The Tragic Shift Only 12 Months Has Made in the US
One year ago, the situation was completely distinct. Before the national election, considerate residents could admit the country's deep flaws – its unfairness and disparity – however they still could see it as the US. A democratic nation. A land where the rule of law meant something. A state led by a respectable and upright leader, even with his elderly years and declining health.
These days, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens barely recognize the country we reside in. People alleged as illegal immigrants are rounded up and shoved into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the White House – is being torn down to build a lavish event space. Donald Trump is persecuting his political rivals or supposed enemies and requesting the justice department surrender an enormous amount of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, renamed the Department of War, has – in effect – rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, attorney offices, journalism organizations are buckling under the president’s threats, and billionaires are regarded as nobility.
“America, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the brink into autocracy and extremism,” Garrett Graff, wrote in August. “Ultimately, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred in America.”
One awakes with fresh terrors. It is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we are, and how quickly it occurred.
Nevertheless, it is known that the president was legitimately chosen. Despite his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the cautions linked to the awareness of the conservative plan – following the leader directly stated openly he would act as an autocrat solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him over Kamala Harris.
Frightening as the current reality are, it's more daunting to understand that we have only been several months into this presidential term. Where will an additional three years of this decline find us? And if that timeframe turns into something even longer, since there is not anyone to stop this ruler from deciding that another term is required, maybe for security concerns?
Admittedly, all is not lost. We will have midterm elections next year that may bring a different governmental control, in case Democrats recapture one or both houses of the legislature. We have government representatives who are attempting to impose certain responsibility, such as representatives that are launching an investigation concerning the try to money grab by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote in the next cycle could begin us down the road to recovery precisely as last year’s election placed us on this unfortunate course.
We see numerous residents protesting in public spaces of their cities, as they did last weekend during anti-authority protests.
Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is awakening”, just as it did following the Red Scare in that decade or throughout the sixties activism or during the Watergate scandal.
In those instances, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
The author states he knows the signals of that resurgence and observes it occurring now. As evidence, he points to the widespread marches, the widespread, cross-party resistance to a personality's dismissal and the largely united defiance by media to sign military mandates they report only authorized information.
“The sleeping giant always remains asleep before some venality grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous of societal benefit, specific cruelty so disruptive, that the giant has no choice but to awaken.”
It's a positive outlook, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.
Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: will the nation regain its footing? Can it reclaim its status in the world and its commitment to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My negative thoughts suggests that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be finished. My hopeful heart, though, tells me that we need to strive, by any means we can.
In my case, as an observer of the press, that’s about pushing media professionals to live up, more fully, to their duty of holding power to account. For some people, it may be working on political races, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.
Less than a year ago, we lived in a separate situation. In the future? Or after another term? The reality is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to attempt to persevere.
What Offers Me Encouragement Today
The interaction I experience with students with new media professionals, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always
