred in this country.”
Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it's challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – just how far gone our nation is, and how quickly it occurred.
Yet, it is known that Trump was properly voted in. Even after his deeply disturbing first term and following the warnings linked to the awareness of Project 2025 – even after the leader directly said publicly he planned to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – enough Americans elected him rather than Kamala Harris.
Frightening as the present situation are, it's more daunting to recognize that we are just several months into this presidential term. How will another 36 months of this downfall find us? And what if the three years turns into something even longer, since there is not anyone to restrain this president from opting that another term is necessary, maybe for defense purposes?
Certainly, not everything is hopeless. We will have legislative votes in 2026 which might bring a different governmental control, should Democrats recapture one or both houses of parliament. There exist public servants who are striving to impose a degree of oversight, such as Democratic congressmen that are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to money grab from the justice department.
And a presidential election in 2028 could start our journey to healing exactly as the previous vote put us on this regrettable path.
We see millions of Americans protesting in urban areas of their cities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.
An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the slumbering force of America is awakening”, just as it did post-McCarthyism in that decade or amid the sixties activism or in the Watergate scandal.
In those instances, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.
Reich says he recognizes the indicators of that revival and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he points to the widespread marches, the broad, bipartisan pushback regarding a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous defiance by media to agree to government requirements they report only approved content.
“The slumbering entity always remains dormant before certain corruption grows too toxic, some action so offensive of the common good, some brutality so disruptive, that the giant has no choice but to awaken.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may be validated.
At the same time, the big questions remain: will the nation return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its devotion to the rule of law?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind tells me that the second option is correct; that everything could be gone. My optimistic spirit, though, tells me that we must try, in whatever ways we can.
Personally, working in journalism analysis, that’s about urging journalists to adhere, more completely, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it may be engaging with political races, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to safeguard electoral access.
Under twelve months back, we lived in a separate situation. In the future? Or after another term? The fact is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to attempt to persevere.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I experience in the classroom with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously idealistic and practical, {always
