A Heartbreaking Transformation Just One Year Has Made in the US
One year ago, the landscape was entirely separate. Ahead of the national election, thoughtful Americans could recognize the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and inequality – however they could still perceive it as the US. A free society. A place where constitutional order meant something. A country led by a respectable and decent public servant, even with his advanced age and declining health.
Nowadays, in late October 2025, numerous citizens barely recognize the land we live in. Individuals alleged as undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into vehicles, occasionally denied due process. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish dance hall. The president is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department hand over a huge total of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are deployed into American cities on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically rid itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD in public funds. Universities, law firms, news companies are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are regarded as aristocracy.
“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the brink toward dictatorship and extremism,” a noted author, wrote in August. “Finally, swifter than I believed likely, it did happen in this country.”
Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. And it is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – just how far gone we have become, and how quickly it has happened.
Nevertheless, it is known that Trump was properly voted in. Despite his highly troubling previous administration and following the cautions linked to the knowledge of the conservative plan – despite the president personally said publicly he planned to act as an autocrat just on day one – sufficient voters chose him over the other candidate.
As terrifying as the present situation is, it's more frightening to realize that we have only been several months under this leadership. What will another 36 months of this downfall find us? And what if the three years transforms into an prolonged era, as there is not anyone to restrain this president from determining that a third term is essential, maybe for security concerns?
Certainly, not everything is hopeless. We will have midterm elections in 2026 which might establish an alternate balance of power, if Democrats retake either chamber of the legislature. There exist government representatives who are attempting to apply some accountability, for example Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry into the attempted fund seizure from the justice department.
And a national vote in the next cycle could start us down the road toward restoration just as the prior selection set us on this unfortunate course.
We see countless citizens protesting in urban areas of their cities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.
Robert Reich, stated lately that “the slumbering force of America is stirring”, just as it did post-McCarthyism during the fifties or throughout the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.
In those instances, the listing ship finally returned to balance.
The author states he recognizes the signals of that resurgence and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, bipartisan pushback against a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal defiance by media to agree to the defense department’s demands they solely cover authorized information.
“The dormant force perpetually exists dormant until specific greed turns extremely harmful, an specific act so contemptuous of societal benefit, some brutality so disruptive, that he is forced except to rise.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.
Meanwhile, the major inquiries remain: will the nation return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its standing in the world and its devotion to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My cynical mind indicates that the second option is accurate; that all may indeed be lost. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, advises me that we have to attempt, through all methods possible.
For me, working in journalism analysis, that means pushing media professionals to commit, more thoroughly, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For others, it may be engaging with election efforts, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect ballot privileges.
Under twelve months back, we lived in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The truth is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to strive to persevere.
What Provides Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I encounter with students with young journalists, who are both hopeful and practical, {always
