A Devastating Change Just One Year Has Caused in the US
Twelve months back, the situation was utterly different. Before the American presidential vote, thoughtful residents could recognize America's significant faults – its inequities and disparity – however they still could see it as America. A democratic nation. A country where legal governance held significance. A state guided by a honorable and upright public servant, notwithstanding his older age and increasing frailty.
Nowadays, in late October 2025, many of us scarcely know the country we inhabit. Persons believed to be unauthorized foreigners are collected and pushed into transport, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the White House – is being torn down to build a lavish ballroom. The leader is persecuting his political rivals or alleged foes and demanding legal authorities hand over a huge total of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are being sent to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has practically liberated itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of what could amount to almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Universities, attorney offices, journalism organizations are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are handled as aristocracy.
“The US, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has tipped over the edge toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, stated recently. “In the end, faster than I imagined possible, it did happen in this country.”
Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone we are, and the speed at which it has happened.
However, we know that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his deeply disturbing first term and following the warnings that came with the awareness of the conservative plan – following the leader directly stated openly he intended to be a dictator solely at the start – a majority of citizens selected him over his Democratic opponent.
As terrifying as the current reality may be, it's more daunting to recognize that we have only been nine months under this leadership. What will another 36 months of this deterioration position us? And if the three years turns into a more extended duration, as there is nobody to restrain this leader from determining that another term is essential, perhaps for defense purposes?
Admittedly, all is not lost. There are congressional elections in 2026 which might create a new balance of power, should Democrats regain one or both houses of Congress. We have government representatives who are trying to impose a degree of oversight, such as Democratic congressmen who are starting a probe into the attempted cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.
And a leadership election in the next cycle could initiate our journey toward restoration exactly as the previous vote set us on this disappointing trajectory.
We see countless citizens demonstrating in urban areas across municipalities, similar to recent in the past days at democracy demonstrations.
A former official, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of America is stirring”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in that decade or throughout the Vietnam war protests or during the Watergate scandal.
On those occasions, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.
Reich says he knows the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening now. As evidence, he references the recent massive protests, the broad, bipartisan pushback regarding a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal refusal by journalists to agree to the defense department’s demands they solely cover what is sanctioned.
“The dormant force consistently stays asleep until specific greed becomes so noxious, an specific act so offensive of societal benefit, certain violence so noisy, that it has no choice other than to stir.”
It's a positive outlook, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may turn out correct.
Meanwhile, the crucial issues remain: can America return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its standing in the world and its commitment to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind indicates that the second option is accurate; that everything could be finished. My positive feelings, however, convinces me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways available.
In my case, as an observer of the press, that involves pushing media professionals to live up, more thoroughly, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For others, it may be participating in congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to defend electoral access.
Under twelve months back, we existed in a separate situation. A year from now? Or in several years? The reality is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to strive to continue fighting.
What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently
The interaction I have during teaching with new media professionals, who are equally hopeful and realistic, {always
