A Devastating Change Only 12 Months Has Caused in the United States
In late October 2024, the landscape was entirely different. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could acknowledge the nation's serious imperfections – its unfairness and imbalance – yet they continued to identify it as America. A democratic nation. A land where constitutional order held significance. A country led by a dignified and upright public servant, notwithstanding his elderly years and growing weakness.
These days, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we reside in. Individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants are detained and shoved into vans, at times denied due process. The left side of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque dance hall. The president is persecuting his political rivals or alleged foes and insisting the justice department hand over a huge total of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are being sent across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The Pentagon, rebranded the Department of War, has effectively freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends possibly reaching nearly $1tn in public funds. Institutions, law firms, news companies are yielding under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are treated like members of the royal family.
“The United States, shortly prior to its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, wrote this past summer. “Ultimately, more quickly than I imagined possible, it occurred in America.”
Each day begins to new horrors. It is challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost our nation is, and how quickly it occurred.
Yet, it is known that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his highly troubling initial presidency and following the cautions linked to the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – despite Trump himself stated openly he would act as an autocrat only on the first day – sufficient voters chose him instead of the other candidate.
Frightening as the current reality are, it’s even scarier to realize that we are just nine months into this administration. How will another 36 months of this downfall leave us? And suppose the three years transforms into a more extended duration, because there is no one to restrain this president from opting that a third term is necessary, possibly for security concerns?
Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There are congressional elections in 2026 which might create a new political equilibrium, if Democrats recapture one or both houses of parliament. We have government representatives who are striving to exert certain responsibility, for example representatives currently initiating an inquiry concerning the try to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote in the next cycle could initiate us down the road toward restoration just as the prior selection put us on this regrettable path.
We see numerous residents protesting in the streets throughout communities, similar to recent recently during anti-authority protests.
A former official, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is awakening”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or during the sixties activism or in the Nixon controversy.
On those occasions, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
Reich says he understands the signals of that revival and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he references the widespread marches, the widespread, bipartisan pushback against a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal defiance by media to sign government requirements they report only approved content.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists asleep till specific greed turns extremely harmful, some action so disrespectful toward public welfare, specific cruelty so disruptive, that it has no choice other than to stir.”
It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.
Meanwhile, the major inquiries remain: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its commitment to legal principles?
Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My negative thoughts suggests that the second option is true; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, nevertheless, advises me that we have to attempt, by any means possible.
Personally, working in journalism analysis, that means pushing media professionals to adhere, more thoroughly, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For others, it could mean engaging with congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to safeguard ballot privileges.
Under twelve months back, we existed in a separate situation. In the future? Or in several years? The reality is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to strive to not give up.
What Offers Me Optimism Currently
The interaction I have during teaching with young journalists, who are both hopeful and practical, {always