The Tragic Change Just One Year Has Brought in America
In late October 2024, the landscape was entirely distinct. Prior to the national election, considerate citizens could admit the country's deep flaws – its injustices and inequality – yet they continued to perceive it as the United States. A democracy. A country where legal governance held significance. A country headed by a honorable and ethical official, even with his elderly years and declining health.
Nowadays, in late October 2025, countless Americans hardly identify the country we inhabit. Individuals alleged as illegal immigrants are rounded up and pushed into vehicles, at times denied due process. The eastern section of the White House – is being destroyed for an obscene ballroom. The president is harassing his opponents or alleged foes and requesting legal authorities transfer an enormous amount of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, renamed the War Department, has – in effect – freed itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of what could amount to almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Universities, legal practices, news companies are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are regarded as nobility.
“America, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit toward dictatorship and fascism,” an American historian, commented in August. “Finally, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred in America.”
Each day begins to new horrors. It is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – how severely declined we are, and how quickly it occurred.
Nevertheless, we understand that the leader was legitimately chosen. Despite his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the warnings associated with the awareness of the conservative plan – even after the leader directly stated openly he planned to act as an autocrat only on the first day – enough Americans elected him over Kamala Harris.
While alarming as the present situation are, it’s even scarier to recognize that we’re only nine months into this presidential term. Where will an additional three years of this deterioration leave us? And suppose that period becomes something even longer, since there is not anyone to limit this president from determining that additional tenure is necessary, perhaps for defense purposes?
Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections the coming year that may bring a different balance of power, should Democrats retake either chamber of the legislature. We have public servants who are trying to apply a degree of oversight, for example lawmakers that are initiating an inquiry into the attempted money grab by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote in the next cycle could initiate us down the road to healing just as the prior selection put us on this unfortunate course.
We see millions of Americans protesting in the streets of their cities, similar to recent last weekend in the No Kings rallies.
An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is awakening”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid anti-war demonstrations or throughout the seventies crisis.
In those instances, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.
He claims he recognizes the indicators of that awakening and sees it happening at present. For proof, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, cross-party resistance against a broadcaster's firing and the largely united rejection by reporters to sign government requirements they report only authorized information.
“The sleeping giant always remains inactive till specific greed grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous of the common good, some brutality so disruptive, that it has no choice other than to stir.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll be validated.
In the meantime, the big questions remain: will the nation regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its devotion to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My negative thoughts suggests that the final scenario is correct; that all may indeed be lost. My hopeful heart, though, convinces me that we need to strive, in whatever ways possible.
For me, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to commit, more fully, to their duty of holding power to account. For some people, it could mean engaging with congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to protect voting rights.
Under twelve months back, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or after another term? The fact is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to attempt to continue fighting.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The interaction I experience with students with young journalists, that are simultaneously visionary and realistic, {always
