The Devastating Change Only 12 Months Has Made in America
In late October 2024, the environment was utterly distinct. Before the American presidential vote, thoughtful residents could recognize the country's deep flaws – its inequities and disparity – but they still could identify it as the US. A democratic nation. A place where legal governance carried weight. A nation led by a respectable and upright leader, even with his older age and increasing frailty.
Currently, as October 2025 ends, many of us hardly identify the country we reside in. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and forced into vehicles, at times denied due process. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being torn down to build a lavish ballroom. The president is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and requesting the justice department hand over a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are being sent across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, renamed the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses what could amount to almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Institutions, law firms, journalism organizations are submitting from leader's menaces, and billionaires are handled as members of the royal family.
“The US, just months before its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the edge toward dictatorship and fascism,” Garrett Graff, commented this past summer. “Ultimately, swifter than I believed likely, it transpired in this country.”
Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. It is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how severely declined our nation is, and how quickly it occurred.
Yet, we understand that the leader was properly voted in. Following his deeply disturbing initial presidency and even after the cautions that came with the understanding of Project 2025 – even after the leader directly declared plainly he planned to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – sufficient voters chose him rather than his Democratic opponent.
Frightening as the current reality may be, it's more frightening to recognize that we have only been nine months under this leadership. Where will another 36 months of this decline position us? And suppose the three years turns into a more extended duration, since there is nobody to limit this president from opting that another term is essential, maybe for security concerns?
Granted, there is still hope. There will be congressional elections the coming year that could establish an alternate balance of power, if Democrats regain one or both houses of parliament. There exist elected officials who are striving to apply a degree of oversight, such as representatives who are launching an investigation into the attempted money grab by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote in 2028 could start our journey to healing exactly as the prior selection put us on this unfortunate course.
There are numerous residents protesting in the streets across municipalities, similar to recent last weekend at democracy demonstrations.
Robert Reich, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the US is awakening”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or amid the Vietnam war protests or during the seventies crisis.
During those times, the listing ship finally returned to balance.
Reich says he knows the signs of that awakening and notices it unfolding at present. For proof, he cites the widespread marches, the widespread, cross-party resistance regarding a broadcaster's firing and the largely united defiance by media to agree to government requirements they solely cover approved content.
“The dormant force consistently stays inactive until certain corruption grows too toxic, a particular deed so offensive of the common good, certain violence so disruptive, that the giant is forced except to rise.”
It's a positive outlook, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.
At the same time, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to ever recover? Is it possible to restore its standing internationally and its adherence to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My cynical mind tells me that the latter is true; that everything might be finished. My hopeful heart, however, advises me that we must try, through all methods possible.
In my case, as a media critic, that means pushing media professionals to commit, more thoroughly, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it might involve engaging with congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to safeguard ballot privileges.
Not even one year prior, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or after another term? The truth is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to attempt to continue fighting.
What Offers Me Optimism Currently
The contact I have in the classroom with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously idealistic and realistic, {always