A Devastating Change a Single Year Has Caused in America
In late October 2024, the environment was completely separate. Prior to the US presidential election, reflective citizens could acknowledge the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – however they could still see it as the US. A democracy. A land where the rule of law carried weight. A nation led by a honorable and decent leader, even with his older age and growing weakness.
Currently, in late October 2025, numerous citizens scarcely know the land we inhabit. People believed to be undocumented migrants are rounded up and pushed into vehicles, at times denied due process. The left side of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque ballroom. The leader is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and insisting legal authorities surrender an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are deployed across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, rebranded the War Department, has effectively liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Institutions, law firms, news companies are submitting under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are treated like members of the royal family.
“The United States, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the edge toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” a noted author, stated this past summer. “In the end, swifter than I thought feasible, it did happen in this country.”
One awakes to new horrors. And it's challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we are, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.
Yet, it is known that the president was properly voted in. Following his profoundly alarming initial presidency and despite the cautions associated with the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – following Trump himself declared plainly he would act as an autocrat just on day one – enough Americans elected him instead of his Democratic opponent.
While alarming as the current reality is, it’s even scarier to understand that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this administration. How will three more years of this deterioration find us? And if the three years transforms into a more extended duration, as there is no one to stop this president from determining that additional tenure is essential, perhaps for defense purposes?
Admittedly, all is not lost. There are congressional elections in 2026 which might bring a different political equilibrium, should Democrats retake one or both houses of the legislature. There exist government representatives who are striving to apply a degree of oversight, for example lawmakers who are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to money grab from legal authorities.
And a national vote in 2028 could begin the path toward restoration precisely as the prior selection set us on this unfortunate course.
We see countless citizens demonstrating in public spaces of their cities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.
An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is awakening”, just as it did post-McCarthyism during the fifties or during the Vietnam war protests or during the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.
The author states he understands the signs of that awakening and sees it happening currently. For proof, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, bipartisan pushback against a television host's removal and the largely united rejection by reporters to agree to government requirements they report only approved content.
“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep till certain corruption becomes so noxious, an specific act so contemptuous of societal benefit, certain violence so loud, that the giant is forced but to awaken.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may turn out correct.
In the meantime, the crucial issues endure: can America regain its footing? Can it reclaim its standing internationally and its adherence to legal principles?
Or must we acknowledge that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My pessimistic brain tells me that the final scenario is accurate; that everything might be gone. My hopeful heart, however, advises me that we must try, through all methods available.
For me, working in journalism analysis, that involves urging journalists to commit, more completely, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For others, it could mean participating in congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to protect electoral access.
Less than a year ago, we lived in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The fact is, we don’t know. The only option is to strive to continue fighting.
What Offers Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I have with students with young journalists, who are equally hopeful and realistic, {always
