The Devastating Shift a Single Year Has Caused in the US
Twelve months back, the situation was entirely distinct. Prior to the national election, considerate citizens could recognize the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – but they continued to see it as America. A democratic nation. A country where legal governance carried weight. A nation led by a honorable and ethical public servant, even with his older age and increasing frailty.
These days, in late October 2025, countless Americans hardly identify the country we reside in. People believed to be undocumented migrants are rounded up and shoved into vans, at times refused legal rights. The left side of the White House – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. The leader is persecuting his opponents or perceived antagonists and insisting federal prosecutors hand over an enormous amount of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The military command, renamed the Department of War, has practically liberated itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD in public funds. Universities, legal practices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and billionaires are regarded as nobility.
“The US, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, stated recently. “Finally, more quickly than I thought feasible, it did happen in America.”
One awakes to new horrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – just how far gone we have become, and how quickly it occurred.
Nevertheless, it is known that the president was properly voted in. Even after his deeply disturbing initial presidency and following the alerts linked to the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – despite the president personally stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant just on day one – enough Americans chose him rather than his Democratic opponent.
Frightening as today's circumstances may be, it’s even scarier to realize that we are just nine months under this leadership. How will an additional three years of this decline leave us? And if that timeframe becomes an prolonged era, since there is not anyone to limit this president from deciding that another term is essential, perhaps for security concerns?
Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There will be congressional elections next year that could establish an alternate political equilibrium, should Democrats regain the Senate or House of parliament. There exist public servants who are trying to exert certain responsibility, for example representatives who are starting a probe into the attempted money grab by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote in 2028 could initiate the path toward restoration precisely as the prior selection set us on this unfortunate course.
There exist numerous residents marching in the streets throughout communities, similar to recent recently in the No Kings rallies.
An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or during anti-war demonstrations or during the seventies crisis.
In those instances, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
The author states he recognizes the indicators of that awakening and observes it occurring at present. As support, he references the recent massive protests, the extensive, bipartisan pushback regarding a television host's removal and the almost universal defiance by media to agree to military mandates they solely cover approved content.
“The dormant force perpetually exists asleep until certain corruption turns extremely harmful, an specific act so disrespectful of the common good, some brutality so loud, that he has no choice except to rise.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may prove to be right.
In the meantime, the crucial issues persist: is the US able to ever recover? Is it possible to restore its status internationally and its devotion to legal principles?
Or should we recognize that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind indicates that the final scenario is correct; that everything could be gone. My hopeful heart, though, convinces me that we need to strive, in whatever ways we can.
In my case, as an observer of the press, that involves encouraging reporters to commit, more completely, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it might involve participating in congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to defend voting rights.
Not even one year prior, we lived in a very different place. A year from now? Or after another term? The fact is, we don’t know. All we can do is try to continue fighting.
What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently
The interaction I encounter during teaching with new media professionals, that are simultaneously idealistic and practical, {always
