A Tragic Shift Just One Year Has Made in the US
In late October 2024, the landscape was completely distinct. Before the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could recognize the country's deep flaws – its inequities and imbalance – but they could still perceive it as the US. A democracy. A land where legal governance held significance. A nation led by a respectable and upright leader, even with his advanced age and declining health.
These days, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens hardly identify the land we live in. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are collected and forced into transport, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the White House – is being torn down for a grotesque dance hall. Donald Trump is harassing his adversaries or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department surrender an enormous amount of public funds. Uniformed troops are being sent across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the Department of War, has effectively freed itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Institutions, attorney offices, news companies are submitting under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are handled as nobility.
“The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the limit into authoritarianism and fascism,” Garrett Graff, stated recently. “Ultimately, swifter than I believed likely, it transpired in this country.”
Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone our nation is, and how quickly it unfolded.
Nevertheless, we know that Trump was legitimately chosen. Despite his highly troubling initial presidency and following the alerts associated with the understanding of the conservative plan – despite the president personally said publicly he planned to act as an autocrat only on the first day – a majority of citizens elected him rather than the other candidate.
While alarming as today's circumstances are, it's more frightening to recognize that we are just several months under this leadership. How will another 36 months of this decline find us? And suppose that period becomes an prolonged era, because there is not anyone to stop this leader from opting that a third term is necessary, maybe for national security reasons?
Granted, all is not lost. We will have legislative votes the coming year which might bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats regain the Senate or House of Congress. There are public servants who are attempting to apply a degree of oversight, such as Democratic congressmen who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to money grab from legal authorities.
And a leadership election in 2028 could start us down the road to recovery precisely as the previous vote put us on this unfortunate course.
We see numerous residents demonstrating in urban areas of their cities, similar to recent recently in the No Kings rallies.
Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of America is rising”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or amid the Vietnam war protests or during the Watergate scandal.
During those times, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
The author states he understands the signals of that resurgence and observes it occurring now. For proof, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, bipartisan pushback against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to sign government requirements they solely cover approved content.
“The dormant force perpetually exists asleep until certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so offensive of societal benefit, some brutality so noisy, that it is compelled but to awaken.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may be validated.
At the same time, the crucial issues persist: will the nation regain its footing? Can it reclaim its position globally and its adherence to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My cynical mind suggests that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be lost. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, tells me that we have to attempt, by any means possible.
In my case, as an observer of the press, that involves encouraging reporters to live up, more completely, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it might involve participating in election efforts, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to protect electoral access.
Under twelve months back, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or three years from now? The reality is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to strive to persevere.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The contact I experience during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are both visionary and grounded, {always
